Summer used to mean riding your bike to the local pool to swim all day with your best friends and eat ice cream sandwiches at the snack deck. Summer used to be making it home in time for dinner and then quickly running back outside once the sun had set to catch fireflies and play ghost in the graveyard with your neighbors. Summer used to mean endless days of fun. Now, as a college student, summer means waking up early to go to work or your internship. Summer means rushing home to squeeze in a workout before you get too tired. Summer means ending your night watching countless episodes of your favorite TV show on Netflix because you’re too tired to do anything else. Why did summer have to become so boring? However, there are still so many things you can be doing this summer, such as these five things:
1. Go to drive in movie theaters
Yes, they do in fact still exist and are a classic way to spend a summer night. All you need is blankets and good friends to drive with you to see the latest flick on the outdoor screen, so you can still relax after your long day at work.
2. Go to the beach
Whether you live by the ocean or a lake, spending a day at the beach is so therapeutic and just the medicine you need. For me, the beach is just a short ride into Chicago with my friends and is the perfect day trip if you can manage to get off work.
3. Go on a road trip
Now that we’re in college, not all of our friends live by us. Take a road trip with some friends, whether it be back to school for the weekend or to visit the one friend who doesn’t live in the suburbs. All you need is snacks, a car, and some good music to make a memorable weekend.
4. Go to festivals
Throughout the summer, there are festivals everywhere. Chicago has something going on every weekend, but most of the suburbs have a fest at some point that will make you feel like you live in Stars Hollow.
5. Put down your phone
Take a day without your phone to relax and hang out with your friends. You don’t need to be updating Twitter and checking Tinder to have a good time. Be spontaneous.
Hopefully, these tips and tricks will make your summer a little more memorable because we only have so many summers left to enjoy while we are young.
