If you’re anything like me and all you’ve done so far this summer is put in hours at work, you know what I mean when I say "summer rut." It feels like all you do every day is wake up and go to work, and summer is not as full of fun and relaxation like you had hoped for. With almost two months of summer down and two more to go, it’s a little overwhelming to think that you have to find some ways to entertain yourself for the next 60 days. Obviously, being a college student myself, I am not trying to drop all the money in my bank account on activities. So here are a few cheap options to get you out of your summer rut without breaking the bank.
1. Host a fire pit party.
Gather all your friends, sit around a campfire and sing those good ol' campfire songs. Well, I mean you can do that if you want, but I would prefer to roast marshmallows and hot dogs. Fire pits are one of my favorite summer activities, and I probably sit around my fire pit at least once a week with all my friends. Grab your portable speaker, bug spray and a blanket for a fun night under the stars.
2. Pool hop.
If you're anything like me and my friends, we get a little antsy if we stay anywhere longer than two hours. Pool hopping is the best solution to this problem. A little change of scenery every couple of hours, and mooching food off of people's parents will make the day fly by as well as cheap! You can go from a pool with a diving board, to one with a slide and end the night off with a dip in a hot tub!
3. Hiking.
Hiking is probably one of my absolute favorite summer activities. First of all it is completely free, and it also offers you the exercise you should probably get. The options are endless when it comes to hiking. You can go to the same place, but take different trails each time, making it a new adventure each time you go. Ramapo reservation in Mahwah, New Jersey, is my go-to place to hike, but if I'm feeling adventurous I will venture out to the Stairway to Heaven hike in Vernon, New Jersey.
4. Go to a U-Pick farm.
Gather a carload of friends, and head up to one of the U-pick farms to pick whichever fruit is in season. You and all your friends can share the basket of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or whatever fruit is in season to cut down on the costs. This is really just a fun activity to do with your friends, and there are usually some other fun activities to do while you're at the farm, like hay rides.
5. Drive-in movie theatre.
Once again, rally up a bunch of friends and head to the drive-in movie theatre for an inexpensive night out. I love having movie nights with my friends, but the drive-in offers a little bit of a twist to a movie night. The tickets are approximately $10, and you can stay for two movies. Bring your own snacks, a blanket, bug spray, and relax and watch a movie under the stars.
6. Kayak on the Hudson.
Kayaking is just another way to appreciate nature. This can be an expensive activity if you do not live near a lake or own a kayak. Thanks to The Downtown Boathouse, you can kayak for free in the Hudson river. They are trying to promote public access to the water for all. Head to Pier 26, sign a waiver and hop on a kayak to venture off into the Hudson.
7. Picnic in a park.
When I say a picnic in a park I'm not just talking about eating lunch in the park, and leaving in 10 minutes. Grab a blanket, fill a basket with sandwiches, snacks and juice, and just picnic. If you like traveling for a picnic, head to Central Park. You can stay entertained for hours people watching because, let's be honest, there are some weird people in this world. You could even try the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens as a setting for your picnic. The garden itself is a bonus because you could spend all day looking at the flowers.
8. Make a Jell-O pool.
Yes, you read that right. Find a kiddie pool, could be an old one, or a cheap one from any store. Then go online and order the mix for a Jell-O pool. I know this sounds like a weird activity, but it is actually a lot of fun. If you're having an ordinary barbecue, make it extraordinary and have a Jell-O pool where people can wrestle or play tug-of-war over. Really the possibilities are endless. If nothing else, you can get a good laugh out of it.
