While spending the summer binging on television is relaxing, getting out and making the best of you time off from school during the summer is important.

As we head into July and the temperature starts rising, it can be easy to want to just surrender to the heat and just sit in front of the air conditioner watching “Scandal” or, “Orange is the New Black” on loop with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s in front of us. However, once you reach the end of the summer, you’ll probably regret all the hours you sat inside when you look in the mirror and wonder where your six pack and, more importantly, your whole summer went. Summer is the time for fun, adventure and just maybe, the time to go a little crazy and take a plunge. The plunge can be as simple as flirting with a stranger, or as big as embarking on a spontaneous trip.

 Here are some ideas of activities you can do to keep your summer interesting, you active, and your ice cream safely in the freezer.

1) Road trip—Nothing beats driving down a highway with all the windows rolled down singing “Your Song” with your close friends in a car. Take a road trip somewhere; it can be as close as just going to the beach, or maybe as far as driving cross country or even to a big city nearby. One weekend, my sophomore year of high school, my friends and I spontaneously decided to go away for the weekend and we rented a hotel room and drove to the beach. It is one of the best memories I have from that year. Explore, because if you’re with your friends, you’ll have fun no matter where you go. 

2) Camping—I know a few of you might shy away from being in the outdoors where there are bugs and dirt and nature, but nothing brings people closer than cooking meals for each other, sleeping cuddled up in sleeping bags in the same tent and trying to build a fire and be one with nature. Most campgrounds have activities you can do, such as horseback riding, hiking, swimming in a lake, etc….If you want to try being active, try going camping or even hiking a trail. 

3) Amusement Park—Here’s a trip all you adrenaline junkies can go on. Nothing makes you feel younger again like eating funnel cake, riding the biggest roller coaster, and playing arcade games. If you didn’t have fun on the flying swings, roller coasters or Ferris Wheel when you were young, I’d have to question if you have a soul. Unleash your inner ten year old and go the nearest Six Flags or carnival by you.

4) Concert—There is something so satisfying and enriching about listening to live music and feeling the thumping of the bass in your chest. A lot of artists go on tour for the summer (check out “Rolling Stone’s” list of the hottest summer tours here http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/summer-... )and you can check websites like StubHub, Ticketmaster, or even Groupon which might have some discount prices. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on tickets, check out if your town has a free music performance coming up. Sometimes towns will have annual free music concerts in the area where local bands will play.  

5) Be with friends—This should go without saying, but it’s easy to get caught up with work, internships and other activities that preoccupy you during the summer, letting your friends fall by the wayside. However, think about it—you’re away at college for a good 9 months out of the year, coming home perhaps only once or twice for a winter or spring break. Take the time to be with your friends from home, friends you’ve known forever. Once you graduate college and you all start going your separate ways, you’ll wish you had more time together.  So, don’t just collapse into bed once you come home from work. Pick up the phone and call them to get ice cream or frozen yogurt. If you’re living in different cities, like me and my friends, organize a weekend or two a month where you all meet up at home and spend a weekend just hanging out and doing whatever. Or better yet, take your crew and do something on this list and make more memories this summer.