It's summer, in case you weren't already aware. College is done, for now, and you can finally pack your bags and travel around world. Perhaps you'll hit up the beach, take that road trip, or simply explore new hobbies. The world is your oyster, after all, right?
Well, for some of us unlucky ducks summer simply means summer school, internships, jobs or just being broke back home. But, staycations don't have to be all bad. Here, a few tips I picked up that will not only help you beat the boredom blues but will actually make you want to take staycation in my town of Arlington, Texas.
1. Find a spot to watch the sunrise or sunset.
Watching the sunrise or sunset can be so cliche but I promise you that it can really add to your day. If you are an early riser or brave enough to wake up way before noon on summer day, grab some coffee and convince a friend to go with you. If you opt for the latter option, pack a small picnic basket or bring some popsicles to munch on while you watch the setting sun. Arlington has amazing places to view the sunset and sunrise, it just takes some adventuring to find them. There are so many overpasses and pastures with unblocked views of the horizon. My personal favorite spot to watch either is at Lake Arlington but I won't give away any more spots than that so that you will be encouraged to beat those boredom blue by being adventurous and explore our awesome city to find those perfect places.
2. Just Drive.
There is more to Arlington than UTA, Six Flags, Cowboys Stadium and the Ranger's Ballpark. Get in the car and simply drive around. Explore new parts of this awesome city. We often find ourselves traveling
only to Dallas or Fort Worth because we think there is nothing to do here, but that is because we do not make the time to see what is in our own backyard. (TIP: If you do drive out to Fort Worth or Dallas, find a way to bring part of that trip back home. For example, I recently visited Steel City Pops and bought extra popsicles so that I could share them with friends while we hang out or are doing something outside! Be creative and stretch some of those trips out to savor longer!)
(Photo via Penny Life in Pics)
3. Experiment With Food at Home.
Now is your time to get creative in the kitchen and really hone in some decent skills other than pouring cereal or whipping up some mac-n-cheese. Look through some old cookbooks or scroll through cooking websites to find something that interests you. You can cook, grill or bake. Grab a friend or family member to help and see how it goes. Part of the fun is in the process of putting the food together and hoping the end result tastes as good as it looks in the recipe. But if it doesn't, at least you have a funny memory!
4. Experiment With Food Away from Home.
(Photo: At Savor Coffee Bar and Eatery by Lindsey Wallace)
It is also the time to finally try some of those neat places you have been wanting to grab a bite at or finally get the opportunity to grab coffee and a pastry at one of those small "Mom & Pop" type places that close super early! Arlington is very diverse and lucky for us, so are the food options!! Get out and go try places other than Starbucks and Chipotle.
5. Make Use of Those Restless Nights.
If you and/or your friends can't sleep, make use of it. Find a field outside to sit and watch the planes pass by or enjoy being under the presence of the night sky. Make a bonfire. Go grab coffee or ice-cream somewhere and adventure around the rest of the evening. Forget trying to sleep and just pull that all-nighter. So many awesome memories and conversations will come from it.
Summer is short, but it is a season for awesome adventures and memories to be made. There are still ways to make the most of your vacation, even if you are stuck at home and not at a beach somewhere.
