With a long summer stretched out in front of us, it’s easy to forget how quickly it can go by. And when it does, it’s easy to regret some of the things we missed out on doing. That’s why we created this list of summertime to-dos for you. Think of it as a vision board of fun summer activities and see how many you can check off before the days get short.
- Prepare your favorite dishes for a picnic at your local park.
- Host a barbecue at your house or apartment courtyard – you can even invite friends and make it a potluck!
- Go hiking or walk on a new trail nearby.
- Put your green thumb to the test and start an herb and/or flower garden.
- Go camping. If you go alone, be sure to always let someone know where you’ll be.
- Participate in an outdoor volunteer effort, like planting trees in your neighborhood.
- Treat yourself to ice cream and enjoy it while taking a walk around the city.
- Grab some ingredients for s’mores and host or attend a bonfire.
- If there’s a new hobby you’ve been considering, summer’s the perfect time to try it. If it’s not for you, you’ll know by summer’s end. But at least you will have tried.
- Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the earth by regularly watching the sunrise or sunset!
- Have a pool day or go to your favorite water park.
- Host an outdoor movie night. You can either use existing outdoor equipment, like lawn chairs, or bring a few chairs from inside the house. You can also set up a cozy sitting area with sleeping mats, cushions, and beanbag chairs.
- Stay up and catch fireflies and then stargaze on a clear night.
- Make your favorite summer dishes, like sweets, iced drinks, or fruit salads.
- Read a book…or ten! Make a list of all the books you've been meaning to read but haven't gotten around to. Use the summer to read some of them and cross them off your list.
- Go for a bike ride while listening to music or your favorite podcast.
- Attend a local festival. See if any venues nearby are hosting concerts and be a local tourist in your own city.
- Grab a deck of cards and/or your favorite board games and host a game night.
- Start a DIY home improvement project to freshen up your place.
- Visit a farmer's market or a flea market in your area.
At Mount Carmel, we have a few summer plans of our own, and you’re welcome to join us at any and all of them:
- Mount Carmel St. Ann's 4th Fridays: 4th Friday of every month from 6 - 9 p.m., May through October in Uptown Westerville
- Grove City Farmer's Market: Saturdays from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., May 13 - Sept. 9 in Historic Town Center Broadway and Park St.
- American Heart Association Heart Walk: Saturday, August 19 at 9:30 a.m. in McFerson Commons
- Grove City Arts in the Alley: Friday, September 15, Saturday, September 16 & Sunday, September 1
Don’t see your favorite activity on here? Add it. Then check them off as you go. Here’s hoping you’ve got way more checks than regrets by summer’s end!