Activities to make summer one to remember

Spring is upon us meaning that summer is just around the corner. Many of us have long anticipated the warm summer days and breezy summer moonlit nights since the snowfall began getting old. No matter what your favorite season is, there are certainly positives to look for in all of them. Make your summer more enjoyable with these great summer activities!

The top of the peak overlooks Seneca Creek State Park, W. Va. Photo by S.Dumnich/Setonian.

1. Hiking
Hiking can be one of the best ways to get outside and soak in some vitamin C over the summer. Unless you live in a dense metropolitan area, there will always be a place to hike. Go to the nearest state forest, or local trail that you find online. Many of them are marked and have directions/signs at their entrance points.

If you have pets, this can be a great way to bond with them over exercise. Seton Hill student Nick Altier suggests having a designated backpack carrier to fill the backpack with everything you’re going to need. Items that come in handy during a hike include bottled water, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray and a speaker if you want to listen to music along the way.

Exploring the wilderness in Clear Creek State Park, Pa. allows you to discover new places. Photo by S.Dumnich/Setonian.

2. Drive-In Movies
For those who have never had the privilege of taking part in a drive-in movie marathon, this summer is your chance to change that! One drive-in theater accessible to those in this area is the Evergreen Drive-In Theatre in Mt. Pleasant. If you have the opportunity to go, I highly recommend it. For the best experience I advise using a car with a huge trunk, or a truck with a bed in the back.

This allows you to fill the open space with as many pillows and blankets as you can, creating the perfect spot to enjoy movies outside on a cool summer night. Another recommendation would be to avoid the pricey theater food and bring your own snacks!

3. Dog Parks
Utilizing local parks around you is essential for a successful summer. If you have a dog, a fun and easy way for them to get outside is by taking them to local parks. There are often pathways to follow, and letting your dog socialize with other dogs is a necessity for their health and well-being.

Even if you don’t have a dog, go to these parks anyway! It is a great way to make new friends and meet new people. It’s not often that a dog owner will deny you access to petting their dog if you are polite and ask kindly.

4. Swimming
This one is obvious, but it wouldn’t feel right not including it in the mix. Summertime is the perfect time to get a group of people together and go swimming. It doesn’t matter where. A pool, lake, river, pond, the possibilities are endless. The main point is to find a body of water and dive right in!

If none of the stated options above apply to your geographic location, water balloons and water guns are a great way to cool off in the summer of heat. Find a hose and plug in a Slip N’ Slide, or better yet, make your own!

Boston Terrier Murphy is ready to take a trip to visit his local dog park. Photo by T.Sekunda/Setonian.

5. Stargazing
The best way to go about doing this is getting as far away as possible from any (and every) artificial light source near you. Pick a night where the sky is forecasted to be clear and bring the essentials. All you really need is a blanket and some friends to make this a good time.

If you want to go the extra mile and plan out the best nights to stargaze, you can search up “must see sky events in 2018.” There are even websites that will call your phone number and notify you when an astronomical event takes place in the night sky, such as meteor showers.

6. Museums
This idea requires a small sum of money, but it will be worth every penny! The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is a must see according to many locals from the Greensburg area. If you live near the Pittsburgh area there a few different options for you to choose from. These options include the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Bicycle Heaven, Cathedral of Learning and the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, just to name a few.

This can be a good way to escape the harsh UV rays of summer and get in the air conditioning. There is no wrong way to go about visiting museums. You can fly solo, roll up with a group of friends or even make it a family affair. It’s a great opportunity to learn new things and have fun in the process!

One museum to visit over the summer is the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History in Pittsburgh, which frequently changes its feature exhibits for a new experience each trip. Photo by H.Carnahan/Setonian.

7. Festivals
This is one of the all-time classic summertime activities. There are two main times during summer that you will most likely find festivals in your respective towns: the Fourth of July and Memorial Day.

Festivals have plenty to offer. Get your fair share of greasy fast food and lemonade from street vendors. Take a shot at low cost carnival games to win gag gifts for your friends. Play dare devil and ride the -not up to regulation- carnival rides.

My favorite festival activity is bingo. There is nothing better than calling out bingo and having every senior citizen despise your entire existence for raking in the $6 prize.

There are so many ways to get out of your comfort zone and grow this summer, and this list just displays a few options to consider. Hopefully these suggestions have inspired you to do something new and exciting over summer break this year. As always use this break as time to reflect on the school year, make goals and come back this fall tanner than you have ever been.

Published By: Stephen Dumnich

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