Summer is almost here with us. Now is the right time to look for fun things to make our summer healthy and enjoyable. This summer, you should break away from the ordinary and learn new and exciting things to do over the summer to make your season more memorable, whether you are an adult, a student, a teenager, or a family.
Get ready to discover unique summer activities and ideas that will take your summer experience to new heights as we explore fun ways to stay fit and relish the joys of the summer season. Whether you are looking for indoor or outdoor summer activities, we have something fun for you. In this blog, we’ll explore some lesser-known fun things to do in the summer with friends and family to help you enjoy this season with your well-being in mind.
1. Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku)
You can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and experience the healing power of forests. Forest bathing or therapy involves mindfully connecting with nature to reduce stress, improve sleep quality, increase focus, boost immunity, and enhance overall well-being.
It is a fun summer activity that also includes guided exercises. It is a common practice in Japan, where it is known as shinrin yoku. If you want to try forest bathing this summer, you should scramble your local nature reserves and national parks for a hidden spot that will provide you with a refreshing experience.
2. Nature’s Hidden Havens
Normally, everyone is out there soaking up the sun and enjoying the summer weather. It is almost impossible to escape fun-loving crowds in the usual places such as beaches. However, you can search for off-the-beaten-path travel destinations this summer for a serene experience. It would be best to look for hidden beaches, secluded hiking trails, and lesser-known parks that offer a tranquil and precious opportunity to connect with nature.
3. Aqua Yoga
If you love workouts, you can ditch traditional workouts and dive into aqua yoga. Basically, aqua yoga means water yoga and involves doing yoga poses or asanas in a pool or any water body. Usually, aqua yoga integrates breathing, meditation, and mindfulness exercises.
Combining the benefits of water resistance with relaxing yoga poses and breathwork helps strengthen your muscles, improve flexibility, and enhance your mind-body connection. In addition, aqua yoga can help you enjoy floating asanas and the refreshing embrace of water on a hot summer day or a warm summer night.
4. Wild Summer Foraging
This summer, you can source fresh ingredients by diving into wild foraging. Wild foraging is a fun summer activity that will enable you to learn more about edible plants, mushrooms, and berries in your local area. You can safely gather and incorporate fresh ingredients, such as oregano, watercress, stinging nettles, and lemon balm, into your summer recipes for a truly organic meal.
Summer is also a good time to forage for wild elderberries, apples, grapes, gooseberries, black currants, strawberries, blackberries, and bilberries. You can eat these fruits whole or use them to make infused water, a smoothie, or juice to keep you hydrated all day and help you beat the summer heat.
5. Unconventional Summer Workouts
You can also avoid traditional workouts and explore unconventional fitness routines that add fun to your summer. You can try outdoor yoga in a serene environment, trampoline workouts for a low-impact cardio session, or beachside pilates to strengthen your core. A quiet park or beach can provide the right environment for you to practice outdoor yoga. The fresh air can enhance your yoga experience and allow you to de-stress.
Gardening can also be a rewarding summer activity. Digging, planting, weeding, and watering can help work out major muscle groups and improve strength, balance, and endurance. In fact, gardening is a perfect form of exercise, as it can help you burn up to 300 calories in just 30-45 minutes.
You could also join outdoor group workout classes or boot camps organized in the summer months. Usually, they happen in parks or open spaces and provide a highly motivating and social workout environment. Therefore, you interact with fellow fitness enthusiasts while pursuing your health and fitness goals.
6. Classic Summer Games
You can also rediscover the joy of classic summer games that may be entertaining and physically engaging. For instance, you can gather friends and family for bocce ball, croquet, Yahtzee, lawn bowling, frisbee, scrabble, cornhole, flamingo ring toss, or even a water balloon toss. These simple yet fun activities can help you build connections with your family and friends and create lasting memories this summer.
7. Outdoor Art
You can take your artistic talents outside and let nature be your canvas this summer. You can explore outdoor art forms such as rock painting, rock sculptures, sidewalk chalk masterpieces, beach rock arrangements, or other nature-inspired crafts. These creative and fun activities ignite your imagination. They also help you to interact with nature and showcase your work. Even as you explore your creative and artistic side, you should always remember to use eco-friendly products and demonstrate environmental consciousness.
8. Unconventional Picnic Delights
You can also take your picnics a notch higher this summer with unconventional yet delicious recipes. Therefore, you should think beyond sandwiches and potato salad and surprise your taste buds with inventive dishes such as quinoa-stuffed bell peppers, watermelon-feta skewers with mint, or strawberry-basil lemonade. These unique picnic delights will leave a lasting impression on your summer gatherings. You will also substitute your summer snacks with healthier dishes that contribute to your health and wellness goals.
9. Sunrise and Sunset Adventures
Summer also comes with an opportunity to experience mesmerizing sunrise and sunsets. You can look for scenic spots to witness breathtaking views as the sun paints the sky with vibrant hues. It is even more mesmerizing if you do it with a loved one. You can also take part in sunrise hikes, sunset picnics, or early morning beach yoga to start your day in style. These adventures can help you appreciate the gift of summer and create special memories with friends and family.
10. Unusual Outdoor Sports
This summer, you can challenge yourself and try unique outdoor sports that offer a thrilling twist. Some outdoor sports you can try include mountain boarding, disc golfing, hydrospeeding, slacklining, coasteering, sand yachting, or parkour. These sports provide good alternatives to traditional summer activities and allow you to stay physically active, soak up the sun, and enjoy the outdoors with your family and friends. They also help you push your boundaries and improve your physical skills.
11. Mindful Nature Walks
You can also tap into the therapeutic power of nature through mindful walks. Mindful walking can help you briefly escape everyday hassles and clear your mind. As a result, it can allow you to regulate your emotions, improve your mood, and help you achieve clarity of mind. This summer, you can stroll through parks, forests, or botanical gardens, focusing on the beauty around you. You can engage your senses, breathe deeply, and appreciate the small wonders of nature. This fun activity will make your summer more relaxing and add more life to it.
12. Night Sky Exploration
You can also use this summer to unravel the wonders of the night sky. This activity can be more fulfilling in the summer months because summer nights are clear and offer stunning sights of the milky way and other celestial bodies. You can identify constellations, scan the night sky for popular and rare asterisms, and witness meteor showers. You need to set up a cozy outdoor space with blankets, hot beverages, and a telescope or binoculars to experience the beauty of our universe this summer.
13. Cultural Immersion Through Food
If you love food, you can immerse yourself in the food traditions of different cultures in your area and beyond. You can attend cooking classes that teach you how to prepare exotic dishes. You can also search for international food festivals and join food tours that introduce you to new foods from diverse cultures. This fun summer activity can help you expand your palate and embrace food traditions beyond those in your culture
14. Urban Exploration
You can also expand your sense of adventure and explore lesser-known attractions in your city. Urban exploration can help you understand your city more. You can take urban hikes or cycle around the city for exciting summer activities. You can also attend food festivals in your area or go to local street food markets. More importantly, you can document and share the whole experience on YouTube and other platforms. This fun activity can make your summer more exciting and allow you to learn more about the unique character of your city.
15. Alternative Beach Activities
You can go beyond sunbathing and swimming and choose alternative beach activities. For instance, you might try pilates classes or engage in beachside meditation. You can also practice sound bath meditation using soothing music or Tibetan singing bowls. You may also want to try mindfulness while engaging in creative activities such as painting or knitting. These activities can help you stay active this summer and allow you to reach your health and fitness goals.
16. Unconventional Fitness Retreats
You can also ditch traditional fitness retreats and opt for unconventional retreats that combine wellness and adventure. For instance, you can go for rock climbing retreats, wilderness boot camps, or yoga and surfing getaways. These unique summer retreats blend physical activity, relaxation, and personal growth in beautiful scenery.
17. Adventure Cycling
You can take part in thrilling cycling adventures this summer to keep fit and make the best of the summer weather. You can search for mountain bike trails in your area, take on challenging terrain, or plan a multi-day cycling expedition with family and friends. Through these adventures, you can enjoy the beautiful landscape and push your physical limits.
18. Eco-Friendly Camping
You can visit eco-friendly campsites. This summer activity will allow you to enjoy your summer without leaving a huge environmental footprint. You can choose campsites that use sustainable practices and biodegradable camping supplies, including those practicing Leave No Trace principles. In this sense, eco-friendly camping can help you connect with nature and exercise environmental stewardship.
19. Outdoor Meditation Retreats
You might participate in outdoor meditation retreats this summer. Retreating to serene locations, such as mountains, forests, and beachside sanctuaries, can deepen your meditation practice. The natural scenery can provide a tranquil environment and allow you to connect with nature. As a result, you can experience the power of meditation firsthand and develop a strong body-mind connection.
20. Farm-to-Table Dining Experiences
If you love organic and locally-grown food, you can join the farm-to-table movement. Therefore, you to visit organic farms and take part in farm tours and workshops. This summer experience can also allow you to enjoy farm-to-table foods. You can buy fresh seasonal produce to prepare home-cooked meals using farm-to-table recipes. Through these fun summer activities, you can learn more about sustainable food practices and enjoy fresh, organic, and locally-grown produce.
The Bottom Line
You can step off the beaten path this summer and pursue fun activities that will make this summer truly remarkable. Trying these activities will make your summer like no other. You will enjoy yourself to the fullest while keeping fit and staying healthy.
Remember to stay well-hydrated even as you engage in fun activities over the summer. You can infuse your water with unique flavors. You can experiment with refreshing infused water recipes such as cucumber-mint, watermelon-basil, and lemon-lavender. These recipes will add a twist to your summer hydrating drinks. You might need a water bottle with an infuser for this to work. If you still don’t have one, choose a water bottle with free infuser recipes. Some top infuser water bottles with free recipes include Hydracy Fruit Infuser Water Bottle, Hydracy Water Bottle with Time Marker, and Zulay Fruit Infuser Water Bottle.
You should also choose eco-friendly travel destinations this summer as part of your commitment to sustainability and conservation. As such, you should look for eco-lodges, national parks, or sustainable summer destinations that allow you to immerse yourself in nature while minding your environmental footprint.
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