The Good Ol’ Summer Time: Making The Most of It!
With the Fourth of July behind us, it seems like the days of summer are speeding by faster than ever, so here’s to making the most of them! Whether it’s enjoying a full-fledged getaway, a stay-cation, or turning weekends into mini-vacations or retreats, I hope you’ll have the opportunity to re-fresh and re-charge this summer.
Here are 5 tips for making the most of those (hopefully) sunny, and (hopefully) not-too-hot days off to come:
Walk – It’s easy; you can do it almost anywhere; and it doesn’t cost a dime. Walking provides excellent health benefits, so head to the waterfront, a beautiful park, or a pedestrian path through town. Then put on a pair of well-cushioned walking shoes and start logging those steps.
Read or Listen – Summer is a great time to indulge in a good book. Whether reading or listening, there’s nothing like a juicy mystery, historical romance, or motivational “How-To” classic to liven up summer breaks. I enjoy audiobooks while out on walks or driving to work, and right now I’m completely absorbed in Erik Larson’s Devil In The White City. Escaping into a good book is a mini-getaway unto itself, so find a wonderful page-turner, or pop in the ear buds, and be transported.
Tour – It’s great fun to see the sights on vacation, however it can be equally fun to be a tourist in your own hometown. So often, we take our own neck-of-the-woods for granted, and figure that, since points of interest are always there, we can go anytime – except many of us rarely do.
This summer, try taking in a show at the nearby summer stock playhouse; go to a tasting at the winery down the road; tour the historic mansion you pass on your way to work; or sit on the lawn with a picnic dinner for a summer festival concert. Your chamber of commerce, historical society, or convention/tourism bureau can offer great resources for discovering interesting things to do…right in your own backyard.
Hop On A Bike – It’s a fun way to exercise and a lovely way to tour around your town, or wherever you may be vacationing. If you don’t have your own bicycle, many areas have bike rental companies to help get you rolling.
Eat Delicious Food – I love summer dishes. They’re lighter, and often fresher thanks to the proliferation of farmers markets and “farm to table” restaurants around the country. Make time to visit a farmer’s market or go straight to the fields. My husband and I recently went blueberry picking, and I look forward to consulting my Yummly app for some delicious blueberry recipes.
Summer is the time to replenish and recharge by connecting with the great outdoors, as well as with family and friends. I wish you sunny days ahead to do just that!
