Joyful Adventures: 7 Easy Summer Activities You Can Do Today

Guys, it's SUMMER!!!!!!

One of the best seasons of the year is officially here. I thought it best to help out with a list of fun, simple, Summertime activities you can do. A lot of us are busy, and easy activities usually fit in best. So, without further delay, here are my top 7 Summer activities.

1. Dine Al Fresco 

I love a good barbecue. Picnics with friends or your significant other in the mountains, or a local park are always a good time. Bring croquet and have a little healthy competition. Bring a couple baseball mitts and a ball, a frisbee, or some playing cards. Bring a big blanket to lay on and look at the clouds.  If you have access to nearby mountains, hills or a park with a fire pit, get together, roast hotdogs, tinfoil dinners, cook whatever suits your tastebuds and bring the marshmallows. Sit around until it's dark, and then admire the stars without any light pollution. It's worth every minute of your time. 

2. Carnivals, fairs, rodeos, city events.

Americans love a good festival. Around our town, the surrounding cities, including ours, have a festival every Summer. They stagger them so it's a short drive to a carnival each weekend for a month or two. There are fairs with local goods for sale, contests, carnival rides, and rodeos. Usually there are big parades, as well. We love to wander the fair booths, and hit up a few carnival rides on warm Summer evenings. Here's a list of a few happening around here (to see everything go here):

• Provo's Freedom Days
• American Fork Steel Days
• Payton Scottish Festival
• Spanish Fork Fiesta Days
• Santaquin Orchard Days
• Springville World Folkfest

3. Swimming 

Do I really need to explain this one? Just go jump in water. It's hot. It will feel amazing.

4. Camping and/or hiking

Studies have shown that we feel better after time spent in nature. Whatever scenery you live by, get out and explore it. Get some natural vitamin D, and examine the natural beauty of the world around you. With places like this nearby, it's a wonder I don't just move out there. (That link is from a camping trip we took last year. I miss it every day!)

5. Outdoor concerts

Music, night skies, stars above? What's not to like? A lot of cities have free local concerts in parks. Check your city websites to find out about what's happening in your area. If you're in Utah during the Summer, here are a few notable (and super cheap or FREE) concert series worth checking out. 

Sundance Sounds Of Summer Concerts - A beautiful outdoor amphitheater set in the middle of Robert Redford's mountain resort. 

Rooftop Concert Series - Great shows, but watch out for hoards of (as in 50,000) college kids, and hipsters. You've been warned. 

Twilight Concert Series - Death Cab For Cutie is coming this year, WHAT?!

6. Bike Rides

Exercise can be leisurely. Bike rides put a breeze in your hair, and get you around town without being confined to a gas hogging machine. Call up some friends, or go it solo, and put the pedals to the metal. 

7. Farmer's Markets 

I love a good farmer's market. Salt Lake City has a huge one every Saturday from June to September. There's local produce, local baked goods, garden plants and supplies, and every kind of craft imaginable for sale. Food trucks come, and local bands. It's a great time. Plus, everyone brings their dogs out and who doesn't love a bunch of happy-to-be-alive dogs?

Click here to find a farmer's market in your area (if you're a Utah resident, that is). This is a list from last year, but if you click the link for one it should take you to this year's schedule for it. 

++ So, what are you going to do this Summer?

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