Fun Ideas for Your Summer
As we all know by now, our options for fun this summer are considerably fewer, or at least different, than usual. With many of us opting to stay home, or at least in our area, all summer long, we wanted to share some of the best ways you can have fun even if you’re not getting to go on that awesome trip you’d originally planned until next year.
From planning a miniature, more contained vacation to learning new hobbies, arts, and crafts, there are still plenty of ways to relax and unwind, even if you have to be a little more creative in doing so. Here are some of our favorite ideas.
Staycation
When people hear the word “staycation” they think of sitting inside, taking bubble baths, and enjoying some alone time. But a staycation can also mean taking time off work or school and spending quality time together in your city or local region.
Depending on the social distancing measures taken nearby, you could go on a hike, have a picnic, or even enjoy a nice meal on a patio. Your staycation is what you make of it – if you’d rather choose the former option of getting some quality time by yourself, that’s great too! Whatever is most relaxing and enjoyable.
State and National Parks
When people think of vacations to national parks, they almost always think of the same list of places: the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, or Yosemite, among a few popular others. But did you know there are 62 national parks across the country? The closest to Oklahoma is Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, and others within a relatively easy distance include Great Sand Dunes National Park outside of Colorado Springs, as well as Carlsbad Caverns and Big Bend National Park in Texas.
There are also state parks across every state in the country, including the Great Salt Plains State Park in Oklahoma. Obviously, before visiting any of these beautiful spots, make sure you visit their websites or call to make sure the thing(s) you want to see is open.
Arts and Crafts
When’s the last time you did what you could call “arts and crafts” around the house? There are plenty of fun ways to get creative even if you don’t consider yourself an artist. You could paint flower pots for a new house plant or house plant garden, or purchase picture frames to paint as well.
For the kids, they can make arts and crafts with everyday items to hang in their room, using popsicle sticks, construction paper, and crayons or markers. Everyone can sit down and relax together. If your kids are a little older, or you’d rather not make something, you could always try jigsaw puzzles — a favorite of all ages.
Your New Favorite Hobby
Thanks to the internet, the phrase “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” has never been more wrong. It’s easy to start any new hobby, from woodworking to piano to meditation, whenever you want, thanks to resources like YouTube.
There’s also Reddit, which has forum pages (called “subreddits”) for pretty much any interest, where real people interact and offer recommendations and ask questions. Whatever hobby you’ve been putting off for years because there “wasn’t enough time” – maybe now is the time!
Backyard Fun
If you have even a small backyard, there is so much to do to fill up your free time, whether it’s just you, you and a partner, or the whole family including kids. You could start an herb garden (a regular garden, with produce, likely needs to be started earlier in the year – but you can always try!) which can grow year-round and allows you to have fresh herbs in your kitchen. Or, for the kids, turn the backyard into a waterpark with a slip n’ slide, or just a regular old sprinkler!
While the middle of the day is sometimes too hot, the mornings and evenings are still prime time to spend outdoors. And research shows that time outdoors on a sunny day, even if you’re not actually in the sun, can improve your state of mind and relax you.
Become a Pro Chef (Almost)
Speaking of those fresh herbs in the kitchen, now is a great time to find new recipes that you’ve been hesitant to try before for lack of time or energy. Taking a few days off this summer allows you the opportunity to do things you normally wouldn’t.
Even if you’re already a decent chef, it’s always fun to try something new, like making pizza dough from scratch, or frying chicken – or something healthier, like at-home salad dressing. The sky’s the limit when it comes to food.
Keep Your Home Clean
Relaxing is hard when your home isn’t clean – that’s where we come in. Before your staycation, give us a call. We offer custom services with the same person cleaning your place each week, so they know your space.