You can enjoy life at all times throughout the year. But let’s be honest: life is best during the summer months when the days are long and the temperatures are warm. On those days, it feels that doing anything at all is enjoyable.
However, as with most things, the more effort you put into your summer experience, the more you’ll get out. If you’re looking for some inspiration on how to make summer 2024 one to remember, then you’re in the right place. Below, we’ll run through eleven ideas that’ll have you enjoying the best that the summer months have to offer.
Image by Cliford Mervil on Pexels – https://www.pexels.com/@cliford-mervil-988071/
Invest in Camping Supplies
We all want to be outside during the summer months, so why not make it possible for you to spend as much time as possible in the outdoors? The UK has some truly outstanding campsites that are up there with the best that you’ll find across the world. To enjoy them, you’ll need to own — or have access to — some camping supplies.
But you don’t need that much. If you have a tent, sleeping bags, and basic outdoor equipment, then you’ll be well-equipped to spend a few nights under the stars. Make your first trip at the beginning of the season, and we’re confident that you’ll be sleeping outdoors every other week. It’s that much fun.
Get Your Yard in Shape
As we said above: people like being outside during summer. But it’s not as if you can always go outside every time the weather hits 20+ degrees. There’ll be relaxed midweek evenings when you have no desire to leave the confines of your property.
You can ensure that you can still enjoy all that summer has to offer by putting together a summer-ready back garden. If you have a well-landscaped space and comfortable seating, then you’ll have more than enough to sit outside on those balmy summer evenings. You may also consider adding a firepit (or other heat source), so you can enjoy your yard even when the temperatures begin to dip.
Hit the Water
The summer is all about outdoor activities. And the best kind of outdoor activities are the ones that take place out on the water. If you live near a body of water, then consider making this the summer when you finally engage in some water activities. There’s no shortage of options available. You could invest in a couple of inflatable paddle boards, and spend relaxing evenings gently guiding yourself along the water. Canoes and kayaks are other two great options. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, then you could consider taking a trip to a surf destination and try your hand at surfing — don’t worry about falling off; it’s all part of the fun!
Friends and Family Get-Togethers
Everyone’s in a good mood during the summer months. So why not look at getting your friends and family together for an afternoon of good old seasonal fun? For this, you’ll need little more than your backyard, a good BBQ, and some delicious BBQ recipes. You can ask your loved ones to bring snacks and supplies (lemonade and summer cocktails are highly encouraged). Once you’re all in place, it’ll just be a matter of playing some of those all-time great summer songs and sinking into deep relaxation. Trust us when we say that everyone in your clan will have a great day!
Slow Train Journeys
Most people decide to take a plane to a far-flung destination during summer. And don’t get us wrong: that can very much be fun and valuable (as we’ll see below). However, keep in mind that it’s not the only travel option available to you. An alternative option is to book yourself onto one of those slow sleeper trains that connect European cities (and sometimes, even beyond). A London – Berlin sleeper train started running last year, making it a good option if you’re hoping to visit a big city this summer too.
The magical thing about train journeys is that they become part of the experience. On a plane, you’re usually just hoping that it’ll arrive at the destination as quickly as possible. On a train, you’ll be more than happy for it to take its time as you stare out at the beautiful scenery before you.
Domestic Exploring
It’s normal for people to plan trips to other parts of the world during the summer months, especially if the weather doesn’t look like it’ll be up to much. But there’s been an increasing number of Brits deciding to spend their holidays right here in the UK — and with good reason. It’s easy to forget, but the UK offers just about everything, from stunning scenery to world-class cities and events. Plus, if you explore domestically, you can do so by car, which allows you to engage in another highly recommended summer activity: the much-revered road trip.
Music Festivals
Looking to have an awesome time with friends, make some memories, and see some truly talented musicians doing their thing right in front of your eyes? Then look at attending a music festival this summer. The UK has a world-renowned reputation for having some of the best music festivals that the world has to offer. You’ll likely have heard of the big ones, but keep in mind that there are excellent festivals for just about every genre of music, so whatever type of music you enjoy, there’ll be something for you.
Image by Wendy Wei on Pexels -https://www.pexels.com/@wendywei/
Sporting Events
This summer will also see plenty of great sports events take place. There’s the Olympics in Paris, the Vuelta a Espana in Spain, Euro 2024…the list goes on. The best way to experience these world-class events is to attend in person, which would make a pretty great holiday and allow you to tick off some of your bucket list.
If attending in person isn’t an option, then look at making these sporting occasions an event. For instance, you could turn your home into a temporary pub for your friends and family during Euro 2024; in fact, this might be the best year to do that, since England are currently favourites to pick up the trophy!
International Trips
The classic summer holiday. You can’t beat it. In this day and age, you have countless options when it comes to deciding where you want to go. You could take a beach holiday to Greece, spend some time exploring Berlin, head off to New York for a few days, or pick an often-overlooked gem, such as Bulgaria.
Bike Excursions
Looking for an easy way to have great days during the summer months? Look at investing in a bike, especially if you live in an area that’s near to nature. When the days are long, it’ll be more than possible to go out for a ride after work, ensuring you make the most of the season.
Build That Reading List…And Commit To Reading Them
If you take all of the ideas that we’ve outlined above, then you’ll have an exceptionally busy summer. But don’t forget that summer is also supposed to be relaxing. However, it’s unlikely to happen all on its own — ideas and plans easily pop up, and before we know it, the summer has breezed past us in a blur. You can make sure you spend some time winding down by building a summer reading list and then — and this is the important bit — committing to reading them. You’ll be much more likely to lie down in your hammock (note: buy a hammock) when you have a few books you’ve promised you’ll finish by the end of summer.
Feature image by Krzysztof Kowalik on Unsplash
