Summer is finally here! It’s the best time of year to enjoy warm, carefree days… even if you’re strapped for cash.
Summer activities can be expensive: road trips, water parks, and concerts aren’t always in your budget! So to help reignite the creativity of your youth, when a fun day involved sidewalk chalk, super soakers, and freeze-pops, here are 20 cheap summer activities for you to try out:
With Friends:
- Check out free outdoor festivals and events in your area – most cities have an online listing/twitter-feed of festivals and entertainment. Try something new like a cultural festival, or a new genre of music.
- Spend the day at the beach – whether you live near the ocean, or by a lakeshore, a day by the water can be relaxing and fun. Pack a Frisbee, kite, or football to keep entertained, or try building an epic sandcastle before the tide comes in.
- Picnic or Barbeque – grab a blanket, some food and beverages. Friends are sure to join you for a delicious meal. After-all, eating is a lot more fun when you’re goofing around outside!
- Take a hike or walk – do you live near a wildlife preserve, national park, or nature trails? Get out and explore the outdoors for an afternoon.
- Camping – even if you’re not a seasoned camper, a night at the local campsite can be a great vacation from your regular life. Especially if you’ve got plenty of food and friends to share it with.
With Your Special Someone:
- Star gazing – spend a night in a field, park, or hillside staring up at the stars. Be sure to get a star-mapping app for your smartphone to help you settle disagreements.
- Biking or roller-skating – even if you don’t own a bike, rentals are pretty cheap. Take a tour of your city or just enjoy the feel of the wind on your face as you power through parks.
- Mini-golf – Nothing says summer like a round of mini-golf. Follow it up with an ice cream one and you’ll have won my heart.
- Check out local artists at your pub or patio – does your local watering hole have live music? Check out a new band and get ready to clap along!
- Flea and Farmer’s Markets – check out the deals or locally sourced products at your hometown market. And, of course, the delicious food!
With Family and Kids
- Hitting up the playground – what’s more fun that playing on the monkey bars and getting reacquainted with the swing-set? Enjoy a trip to your local park with your favourite kiddo and be prepared to see the world through their eyes.
- Explore your city – check out parks, museums, or historic sites like a tourist. You might be surprised what you’ve always been missing out on! Check websites for deals; since you’ll be in town all summer you can take advantage.
- Washer-toss, Horseshoes, Crocket, Bocce Ball, or Lawn Bowling – get reacquainted with those dorky outdoor games that your parents never seem to part with. Try them out with the new and older generation – you might even stand a chance of winning!
- Bonfire – who doesn’t love a good bonfire? Gather up some old brush and prepare the fire pit cause you’re totally having roasted marshmallows tonight! For extra dork points, try starting a sing-a-long.
- Rent a canoe or paddleboat – take a relaxing paddle in a river or lake. Or play pirates. It’s up to you.
On Your Own
- Recreational Sports Leagues – get active and make some new friends by joining a recreational team. Many cities offer baseball, soccer, or ultimate Frisbee for next to no cost!
- Volunteering – have you been meaning to give back to your community? Contact a local organization. Interested in fundraising? There’s no better time to throw a car wash to raise funds for your favorite charity!
- Gardening – whether it’s starting a flower garden or growing some delicious veggies, gardening can be relaxing and rewarding. And compiling a list of recipes to try out can be strangely satisfying as well.
- Crafting – get some supplies and finally try out those DIY projects that you’ve pinned on Pinterest. Then take about a hundred photos and upload them for all to be amazed.
- Reading a book outside – there’s really nothing like sitting in your favourite spot (chair-swing anyone?) and enjoying a good story. Find a great summer read and unwind.
So there you have it – 20 ways to keep entertained this summer without breaking the bank. Enjoy!
Have any more cheap summer activities in mind? Please share!
Elle is a 25-year-old blogger from Atlantic Canada. After spending University as a townie, transfer student, dorm dweller, commuter, on the Dean’s list and academic probation, spending a year studying abroad, and at long-last graduating with a Masters degree, she’s experienced just about every up-and-down that college life can throw at you. An aspiring biologist and animal lover, she spends her weekends away from the Internet to enjoy nature walks, kite flying, and exploring her hometown.
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