Stuck at home and wondering how to make the most out of this blistering summer? Just because you don’t have any travel plans doesn’t mean your summer vacation has to be a bore. There are plenty of activities you can do from the comfort of your own backyard.
If you’re looking for something to pass the time until the autumn leaves and pumpkin spice lattes rear their heads, read about some fun things to do at home this summer.
Host a Backyard BBQ
It’s a quintessential part of every summer. BBQs are a delicious way to pass the time and a fantastic way to brush up on your cooking skills. You can always have a BBQ alone, but where’s the fun in that? Invite over a handful of friends and family members and turn it into the party of the summer.
It wouldn’t be the perfect BBQ without games to play, high-energy music, and, naturally, delectable staples such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and grilled vegetable skewers.
Participate in a competitive round of beanbag toss, do some dancing, play in the water (if you don’t have a regular pool, there’s no shame in kiddy pools, slip-n’-slides, and sprinklers), and then crack open the grill hood and get to grilling.
Go Camping
Another fun thing to do at home this summer is go camping. Wait, doesn’t that require you to visit a nature preserve? Not necessarily. You can always pitch your tent in your own backward. Don’t forget the bonfire and s’mores, either, and (for your own sake) don’t forget the bug spray.
If you don’t have a fence separating your lawn from the neighbors’, they might think you’re weird for sleeping outdoors when you clearly have a perfectly good home and bed, but what they think doesn’t matter as long as you’re having fun.
Summer is also the best time to watch the stars, so try to plan your camping trip for a clear day so you can lay on your sleeping bag and watch the universe float by at nighttime.
Plant a Garden
Maintaining a garden is backbreaking work, but at the end of the season, you get rewarded for your effort with basketfuls of ripe and delicious produce. It’s incredibly satisfying to watch little sprouts gradually transform into towering and flowering plants. It’s a lot like watching your kids grow up and leave home (but instead of going to college, they’re going in your fridge).
Make sure to plant fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers that you like. There’s no point in forcing yourself to plant tomatoes when you don’t like them. Chances are, they’ll just go to waste. If you have a particularly bountiful harvest, don’t forget to share your luck with neighbors and other people in your community. You can also donate your extras to homeless shelters or soup kitchens, so they can incorporate your plants into tasty meals for those in need.
