I went for a run through a nearby woods yesterday, and I kept catching whiffs of honeysuckle. It is that time of year again — early summer — and while we still have some cool nights, and school goes to mid-June, I’m declaring it summer for me.
To that end, I’m posting my Summer Fun List. Longtime readers know I have done this every year for probably a decade (maybe more! Here’s 2016 and 2022, which also has links to lots of other years). The idea is to make a summer bucket list of sorts. These are things I want to do this summer to make summer feel like summer. These lists definitely evolve over the years but I still like thinking about this. And I generally hope to get to the end of summer having crossed most things off. Here’s what’s on the list this year.
Go strawberry picking. I didn’t think this would happen as we have moved out of our fruit-picking-as-entertainment era for the most part. But I convinced my little guy (and my husband) to go on Memorial Day. We went to Maple Acres Farm, which is about 20 minutes away, and had a fairly relaxed stroll through the rows picking berries. And now we are eating them. The photo accompanying this post is from their farm stand. I hope to hit a few farmers’ markets this summer as well.
Smell the honeysuckle. My little boys and I like wandering to a patch near the driveway. I showed them how to taste the nectar and they are big fans. Nature’s sugar!
Bike. Always a favorite summer activity. I’ll do some solo rides plus some with the kids. My 16-year-old has a bike camping trip coming up with his Scout troop.
Do hot tub + pool TOAD time. This happens most nights now. The little boys like to play in the pool, which is finally up to a balmy 75 degrees. I sit in the hot tub since I don’t like to be cold! But it will get warmer soon. This is a great way to spend the time after dinner and before bedtime and means less screen time (for all of us).
Go see the Phillies play. Possibly more than once. Baseball games are the quintessential summer activity and my kids have gotten to the age where they can mostly enjoy a game, especially since the pitch clock means it’s not eternal. So this can be a family activity.
Host the church choir party. This has become something of a tradition. We set up on the patio with fried chicken and hot dogs and people bring appetizers/drinks/desserts. Here’s hoping for no rain! (Though if it does rain we’ll just move inside). I’m also planning to host some smaller cookouts/swims — need to get those on the calendar.
Do a Father’s Day brunch at Talula’s Garden. We are now in our “brunch era” as a family — so we’re going to try a fancier one and see how it goes. We had brunch at First Watch the other day and survived, though that is pretty casual, and did Founding Farmers a few weeks ago.
Drink my coffee outside in the mornings. Since camp starts later than school for most of my kids, theoretically the mornings should be slower. It is possible I will just use the time to sleep later (and stay up later) though the early sun tends to pull me out of bed. Anyway, when possible, I hope to enjoy my first cup of coffee out on the porch.
Host SHU plus observe the July 4th/250th. Philly is going to be a bit nuts for the Fourth of July this year, for obvious reasons. Sarah will also be here so I hope to make this a fun weekend.
Go see Sarah McLachlan in concert. This is my outdoor concert for the official summer season (though I also have tickets for Melissa Etheridge in September). Outdoor concerts are another quintessential summer activity and so fingers crossed it won’t rain.
Go to the Philadelphia Zoo’s Ale Fest. I have tickets for this — usually I put “go to a beer garden” on my list but I think this will take its place. We’re going to see the new bear exhibit in June as well. I might make it to a beer garden some other night but in any case, the outdoor beer drinking will be covered (between this and the Phillies).
Enjoy our beach traditions. We’ll be back to the Jersey Shore for two weeks in August. This is the same house as usual, so we’ll go to all our old haunts: Day’s, Toast, Cousins Maine Lobster, the pinball arcade, plus hopefully the new restaurants in Asbury. I intend to run along the boardwalk many days as well.
2 very cool international trips. I’m always superstitious about talking about these before they happen but I will be traveling twice this summer — once with a friend, and once to give a speech — to places I am excited to see. More on that when they happen!
Camp? I hesitate to put this on here, but I’ve pondered camping in the yard some night as a way to dip my toe into the water of camping. I think my 6-year-old would enjoy this, but of course this means I have to choose a night where I don’t care if I actually sleep…We shall see!
What’s on your list?
