Old School Things to Do This Summer

When things slow down in the summer and we are looking for some fun, I suggest we look to the past to determine some low stress, old school things to do. Here are some vintage-inspired activities that you can do that often don’t cost much, if anything.

1. Play in Water

When I was in high school, we would grab some inner tubes and head over to a nearby lake and float around all day. It was free and refreshing. The coolest part was that we had a pet beaver, Beaver Cleaver, at the time and brought him along to swim with us.

When I was home with kids and we had no extra money, I packed a lunch and went to Cherry Creek creek in the middle of Denver to wade and splash around—again, free and refreshing. Sure the water is not clear like a swimming pool, but it is an all-natural way to connect with nature and cool yourself off.

Even in the city, there are creeks and ponds that you can picnic near, stick your feet in, wade around and possibly, jump into for a refreshing swim. These days, my favorite thing to do is paddle board on a lake. Actually, I mostly sit and float. It is peaceful and reminds me of the days when we swam in lakes exclusively and floated around on inner tubes.

2. Have a Pot-Luck

We simply do not have enough time to see everyone we want to see. My suggestion: have people over for a grill-out potluck or impromptu dinner party. Mix it up and invite a bunch of people that are not necessarily connected. Tell everyone to bring something to share or assign specific items for everyone to bring. Remember, keep it simple so that you do not stress. No one cares if the food is gourmet, the plates are paper, or the space is spotless. Its all about being with friends and family. It is also a great way to introduce your friends and family to new people or colleagues.

3. Go to the Fair

Growing up in northern Colorado, I participated in the 4-H program. This is where young people learn, participate and compete in various old school activities like raising horses, cows and sheep, baking cakes and pies, sewing, and leadership. During July and August, 4-H kids gather at county or state fairs to show their work and compete against other kids. It is the darn cutest thing to see. The animals are lovingly tended through the year. The sewing, knitting and baking projects are done by hand, from the novice hands of children. The food served at the fair is traditional country, carnival fare (think turkey legs and funnel cakes.) There are carnival rides, all grimy and gross. Going to your county or state 4-H fair is a wonderful blast from the past. If you are in the Denver area, Here is a link to the Denver Country Fair—unconventional for sure!

4. Concerts Under the Stars

One of the things I look forward to most in the summer is listening to music under the stars. While not everyone can enjoy a live concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, there are outdoor concerts in every town. Many of these are free. Most cities/towns have a free summer concert series. It is a good time to visit the farmers market in the morning to collect your loaf of crusty fresh bread, some goat cheese, dried meats and organic strawberries.  You can enjoy this picnic feast while sitting among friends and neighbors, listening to some live music.

5. Summer Market Extravaganza

All around the country there are an ever increasing number of summer outdoor markets popping up, featuring hand-made, small batch goods from intentional makers like Naked Goat Farm. In Colorado, we have The Denver Flea, The Horseshoe Markets, and Paris Street Market (naming only a few.) Grab your reusable bag, some cash and take a leisure stroll around any one of these markets and you will be able to sample glorious food, find some treasures and meet neat people, often the artist themselves. It reminds me of the European markets or what it must have been like before Walmart, where individual people made the all-natural, nourishing products they were selling. Ah, glorious.

Make the most out of the summer by planning ahead. Read more about planning for a great summer at our blog, 5 Steps to Planning a Great Summer.

What is your favorite old school thing to do in the summer? Leave comments below.