Inspiration

101 Ways to Have Fun This Summer

From learning to surf to hitting up a drive-in movie theater.
Xigia sulphur beach in summer elevated view. Zakynthos Greek Islands Greece
Matteo Colombo/Getty

After a strange few years, it's safe to say that we're all in need of a generous dose of fun—the kind associated with blasting music with the car windows down, cannonballing into the hotel pool, or dancing with strangers until the sun rises. 

In anticipation of the months ahead, we’ve put together a list of 101 ways to have fun this summer—everything from getting scuba certified or taking up surf lessons for the first time, to glamping under the stars and using all those points and miles to finally book that once-in-a-lifetime trip. (One thing you won't see? A single virtual event.) We hope it not only helps you feel even more inspired about planning your summer, but gives you license to get excited about all the future trips that lie ahead, too.

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Spend as much time outside as possible

1. Plan elaborate park picnics

2. Go to an outdoor concert 

3. Catch a movie at the drive-in 

4. Host a backyard barbecue

5. Wear sunscreen everyday

6. Seek out the country's best swimming holes

7. Get into bird watching

Eat and drink at your favorite summer spots—and discover new ones

8. Experience a city through its food tours 

9. Dine inside one of the world's best new restaurants

10. Support your local Chinatown

11. Discover—and celebrate—America's many food cultures

12. Feast on Texas barbecue

13. Perfect your camping meals

Take a road trip through Mexico like chef and author Rick Martínez—and eat shrimp on the beach in Mazatlán.

Ren Fuller

14. Take a culinary road trip through Mexico

15. Spend the night at a vineyard

16. Drink a cold beer inside your favorite dive bar

17. Impress your friends by whipping up some Italian cocktails at your vacation rental

18. …Or order one from a trained bartender

19. Go to happy hour on a rooftop

20. Drink rum on the beach

Learn how to move your body after a long winter

21. Take up surf lessons

One way to get moving this summer? Take up surf lessons at your local beach.

Dennis Hallinan/Getty

22. Hone your roller skating skills

23. …Or stick to two wheels and cycle around the Dutch countryside

24. Give rock climbing lessons a try

25. Go running in a new city

26. Try out mountain biking

27. Get scuba certified

28. Learn to play pickleball

Ditch the WFH sweats

29. Master the art of dressing for summer bike rides

30. …Or at least acquire a pair of decent bike shorts

31. Invest in a new pair of sunglasses

32. Indulge in new travel-friendly beauty essentials

33. Build out an extravagant summer hat collection

Sun hats from brands like Lack of Color are a summer essential.

Lack of Color

34. Buy a solid pair of hiking boots

35. Stock up on linen basics

36. Find swimwear that actually feels good

Be on (or near) a body of water

37. Take adult swim lessons and learn how to open water swim

38. Book a day pass at a fancy hotel pool

Nothing beats a pool pass on a sweltering day.

Slim Aarons/Getty

39. Sunbathe on a yacht

40. Take a river cruise

41. Rent a lake house with your closest friends

42. Make the most of America's beautiful beaches

43.  Give kayaking a go

Upgrade your summer gear

44. Invest in a lawn chair for parks, beaches, festivals, and more

45. Stock up on waterproof essentials for lazy days by the lake or pool

46. Find a decent speaker to blast that summer playlist 

47. Travel with your own personal pool float 

48. …And always carry a bathing suit (you just never know when you'll need it)

49. Invest in a proper camera instead of relying on your phone 

Upgrade your camera gear for that long-awaited European vacation.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

50. Buy a sling bag for long hikes and exploring new cities

51. Stand out in the crowd with a flashy beach towel

Finally start planning that big trip

52. Get serious about your points and miles strategy

53. Plan a luxurious beach getaway in the Caribbean

54. …Or a city break in Mexico

55. Upgrade to the airport lounge

56. Hire a travel specialist

57. Turn on your OOO and actually take a do-nothing vacation

58. Sign up for a group tour and meet new people

59 …Or finally plan that solo trip

60. Embrace spontaneity again

Spend the summer hopping between Greek islands.

Jason Blackeye/Unsplash

61. Drop everything and escape to a Greek island

62. …Or France

63. …Or another dreamy European destination

Become an outdoorsy person

64. Rent an Airbnb near Yosemite

65. Keep using all the camping gear you accumulated over past summers

66. Book camping spots early to snag a coveted one on the beach 

Beach camping has seen renewed popularity over the last few years.

Kimson Doan/Unsplash

67. ...And bring the dog you adopted in 2020 with you

68. Go glamping in the wilderness

69. Take advantage of the country's many hiking trails

70. Explore the country's most accessible national parks

71. Climb a via ferrata in the Rockies

72. Stargaze in Joshua Tree

Spoil yourself 

73. Spend the night at a hotel with no responsibilities

Book a stay at Patina Maldives, Fari Islands—just because you can.

Gorge Roske

74. Book a spa getaway

75. …Or recreate a spa day at home

76. Wear pajamas all vacation long

77. Get a good night's sleep for the first time in years

78. Soak in this Urban Cowboy tub

79. Delete Zoom and go off the grid

80. …For a trip that's all about you

Hit the open road

81. Drive cross-country at a leisurely pace

82. …And clock up some credit card points while you're at it

83. Tour U.S. national parks in your very own RV

84. Rent a convertible for a weekend getaway

Summer is prime time for a cross-country road trip.

Clay Banks/Unsplash

85. Live like a van lifer for the summer

86. Follow one of our favorite road trip itineraries

87. Try your hand at car camping

88. Road trip under the stars

89. Get your international driver's license

90. …And go on and hit the road abroad

Hug your loved ones

91. Plan a milestone birthday trip

92. Dance at summer weddings

93. …And tack on your own trip afterwards

94. Go on a romantic getaway 

Plan a birthday trip to make up for the ones you missed.

Oleh Slobodeniuk/Getty

95. Surprise someone with their dream trip

96. Host a family reunion at a sprawling Airbnb

97. Book a vacation that everyone will enjoy

98. Embrace the chaos of a bachelor or bachelorette party

99. Take over an entire hotel with your friends

100. Go on that long-awaited trip with your travel buddy

And if that's still not enough travel…

101. Then why not become an expat?