11 Ways to Have an Extraordinary Summer

Photographer%3A+Allie+Mallouk+18.

Photographer: Allie Mallouk ’18.

Noor Jahanshahi '16, Staff Writer

Summer: the 3-month blank canvas of free time. Finally, time is really yours. No more tests, quizzes, projects, practices, rehearsals or deadlines to stress you out!  These three months can either go down in history as one of the best summers you will ever have, or they can fade away and become lost in front of the TV or in some dark corner of your house; the choice is yours. And by reading this list, and maybe even following some of its advice, your summer can be one to remember. Read ahead, and seize the reigns of your summer!

  1. Read a book: yes we know, obvious and already required by whichever English class you are taking. But believe it or not, reading can actually be fun (!). Go to your local library (or discover it if you’ve never visited yours), or find a bookshop somewhere near you and browse around until something looks interesting. You could even discover your new favourite author (or if you’re really not bothered to look around, you could just email me and I would be happy to recommend some books to you).
  2. Become a tourist: even if you won’t be traveling this summer, don’t let that stop you from exploring somewhere in LA stereotyped as being “touristy” (you could even take one of those questionable celebrity tours just to laugh about the pointlessness of it all).
  3. Go to the beach: this one’s easy if you live in LA with options ranging from Venice to Malibu. If you want to be even more adventurous, discover a beach somewhere along your travels, such as a glass beach in Northern California.
  4. Try a new activity: badminton, surfing, golf, croquet, water aerobics, etc.: all examples of perfectly respectable and fun activities to take up over the summer.
  5. Go to the observatory: the Griffith Observatory opens up one of their giant telescopes at night so you can see whichever planet is visible that night. In addition, loads of smaller telescopes are set up on their lawn too, each pointed at a constellation or a planet. Make the most of the summer stars!
  6. Have a picnic: make it simple & just grab a sandwich with your friends and find a green space to enjoy your food. You could even go all the way and fill a wicker basket or hamper with food and take it down to your local park.
  7. Go to an outdoor movie: “But how?!” you say. “It’s not the 1950s anymore!” Well, I recently discovered that there is a company that screens outdoor films all over LA throughout the summer and even goes so far as to hire food trucks to come and sell food at the screening sites. See the link here for further direction.
  8. Visit a museum: whether you are a history buff or an art enthusiast, there is no doubt that there will be at least one museum exhibition that will interest you. To explore your options, check out the Anchor article on museums in LA.
  9. Make popsicles: simple, yes, but fun. Go down to your local supermarket or farmer’s market and purchase all the fruit your heart desires, and go fruity. You don’t even really need a proper popsicle mold, just use some plastic cups and wooden coffee stirrers or plastic spoons.
  10. Go on a hike: whether you go up to Runyon Canyon or visit one of California’s beautiful national parks, there is always gorgeous scenery and some much-needed fresh air wherever you choose to hike.
  11. Have a campfire: if you’re going to do this, just make sure you’re following all the fire safety rules (a drought, as it happens, does not help stop brush fires). Find a safe area, have a responsible adult close by, some form of fire extinguisher, music and s’mores ingredients: the perfect recipe for a fun night under the stars.

Most importantly, enjoy yourself. Your summer certainly won’t be memorable if you don’t have fun, so keep it light and don’t stress yourself out!