The sweetest moments of summer don’t have to be expensive ones. Even if you’ve put pricey vacation plans on hold while you’re working toward other financial goals, you still can find plenty of affordable, interesting things to do close to home. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Explore the great outdoors
1. Go backyard camping & stargazing
When was the last time you really hung out in your yard? You might be surprised at all the natural beauty you can observe. Pick a warm, clear night and pitch your tent for an overnight experience filled with singing songs, telling stories and doing some stargazing—all in your very own backyard. (If you have a fire pit, don’t forget the s’mores!)
2. Begin bird-watching
If you’re the type of person who likes to check things off a list, bird-watching may be a great summer activity for you. Find an online guide to the most common birds in your area, then spend some time each week quietly observing them in your local trees, shrubs and bodies of water. If you need some guidance, look for free bird-watching apps that identify birds by their looks, songs or even wing sounds.
3. Explore a national park
You’re probably closer to a national park than you think. More than 300 million visitors take a trip to one or more of the 63 U.S. national parks each year, from Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve to Florida’s Dry Tortugas National Park. The National Park Service offers free days to enter national parks throughout the year, and children under 15 usually are admitted free.
4. Have a hammock day
When you really need to relax this summer, try a hammock. Buy or borrow a lightweight hammock (maybe check your local Buy Nothing or similar group) and then explore all the local places you can take it. Just attach your hammock between two trees and enjoy a perfect summer afternoon reading a book, taking a nap or gazing at the clouds.
Move your body
5. Go geocaching
Download the free, official Geocaching app, choose your cache and participate in the world’s largest treasure hunt. Don’t forget to bring a pen so you can sign the logbook inside the geocache. You may even find a small “treasure” to keep.
6. Hike with a purpose
A walk outdoors can become a living classroom that teaches you to identify plants, insects, birds and other living things. Use the free iNaturalist app to access live image recognition from a catalog of millions of crowdsourced nature observations.
7. Go for mini golf
Mini golf is usually much cheaper than greens fees at your local golf course—and it can be more family- and group-friendly, too. Check out your area for courses that incorporate the work of local artists, sculptures, natural water features and more.
Try something new
8. Experience some art
Fine art can be restorative, challenging and inspirational. Many art museums offer free or discounted admission on certain days of the week. Take advantage and plan a visit on one of those days, taking photos of your favorite pieces of art as you wander the galleries. Bonus: It’s a perfect air-conditioned activity for sweltering summer days!
9. Enjoy baseball on a budget
For a sporty evening under the stars, check out a minor league baseball team near you. Often much less expensive than attending a major league game, a night with the farm club is sure to include catchy promotions, silly mascots and plenty of lighthearted fun.
10. Take a literary walk
Get the free Little Free Library app on your phone, then select a new neighborhood to explore while checking these community-maintained libraries off your list. You’ll find plenty of ready-to-read choices, all for free, and you can give your own previously read or unwanted books a new home, too.
Connect with others
11. Have a “Do Good Day”
How many ways can you brighten spaces and help those around you? Get a group of friends or family members together and write letters or pay visits to senior citizens, pick up trash in parks, or volunteer to walk neighbors’ dogs.
12. Organize a clothing swap
Ask friends to bring over clothing and accessories they are ready to part with. You’ll connect over sharing the stories of when and why you bought something while trying on some new outfits. The best part? Everyone will head home with a little bit of free wardrobe-brightening. For you bookworms, host a book swap instead and walk away with your next summer read!
13. Strategize during game night
Whether you’re settling in with a classic like Scrabble or trying your hand at more modern games like Wingspan or Just One, a game night is a thrifty way to have fun, get competitive and enjoy the company of friends and family. Create your own “leaderboard” to track top players—and consider offering a small prize for the night’s MVP.
Enhance your summer by leading a Thrivent Action Team
If you’d like to help neighbors in need this summer, consider leading a Thrivent Action Team.
“We give our members the tools, seed money and support they need to lead a fundraiser, service activity or educational event to drive impact in their communities,” says Emily Hendren, director of member engagement strategies at Thrivent.
Some summer projects members have led include distributing lunch bags to school-age children, creating summer activity bags for local organizations serving kids in foster care, and starting reading challenges with donated books and materials.
To apply for a Thrivent Action Team, you must be a Thrivent client with membership. Complete an application with your idea, and once approved, Thrivent will send a kit to support your project. Then, rally your team to bring the community project to life.
“Thrivent Action Teams are a great activity for the whole family, especially over summer break,” Hendren says. “There’s something special about passing on the value of generosity to others.”
Make family memories
14. Create a family tree
Do some research, talk to older relatives and begin to learn more about your own ancestry. Write down all the stories that emerge and you’ll have a new family keepsake of cherished memories, too. This is an activity you can enjoy delving into on your own or with elementary to teenage kids so you can all learn more about your family history together.
15. Visit a petting zoo
Get up close and personal with some animals by taking a trip to a petting zoo. Besides getting to interact with the animals, many petting zoos offer the opportunity to feed them, too. It’s a novel experience that both kids and adults will love.
16. Build a blanket fort
You’re never too old to recreate the best parts of your own childhood summers. So, on the next rainy day, pull down the couch cushions, set up some blanket coverings and enjoy a cozy afternoon—with or without kids—in your new creation.
Raise some revenue
17. Host a yard sale
If you missed spring cleaning this year, set your sights on a summer clear out and yard sale. Your house will be less cluttered, and you might even make a tidy profit, too. If you don’t have a whole garage-full to get rid of, join forces with some neighbors and make an event of it.
18. Refresh your neighbors with a lemonade stand
Do your kids want a way to earn a bit of spending money? Set them up with a supervised stand in your neighborhood and see how much they can earn on a warm summer afternoon.
Julie Kendrick is a writer in Minnesota.
We asked, you answered
What are your summer plans?
- Participating in the local 5k or 10k trail race for a local or national charity. —Jerry L. Butler
- Zoo pass and state park pass. They both get us close to nature, and we have fun making mini trip —Diana Taylor
- Visiting my grandkids at the cabin enjoying the sun, and wonderful rides on the pontoon on the lake listening to the loons. —Karen Berg
- Hanging out with friends on our rafts, just chilling, talking, doing absolutely nothing but soaking up sun and laughs. The best thing about this is it’s an ageless thing to do. The friends I had in my teens still do this with me, and we sure aren’t even close to that age anymore. Some are grandparents now! —Kaitlin’s Heart for Heroes
- A state park sticker is a small price to pay for unlimited visits to beautiful places of nature. Most of them offer hiking, swimming, camping and other activities and events. —Leslie Mader
- Joining the community pool so we can do water aerobics every day! —Suzann Lombard
- Sitting on my front porch drinking iced tea with my friends. —Rosemary Sinniger
