The weather is getting warm, time to fill up the pool, and shop for new swimwear to flaunt, and the school year is almost done. Yes, summer vacation here we come!
It’s one of the busiest travel seasons of the year again, and if you’re still sitting on the couch deciding where to spend your most awaited summer vacation, this article is the best pick for you. Aside from visiting beautiful and relaxing places, we enjoy different things and activities during summer break, so we listed down some of the hundred things you can enjoy.
Wanna know the benefits of taking a summer vacation? We listed it down for you too! Now, no time to waste. Let’s start this Summer like no other.
Video On Top 10 Fun Places And Ideas To Spend Your Summer Break 2023
10 Best Places To Visit For Your Summer Of 2023
- San Diego, California
Nicknamed “America’s Finest City”, San Diego boasts stunning shorelines and idyllic sunny weather. It is also one of the most visited cities in the world. San Diego also holds a myriad of historical and cultural attractions. So if you’re looking for a place to relax and learn, San Diego is the place to go.
Popular food to try: Seafood, Cali Burrito, and Wood-fired California Style Pizza.
Things to do: Surfing, Cultural and Theme Tours, Cruises, Sailing, and Water Tours.
Best months to visit: Any time of the year is fine, but we suggest taking advantage of the summer heat from March to May.
- Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is located in Montana’s Northern Rocky Mountains. It is 1,583 square meters of wilderness crossed by the mountainous Going-to-the-Sun Road. It is also known for its 700 meters hiking trail and its photogenic lake. If you’re looking for a place to unwind, admire the beauty and wonders of nature, explore, and relax, this is the perfect place for you.
Popular food to try: Meatloaf, Huckleberry Pie, Rainbow Trout, and Bison Burgers.
Things to do: Cycling, Hiking, Camping, and Rafting.
Best months to visit: July to August.
- Grand Teton National Park
Roughly 310,000 acres, Grand Teton National Park is not only known for its spellbinding beauty, relaxing floating excursions, numerous trail tracks, and challenging rock climbing routes but also as an affordable getaway. If you want an adventurous but budget-friendly vacation, we highly recommend this place.
Popular food to try: Roasted Beef Salad and Nachos.
Things to do: Hiking, Camping, Rock Climbing, and Water Sports activities.
Best months to visit: July to August.
- Cannon Beach
Located in a small coastal city in northwest Oregon is Cannon Beach and known for its long, sandy shore with a famous Haystack Rock standing tall in the ocean. This beauty made its way to National Geographic’s June 2013 issue as one of “The World’s 100 Most Beautiful Places”. Cannon Beach is also a perfect place for a refreshing stroll along the beach or a warm gathering with your friends and family.
Popular food to try: Fish steaks, pizza, and seafood.
Things to do: Bonfire, Picnic, Surfing, and Strolling
Best months to visit: Early June if you want to spot migrating gray whales, and April to July if you want to see tufted puffins nesting on Haystack Rock.
- Outer Banks
Outer Banks is a chain of islands that serves as a barrier that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the mainland—located off the coast of North Carolina in Dare County with over 100 miles of shoreline that is quintessential for family and friends’ vacation spots. If you are a beachgoer looking for relaxation and fun activities to do, this is the perfect place for you.
Popular food to try: Duck Donut, Apple Uglies, Crab Benedict, Frogmore Stew Steamer Bucket, Lobster Mac and Cheese, and Hot Crab Dip.
Things to do: Fishing, Windsurfing, Boogie Boarding, Kiteboarding, Hang gliding, Classic Kite Flying, and Diving.
Best months to visit: between March and May or September and November
- Mount Rainier National Park
Having budget-friendly lodging options, National Parks is an exceptional summer getaway for friends and families. Another National Park on the list is Mount Rainier National Park, located at Washington state reserve southeast of Seattle. Compelling features of this place include an active volcano, impressive hiking trails, and wildflower fields. This place is perfect for every outdoor activity and an excellent subject for those who love photography.
Popular food to try: Mushroom Thali, Samosas, and Chana Thali.
Things to do: Camping, Picnic, Hiking, and Photography.
Best months to visit: July to August, wildflowers bloom in subalpine meadows. These months are also warmer months, making them ideal for hiking.
- Grand County, Colorado
Grand County in Colorado is the ideal place for a quiet, peaceful, and calming summer vacation. Grand County is located in the state of Colorado, named after its Grand River, and was established in 1874. The major geographic feature of this County is the Middle Park, a large mountain basin that includes the deepest natural lake in Colorado.
Popular food to try: Steak, Wine, Beer, Seafood, Pizza, and Burgers.
Things to do: Hunting, Camping, Water Activities, ATV/OTV, and Hiking.
Best months to visit: March to early August.
- San Francisco, California
Also known as “The Golden City” for its Golden Gate Bridge and golden sunsets, San Francisco is California’s commercial, cultural, and financial center. Different from its neighboring cities like San Diego, San Francisco is known for its cool summers, fog, steep rolling hills, and eclectic mix of architecture and landmarks.
Popular food to try: Irish Coffee, Anchor Steam Beer, and Seafood.
Things to do: Bonfire, Sightseeing, Diving, and Kayak.
Best months to visit: July to November.
- Panama City Beach, Florida
Panama City Beach is a waterfront located in northwest Florida known for its white-sand beaches that extend for miles with its calm and relaxing waves. If you want a laid-back family vacation with excellent waterfront lodging plus many activities to enjoy, Panama City Beach is the perfect place to come.
Popular food to try: Fresh Crab, Seared Tuna, and Barbecue Ribs.
Things to do: Hiking, Biking, Kayak, and Exploring nearby islands.
Best months to visit: May to early October.
- Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Summertime in Cape Cod is for those who are looking for a “cottage escape” type of vacation. Cape Cod is also home to many celebrities during summertime. It is one of the best vacation getaways with its pristine beaches and vintage village that gives off a relaxing ambiance.
Popular food to try: Lobster Roll, Bacon, Scallop Pizza, and Barbone Meatballs.
Things to do: Sightseeing, Biking, Water Activities, and Recreational Activities.
Best months to visit: May to October.
10 Activities To Lit Up Your Summer Vacation Of 2023
- Attend Comic-Con
If you are a certified lover of pop culture, Comic-Con is your Disneyland. Not only will you be updated for all new and upcoming video games, comics, graphic novels, manga, anime, movies, and collectibles, but you will also witness an array of fantastic cosplay. Only one requirement is needed to attend a Comic-Con: Shower!
- Go to Music Festivals, Concerts, and Theater Plays
After a challenging school year, raves and music festivals are the ultimate stress relievers. But, if you are the calmer type, you should try attending concerts of the musician/genre you prefer. Theater plays sounds *too* formal, but trust us–they are life-changing.
- Go to Summer Camps and Camping Trips
Summer Camps and Camping Trips are cliches for a reason. When was the last time you took on a long road trip and fell asleep in your car under the starry sky? Maybe, you miss camping in a forest, roasting marshmallows with your friends. This Summer of 2023 is the perfect time to relish these moments again and make new ones.
- Go Hiking, Trekking, and Cycling
Do your body a favor: Move it around! Don’t let your bicycle chains rust in the shed; use them for a long ride. And if you love getting close to nature or if you still haven’t, this is the perfect time to try trekking your local forest parks or going hiking. The physical pain will all be paid for with a sound mind and a stronger body.
- Create a Time Capsule
A Time Capsule is a great way to reminisce. Creating one will be a healing and bonding experience. It can also be beneficial for people in the future to know what you did in the Summer of ’23.
- Innovate and Resurrect Old Hobbies
Remember those old notebooks, canvases, yarns, clays, and games you have not laid eyes on for a long while? Your summer vacation is the perfect time to rekindle your passion for your old hobbies. Better yet, innovate your ways of doing them. I.e., instead of writing poems like you used to, why don’t you try composing your first song?
- Get to Know Your Family
At your age, it is natural and expected for you to want to explore new things and join new circles of society. While this is essential for your growth and identity-building, your time spent with your family may lessen. Your summer vacation is an excellent time to get to know your family. You will surprise yourself with how interesting and fun individuals they can be.
- Make Ice Cream in 4 Different Ways
Did you know that you can make ice cream in 4 Different Ways?
- Use Food Processor
Freeze your base and blend in your food processor until smooth.
- Use a Plastic Bag
Seal your base in a plastic bag and chill. Next, fill a bigger plastic bag with ice and rock salt, and put the plastic bag with your base inside. Make sure both bags are sealed well, wrap them in a towel, then shake for at least 5 minutes.
- Use an Immersion Blender
Use your blender to churn the completely frozen base and other ingredients (berries, chocolates).
- Try Granita Method
It sounds fancy, but this method only requires you to scrape and fluff your frozen base around. It will be like shaved ice, but ice cream.
We can almost imagine the chaotic fun in the kitchen while you all are trying these!
- Donate, Upcycle, Sell
Use some free time in your summer vacation by segregating your decent things from “still used” and “seldom used.” You can choose to donate, upcycle, or sell your clothes/things you don’t need, as long as they are decent and usable.
- Try every body of water possible and swim in them.
Pool, beach, jacuzzi, river, lake, falls, spring– try every swimmable body/form of water. We don’t need to explain why this absolutely will light up your summer vacation!
Why Summer Vacation Is Essential For Students
It is already apparent why students need Summer Vacation. But, the benefit of preventing burnout and stress release from a myriad of demanding school activities and studies goes deeper than that.
Research done by University of Illinois Psychology Professor Alejandro Lleras proved that prolonged study periods versus those with breaks have a significant effect on the performance of students/people. For his study, he divided 84 subjects into 4 groups. These groups did the same computerized task for 50 minutes repeatedly.
- The control group was asked to work non-stop for the 50-minute duration
- The switch group and the non-switch group memorized four numbers before the work period began, and both groups were told to inform the research team if any of these digits appeared on their computer screen during the 50-minute duration.
- The numbers appeared twice on the computer screens of those in the switch group, but they never appeared on the screens of those in the non-switch group.
- The digit-ignored group was also shown the same set of numbers but told to simply disregard them if they appeared on their screens.
For the control, non-switch, and digit-ignored groups, the performance began to progressively decline until the 50-minute mark. However, researchers noted that the switch group remained sharp and on-task for the entire duration; Lleras believed the group fared so well because they were allowed two brief diversions in which they performed an entirely different task (in this case, responding to the numbers on their screens). “It was amazing that performance seemed to be unimpaired by time, while the other group’s performance was so clearly dropping off,” he told Science Daily.
Summer vacation is also a way to recharge, re-think, rest, learn, and relax. Some will be taking up summer classes, but it’s totally fine. It is beneficial, but it can take a toll on summer class students, especially when they see their buddies have their summer fun all over social media.
So, we recommend heading to our social media platforms or website so our professional writers and editors can help you cope and lighten your summer class burdens. Then, you can spare some time to have fun!
Remember that whatever you do during summer break is not a waste of time as long as you’re doing it for yourself. Relax, and use this time of the year to unwind and even restart.
I'm Arby Barroga, a passionate writer with three years of experience. I find joy in crafting captivating stories that transport readers to new worlds.
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