The Timeless Joy of a Classic Summer
Let’s go back in time a little. Lets go back to when summer meant riding bikes, chasing the ice cream truck, and coming home when the streetlights came on. That’s the type of summer I want. Yes, I am an adult, but that traditional summer feeling is something we should all try to chase. We should want the kind of summer that smells like BBQ charcoal and tastes like lemonade. Exotic vacations are great, but sometimes I need something simple, but special and classic. I want the kind of summer that makes you feel like a kid again, even if your knees make a weird popping noise every time you stand up.
Bring Back the Backyard
There’s no place like home – especially when you bust out the lawn chairs, throw some burgers on the grill, and get overly competitive over a game of corn hole. I want the backyard to feel like my own version of Disneyland and the cost of admission is just a cold drink and a good attitude. Invite a few friends over and sit at the table playing board games and talking about our favorite summer movies. The cherry on top is someone playing the role of the DJ and queues up fun summer songs from our childhood.
Road Trips and Camp Fires
Nothing says summer like going on a last minute road trip. Road trips don’t always need to be planned. There’s been a couple of impromptu camping trips on a Friday where my wife and I loaded the car up after work and just went Yosemite. By sunset, we had a trunk full of snacks, firewood, and a spot at the campsite thanks to family. The road trip was exciting as we rushed to get what we needed while singing our favorite songs on the way there.
We pulled into the campground just as the stars came out and pitched the tent using our headlamps and phone flashlights. We ended the night around the campfire while making s’mores and talking with family that came in from out of state. It wasn’t perfect planning – but that’s what made it unforgettable. A last-minute road trip turned into a just-right summer night camping under pine trees and the stars and I would love to re-create that again for a perfect summer moment.
Celebrate By the Water
A great classic summer isn’t complete without a fun time with water. Pool, lake, beach, even an inflatable pool in the backyard with a cold drink in hand would count. I was lucky enough growing up to move into a house with a pool where I would spend hours with friends doing belly flops and cannonballs. And thinking back to those days brings back so much nostalgia that I don’t see how anyone can go a whole summer without having some fun involving water. I don’t have a pool anymore, but there’s fun still to be had.
One of these summers, I have to check something off my bucket list. That bucket list item is staying in Lake Tahoe on the 4th of July. Renting a house with a view of the lake, hotdogs and burgers on the grill, and sparklers in-hand would be the ultimate 4th of July celebration.
Final Thoughts On the Classic Summer
A classic summer isn’t always about where you go – it’s about how you feel. It’s about slowing down, unplugging, and remembering that fun doesn’t have to be fancy. We had fun as kids doing the simplest things. It can be sitting in the backyard with iced tea and laughing with people you know best. So here’s to bug-bites, tan lines, and awkward flip-flops. We only have so many summers to enjoy, but while we do, let’s make them count.
Also, if anyone has an old-school slip n’ slide please hit me up.
What is something that makes your summer nostalgic and classic that is on your bucket list or a must do? If you’re interested in having another classic summer moment, then check out this other post! Follow along on my Instagram for more.
