Simple Joys of Summer
From sleeping in until midday to spontaneous road trips, there’s no better season to relax and have fun than summer. No homework for two months and longer days to lounge in bed or play outside? Pure bliss. It’s no wonder the memories we make under the sun feel so unforgettable—or why it’s always a little bittersweet when autumn rolls around again. Feel nostalgic yet? Here are 20 things you probably miss most about summer break.
1. Sleeping In
The number one thing we probably all miss about summer break is getting to sleep in until the afternoon. It didn't matter how late we woke up (or even when we went to bed); we had all the time in the world ahead of us, anyway. And not having to be woken up by an alarm in the morning is pure bliss.
2. Traveling
What's a summer without traveling? Whether it's just a trip out of state or an adventure across the world, it's always a fun time when you're on vacation. And with two months of free time on your belt, summer break was the perfect stretch to visit your bucket-list destinations.
3. No Homework
Another thing you miss about summer break? Having no homework. Or, really, having no responsibilities at all. You didn't need to worry about deadlines or projects or exams; all you had to worry about was what you were going to eat for dinner.
4. Summer Camp
Campfires, roasting marshmallows, telling spooky stories, hiking places you've never visited, canoeing on serene lakes, making new friends—summer camp was always fun, even if you dreaded being away from home in the beginning. It's too bad it only lasts for so long (or rather, so short).
5. Pool & Beach Days
Who doesn't miss pool and beach days? Sure, you can technically go to the beach even in early fall and to the pool even in the winter, but summer gives you the best weather and occasion to dive into the waters. No other season feels the same.
6. Backyard BBQs
Backyard BBQs in the summer just fit: large family gatherings, the smell of smoked meat, the laughter and stories shared under the trees. Even if you can technically host BBQs any other day or season, the best time to do it is when the sun is out until late in the evening—a.k.a. summer.
7. Bike Rides Everywhere
With the weather so warm and nice, why hop into the car when you could just bike? That was another thing that summer gave us, and we took full advantage of it. Whether it was looping through country roads or zipping through the busy city, biking felt the best under the sun.
8. Music Festivals
If you're a music lover, summer to you was the time to jam out and dance at local festivals. Seeing big artists perform on the stage was just half of the charm—the real delight was the atmosphere and all the new tunes you'd become familiar with by the end of the night.
9. Carnivals & Fairs
And if you're more into carnivals and county fairs, well, summer gave you just that as well. From munching on Funnel cakes to riding the Ferris wheel during sunset, there was truly nothing more fun to you than exploring these themed grounds.
10. Sunny Weather
Another thing we miss about summer? The gorgeous sunny weather, of course! Cloudless blue skies, the beaming sun, the warm yet breezy air—nothing gets as close to perfection as this. That's why it's always such a whiplash when autumn rolls in with its chill.
11. Picnics
Summer was also the perfect time to go on a picnic. Whether at the park or by the river, food always tasted yummier when you were surrounded by friends, family, and nature (and maybe ants, too). Now, you'll have to wait until the weather warms again to be able to munch on sandwiches by the lake.
12. Simple Outfits
What was your go-to outfit in the summer? Shorts and a t-shirt? While you were able to hop out the door in almost anything, once autumn and winter roll around, you'll have to change tack and throw on a warm coat and boots before stepping outside. No more breezy blouses and khakis; they'll have to wait until next summer.
13. Not Having to Worry About Time
Not only did you get to sleep in during the summer, but you also didn't need to worry about what time it was or what day or week it was. It was up to you whether you wanted to wake up and start your morning earlier, or snooze until midday.
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14. Long Days
The longer days of summer made time feel endless. You could wake up in the afternoon and still feel like you got a full day in, just because the sun didn't fully set until almost 10PM. This gave you ample time to do whatever you felt like doing.
15. Staying Up Late
Getting to sleep in without having to worry about when you needed to wake up meant that you were also able to stay up late. Sure, it'll be a hassle to get your sleep schedule back on track when school rolls around again, but that didn't matter just yet during the summer break.
16. Lounging in Bed All Day
If you wanted to, you could stay in bed all day, too. After all, you had no school, no homework, and no responsibilities. If you wanted to snuggle into your blankets to read or pull on your headphones to game, there were no rules in the summer dictating what you could or couldn't do.
17. Taking Up New Hobbies
Summer gave you ample time to take up new hobbies and step outside your comfort zone, too. With so many free hours in the day to do whatever you wanted, you could teach yourself how to knit a sweater or skateboard around the block.
18. Revisiting Old Hobbies
And if taking up new hobbies wasn't on your agenda, summer gave you time to revisit your old passions, too, the ones you had to pause because of other responsibilities. Whether it was swimming or dancing, you could play to your heart's content.
19. Spontaneous Road Trips
It's not just the bucket-list travel trips that you looked forward to in the summer—it's the spontaneous road trips, too. Days where you're bleary-eyed and half awake and already being ushered into the car for some unknown adventure. Those were the kind of excursions you always had cool memories and stories to share about afterwards.
20. The Back-to-School Buzz
Sure, you don't want to go back to the classroom; the back-to-school buzz that comes at the end of summer often makes you both anxious and excited. But even though you'd rather summer stretch on forever, you're nonetheless still giddy to see all your friends again. (Plus, back-to-school shopping always meant new notebooks, stationery, and outfits.)
