As the school year comes to an end it feels like so many possibilities await you this summer and so many different hangout ideas and fun ways to spend your time. Sometimes though, when the time comes to do all of these things you realize you’re not as sure about what you want to do as you thought and many teenagers find themselves wasting away in bed scrolling on their phone or playing video games rather than going out. Summer is meant to be a time where you can go out as much as you please and not feel the weight of homework and tests on your back so to make the most out of this time, consider trying some of the activities on this list.
Out with friends:
See a local show – Seattle is a very musical city and it’s not hard to find a local concert for small bands in various parks and buildings. A lot of the shows are either very cheap to get into or completely free depending on who you are seeing and where. They can also be a good place to socialize and make new friends with similar interests and music taste to you.
Hangout at a park – There’s a few options for parks here in Washington including Wild Waves, Leavenworth Adventure Park, iFly Indoor Skydiving, Urban Air Trampoline, and more. Or you can take a few friends down to a local park and have a more simple day with something like a picnic or even a water gun fight if you’re feeling nostalgic. And for those with a love of nature a national park might be a great choice for a nice hike and some beautiful views.
Go to a lake – While Washington may not be known for its white sandy beaches we do have the second best thing, lakes. To name a few there’s Lake Wilderness, Lake Washington, or Lake Tapps, all great options for a classic Summer hangout though the water may be cold.
Go thrifting – The thrift can be a great place to pick up high quality items for low prices and there’s always something new to look at. Some great options would include Barn Owl Vintage Barn, Main Street Thrift, Bon Voyage Vintage, and Treasures in Heaven, though there are so many more to choose from.
Staying Inside:
Sew – Sewing is a very useful skill, there are a lot of people who complain of their clothes not fitting just right but with a simple needle and thread all of your favorite tops can fit just the way they’re supposed to. While it may be tedious without a machine, with a couple of tutorials sewing isn’t a very difficult skill to learn.
Study an interesting topic – The word study often comes with negative connotations but with all the extra free time Summer typically offers it can be a great time to learn about something you’ve been curious about. For example you could learn about cars, social psychology, fashion history, or how to identify symbolism in art.
Learn to cook/bake – Everyone loves that one friend who always has something new cooking in their kitchen and fresh desserts to try when they come over plus it makes for a great sleepover activity. Not to mention upon moving out of your parents house nobody else is going to be there to cook you dinner and no, the workers at McDonalds don’t count.
Paint or draw – Having an artistic skill to channel emotions through can be a great help to anyone at any time but especially when school comes back around it can be a calming medium to resort to when stressed by academic or social situations. There are also a lot of different things you could paint on like tote bags, shoes, or your wall.
With the Family:
Family cooking night – Everyone working on dinner together can either be very stressful or a good bonding moment but if you’ve never tried it before then why not now? There are lots of fun recipes to try as a group like dumplings, mini pizzas, meatballs, pasta, and more.
Video games – Playing video games alone locked in your room all day is a little depressing but to bring some more energy and better bonding to the same activity, you could try finding a video game you’re all interested in playing together.
Day in the city – While it can be expensive, spending the day as a family in a city like Seattle can be a lot of fun. You could all go out for lunch, visit the Pike Place Market, look at the aquarium, or go check out the Space Needle together.
Camping trip – Washington is an amazing place for camping and is known for its beautiful views and parks. Getting outside during the summer is already nice on its own but getting a chance to include some family bonding by doing something like camping together is even better.
