Just in a couple weeks, students will be getting treated with 2.5 months of free time to live stress-free of homework, essays and projects. Whether you’re picking up a second job, traveling, or just hanging around town, I promise you you’re going to be bored at some point during the break. To cure your boredom in your times of need, here are some awesome, unique ideas to do this summer!
- Make homemade pizza
Invite your friends/family over one evening to make homemade pizza together. Having the creative ability to make any shaped pizza with any toppings could be loads of fun,- and delicious! Pizza is a very easy thing to make, and very hard to mess up on. Who knows, maybe you could learn how to make more than just pizza! Cooking is fun, creative, and definitely a beneficial talent anyone can learn.
- Go rock climbing
Sometimes it could be hard staying in shape and doing physical activities outside during break, but rock climbing is definitely a fun way to work out your body while having fun at the same time. It’s definitely something you can commit to, practice, and watch yourself get better at. “Rock climbing is super fun to get into because of the super kind and passionate community, and the mental and physical challenge it provides,” said junior Spencer McLean.
- Day trips
Even though gas prices have gone up these past few months, day trips to a city nearby are always a fun thing to do with friends or family. Some cities that I enjoy visiting are Ventura, Carpinteria, Summerland, Pismo Beach, and even LA. If driving isn’t an option for you for whatever reason, the train is another great choice for transportation! Sometimes it can be nice to travel somewhere new to see tourist attractions, try new food, and do some shopping!
- Drive-in movies
The drive-in always has something going on. Movies new and old, they got you. The snack shack there is always stacked with your favorite movie-watching snacks, and always has friendly staff ready to assist you. “The drive-in has always been one of my favorite places to go with friends. The popcorn there is always nice, warm, and delicious which I enjoy. I believe it’s a classic spot there everyone has to go to at some point in their life.” says Liam Boone, sophomore at San Marcos. So pop that trunk, bring out your blankets, and enjoy!
- Escape room
There are so many different fun escape rooms that have recently opened up this past year in Santa Barbara! My favorites are House of Clues and The Cube. It’s a great activity to do with a group of friends to get to know each other a little better with their intuition and problem-solving skills. Sometimes, challenging yourself in high-stress situations could be a lot of fun.
- Visit Aloha Fun Center
Do you guys remember where Macy’s used to be downtown? After going out of business a couple years ago, the space is finally getting put to use and opening up a roller skating rink in June! Just in time for summer. Whether you’ve never skated before, or are a pro at it, it definitely sounds like something you can visit in your free time to have a good time at.
- Paint on stones
If you’re looking for a cost-effective activity this summer, find yourself a couple of flat stones, give them a wash, and let your creative side take control. Most people prefer acrylic paint for activities like this, but some others like paint pens over liquid paint. If you don’t own anything to draw with, the dollar store is a great place to look for supplies!
- Make and break letting go plates
Recently, a good friend and I went out to the water tower with glass plates and a pack of multi-colored sharpies. We turned on some vibey tunes, sat on the tower overlooking Goleta, and wrote down all of the things we’ve been stressing and overthinking about lately. After filling up the plate, we read our words to each other before smashing the plates. Destroying the glass that was now holding all of the nasty things inside took a lot of weight off our shoulders, and it felt good to get rid of it. We danced for a little bit, then drove back home. It’s something I definitely would recommend to anyone. Keep in mind, breaking glass is dangerous. I would recommend wearing protective eyewear, breaking it into a plastic bag, and cleaning up any mess made.
- Make friendship bracelets
If you’re looking for another inexpensive, fun DIY to do by yourself, or with friends, consider learning how to make friendship bracelets! don’t worry if you don’t know how to, Youtube is a great resource to use to find easy step-by-step tutorials on how to make the bracelets, and how to improve! Friendship bracelets are always a good gift idea for friends too, especially since they are homemade.
- Camping
“I love camping! Taking breaks from the modernized world we live in now can feel really nice sometimes. Getting in touch with nature can be really fun if you know how to do it right.” says Mackenzie Sandal, junior at San Marcos. Getting in touch with your wild side could feel really nice. If you’re not a huge fan of the outdoors, “glamping” is another fun option as well. Some good spots are El Capitan, Carp State Beach, and SB Sunrise RV Park.
Expanding your interests can be very beneficial and fun, especially when now we have all this time to spend before the next school year! Making memories with friends is something you could look back on for the rest of your life, and will forever fill your brain with happy thoughts. So go out and make most of this time while you can!
