With summer break right around the corner, here is a list of things you can do this summer!

1. Go to the beach: What’s summer break without going to the beach! The nearest beaches to get your tan on are Holmes Beach, North Lido Beach, Indian Beach, Coquina Beach, Beer Can Island Beach, Longboat Key Beach, and Bean Point Beach. My favorite is Beer Can Island Beach, the big trees are perfect for hitching up a hammock and listening to the ocean waves.
2. Drive-in movie: Looking to watch a movie from the comfort and privacy of your car? Indulge in the nostalgia of a drive-in movie and visit Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre.
3. Go camping: If you’re the outdoorsy type and want to spend a night under the stars then camping is the right choice. The best camping spots in Florida include Ginnie Springs, Fort De Soto, Wekiwa Springs State Park, and Lithia Springs Park.
4. Festival or concert: Party it up! Some concerts coming to Florida this summer are Black Midi on June 24, The Cure on July 1, Blink-182 on July 11, Goo Goo Dolls on July 26, and Dave Matthews Band on July 28.
5. Have a picnic: Get some friends together, bake some sweet treats, and go to the park for a summertime picnic. Some great picnic spots are G.T. Bray Park, Emerson Point Preserve, and Hidden Lake Park.
6. Try a new recipe: If you want to expand your culinary skills try a new recipe! There are tons on Tiktok or Pinterest.
7. Stay inside and try a new video game: If you prefer to stay in and chill, there are tons of video games to try out to pass the time. Some coming out this summer are The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on May 12, Diablo IV on June 6, Final Fantasy XVI on June 22, Pikmin 4 on July 21, and many more!
8. Road-trip: Same old town not feeding your summer spirit? Travel! There are tons of places you can travel to based on your taste.
9. Pick up a new hobby: Growing out of your old hobbies? Pick up a new one! Some fun hobbies to try are scrap-booking, photography, geocaching, painting, baking, crocheting, knitting, playing a new instrument, and dancing.
10. Get a fun summer job: If you’re sitting at home with nothing better to do you might as well get a job and make some money. Some fun summer jobs for teens are pet sitter, camp counselor, ice cream scooper, movie theater worker, amusement park worker, or pool lifeguard.
11. Go thrifting: If you like the thrill of digging for hidden treasure, thrifting is for you! Look through tons of clothes for the perfect style, and help the environment while you do it! Thrifting or shopping secondhand reuses textiles and avoids water and fertilizer use. Some great thrift stores are Goodwill or Sunshine Thrift.
12. Have a bonfire: What’s better than lighting a bunch of wood on fire and sitting around it with friends. It makes the perfect atmosphere for scary stories and s’mores.
13. Go to an amusement park: Florida is known for its awesome amusement parks, so why not take advantage of it this summer! Some amazing parks are Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and Fun Spot America.
14. Pick your own fruit: What’s more awesome than picking your own fruits to enjoy! Some great “you-pick” farms are Albritton Fruit Farms for blueberry picking, Hunsader Farms for strawberry and flower picking, and The Southern Peach Company for peach picking.
15. Attend a food festival: If you’re a foodie, you’ll love trying out these food festivals. Some coming to Florida this summer are The 12th Annual Ford International Cuban Sandwich Festival on May 28, Fire on the Lake Chili Cook-off on June 23-24, and Mango Mania Bokeelia on July 15.
16. Go to a farmers market: Do you like buying from small businesses? Farmers markets are a great way to purchase from your local businesses. Some nearby farmers markets to check out are the Bradenton Public Market on Saturdays 9 AM – 2 PM and the Sarasota Farmers Market on Saturdays 7 AM – 1 PM.