Madeline Posner – features editor – and Bridget Bevan – middlespread editor
Who’s excited for summer? Or, perhaps the better question is …. Who’s not?
After an incredibly tumultuous school year, the impending freedom that summer brings is a chance to finally take the break everyone’s been waiting for (let’s be honest: teachers and students alike). So, we’ve compiled a list of five activities to help you plan for the summer of your dreams, without completely ignoring the remaining Covid protocols.
1- Visit a flower field
Flower fields are absolutely gorgeous, especially during the summer months. Drive out to a flower field with a friend, or even just with your family. Bring a camera and take some instagram photos (because why not) or even have a picnic if the area you’re frequenting allows that.
Potential flower fields include: Chino Hills State Park, Walker Canyon Ecological Reserve, The Flower Fields, Niguel Botanical Preserve.
One warning, though: if you don’t like bees we recommend not choosing this activity, for obvious reasons.
2- Have a picnic
Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, picnics have become more and more popular as people struggle to find fun things to do while staying outdoors. Who says that has to change now? Walk (or bike) to your local park with a friend or two. Feel free to bring food, your dog, books, some watercolor paints—the sky’s the limit! It could also be fun to bring a laptop and some blankets and set up a little outdoor movie night.
3- Bake!
Okay, yes: we know that not everyone is a fan of baking (cooking. anything that involves cleaning), but baking is super fun, and you get food at the end too! You can even try doing a bake-off with a friend, or having a Chopped-esque competition with random foods. The sky’s the limit! If you’re not a regular baker, yourself, you can always pull out a baking mix instead of making something from scratch.
4- Go on a hike
If you want to spend some time in nature, and get some exercise in the process, a hike just might be the thing for you. Many hikes feature stunning outdoor scenery, and some even include waterfalls. Local hiking destinations include Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach, Orange County Great Park, in Irvine, Aliso Viejo Park, and Ortega Falls in Riverside County.
5- Bike Ride
Bored at home over the summer? Consider going on a bike ride! Not only is bike riding environmentally sustainable, it’s also a super fun activity to complete with a friend. Maybe ride to a local ice cream shop or bookstore, or even to the park for a picnic. Mountain biking is another fun aspect of biking that many people enjoy. Local mountain biking trails include the Luge Biking Trails, Santiago Oaks Regional Park, and the Fullerton Loop.
Here’s to an amazing 2021 summer!