There's something about the beginning of summer that feels so full of possibility. If you're anything like me, you tend to enter the season with a head full of ideas and intentions: beach days, bike rides, berry picking (and berry eating!), barbecues and bonfires, more time outside, more connection, more rest. With summer stretched out in front of us, it somehow feels like there's plenty of time to fit everything in.
And yet, by the time we turn our calendars to July, it's normal to feel the pressure to slow down time. It can be tempting to rush around and try to fill each day with all the activities we set out to do.
But perhaps making the most of summer isn't about doing everything.
Maybe it's about choosing a few meaningful moments and experiencing them to the fullest. One more walk along the beach. One more family picnic at your favorite spot. One more evening around the campfire, roasting marshmallows. One more trip to the local farmer's market.
And the good news is: there's still time to savor these summer days in simple, intentional ways. So with that in mind, let's look at 9 ways to make the most of summer.
# 1. Pause for a Mid-Summer Check-In
Before filling up your calendar with all the experiences you still want to have this summer, take a moment to step back and check in with yourself.
So often, when we realize summer is slipping by, our first instinct is to rush and find a way to squeeze in every outing, every adventure, every idea we haven't gotten to yet. But sometimes, the best thing we can do is first press pause long enough to reflect on what we've experienced so far.
What moments have brought you the most joy this summer?
All those evenings spent reading out on the porch, picking fresh flowers for the kitchen table, running through the sprinkler with the kids. Often, the moments that stay with us aren't the big, elaborate ones, but rather the everyday moments of summer that we were fully present for.
This can also be a wonderful conversation to have together as a family. Ask one another:
- What has felt the most life-giving so far this summer?
- What memories have we loved the most?
- What do we still hope to experience before the season ends?
- What can we simplify to make more room for what matters?
Instead of trying to fill every remaining summer day with lists of activities, perhaps the goal is to simply become more intentional with the time that's left. You don't need to do everything before autumn arrives. You only need to make space for the moments that matter most.
# 2. Choose a Few Meaningful Experiences
Once you've taken the time to step back and reflect on the summer so far, try choosing a few simple experiences you would truly like to enjoy before the season ends. Not a long list filled with pressure, but rather a handful of special moments that would help you savor this season a little more deeply.
- Maybe it's finally going blueberry picking and trying out a new blueberry recipe (or just eating the berries!)
- Packing up the car for one more long beach day.
- Enjoying an evening bike ride along the shoreline.
- Putting together a simple picnic dinner.
- Wandering around the local farmer's market and bringing home seasonal produce.
- Taking the kayak out one more time.
- Stopping by your favorite ice cream shop.
Again, these experiences don't have to be elaborate to become treasured memories you'll look back on when you reflect on your summer.
One of the things my family likes to do during our mid-summer reset is get together and each name one or two activities we want to do before the end of summer. We take out our family calendar and actually pick a date for these moments, putting them directly on the calendar. It's so helpful to intentionally make space for the experiences that matter most to each person in the family.
#3. Spend More Time Outside in Slow, Simple Ways
One of my favorite ways to savor the rest of summer is to simply spend more time outdoors. Think of ways you can incorporate little nature moments into the ordinary rhythms of the day.
- Eat breakfast out on the porch before the day fully begins.
- Walk barefoot through the grass.
- Open the windows and let the fresh air move through the house.
- Pause to watch the fireflies at dusk.
- Sketch, journal, or paint outside.
- Pick fresh herbs or flowers from the garden.
- Lay a blanket out for cloud watching and look for different shapes.
There's something grounding about being outside in simple, consistent ways. It reminds us to slow down and be present in this season, instead of rushing through it. Sometimes all it takes is bringing a little more of your life outdoors.
#4. Embrace Seasonal Food and Local Places
Late summer is a time full of abundance. Gardens are ready to be harvested. Fruit trees are producing. The farmer's markets are overflowing with color, and roadside stands appear along country roads.
One of the sweetest ways to savor this season (sometimes literally the sweetest!) is to enjoy the simple pleasures it offers: seasonal produce and summer recipes. I've found that eating with the seasons has a way of connecting us to the rhythms of nature, to local communities, and to the delicious gifts that summer has to offer.
- Visit your local farmer's market and walk through the rows of flowers, fresh produce, and handmade goods.
- Stop at a roadside farm stand for peaches, strawberries, or sweet corn.
- Fill your kitchen with berries, garden tomatoes, basil, watermelon, and all the flavors that taste so good this time of year.
- Put together a simple picnic meal to bring to the beach or the park.
- Prepare a fresh seasonal recipe with ingredients from your local market.
- Mix up a refreshing mocktail to enjoy outside on a warm evening.
These moments may seem small, but they invite us to slow down and experience the richness of the season, while also connecting us to our local community and those around us.
**My Favorite Summer Mocktail**
This one couldn’t be simpler, which is exactly why I love it. Pour a bottle of San Pellegrino sparkling water over a glass of ice, then add a generous splash of 100% grapefruit juice, no sugar added. That's it. Crisp, a little tart, and so refreshing on a warm afternoon on the porch.
# 5. Unplug More Often
Another one of the simplest ways to really enjoy the rest of summer is to create a little more space and time away from screens and technology. With modern life pulling our attention in a hundred different directions, it's easy to move through an entire day without fully noticing the moments of joy and beauty around us.
In an effort to be more present for the people who matter most and for the special moments that summer has to offer, it may be helpful to press pause mid-summer and reflect on ways to be more intentional about disconnecting from technology and busyness.
- Try setting aside a few tech-free evenings each week.
- Start your day with journaling, a walk, or prayer before reaching for your phone.
- Leave your phone inside if you're out in the yard or working in the garden.
- Reach for a book or play a board game instead of scrolling at the end of each day.
- Spend a quiet afternoon outside with no real agenda.
- Intentionally slow down your evening rhythms so there's more room for conversation, rest, and connection.
I've found that when I'm able to disconnect from constant noise and distraction, I'm more open to reconnect with what's really important.
Perhaps one of summer's greatest gifts is giving us the space to slow down enough to notice what truly matters: the people beside us, the beauty surrounding us, and the ordinary moments that so often become the ones we remember most.
**My Favorite Summer Reads**
If you're looking for a story to get lost in this summer, check out Roseanna M. White's Secrets of the Isles series. I've read all three, *The Nature of a Lady*, *To Treasure an Heiress*, and *Worthy of Legend*, and loved every one. They're set among the windswept Isles of Scilly off the coast of England, full of hidden journals, treasure hunts, and a little romance. Exactly the kind of book you want to get lost in on a slow afternoon with sandy feet and no particular place to be.
#6. Summer Adventures in Nature
One of the things I love most about summer is how easily it invites us to explore the natural world around us.
Whether you're spending time in places filled with memories and traditions or stepping out to explore someplace new, there are endless opportunities for summer adventures outside. And while traveling to another part of the country or world can be life-changing in its own way, I guarantee you don't have to venture too far from home to experience a fun, memorable nature outing.
- Take a walk on your favorite wooded trail and explore the forest.
- Return to a favorite hiking trail or try someplace new.
- Spend an early morning at a nearby nature preserve while the air still feels cool. Listen for any birds you might miss during the heat of the day.
- Pack a lunch and set out for a bike ride on your favorite trail.
- Visit the sand dunes or walk one of the coastal trails.
- Collect leaves, flowers, or other natural treasures for pressing.
I've often found that nature has a way of healing and energizing both the body and mind. Sometimes, simply stepping outside and intentionally exploring the natural world around us is enough to make us feel refreshed once again.
**A Few of My Favorite Trails**
We are so spoiled for beautiful places to walk up here. Close to home, we love the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, with its miles of quiet trails winding along the Boardman River and a few lovely overlooks tucked into the woods. Treat Farm Trail is another favorite in any season, quiet and wooded and lovely no matter the time of year, and it leads out to a bluff with a beautiful view over Lake Michigan.
When we want even more of those big, sweeping views, we head to Empire Bluffs or Pyramid Point, where the trail opens up to the lake spread out below. And along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, the short walk up the sand hill at the Lake Michigan Overlook, stop #9, rewards you with one of the most stunning bluff views in the whole park. It's a bit of a climb through loose sand, but well worth every step.
# 7. Make the Most of Summer on the Water
If there's an experience that feels especially connected to summer, it's spending time by the water. With limited weeks warm enough to fully enjoy it (for those of us who live in a four-season climate!), it's worth making the most of these summer days.
- Enjoy a peaceful paddle along the shore or down the river.
- Make space for at least one more beach day. Grab your towels and chairs, pack a picnic, and settle in for a full day.
- Find a restful spot by the water to simply sit and read a good book.
- Visit a local waterfall.
- Meet up with a few friends at your favorite swimming hole.
You certainly don't need an elaborate beach vacation to enjoy the beauty of the season. A few hours near the water may be all you need to feel restored, present, and connected to these warm days of summer.
**A Few of My Favorite Spots on the Water**
When it comes to the water, we have a few places we return to again and again. Good Harbor Beach is a great choice, wide and open and beautiful, with room to wander and plenty of shoreline to yourself. Frankfort is another favorite, with its long stretch of sand, the pier to walk out on, and that charming little town right there when you need an ice cream afterward. Esch Road Beach, down at the mouth of Otter Creek, is a lovely one too, where the kids can wade up the warm, shallow creek before it spills into the lake.
When the boys were smaller, and honestly still now, Elk Rapids is always an easy choice, with a playground and bathrooms right there to make the day simple. Peterson Beach is our quieter pick, the kind of place where you can spread out on the sand, listen to the waves, and let the afternoon go slow. And Maple Bay is lovely when we want to earn our swim, with a little hike down the bluff before the water opens up in front of you.
#8. Be Intentional About Connecting with Others
Summer has a way of naturally bringing people together. Perhaps it's because we're spending more time outside in the yard and can wave to our neighbors walking by. Or maybe it's because we're simply more out and about during these warmer weeks.
There's just something about warm evenings, longer days, and time spent outdoors that makes connection feel easier and more unhurried. Summer gives us opportunities to gather in simple ways, around a bonfire, a backyard barbecue, or outside playing yard games.
Take time during this mid-summer reset to consider being intentional about creating space for more moments of togetherness.
- Invite friends over for a simple summer potluck outside.
- Host a bonfire and roast marshmallows around the fire.
- Meet up with a few friends to attend a local summer festival or concert.
- Invite your neighbors over for a "make your own ice cream sundae" dessert night.
- Host an outdoor movie night with blankets and popcorn.
- Go berry picking with family or friends.
Sometimes all it takes is an open door, a few lawn chairs, and the willingness to slow down enough to be together.
#9. Make Space for Creativity and Reflection
In the middle of busy schedules and everyday responsibilities, creativity often gets pushed aside. But summer can be such a good reminder that creativity doesn't have to be productive or polished to be meaningful. Sometimes it's simply about slowing down to capture a special moment or make space for reflection.
-Try bringing a journal outside with your morning coffee and writing down a few thoughts before the day begins.
- Sketch or paint a favorite landscape, tree, or flower.
- Take pictures of the early morning light streaming through the trees, or any little details you want to remember.
- Press flowers or leaves that you collect on a walk.
-Snip a few stems of lavender from the garden, let them dry, and tuck the little bundles into sachets for your linen drawers.
- Spend an evening writing down your favorite moments from the summer before they begin to blur together.
- Paint a few flower pots to give away as gifts with a new little plant.
- Make homemade jam using seasonal berries and fruit.
These small creative practices can help us hold onto the beauty of summer a little longer.
---
And so, with more warm days still ahead, I want to encourage you that there's still time to make the most of this summer season.
We don't need to rush through these remaining weeks or fill every day with elaborate plans for summer to feel meaningful and memorable. In fact, I think some of the most special parts of summer are often found in the quieter, slower moments we almost overlook while they're happening.
So whether you're gathering around a campfire, paddling out on the water, exploring the wonders of nature, or simply sitting outside watching the fireflies, I hope you find ways to nourish your spirit and truly savor these summer days.
How will you make the most of summer?
With joy,
Rebecca