Trips have been postponed. Plans have been changed. Summer 2020 is definitely not looking the way any of us expected it to a few months back. But in spite of our unusual circumstances, one thing is certain:
Summer’s not canceled!
In fact, if ever there were a year to explore your metaphorical backyard, discover sights and hikes your local area has to offer, and enjoy activities that would normally not be on your radar, 2020 is it.
Whether you’ve decided to put all trips on hold or are simply looking for inspiration on how to spend those long summer weeks with the kids off school, we hope the following ideas offer some inspiration.
MURAL HUNT
No matter how big or small your city, there are likely to be some incredible murals (or street art) to discover. Often, we drive by our streets so distracted that we don’t pay attention to some of the beautiful ( and often meaningful) art that adorns our towns, so it’s fun to go out with the intention of really seeing it for the first time. There are even entire blogs dedicated to this idea, and whether your hometown (or summer trip destination) is Columbus, Ohio, Tulsa, Oklahoma, LA, California, or La Jolla, CA, you’ll be sure to enjoy these urban art displays. What’s more, it’s a free and family friendly day mission — what more could you ask for?
BACKYARD GLAMPING
In case you’re not yet familiar with the terminology, “glamping” stands for backyard camping. And what better way to make it clear that summer has indeed arrived than by sleeping outside — albeit in your backyard. In an ideal world, you would have a “bell tent” to really pull off the glamping vibe but ultimately just having a tent you can stand up in is good enough. Then take your sleeping equipment up a notch. Bring out a mattress to sleep on or a small cot, some real sheets and covers (no sleeping bags on your glamping mission!) and a rug to go under your bed. Add a small side table with a solar lantern or some LED candles, then top it all off with some string lights. Depending on the size of your yard and how many nights you think you will “glamp” you can even add an outdoor dining area, firepit, and chairs.
Bonus: your glamping set up can serve as an awesome guest accommodation.
RISE & SHINE MISSIONS
Sometimes, all it takes to get an incredible experience is to wake up earlier than usual. The world around you can feel like a totally different place when you are observing it as the day breaks, and there will no doubt be some great spots to watch the sunrise near you. In fact, all you need to do is type into your search bar “Best places to watch the sunrise near me” and you’ll no doubt find some stunning inspiration. Whether it’s a local trail (that you can then score an early morning hike on), a park or a hill, getting out early in the morning to watch the sunrise while your neighbors sleep can be invigorating and fulfilling and start your day off with a bang. Challenge yourself to do it once a week through the summer and you might just get through some of your town’s best spots!
WALKS, HIKES (and everything in between)
From botanical gardens to day-long hikes, there are all manner of walks and trails waiting to be explored, no matter where you live. And now there’s an easy way to find just the right one for you with AllTrails. One of our LonoLife crew discovered this website and app recently when looking for a new trail to explore with her family, and claimed it was a game changer. As the company explains, “AllTrails helps people explore the outdoors with the largest collection of detailed, hand-curated trail maps as well as trail reviews and photos crowdsourced from a community of 10 million registered hikers, mountain bikers and trail runners.” It’s like someone is planning your day for you. Seriously!
Final word for all you day-trippers, glampers, and hikers: don’t forget to pack a solid supply of snacks and drinks for your day out. That way you don’t have to worry about stopping at stores or getting the low-blood-sugar crashes that are sure to ruin a well-planned day. If you’re looking for some inspiration on some healthy, home-made picnic ideas, check out our Recipes page. After all, who wouldn’t want some No Bake Chocolate Truffles (with collagen peptides, of course) or Gluten Free Paleo Pumpkin Protein Muffins in their lunch bag?!
