Summer: 10 Tips To Make it Unforgettable

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Play San Rafael

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Ice cream, beaches, iced lattes, pools, picnics, resorts, water sports - Is summer on your mind? Cause it’s definitely on mine! 

Whether you’re planning on taking a big vacation, a staycation or just enjoying the longer days and summer weekends at home, there are a few things you can do to be sure you don’t let this Summer slip by without making some great memories.

Here are 10 things that will for sure make your summer unforgettable!

1. Have a plan

2. Make a summer “Dash Bag”

3. Read a good book

4. Try something new

5. Beat the heat

6. Avoid the crowds

7. Stay Safe

8. Save money

9. Volunteer

10. Come to the Dominican Republic

Ok let’s get to the details…

The Details

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#1 HAVE A PLAN

Summer is just a few months out of the year and it goes by fast. Don’t let it slip away. Make a list of all the things you’ve been saying you want to do (fun stuff and home projects) and prioritize. Pick two of the fun activities that you want to do and two of the most urgent projects. Then pick a day/week/weekend and put it on the calendar.

Here are some ideas: 

1. Pick a day to go to the beach/lake/river. Make FREE invites online (Use canva to make them fun and unique). Text or email them to your friends so you’re committed. Don’t forget a rain date just in case.

2. If your having a staycation, take one of these early summer weekends to give your patio/outdoor space a refresh so you can enjoy it all summer! Twinkle lights are always a good idea.

Hello Twinkle Lights!

#2 PREPARE A SUMMER “DASH BAG“

Beaching, picnics, hiking, reading, painting…what’s your thing? Whatever it is, be prepared to do it on a moment’s notice. Have an easy to grab bag, backpack or basket ready with basic supplies by your front door. This way when the weather is good and you have a little time to spare (even just 30 minutes or an hour) you can grab your bag and go outside and do the thing you love.

Here are some ideas:

1. Beach Dash Bag: Keep a beach bag ready with sunscreen, beach towels/blanket and water bottles handy. If you want you can throw on a bathing suit and go or you can just grab your bag and spend a half hour listening to the waves crash. Don’t live near the beach? Head to a nearby river or lake. 

2. Art Dash Bag: Keep a few drawing pencils, or a small watercolor pack and some paint brushes along with an art notebook together in a small backpack. It’s not a bad idea to keep a lap desk and blanket so you always have somewhere to sit and set up.

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#3 READ A GOOD BOOK

Are you a reader? Me too. When summer rolls around, I’m all about the easy, feel good reads. I am a fanatic for a good hard copy book in hand. I love the smell and feel of the pages. However my Kindle has made reading on the go a breeze. It’s easy to travel with, waterproof, and can store a bunch of books. Check out Amazon’s latest summer reads.

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#4 TRY SOMETHING NEW

It’s easy to fall into the trap of always doing the same things. Sometimes we lose motivation to go out and do things because we don’t have any new ideas. Here are a few things that you can try out to switch it up:

• Hike a new trail

• Try a new hobby

• Take a water sport lesson

• Botanical gardens 

• Outdoor movie

• Outdoor concert or play

Jardín Botánico Nacional

If your near Santo Domingo, check out the Botanical Gardens

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#5 BEAT THE HEAT

Too Hot: plan to hit the beach earlier in the day and do something indoors in the afternoon. Or hit the beach in the early evening once the sun has lowered a bit.

Don’t forget a good beach umbrella or canopy. It can make all the difference.

Avoid the hottest part of the day.

Try sunset instead. The weather is good and the view, even better.

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#6 AVOID THE CROWDS

Sick of crowds? Plan activities during the week.

This is a generally well known fact that we all forget from time to time. Saturday afternoons will be packed pretty much anywhere you go all summer long. If you have the flexibility to, plan your outings mid week and earlier in the day.

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#7 STAY SAFE

Safety is maybe a little boring to talk about but a bad experience can quickly ruin your whole vacation. Here are a few ideas to help you stay safe so you can enjoy your whole summer this year, and many more to come! 

1. Use sunscreen. Do I even need to say this anymore?

2. Be aware of the weather forecasts - extreme heat indexes, hurricanes, tornados, etc. Not fun stuff to talk about but real dangers these days. Know the risks in the area you live in or will be traveling to and educate yourself on the things you need to do to stay safe in case of any extreme weather. 

3. Be water safe. Don’t swim in areas known for severe undertows. If you are in an area you aren’t familiar with, look out for signs or ask locals if it’s safe to swim. Not a strong swimmer? Avoid really rough beaches. Still don’t feel confident with your swimming skills? Take some lessons!

~ READ MORE ~

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Free concerts are a great way to have fun and save money!

#8 SAVE MONEY

Avoid money pits like amusement parks. Instead go to the beach or plan a picnic. You can even search “free activities in (your town/county).” Many places have loads of free or inexpensive outdoor activities that are fun for the whole family. 

Here are some ideas:

• Shakespeare or other outdoor plays (usually really cheap entrance fee but occasionally free)

• Drive-up/outdoor movies

• Outdoor concerts

• Farmers’ markets

• Summer fairs

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#9 VOLUNTEER

With longer days and vacation time, summer is a great time to give a little extra of yourself to something or someone else. Take a little of your time and use it to support something near and dear to your heart. You won’t regret it

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#10 COME TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Beach, mountain, adventure, resort? Whatever you prefer, you can find it here. Read our article about the highlights of the Deep South to get some ideas of what you can do if you decide to travel here. Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog to get updates on the latest info about traveling to the country. 

Los Patos, Dominican Republic

A Summer to Remember

Don’t let your summer slip away without doing something great! If you try one of our ideas, share it on instagram and tag us so we can see! Think we missed something? Let us know in the comments so we can try your ideas!