Last summer we wrote about a return to post-Covid travel and how pent-up demand led to new highs in travel bookings around the globe. It also led to spikes in travel costs, a big reason why my family decided to trade in our annual week on Cape Cod for a long weekend near the Blue Ridge Mountains this summer.
Did the sharks and the traffic and Airbnbās tyrannical departure instructions scare everyone away?
Boston.com
Summer is a great time to spend time with friends and family, taking advantage of longer days to create new memories. And while a May 2023 travel survey report from Deloitte reports that, “signs point to a busy season, as pricing pressure does not seem to deter Americans from enjoying their vacations,” you might also wish to save a few pennies or avoid large crowds this summer.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a few ideas for summer fun that may not be as Instagram-worthy as Portofino, but can still give you memorable stories to share at those late-summer barbeques.
Visit a sculpture garden
Exploring outdoor sculpture displays is a great thing to do with friends in summer. While many cities have famed sculptures that are part of any tourist agenda, Chicago’s Parade of Cows in 1999 boosted the popularity of sculptures and other artworks woven into a city or landscape, and now many cities host themed sculpture displays.
Another favorite destination of mine, The Morton Arboretum near Chicago, has in recent years placed unique sculptures constructed from wood and other materials found in nature. Thanks to the Covid pandemic, a visually imposing exhibit by a Danish sculptor Thomas Dambo of 15-30-foot-tall Trolls that opened in 2018 was extended twice, finally departing in early 2021. On the Arboretum grounds now is an exhibit, Of the Earth, on display through Spring 2025. Created by Polish American artist Olga Ziemska from natural materials found throughout the Arboretum, she expresses a philosophy that “we are nature” through sculptures incorporating human forms.
If you don’t plan to be in Chicagoland, here are a few other favorite sculpture parks of ours:
- National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden (Washington, D.C.)
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, MN)
- deCordova Sculpture Museum and Park (Lincoln, MA)
Tune in to a unique sporting event
If you spend enough money, you can see just about any sporting event in person. But watching it from home guarantees a front-row seat, not to mention the creature comforts that make hot summer days more bearable. So, gather a few friends and consider cheering on a favorite competitor!
This weekend, NASCAR is coming to Chicago with the big race on Sunday, July 2nd. And later in July, the USA Womenās Soccer team is defending its World Cup title starting late July. With games hosted throughout Australia and New Zealand, streaming a live game may be more of a solo activity.
And there are a few annual sporting events that donāt get as many headlines but are still compelling to follow. A great example of this is the famous sailing competition, Race to Mackinac held each July. History was made last summer when 14-year-old Merritt Sellers competed with her dad and won the Race from Port Huron to Mackinac, Michigan.
While other young sailors have competed, Merritt made news for sailing several hours solo while her dad rested below deck during this around-the-clock event. She also was much talked about in Brady family text chains as Merritt’s mom is a graduate school friend of my sister Liz.
If youāre in New England, the Newport Regatta in Rhode Island takes place July 7-9th this year, offering a chance to see talented sailing teams and the spectacular mansions that make Newport a popular place to visit with friends.
Explore closer to home
A great thing about summer is how many different activities you can find, often for a low cost or even free. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Pick fruit. Weāve written about the joy of visiting Farmerās Markets, but thereās a special sense of accomplishment when harvesting your own bounty. Hereās a link to harvest calendars around the country, and where you can pick some of your favorite fruits!
- Volunteer at a charitable event. A great way to spend time with friends and make new ones is to volunteer. Interested in helping at a road race or pet adoption event? Volunteer Match makes it easy to find something that suits your interests and schedule.
- Check out the local arts scene. Summer is the perfect time to visit a music or arts festival. You can learn about many different music festivals or arts festivals around the country with the links we’ve provided.
And if you arenāt deterred by a potential shark sighting or construction traffic near Bostonās Logan Airport, you may have a shot at a last minute deals to visit my favorite vacation spot, Cape Cod. Real estate firms report that vacancies are up 20% this year on the Cape. So, if you are still mulling over summer travel plans, you might be in luck.
Julia (r) with her friend Lumi visiting the Trolls at Morton Arboretum in 2020
Top Photo: One of Olga Ziemska’s sculpture at the Morton Arboretum (J. Brady 2023)
Language of Friendship 
Leave a comment