One of the most enchanting aspects of summer is the chance to revel in the great outdoors. Nature becomes an open playground, inviting everyone to explore its wonders. Beaches beckon with their sandy shores, rolling waves, and the irresistible allure of a refreshing swim. National parks and hiking trails provide opportunities for exhilarating adventures and breathtaking vistas. Whether it’s camping, picnicking, or simply taking a leisurely walk in the park, summer encourages us to reconnect with nature and revel in its beauty.
Sunshine and Vitamin D
The arrival of summer brings a surge of sunlight, and with it, a boost of vitamin D. Sunlight exposure is not only essential for our physical well-being but also has a positive impact on mental health. The increased levels of vitamin D that our bodies produce in response to sun exposure contribute to stronger bones, improved mood, and increased energy levels. So, make the most of the longer days and bask in the sunshine, knowing that you’re doing wonders for your overall well-being.
Time for Leisure and Relaxation
Summer embodies a slower pace of life, encouraging us to indulge in leisure and relaxation. It’s a time when vacations are planned, allowing us to unwind, recharge, and create lasting memories with loved ones. Whether it’s a beach getaway, a road trip adventure, or a peaceful retreat in the countryside, summer offers a multitude of options to escape the daily routine and embrace the joy of living in the moment.
Delicious Summer Delights
Food enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the flavors of summer, as the season brings an abundance of delectable fruits and vegetables. Juicy watermelons, succulent strawberries, and refreshing cucumbers are just a few of the delights that grace our tables during these warmer months. Farmers’ markets burst with vibrant colors and fresh produce, providing an opportunity to savor the tastes of the season. Summer also calls for backyard barbecues, poolside parties, and ice cream indulgences, adding an extra layer of culinary enjoyment to the season.
Celebrating Community and Festivities
Summer is synonymous with community celebrations and festivities that bring people together. From music festivals and outdoor concerts to street fairs and cultural events, the season buzzes with a sense of togetherness. Friends and family gather, forging stronger bonds and creating cherished memories. Fireworks light up the night sky, signaling the arrival of holidays like Independence Day, and communities unite in patriotic fervor. Summer provides us with a shared experience, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
With its official start, summer ushers in a season of adventure, relaxation, and connection. It’s a time to embrace the outdoors, soak up the sun, and revel in the simple joys of life. Whether you’re planning an exotic getaway or simply enjoying the local park, make the most of this vibrant season. Embrace the longer days, savor the delicious flavors, and create lasting memories with loved ones. So, welcome the official start of summer with open arms and let the warmth of the season infuse your spirit with joy and vitality.
It’s Memorial Day Weekend, the start of summer, ready or not.
When I picture time passing, I think of a calendar — specifically, a full-year calendar printed on one page, the sort that a bank or a restaurant might hand out as a freebie, emblazoned with its logo.
The year is laid out as a grid: three rows, four months to a row. I picture each row as seasons elapsing: The top row starts mostly cold and dreary with January, but by the end of the row, in April, it’s milder and brighter and there’s this feeling of almost arriving into the second row, where things open up. May through August is the marrow of the year, when daylight is at its maximum, when things feel a little looser and more possible. The middle row is, for summer partisans, really the only row worth languishing in.
However you picture time, you probably have a distinct feeling about this weekend, Memorial Day, summer’s unofficial start. Disbelief seems to be the prevailing response this year: How can it be summer again, where has the time gone? “Time’s a flat circle, a record spinning, always and forever returning to its start,” my colleague Sam Sifton wrote in the Cooking newsletter yesterday, and he’s right. We’re still figuring out the tricks time pulled over the past few years, how it stretched and contracted, sped up and slowed and there was, for a while there, time to contemplate it.
Ready or not, it’s summer again. The calendar has decreed it — even if the weather or your wardrobe or your kids or your garden aren’t ready. Memorial Day weekend forces a mind-set shift. Beaches open up, mattresses are on sale, you
If it all feels too abrupt and you’re struggling to catch up, might I suggest planning your summer movie schedule? I’ve been patiently awaiting Nicole Holofcener’s latest, “You Hurt My Feelings,” starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tobias Menzies, which opens this weekend. Other highlights: John Slattery directs Jon Hamm and Tina Fey in “Maggie Moore(s),” opening on June 16. There’s a Wham! documentary coming to Netflix on July 5. “Indiana Jones” arrives on June 30, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” on July 21.
We’ve also got a bunch of selections for your beach- or park- or couch-reading pleasure: Try a thriller, a romance, perhaps an audiobook? The two audiobooks on our list that are about birds sound enchanting and seasonally appropriate.
And of course, there’s always summer’s unofficial (or perhaps it’s official?) fruit, the strawberry, which stars in three Melissa Clark recipes, each of which seems poised to join Jerrelle Guy’s strawberry spoon cake in my personal pantheon of the world’s best desserts.