5 Summer Activities

June gloom may be fast approaching, but that does not mean that you should not get prepared for summer. Many schools are finally out of session and the kids and adults alike will be ready to have some fun in the sun. Summer is one of the best times of the year in Southern California because of the easy access we have to beaches and amusement parks. Here are a list of things to do this summer:

Spend a day at the beach!

There is nothing more relaxing sitting on the beach watching the waves of the Pacific Ocean crash with your toes buried in the sand. Take your favorite bathing suit and soak up the sun at any of the local beaches (they all are beautiful). Don't forget to pack sunscreen, food, an umbrella, towels or beach chairs, footballs, or even frisbees. To enhance your experience even more you should invest in a portable speaker so you can play some tunes while relaxing with your family and friends on the shore.

In addition to being lazy in the sand, you can rent a bike and ride along the shore to enjoy the beautiful views that the California coast has to offer. Also, there is plenty of great restaurants in every major beach city, so do your research and find a new restaurant to try.

Make a trip to an amusement park!

Located in Anaheim, Disneyland is the place to be during the summer. The popular family theme park has been delivering magic memories since 1955, and they have shown no signs of slowing down. I recommend getting at least a two day pass so you can conquer both parks and get the most out of your visit, but if you cannot afford such things there are alternatives.

Luckily Southern California is a hotbed for great amusement parks. Knott's Berry Farm is a family friendly amusement parks with more thrills for adults, and it is about 15 minutes away from the Happiest Place on Earth. Knott's provides more thrills with their rollercoasters, but also has plenty of fun things for the little ones to do.

If neither of those are down your alley, you may want to consider making a little bit of a drive to Valencia for Six Flags Magic Mountain. Six Flags has a child friendly sections, but most of the attractions are designed for teenagers and adults to enjoy. Their adrenaline-inducing rollercoasters are high speed and built to the sky. Both Six Flags and Knott's are great, cheaper, alternatives to Disneyland.

Take me out to the ball game!

When you live in Southern California, you are spoiled with all of the potential activities at your disposal. One of the greatest American pastimes is baseball, which really kicks into gear during the summer. You have three choices when deciding where to attend a baseball game. You can go to the historic Chavez to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers or you can take a trip to Orange County to see the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. If you're really feeling spontaneous, you can take a drive down south to watch the San Diego Padres. Any of these choices make for a great date or family activity on a beautiful summer night.

Go on a cruise!

Cruises are great for people who want to disconnect from the world for a few days and just enjoy time away from the real world. Popular cruise lines offer 3-day, 7-day, and even 14-day getaways to popular vacation spots at a reasonable price. The cheapest cruises take you to Mexico and start at just $229, all inclusive. This is a perfect way to travel during the summer without hurting your pocketbook.

Vegas baby!

Las Vegas is one of the biggest summer vacation destinations despite being located dead in the middle of the Nevada desert. It gets extremely hot during the day and does not cool down much at night, but there is nothing that compares to the Vegas atmosphere. There is so much to do in Vegas that you need several days there to get the complete experience.

Hitting a pool party is a must when you go to Vegas in the summer. They are the number one attraction, but you can also opt to go to a nightclub instead. If you're really feeling the Vegas spirit, you can try to conquer both in one day!

Aside from the partying and gambling, Vegas is a great place to watch a show. There are plenty to choose from like Jersey Boys, David Copperfield, or even a number of Cirque du Soleil shows, so choose your show wisely.

We are about a month away from the official start of summer, and it is probably the best time of the year to be in Southern California. These are just a few activities that you can partake in, but use your imagination and think of more fun things to do!