22 nostalgic ways to celebrate the first day of summer

It’s time to get back to basics and enjoy those simple pleasures in life that we always associate with summer.

Anyone can spot a star or even a planet on a clear night but it takes getting far away from bright city lights to get a glimpse of our galaxy. But, oh, is it worth it! Take a nighttime drive or hike into nature and prepare to be blown away by how small you are and how amazing our world is.

There’s something so satisfying about stripping off sweaty socks and shoes and bathing your tired tootsies in a nearby creek, river, lake, or ocean. Even a full gutter or sidewalk puddle is perfect for splashing!

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Remember when the familiar dulcet tones of “Greensleeves” floating through the hot, summer air sent every kid in your neighbourhood running out to the ice cream truck? And then the crushing disappointment of not having enough change? Well, now you’re an adult and definitely fast enough and rich enough to get a delicious soft serve from the ice cream man. Everyone knows treats from the ice cream truck just taste better!

The first night of summer is tailor-made for porch sitting. It’s not too cold nor too hot and the smell of fresh grass will have all your neighbours drifting outside too. Enjoy the quiet evening air or strike up a fun new friendship.

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When’s the last time you had an adrenaline rush that didn’t come from crazy traffic or forgetting your cell phone in a restaurant? Instead, get your endorphins going the way you did as a kid: With a jump off a diving board. High or low, backflip or belly flop – whatever you choose, it’ll be a rush!

Nothing brings on the anticipation of summer like a whiff of orange- or coconut-scented sunscreen. There’s something about the combination of heat and sweet scents that makes it feel like the beach is right around the corner (even if it’s really kilometres away).

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Summer brings a bounty of fresh, seasonal, fruit. Enjoy the just-picked flavour (along with healthy vitamins and fibre) by making simple skewers of berries, cut-up peaches, pineapple, grapes, or any other of your favourite fruits. Why the skewer? Because food is always more fun on a stick. You know we’re right.

Try these delicious fruit brochettes with rosewater cashew cream. 

Your nighttime soak gets an exotic summer upgrade when you add a few blossoms to your bathwater. Roses, jasmine and other summer blooms will make you smell as pretty as you feel. An indulgence? Sure! But this is the first day of summer!

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All you need is a white bed sheet, a projector and a laptop to turn your backyard into an outdoor cinema. Invite your neighbours, pop some corn and enjoy the warm summer evening with your favourite flick.

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