There’s something about summer in the South that slows time down a little extra. Around here, we know that the best summer memories are made in the simplest ways, by soaking up the timeless joys that return each year like old friends. This season, our editors are savoring the activities that take us back to some of our favorite childhood days—jumping off docks, sliding down twisty pool slides, and lingering outside long into the evening.
We might leave comparing with friends the number of mosquito bites we have to the kiddos, but whether it’s casting a line off a lowcountry dock or biking barefoot just because we can, we’re embracing the sweet, slowed-down rhythms of summer the way Southerners always have—on porches, near water, and with sticky hands full of ripe fruit. Here’s what’s topping our old-fashioned summer bucket list. What’s on yours?
Related: 25 Southern Bucket List Experiences That Will Change Your Life
Alison MikschMaking Fresh Peach Cobbler
There’s nothing better than a fruit cobbler made with fresh, in-season fruit. “I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I've never made fresh peach cobbler!” says digital editor Mary Shannon Hodes. “I haven't decided which recipe I'm going to try between our old-fashioned baked version or our all-new grilled one, but I'm committing to it.”
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R27ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R47ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeRelated: This Peach Cobbler Recipe Is So Easy, My Husband Made It Twice In 24 Hours
Catching Lighting Bugs
Whether you call them fireflies or lightning bugs, there’s no quicker way to feel immediately transported straight back to being carefree and eight-years-old than catching the critters. “I will never get over the sheer magic of spotting lightning bugs on summer nights and catching them in Mason jars to enjoy their glow for a while before releasing them and watching them fly off in the dark,” reminisces copy chief Libby Minor.
Related: 6 Best Places In The South To Find Fireflies This Summer
Getty Images/Harold M. Lambert/Contributor
Stopping For Lemonade Stands
Pausing at a neighborhood lemonade stand for a glass of the good stuff is a must in the summertime. “There's nothing like handing over a dollar for a cup of Country Time to inspire a little childhood nostalgia,” says senior home and features editor Betsy Cribb Watson.
Enjoying Long Summer Nights On The Porch
There’s a particular kind of magic that comes when the sun dips below the treetops and the soundtrack of a summer evening fills the air—crickets, cicadas, and whip-poor-wills. “My favorite time of day in the summer is when the sun is still high in the sky until well after 8 p.m., but the air has cooled a few degrees and the world seems to quiet down a bit,” says associate editor Cameron Beall. Slowing down to listen and sitting on the porch long into the evening feels like hitting pause on the busyness of life. It’s the perfect time to relax with a cocktail, sit with a book, or enjoy the company of neighbors.
Gabriela Reggetti
Enjoy an old-fashioned, hand-mixed malt at the new Red's in downtown Sevierville.Visiting Your Local Ice Cream Parlor
Who can resist an after dinner treat? “I'm generally a bit of a summertime Scrooge, but I try to have at least one scoop of ice cream with my family while sitting on the rickety (and often sticky) plastic tables outside the ice-cream shop,” admits associate editor Katie Akin. “It takes me right back to my childhood, and the ice cream goes a long way to help temper my distaste for the hot weather.”
Jumping In The Lake
We appreciate any body of water to cool down during a hot and humid Southern summer, but there is something particularly special about jumping off a dock and into a cool lake. “It officially feels like a summer Friday when I arrive at the lake just in time for a sunset jump in the water,” claims social media director Brennan Long. “I'll never be too old for a running start off the dock!”
Brian HagiwaraEating Juicy Produce Straight From The Garden Or Farmstand
If you don’t savor in-season summer produce, is it really even a summer in the south? It’s one of the purest and most satisfying ways to soak up the summer. “Going to the peach shed and getting a bushel then eating them over the sink never gets old,” says senior producer Ivy Odom. “Eating the prized first tomato from your garden when it's still warm from the sun is also a must.”
Camping In The Mountains
Escaping into the mountains to beat the heavy heat is a timeless tradition whether it’s in a tent, camper, or a cabin. “Growing up, my family would take a canoe camping trip each summer,” reminisces Beall. “We would pack the canoes and paddle down Abrams Creek in the Smoky Mountains until it got too shallow and rocky to keep going and set up camp on the shady bank.” The higher you go, the cooler the air. There’s also nothing like a night under the undisrupted stars of the mountain sky.
Robbie CaponettoAdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2sekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4sekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe Casting A Line
No matter what you fancy—a quiet day on the lake or sitting on the edge of a pier—it’s hard to pass up this quintessential summertime activity. “I’m too impatient to spend a whole day chasing fish on a boat (I prefer catching to fishing), but it's not a lowcountry summer until you've had a chance to cast a line off a dock in hopes that something will bite,” says Watson.
Staying In A Swimsuit All Day Long
You know it’s a good day when you spend it in a bathing suit from sun up to sun down and Ivy Odom agrees. Now we’re not recommending staying in a wet swimsuit for hours on end, but there’s a certain level of relaxation that comes from being in such a care-free state the whole day whether that’s on the beach, on a boat, or sitting by a pool.
Getty Images
Biking Barefoot
There’s hardly anything more quintessentially Southern than hopping on a bike barefoot—and probably in a wet swimsuit as well—in the summertime to pedal down the street to a friend's house, neighborhood pool, or the shoreline. No shoes, no problem! The feeling immediately evokes the ease of summers of our youth when the days seemed to stretch out forever.
Taking Full Advantage Of The Pool
Who says the slide is just for kids!? Tap into your inner child and take a spin. “I don't care if I'm way too old, I’m going down the twisty slide at the community pool!” says deputy editor Lisa Cericola.
Making Homemade Ice Cream
For Ivy Odom, there's no better time to make homemade ice cream than in the summer when the fresh fruit is at your fingertips for the best flavors. Whether it's peach, strawberry, blackberry, or a classic vanilla custard, there's something special about churning your own batch and waiting (impatiently) for it to freeze. This nostalgic tradition, which calls for a bit of patience, belongs on every old-fashioned summer bucket list.
Robbie CaponettoGoing On A Canoe Adventure
There’s something wonderfully timeless about pushing off from shore in a canoe as the paddles dip quietly through calm water as dragonflies skim by. For senior food editor Josh Miller, it’s the perfect warm summer day adventure on the water—especially with a few friends and a cooler of cold drinks. Plus, it’s a great way to cool off with a quick dip! Whether you're navigating a winding river, floating across a glassy lake, or just drifting with no real destination, a no-engine-needed trip on the water is the perfect way to slow down in time.
Read the original article on Southern Living
