Summer is almost here and the question is how to get the most out of this time of the year. To help you a little, and take it step by step, I’m sharing 10 things you should do in June. Each one gets you out of the house, outside in the sunny weather, some with an adventure, some are memories with friends.

Why waste the summer months inside? This is the time to shed some layers, soak in the sun and enjoy the calm before the summer storm! Your weekends and evenings should be packed with fun. The season is short, the months go buy too quickly, you don’t want to waste it. I hate having those moments when fall comes around and you feel you didn’t pack in enough during the summer.

Grab your friends or significant others and check off these 10 fun activities! Who wouldn’t want to go on a road trip or buy fresh flowers?

The 10 Things You Should Do In June

1. Go on a Road Trip with your Best Friend

Grab your best friend and your car and go on a road trip together. It doesn’t matter if you have two weeks or just a weekend. It’s a great experience to explore places that are close to where you live, but you haven’t been there before. Curtis and I plan on either driving across to Chicago or Eastern Canada one day. I’d love to explore the East Coast of both Canada and the US.

If you are in BC, try exploring the Sunshine Coast or visit the Okanagan.

2. Pick Fresh Strawberries from a Field

If you never picked strawberries yourself it’s time to change this fact. There are farms everywhere to do this. Or grow your own at home and relish those few you get. Eating a strawberry straight from the plant is nothing compared to the strawberries you buy at supermarkets.

These are my favourite recipes lately for strawberries

• Strawberry Mango Popsicles via HalfBakedHarvest
  
• Strawberry Pistachio Crumble via LoveandLemons
• S’mores Stuffed Strawberries via HowSweetEats

3. Have a Brunch-party with your Friends

The perfect thing to do on a warm sunday? Have a brunch-party in your garden or patio. Just invite your friends, prepare a lot of food (fruits, veggies, granola, homemade bread, pancakes, couscous salad, champagne…) and play music. Chat about nothing for hours and enjoy the lazy Sunday together.

4. Treat Yourself to a Huge Flower Bouquet

Buy yourself a beautiful bouquet at the farmers market. Pick up those coveted peonies or any other seasonal florals. Place them on your dining table or workspace to make yourself happy. Flowers can instantly light up a room and I feel gives the illusion that it’s more squeaky clean than it actually is…

5. Discover a New Coffee Shop

I live in the PNW (Vancouver) where trendy coffee shops are everywhere. Besides coffee, they are now offering amazing brunches or other fantastic baked goods to enjoy. Long gone are the days of shitty coffee, stale cookies or chains.

I really love finding great coffee shops in other cities I visit. Sometimes you make friends with a local, or have a chance to take a break while sipping a cup of jo.

6. Try a New Ice-cream Flavour

The perfect month of the year to have ice-cream? Definitely June! Our favorite flavours lately? Anything rhubarb or with lavender. I’m still a sucker for salted caramel or peanut butter chocolate chip. If you are in Vancouver, try Earnest Ice Cream and their seasonal flavours.

7. Read at Least One Book

Reading is one of the things I enjoy doing but still never spend enough time actually doing it lately. I was that person who would go through a book a week! That’s why I set a goal to read at least one book in June. Bonus if you get your patio ready for summer entertaining this month! You can relax without worrying about what needs to get done and get lost in the story.

Don’t know what to read? You can find a list of the hottest summer reads that will make you obsessed on Elle.

8. Visit a Farmers Market to Buy Loads of Veggies and Fruit

The perfect thing to do on a sunny weekend morning? Take a tote bag and stroll over to a local farmers market. Buy fresh veggies, seasonal fruit, liquor, a meal from a food truck,  grab a coffee and croissant, enjoy the busy yet relaxed atmosphere and get inspired for new recipes.

Find out 12 Items to Buy at the Farmer’s Market this season.

9. Take the Bike Instead of the Car

There are numerous reasons why you should leave the car at home and take your bike instead. To mention a few, it’s a great way to explore your city, even better for your bikini body and will help you be less stressed about the traffic and parking. I love going for long, summer rides along our city’s seawall. Even better if you end the walk on a patio with a delicious, cold beverage.

10. Visit a New City

What about a spontaneous trip to explore a city you’ve never been to before? I love visiting a city I haven’t yet, finding new places to explore, cuisine to eat and leaving with a suitcase full of memories. We live one life, why not see what else the world has to offer. Here are couple of guides to places I want to visit.

• Tokyo via DesignLoveFest
• Austin via LocalWanderer