I’m very much a solar-powered llama, a “give me sunshine and snacks” kind of summer person — not the hiking-in-the-heat type, but the “let’s make a day of doing very little in a pretty place” kind. Summer, for me, is all about slowing down and savouring the little things. Here are some of my favourite ways to spend it:

📚 Reading outdoors
Whether it’s a park bench, a café courtyard, or just the back step with a cup of iced tea, books hit different in fresh air. Bonus points if there’s a breeze and nowhere I have to be.

🍓 Farmers’ markets & fresh berries
Saturday morning wanderings with stalls full of handmade things, locally baked bread, and punnet after punnet of sun-warmed strawberries? Bliss.

🌅 Evenings that stretch on forever
There’s something magical about golden-hour walks when the air’s finally cooled, and everything’s tinged with that soft orange light. Add a playlist and I’m all set.

🍦 Ice cream for absolutely no reason
Summer rules: if you want an ice cream, you get an ice cream. No guilt, no occasion, just pick your flavour and go.

🌊 Escaping to the coast… carefully
Living in a touristy area means the beaches can get packed — but I have my little hidden corners. There’s nothing like the smell of salt air and the sound of waves without the crowds. It’s a kind of peace I wait all year for.

🏰 Visiting castles and historic sites
Give me crumbling stone walls, overgrown gardens, and a bit of local lore — I’ll happily wander through a castle ruin or old abbey for hours. It feels like stepping sideways in time (and yes, I always imagine the story that might go with the setting).

📖 Rereading old favourites
Summer is prime reread season. I don’t know why, but it’s when I reach for comfort reads — the ones that feel like coming home. The nostalgia just fits with long days and slow evenings.

What are your favourite things to do in the summer? Are you a beach person? A garden lounger? A history nerd like me?