The Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, NH
Summertime in New Hampshire: lakes and beaches teem with vacationers, shoppers crowd nearby outlet stores, and I-95 backs up like clockwork every Friday and Sunday.
The state truly comes to life with activity during the warmer months, but with popularity often comes higher price tags.
Summer fun doesn't need to be expensive, though; whether you're building up savings or simply looking to make the best use of your hard-earned funds, you can enjoy a fantastic summer on a budget!
Let's look at fifty free or low-cost warm weather ideas to infuse your summer with fun.
Get Moving
1) Take an evening beach walk
Wells Beach in Wells, ME
2) Go geocaching using free online maps
3) Train for a 5k using the free Couch to 5K app
4) Go see a waterfall
5) Do the Fisherman's Walk in York
6) Climb to the top of Mount Major
View of Lake Winnipesaukee from the top of Mount Major in Alton, NH
7) See the ruins in the Madam Sherri Forest
8) Meet up with friends for volleyball or a pick-up game
9) Find wild blueberries to pick
10) Play backyard games, which may be rentable from your local library
11) Hike to the Stratham Fire Tower
See the Sights
12) Have a picnic somewhere picturesque
13) Spend the day at the lake or beach
14) Go stargazing
15) Take a photography walk
16) Go camping
17) Take a drive to visit local covered bridges
18) Visit a lighthouse, such as Nubble Light in York or Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Castle
Nubble Light in York, ME
19) Go to the Rhododendron State Park in July
20) Watch fireworks, such as the weekly show at Hampton Beach on Wednesday nights
Let It Rain
21) Have friends over for arts and crafts, such as a paint and sip class from Youtube
22) Organize a book club – you could keep it really inexpensive by reading a free or inexpensive e-book
23) Invite friends and family over for a clothing swap – the more people, the better
24) Learn something new with online lessons, such as from Khan Academy
25) Support library events, like author nights or craft lessons
26) Give writing a try by picking one of these fun writing prompts
Enjoy the Arts
27) Listen to music in the park at Short Sands beach
Short Sands Beach in York, ME
28) Go see Prescott Park's annual musical
29) Get free passes from your local library for a botanical garden or museum
30) Visit a historic home (which your library may have a free pass for!)
31) Check out Tuesdays on the Terrace at Strawbery Banke Museum
32) Take advantage of free Friday evenings at the Portland Museum of Art
33) Rent a projector from your local library and set up a movie showing in the backyard
34) Explore downtown Portsmouth
A garden in downtown Portsmouth, NH
35) Catch up on some reading outside
Go On an Adventure
36) Be a tourist for a day in a town like Keene or Wolfeboro
37) Visit a local farm
38) Explore an antique shop, like Deja Vu in Londonderry, just to take a trip back in time
39) Hit up yard sales to find what you need for a fraction of the price
40) Explore nature with free apps, like Seek or the Audubon Bird Guide app
A mushroom at Laudholm Reserve in Wells, ME
41) Go fishing with your children or grandchildren
42) Visit a farmer's market for local-grown groceries – Dover's is the first Wednesday of the month, from 3:30-6:30!
Attend an Event
43) The Kittery Block Party in June, Kittery
44) The Piscataqua Riverfest in July, Portsmouth
45) The Strawberry Festival in July, South Berwick
46) The Cocheco Arts Festival in July and August, Dover
Change It Up
47) Go to a section of the library you don't gravitate toward and try out a new genre
The inside of the North Berwick library in North Berwick, ME
48) Experiment with new summer recipes, like "nice cream"
49) Make your own colorful backyard décor, like painted book bricks or decorated terracotta pots
50) Check out your local library's "library of things" and try something new – whether that be an instrument, crafting tool, or board game
Whether you're trying to build up savings or maintain a frugal lifestyle, hopefully these activities have given you some ideas! I know I'm going to be referencing this list for my own fun-filled frugal summer.