There are three major holidays that unofficially mark the beginning, middle and end of summer. Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of the month of May (Victoria Day is celebrated in Canada at the end of May) and is usually considered the kick-start to summer. You will find people hosting barbecue and pool parties and spending three-day weekends either at home with family and friends or on small trips out of town. Americans celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year (Canada Day is July 1) with parades, parties and patriotic events. Labor Day generally marks the end of the summer season and is celebrated in both the U.S. and Canada on the first Monday in September.
Many people go on holiday and travel during the summer because the weather is nice and students are on break from school. Choosing a vacation destination can be difficult because there are so many options, but of course there are ways to limit your options and make a decision when you make certain considerations detailed in the following three sections.
Budget will determine how far you travel, modes of transportation and quality of amenities you will choose. It is important to enjoy yourself on vacation, but be sure to stay within a reasonable budget to avoid added stress upon return from your time away.
Decide what kind of vacation you want to experience. For strictly relaxing you may want to choose a tropical resort, a cruise or a mountain cottage. For adventure, you will want to consider camping or possibly a cross-country road trip. And for a cultural experience, you can take a trip out of the country (if your budget permits).
The length of your stay will likely depend on your budget and the amount of time you have away from work or school. However, you should consider arriving at home a day or two before you have to return to your regular routine. A recovery period will help you settle back into your home life slowly and accomplish things like washing the laundry and buying groceries so that you do not feel unprepared to return to your regular routine.
Sometimes it is not possible to take an out-of-town summer holiday vacation if you have budget or time restrictions. You can enjoy the relaxation or adventure of a vacation away from home by taking advantage of things in or around your own area. For some great tips on how to make the most of an at-home vacation, see the "Staycations" resource below.
You may associate the summer months with certain fruits and vegetables because they are in season during this time. Summer is the season for blueberries, avocados, tomatoes, eggplant, figs, watermelon, bell peppers, corn, yellow squash and more. During the summer months, produce that is in season will be cheaper and at its best quality.
