Congrats, you’ve made it to the last month of school! But, what are you going to do with all that free time for two months? Here are some ideas for those who need inspiration.

Travel

San Diego, California

San Diego, California has, in my opinion, the perfect weather, consistently a sunny 50 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the most recommended destinations are Balboa Park, Little Italy, and Sunset Cliffs Natural Park.

On their website, Balboa Park describes themselves as San Diego’s “1,200-acre backyard.” It is an urban cultural park featuring museums, theaters, gardens, art centers, and the San Diego Zoo.

The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park is different from others because it houses its animals in cageless habitats rather than traditional bars. Not only does this promote natural behaviors and physical health for the animals but it also creates a more immersive experience for visitors.

The Lost Forest is one of the bioclimate zones at the zoo and walking through it feels and sounds like you’ve stepped into a rain forest. You’ll see rare and endangered species such as Malayan Tigers, Indian Gharials, and Western Lowland Gorillas.

The Spanish Village Art Center is one of the art centers at Balboa Park. Similar to a museum, there are many art displays, but the twist is that visitors can witness over 200 artists live. This ranges from painters, sculptors, and photographers to jewelry designers, basket makers, and gourd artists. You can watch these artists create their crafts, purchase their unique pieces, or partake in hands-on workshops. Even the ground itself is a work of art because it is made out of hand painted tiles, creating a vibrant environment.

Once you get hungry you can take a five minute drive or a 25 minute walk from Balboa Park to Little Italy, a European-style neighborhood with authentic Italian restaurants.

Little Italy Mercato is a farmers’ market held every Wednesday and Saturday. You can find meat, eggs, honey, vegetables, fruits, baked goods, bread, jams, potatoes, stuffed hash browns, gourmet craft popcorn, chocolate, yogurts, and much more. You can also find non-food products such as flowers, jewelry, beauty care, books, t-shirts, kitchen ceramics, candles, along with numerous other crafts.

The market is limited to Wednesdays and Saturdays but there are still lots of great places to eat at in case you visit any other day of the week.

Piazza Della Famiglia is the plaza and heart of Little Italy. It’s filled with restaurants and often features live music. You can get pizza at Landini’s Pizzeria, pasta at Buon Appetito Restaurant, or gelato at Figo il Gelato Italiano.

By the time you finish your meal, it’ll be a good idea to chase the sunset at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park.

This coastline offers a perfect view of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. During low tide, you can explore its sea caves, one of them being Gaia’s Gate. Gaia’s Gate features an open-ceiling allowing sunlight to shine through t0 create a radiant glow. You can also whale watch the California grey whales that migrate from the waters of the Arctic.

Surfing is also an option, but it’s best to be experienced for this area due to the rocky entries and strong currents. You can choose from five spots: North Garbage Beach, South Garbage Beach, New Break, Subs, and Luscomb Point.

Apart from the weather, San Diego is also at the perfect location. Take a 47 minute drive and you’re at Rosarito, Mexico.

Rosarito, Mexico

Rosarito is a coastal city in western Mexico known for its beaches and events. Films such as Titanic (1997) and Fear the Walking Dead (2016) have been filmed here. Rosarito hosts the Baja Beach Fest, a music festival with performances by reggaeton and Latin artists. This years lineup has renowned artists such as: Anuel AA, Ozuna, Jowell y Randy, Nicky Jam, Omar Courtz, Dei V, and many other classic and upcoming artists. If you’d like a more scenic activity, then horseback riding on the beach is available. You can also ride ATVs on the sand dunes, which offer views of the Pacific Ocean.

At Home

Traveling isn’t required to have a good time. You can stay right here in New Jersey.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham is a Hindu temple in Robbinsville, NJ, the largest Hindu mandir in the US and second largest in the world. There are 548 pillars, 10,000 statutes, and 148 life-sized elephants. The traditional Nagara style architecture features carvings of Hindu gods and goddesses, elephants, ancient India’s scientists and spiritual ascetics, celestial dancers, and geometric patterns.

Inside the main temple, Akshardam Mahamandir, there are Italian marble pillars of Hindu scripture, immense shrines of Hindu deities, carvings of Hindu history that drape from ceilings down to walls, and the 7 feet tall statue of Shri AksharPurushottam Maharaj made of gold leaf featuring a marble mosaic backdrop.

It is important to note that shoes must be removed and photography and videography is prohibited inside the Akshardam Mahamandir. This is to respect the religion and fully engage in the moment. The rest of the temple is just as beautiful and photos are permitted. Throughout the campus, material such as gold leaf, Italian carrara marble, Indian pink sandstone, Bulgarian limestone, Burmese teakwood, and granite are used.

A 49-foot golden-bronze statue of Nilkanth Varni stands in the center of the plaza, while Rangoli-style flowerbeds surround the plaza. The Brahm Kund is a traditional Indian water reservoir which contains holy water sourced from more than 300 sacred Indian rivers and natural water from all 50 states of the U.S. The temple is closed on Tuesdays, free to enter, and requires clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.

For those nature explorers, New Jersey has its own slice of the Appalachian Trail in Vernon, The Stairway to Heaven. It is considered a moderate to highly strenuous hike due to its rocky terrain. The reason for its name are the steep rock slabs that form a natural staircase up Wawayanda Mountain.

The hike features the Pochuck Boardwalk, Pochuck Suspension Bridge, and the Pinwheel Vista. The Pochuck Boardwalk is an over one mile long wooden walkway that goes through the Pochuck Valley wetlands, the longest boardwalk on the entire Appalachian trail. As you walk it tall grasses, cattails and marsh plants surround you. Birds are chirping and turtles are sun bathing.

Once you reach the end you’re met with the Pochuck Suspension Bridge. Spanning 144 feet, you’ll be swaying over the Pochuck Creek. You can stop to birdwatch and take pictures. Then you pass through working farmland where you’ll see cow pastures before entering the forest. The forest leads you to the Stairway to Heaven, the most physically demanding part.

It’ll all pay off once you’ve reached Pinwheel Vista. It overlooks layers of valleys, farmland, ridges, and mountains. Right below you is Vernon Valley, a patchwork of farms, fields, roads, forests, and small neighborhoods. Across the valley is Pochuck Mountain, a long wooded ridge. Beyond Pochuck Mountain is the Black Dirt Region, an agricultural area with fertile soil so dark that it looks black. One of Jersey’s major mountain chains, Kittatinny Ridge is farther in the distance and even farther is the High Point Monument, which is visible on clear days. Once arriving at this viewpoint, watching the sunset and having a picnic is a must.

You can pick about any place with open space to have a picnic. Fortunately, you most likely already have everything you need for one. A tablecloth to sit and place your food, your favorite snacks, and hydrating drinks. I personally like to bring macarons, mini sandwiches, and strawberry lemonade. You could also bring a camera for memories!

For those unaware, New Jersey is known as the “Diner Capital of the World.” This means you can’t be a Jersey resident without going to at least one diner. 24-hour diners became a staple for commuters working in New York City, which eventually led to 400-500 establishments.

Clinton Station Diner is one of the most popular, their specialty being burgers that range from 15 pounds to 105 pounds. To further enhance their retro feel, they allow guests to eat in a vintage rail car. Their menu features over 50 varieties of baked goods. With all that they have to offer they still keep affordable prices, in the $10-$20 range per entree.

I hope these recommendations helped you. Have a great summer!