The summer season’s here, and what better way to celebrate this much-awaited time of the year than to schedule fun-packed and memorable summer activities? As a travel nurse, you’re already familiar with its many perks — including the flexibility to explore different states, see new sights, meet wonderful people, and make the most of golden summer days on your days off.

Aside from the popular summer activities such as going to the beach, lounging in the pool, and going on a picnic in the park, there are many other summer activities that you can enjoy that won’t take too much of your time, energy, and resources.

Here are several enjoyable and healthy activities to consider when the days grow longer and the temperature increases, whether you are a travel nurse on a travel nursing assignment alone or with your family.

Fun summer activities for travel nurses

Explore museums

If you want to soak up the sun in a more indirect way, or if you’re someone who prefers to enjoy summer in the comfort of indoor places, going on a museum trip is a great option. Look up interesting museums in your area, or if there are ones that are farther from where you are, go on a fun weekend road trip. Make the most of your trip by researching nearby restaurants and local shops that you can visit, too.

Granted, you can go to museums at any time of the year, but if you’re traveling with children, it’s a great way to tackle the “summer slide,” which is a type of academic regression that can occur when children are not engaged in formal education during summer vacation.

Aside from learning new things, going on museum trips has been linked to enhanced psychological well-being. In one study, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that going to museums can reduce stress and anxiety in visitors. The researchers discovered that a 30-minute trip to an art museum can help reduce cortisol levels that would typically take a few hours to achieve in normal recovery time.

Take an outdoor exercise class

Hitting the gym will always be a year-long staple, but if you’re in the market for something more enjoyable, consider taking an outdoor exercise class this summer. 

Exercising outdoors is a great option, especially if you have a hard time sticking to an exercise routine that works for you. In a clinical trial performed in 2015, researchers found that people who had an outdoor training routine over 12 weeks reported higher rates of exercise adherence and lower levels of depression compared to those who trained indoors. Meanwhile, another study found that people who exercised in outdoor environments had reduced levels of stress compared to those who exercised indoors.

Go bird watching

Not all summer activities require large reserves of energy. They also don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. If you’re looking for a calming and relatively inexpensive summer activity that you can do on your own or with your entire family, bird watching might just be what you’re searching for.

Bird watching, or birding, is the act of observing live birds in their natural environment. It grew in popularity during the height of the pandemic, when most people were cooped up at home and wanted a change in scenery. To get started with bird watching, all you need to have are a pair of binoculars, a field book (to help you identify the birds you’ll see), and a notebook and a pen (to record the date and place of your sightings).

Aside from the calmness that comes with birding, it also helps improve people’s mental health. A Scientific Reports article stated that people who saw or heard birds experience an increased mental wellbeing for eight hours.

Go to a petting zoo

Going to a petting zoo this summer can provide many wonderful benefits to children, including learning about animal species and their respective habitats and gaining hands-on learning experiences.

Aside from the cognitive benefits, interacting with animals also brings many wonderful emotional and psychological perks for children, including increased self-esteem and confidence, as animals communicate and interact with children non-verbally. Animal interaction can also lead to children learning responsibility, empathy, and respect, as interacting with animals can help them understand the importance of caring for and being gentle with animals.

Travel nurses, as you embark on assignments across different states, let each destination become an opportunity to explore activities that resonate with your passions and personality. From taking outdoor exercise classes to trying bird watching or visiting petting zoos, summer offers an array of enriching experiences to complement your journey. Embrace the charm of the city or town you’re in, but be sure to stay protected and safe — bring sunscreen and enjoy your adventures responsibly!