Photo credit to Beau Sanders via Flickr
1. Outside Lands
Every year in August, Golden Gate Park is transformed to host the iconic Outside Lands Music Festival. This year, the festival will be held August 9 through 11. Spanning three days, the festival has a variety of stages and tents inspired by Bay Area locations, including Twin Peaks, Lands End, and The Presidio. The festival lineup features many different genres this year, ranging from R&B artists like Victoria Monét and Daniel Caesar to house artists like The Blessed Madonna. Beyond its exciting musical talent, the festival boasts a diverse and delicious selection of food from some of the Bay Area’s best restaurants—all in the gorgeous Golden Gate Park.
Sophomore Alessandra Hartwig attended Outside Lands last year and remembers it being an “insane” experience. Hartwig went all three days with friends and saw “a wide variety of different artists,” most memorably Lana Del Rey.
Though she was at first skeptical of this year’s lineup, Hartwig explained, “I did some researching and found a bunch of fun DJs that I’m so excited to see.” She bought tickets for all three days this year. “It’s a really fun thing to do to spice up your summer and give you something to look forward to, especially with friends,” she said.
2. Local Concerts
Concerts on school nights can be a nightmare, but in the summer it is so much easier to plan concerts without having to worry about completing your homework or preparing for a test the next day. Plus, there are plenty of venues to watch your favorite artist in the Bay Area. The Guild is a small venue in Menlo Park that often hosts older bands and solo artists.
This past year, Steven Marley and the Chainsmokers made an appearance. Another Bay Area venue, Shoreline Amphitheater, boasts performances from artists like Niall Horan and Brooks and Dunn, in addition to hosting music festivals. One of its most notable festivals, the Outlaw Music Festival, will feature country superstars Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and John Mellencamp this year on August 3.
3. Amusement Parks
Another fun local activity is going to amusement parks with friends. Great America has a variety of attractions, including roller coasters, drop towers, and more. Along with the rides, there is also a food court with a variety of options and other restaurants and cafes scattered around the park. If you are looking for a fun beach vibe, an alternative amusement park is the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. This boardwalk contains fun rides, an arcade, and a movie on the beach in the evening––you can stop by at any time of the day and there will be activities that work for you.
4. Baseball Games
Nothing says summer like eating some peanuts and cracker jacks at a ball game in the city. The Giants’ season just started in March, so there are still plenty of games left to watch before playoffs start. While it can sometimes be difficult to find parking in the city, Oracle Park is conveniently located a block from the CalTrain station, which makes for easy transportation.
5. Farmer’s Market
Why not take advantage of all the delicious fresh fruit that’s only available for a couple of months of the year? If you’re clever about it you can get your money’s worth just from all the free samples. The Palo Alto farmer’s market on Sunday has a slightly larger selection of produce, but Menlo Park still has plenty of options to choose from. Though the farmer’s market at the Ferry Building in San Francisco blows both out of the water, and is definitely worth the trek if you can make it on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. The market offers hundreds of stands selling everything from classics like fresh blueberries and nectarines to mulberries and bacon avocado along with a vast selection of jams, baked goods, and flowers.
6. Cars and Coffee
Even if you don’t have any more homework to do (or don’t want to procrastinate summer homework), there’s no reason to abandon your favorite study spot. On the first Sunday of every month, car owners from around the Bay Area gather at the parking lot outside Menlo Park’s Coffee Bar. Owners display unique cars ranging from a 2006 Lotus Exige to a 1974 BMW 2002. After admiring the cars you can always stop into Coffeebar if you’re feeling nostalgic for their coffee or for a quick bite to eat.
7. San Mateo County Fair
From June 1 to 9, the San Mateo County Fair features everything from carnival rides to a concert series. Like any traditional fair, animals and food are also heavily featured. The fair includes a pig race, a duck race, camel riding, and a petting zoo along with bungee jumping, bumper cars, and your choice of three different carousels. You can win up to $10 if you enter a winning tuberous crop or $100 for a winning scarecrow, but if you’re not into farming you can also just eat some popcorn, BBQ, churros, funnel cakes, soft serve, or bao. The fair is only a 15-minute drive from M-A and is definitely worth checking out if you have the time. Trust us when we say that fairs—or at least this one—are much more appealing than David Foster Wallace makes them sound.
8. Filoli Garden Pool Parties
On July 2 and 9, Filoli Garden is hosting its first-ever pool party. The pool is located in the middle of the gorgeous estate, so if you get bored of swimming you can always explore the gardens. If you can’t make any of those dates, Filoli also offers an array of other summer activities, including a conversation with Ramaytush Ohlone leaders to celebrate the opening of a new trail, trellis-making workshops, and live performances on the summer stage.
9. Hike
Enjoy the nice weather with a stroll at one of the many local preserves. The Midpeninsula Open Space offers a vast trail network that spans over 70,000 acres. There are so many amazing trails to choose from, but some of our personal favorites include Windy Hill and Russian Ridge because they offer some nice shade which can be a godsend on a hot summer day. If you’re feeling extra adventurous and want to plan an overnight trip, you can also book a couple of nights at the Black Mountain Backpack Camp for a hefty fee of $2 per night.
10. Visit the Beach
We saved the best for last, and this one should go without saying, but there is genuinely no reason not to go to the beach this summer. Since we live in California, there are countless options to choose from in Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco. Go surfing, play some beach volleyball, or just relax with a nice beach read. The sound of the crashing waves and the smell of salt air will make any book ten times better than it would be if you read it in a claustrophobic room. Extra bonus points if you listen to Bob Marley on your drive there.
