Summer Activities in the American South
It’s summertime in the American South, and that means sweet tea, mid-afternoon rain storms, and fun summer activities. This week, I explored some of the most common summer activities in the South: swimming, hiking, and of course, eating! There are many hidden gems in the South just waiting to be explored, and here are a few.
Farms & Local Produce
During the summer, fruit and vegetables are everywhere in the South. There are several farms, many family-owned, that are open for people to come and pick fruit and vegetables.
In my area, Northern Florida, blueberries and peaches are in season, and they are delicious! I was able to visit two farms, and each one had something unique to offer.
Many local farmers are more than happy to have visitors come to their farms to reap what they have sown. In addition to getting fresh produce, you may be able to meet the farmers themselves and ask them questions about their farm, products, and themselves.
Hiking and Wildlife
There are 175 state parks in the state of Florida alone. There are hundreds more in the rest of the South. Each one is packed with diverse wildlife that often interact with hikers and backpackers. On my hike in a Northern Florida forest, I saw several tortoises and deer. It is around the time where deer are common here, and you can see them with their fawns. While it is hot on these hikes, trees like oaks, redbuds, and bald cypresses keep the hiking paths shady and cool.
Bird-watching and gator-watching is also a good summer activity in the South. Alligators are found in these states: Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. While they may look intimidating, alligators tend to keep to themselves, and they spend most of the day sunbathing in the hot sun.
Hiking is a great activity to do with friends, and in the American South, it is common to picnic with friends during or after a hike. Some items that are commonly brought to a picnic in the South are sandwiches, sparkling water, fruit, dips, and candy/sweets. During my hike, I even found some wild blackberries to add to my picnic!
Swimming
Swimming is a very popular activity in the summer. The temperatures average 32.8°C or 91°F in the South during the summer, so people are always looking for a way to cool down. Luckily, some Southern states have natural springs, which are places where fresh underground water rises to the surface. At these springs, the water is consistently 22.2°C, or 72°F. In Florida, springs are usually crystal clear, making them an ideal spot for people to gather to cool off and explore.
When you come to a natural spring, you will find people with diving gear, snorkeling gear, or just a plain bathing suit. The springs attract a lot of different people for a lot of different reasons. Some people bring their paddle boards to explore the water, inflatable tubes to float around, or their underwater cameras to get incredible pictures of the clear springs.
I visited a Floridian spring during one of the hottest days of the month and saw many families relaxing along the shores of the spring, hanging out with one another, listening to music, and even grilling food for a picnic.
Vocabulary list:
“Hidden gems” (idiom) - something amazing that is unknown or unpopular.
Unique (adj.) - unlike anything or anyone else.
Reap (v.) - to gather or harvest.
Sow (v.) - to plant, usually a crop.
Diverse (adj.) - made up of many kinds of things, people, etc.
Backpackers (n.) - people that go hiking with backpacks; typically to carry camping supplies.
Fawn (n.) - a baby deer.
Intimidating (adj.) - something or someone that causes fear or makes someone lose confidence.
Sunbathing (v.) - to sit or lay out in the sun, typically to get tan.
Picnic (n. or v.) - an event with food where members eat in the open outside.
Cool-down (v.) - used to describe when someone is trying to escape the heat by swimming, sitting in the shade, drinking a cold drink, etc.
Natural springs (n.) - a place where pressurized groundwater surfaces.
Consistently (adverb) - used to describe something that is common or expected
“Crystal clear” (idiom) - perfectly clear; see-through. Also used to express that something or someone is understood completely.
Snorkeling gear (n.) - equipment for snorkeling. Usually goggles and a breathing tube.
Paddle board (n.) - a board made for people to stand on while in the water. They come with a paddle so that the person on them can push themselves through the water.
Inflatable tube (n.) - an air-filled piece of plastic that people can sit or lay on to float with.
Incredible (adj.) - amazing, awesome, or spectacular.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amber Breese is a third-year student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida pursuing a double major in History and Political Science with a minor in Russian language. She is currently working on her post-graduation plans which include joining the Peace Corps to work with youth in Ukraine. In her free time, you can find her reading, exploring her city, or watching films. She aims to work in public diplomacy, travel far and wide, and eventually own her own sustainable farm.