10 Budget-Friendly Summer Activities For Sweet Seasonal Fun

Visit A Local Fair

When's the last time you and your friends visited a local fair? If you have to think about it, that means it's been a while and that's expected when your schedules are super busy. But, we think it's time to go back to the basics and let your inner kids play.

Whether you throw your hands in the hair as the ferris wheel goes around or decide to stuff your face with fair foods like funnel cake or smoked turkey legs, you're guaranteed to have a great time.

Go Thrift Shopping

Instead of going to a crowded mall this summer, plan a friend date at one of your local thrift stores. There's always hidden gems if you're willing to look for them and all the eclectic pieces you find can make for fun stories.

Also, you may be able to find cute decor that ranges from kitschy to boho without having to spend over $100 (IYKYK).

Take A Dance Class Together

Have you and your friends been looking for a fun way to work out after your Pilates class mishap? Tray taking a dance class together!

It's one of the best ways to stretch your muscles and move your body. Plus, there's music involved! We're a little biased, but we think dance classes tend to have the best tunes. If you're lucky, your dance class instructor may share some inspo for your at-home workout playlist!

Try A New Brunch Spot

If you and your friends are mad because your favorite brunch spot has started watering down its bottomless mimosas, it's time to search for a new one! Honestly, this is one of the best friend date ideas you can do this summer because food and tasty drinks always opens the door for amazing conversations.

We don't make the rules, but we sure live by them!

Have A Fun Photoshoot For Your Friend's Birthday

There's always that one friend in the group who swears they don't care about doing anything big for their birthday. You can respect their wishes by keeping things low key with a planned photoshoot that includes your closest friends!

You can go to a studio if you choose, but you can also set up a backdrop in your living room or backyard!

As for the friend who's celebrating their birthday, they'll cherish the fun photos you take.

Enjoy A Concert In The Park

We just had to include an outdoor concert on our list of friend date ideas because they're the key to making core memories. Watching over people literally bond over music — from non-stop singing or dancing — is something we'll never get over TBH.

Explore A New Part Of Town

This is one of those friend date ideas where you don't have to spend money if you don't want to. It's more about finding new places to explore if you've grown tired of sticking to one side of town.

There's always new vintage spots, food trucks, shopping plazas, and bookstores to be found if you're willing to do a little hunting.

Host Sip And Paint Party At Home

Not in the mood to be around people you don't know? Grab some art supplies and wine, call your friends up, and host your very own sip and paint party at your apartment.

It doesn't have to be a competition, just you and your friends laughing uncontrollably as you try to recreate an image.

Go See RuPaul’s Drag Race Live

Since Las Vegas is known for its entertainment offerings, you’ll want to snag a ticket to RuPaul’s Drag Race Live at The Flamingo. This 90-minute show brings fan-favorite queens from the hit TV show to the big stage to perform and lip-sync in an epic battle for the crown. From death drops to duck walks, you’ll never know what’s next at RPDR Live. Plus, the queens switch roughly every six weeks so the cast is ever changing so you’ll never see the same show twice! After the show, head on over to the gift shop which is themed after the Werk Room where you can purchase t-shirts, magnets, umbrellas, and other souvenirs to remember your time in Sin City.

Eat At A Fancy Restaurant

Foodies, listen up! Las Vegas has tons of top-rated restaurants with highly-trained chefs from all over the world. If you’re craving fish or steak, then head on over to Ocean Prime Steakhouse for a delicious meal and top-tier service located next to the Crystal Shops. I tried the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli and French Onion soup, and I’m still thinking about them both a week later. Not only was the food excellent, but our server essentially put on a show for us with his lively personality and in-depth recommendations.

Another great restaurant is Top of the World at The STRAT Hotel which provides 360-degree views of Las Vegas with its rotating dining room located 800 feet in the air. While you dine, you’ll be captivated by the stunning views and even some bungee jumpers coming from two floors above. Be sure to ask your server about the butter cake for dessert because it’s one of the best sweet treats in LV.

Visit The Las Vegas Arts District

After eating at Top of the World, take a walk over to the arts district which is home to the viral $10 tattoo shops, antique stores, and delicious restaurants. Stop by the Antique Alley Mall and browse through 65+ vendors that have vintage clothing, furniture, home decor, and more available for purchase. Disney enthusiasts will find tons of old-school Mickey Mouse plush toys and retro snow globes that’ll bring back some nostalgia too.

Aside from antique pieces, you’ll also find colorful murals on the walls of buildings in the arts district. The popular "Greetings from Las Vegas" mural can be found there alongside other colorful installations that make for the perfect picture spots. Your Insta-feed will thank you, trust me.

Take Photos On The Strip

Not looking to spend a lot? Taking photos on the strip is free, and luckily there are tons of landmarks and statues to pose next to. For example, snap a picture in front of the Bellagio fountains or next to the Statue of Liberty at the New York, New York Hotel. Other popular photo spots include inside The Venetian, at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and outside the Las Vegas Eiffel Tower Experience. A good idea is to walk the strip and look at each of the hotels because you’ll find installations, murals, and architecture that serve as the perfect backdrop for photos.

Go Resort Hopping

As you take photos along the strip, you’ll need a much needed break from the sun — that’s when you want to go resort hopping. Whether you want to check out the pool at The Vdara Hotel & Spa, the food court at The Aria, or the gondolas at The Venetian, there is something for everyone at the resorts. Keep in mind that the resorts can be crowded as people are not only staying there, but many people also hop around the strip to see what each location has to offer.

Visit The Hello Kitty Cafe

Channel your inner kid at heart by taking a trip to the Hello Kitty Cafe. There’s a more formal location at Fashion Show Las Vegas and a food truck located closer to the heart of the strip at The Park MGM. Regardless of the location you choose, you’ll find a menu filled with sweet treats inspired by Hello Kitty and her friends. Plus, there’s a selection of merchandise available at the cafe to choose from including plush toys, pins, and pillows.

See A Magic Show

Interested in magic? Nathan Burton has the number one afternoon magic show in Las Vegas for people of all ages. Whether you’re a fan of card tricks or illusions, get a ticket for Burton’s magic show which combines everything together in a 90-minute production filled with confetti and showgirls. If you’re close enough to the front, you might even be asked to participate in a trick or two too.

Watch a Cirque Du Soleil

Las Vegas is filled with lively nighttime entertainment from concerts to cirque du soleils. End your trip with a bang by snagging a ticket to one of LV’s top-tier cirque performances such as Ka, Mad Apple, or “O”. You’ll be blown away by top tier acrobats, dancers, actors, and stage performers that tell stories in a breathtaking way through movement and action.

What is the new movie Here about?

Based on the graphic novel by Richard McGuire, Here follows the story of multiple families across time, and explores the places — and homes — they inhabit. "The story travels through generations, capturing the most relatable of human experiences," according to an official synopsis of the movie, which is "a tale of love, loss, laughter and life, all of which happen right Here."

When is Here coming out?

Here comes to movie theaters on November 15, 2024. With so much emphasis on family and home, this is going to be the perfect pre-holiday movie to watch with the people you love the most. Check out the rest of this year's Fall Movies to see what else is coming this year!

Who's in the cast of Here?

Here stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly, and Michelle Dockery.

Where is Here filmed?

Here began filming at the end of 2022 in London, and director Robert Zemeckis revealed the camera stays in exactly the same place throughout the entire movie. “The single perspective never changes, but everything around it does,” he tells Vanity Fair. “It’s actually never been done before."