There’s something about summer. It always goes by in a flash — but each little moment spent in the evening heat or swimming along the shoreline has the tendency to leave a potent, lingering memory in its wake. Each second feels more meaningful, whether it’s staring across a perfectly still lake, chasing the salty breeze along the beach, or laughing around a bonfire with family. We love summer for the invitation it extends to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with ourselves and with the people we love.

Taking time away from our busy days and list of responsibilities isn’t just a wonderful reprieve from our modern-day bustle — it increases creativity, deepens our relationships with family and friends, and even can lead to better sleep. In fact, studies have found that people who take vacations are generally happier. (Not that you needed a study to tell you that!) So, those moments when we let ourselves truly unwind aren’t just a treat — they’re a vital part of staying healthy and happy, both inside and out.

“We love summer for the invitation it extends to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with ourselves and with the people we love.”

It’s in those shared moments — the silly games, the quiet mornings, the unexpected adventures — that the best stories are born. Stories that we carry with us, that shape who we are, and that we pass down like little treasures. As you dive into these stories, we hope you feel that same warmth and joy. May they remind you of your own favorite summer memories and inspire you to make even more. Because at the end of the day, summer is about more than just time off — it’s about the love, laughter, and connection that fill those days with meaning.

If you haven’t shared your favorite summer getaway with us yet, let us know in the comments. (And be sure to sign up for our daily newsletter — our own way to infuse your inbox with 30 seconds of joy every morning.) ✨

*Some responses have been condensed or edited for clarity.

“Friends have a cottage on a lake, which is water access only. Waking up to a lake like glass with a cup of coffee, the quiet, the sunshine, and the sound of a train in the distance is such a treat. Recharge the batteries.” – Heather R.

“Every year as a kid, we would drive from England to the south of France where my family had a house. The drive was long, about 10 hours. We would slowly make our way through northern France where the grey weather of England would often continue. As we got further south, the vegetation and light would change, and there was a sign we eagerly looked out for on the autoroute that had a cloud and rain at the top [with] a goodbye symbol and, at the bottom, sunshine and a hello. It signified we were nearly there and that the air would smell of pines and the sky would be this gorgeous blue-pink and the cicadas would be loud. The journey and that transition just epitomise summer for me.” – Ellie O.

“When I was 15, I took a road trip to Kolby, Kansas with my parents. My uncle and his family owned a motel there. We lived in California. It was my first big road trip. We made lots of stops to see things. We even had a scary motel stay where there was blood on the bed. We left. We crack up about it now. What an adventure. We had so much bonding time. I got to see more than California. And also being in the town of Kolby, Kansas for a week was an experience. I loved seeing how a small town functions. The sense of community was beautiful. It is my most cherished vacation. My dad is now passed so this is a precious memory.” – MDK

“Waking up to a lake like glass with a cup of coffee, the quiet, the sunshine, and the sound of a train in the distance is such a treat. Recharge the batteries.”

“The happiest memory I’ve had was literally today. I took my sisters to swim and we ended up having a great time. They’re all younger than I, so it was nice being able to focus on them, their laughter, and their innocence. We goofed around, played Marco Polo, and carried each other one by one in the water. We also played monkey in the middle. Moments like today remind me how lucky I am to see my siblings grow up.” – Anonymous Reader

“Every summer, my parents would take my two sisters and me to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. We would take out soda cans with the unlimited ride coupon on them and spend the evening riding the giant dipper, eating fresh-dipped corn dogs, and enjoying the salty air together. There’s something so magical about a warm summer night by the beach, enjoying the moment.” – Miranda S.

“Spending the entire summer with my family in Vietnam and going to Six Flags with my cousins.” – LN

“Growing up on the West Coast, we’d travel back to Canada’s East Coast every other summer or so, where my parents were from. One of my sweetest memories is the day my oldest cousin loaded us six cousins into his little pickup truck and took us clam-digging. I was twelve, heading into grade seven that fall, and that summer, the world felt like it was just beginning to open up, the way it does in those tween years when you start down that path of trying to figure out who you are. We spent hours at the little inlet down the dirt road. We filled our clam buckets, but also spent a good amount of time goofing around in the water. It was a perfect late afternoon. On the drive back, my brother and two cousins rode in the truck bed, while I sat in the cab with my youngest cousin and our oldest, who was driving. When we got back to town, my uncle steamed the clams in a pit in the backyard. It turned into one of those perfect lazy summer evenings with games, jokes, laughter, and a little bit of wine snuck when the adults weren’t looking. My uncle always had a huge garden full of flowers that made the air smell amazing. As the years went by, we returned less often. I got a part-time summer job, my brother was playing lacrosse on a travel team — there just wasn’t time to go all the way out there for a month anymore. A few years ago, my oldest cousin, who was truly the very best of us, passed away. I think that day at the inlet, digging clams, was probably the last time all six of us cousins were together. It’s just a small moment, one evening over twenty years ago, but I hold it close to my heart.” – Anonymous Reader

“Walking to the beach barefoot with my mom to collect seashells at sunrise. I grew up as the youngest of three and did not spend much one-on-one time with my busy mom. I savored those sweet morning moments with her, on our one-a-year trip down the shore. I was known to fill my pockets so full with seashells that my pants would be falling down by the time her coffee cup was empty and we were walking back to the busy and bustling beachhouse. Love you mom <3″ – Alexandra L.

“I savored those sweet morning moments with her, on our one-a-year trip down the shore.”

“My family and I had just moved to the States and decided to take a road trip to Yosemite. Hiking as a little kid doesn’t sound fun, I know. But we grew up playing outside, so this was practically Disneyland for us. We hiked and hiked until my mom told us to stop because there was a bear sighting! That was so memorable for us.” – AD

“When I attended UCLA for my Bachelor’s degree, I really had to lock in for the last 2–3 years and that required summer school! My summer memories as an adult don’t often include vacation time, but last year, my in-laws and my partner brought me for a long weekend in Booth Bay Harbor, Maine. As a lifelong Californian, this was so exciting to get to experience this New England type of summer. It was so fun to see how the beaches differed from coast to coast and really brought out my nostalgia as I spent time at the beach with my partner and my in-laws. As a person with terrible memory, this one remains fresh and top of mind. :)” – Journey K.

“I have fond memories as a child biking to the beach in Edgartown, which is a small town on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. It is also the town they used in the movie, “Jaws.” Which brings me to another cherished memory. My eldest sister rowed me out in our dinghy to the barge where the mechanical shark rested. How cool is that!!!” – Sarah P.

“For my thirteenth birthday, my entire family went on a trip to Florida. This was also the last trip we took with my grandmother before she died, and the last trip we all took before family drama finally got in the way of us bonding. Even now we all look back on that trip fondly, even if we know we will never have the same bond.” – Gabriela H.

“A couple summers ago, our family went to the Grand Canyon. We decided to watch the sunrise even though our campsite was a two-hour drive away. We woke up at 3 in the morning, loaded sleepy kids into the truck with doughnuts and drinks, and headed toward the canyon. We made it with about half an hour to spare, and it was, in short, majestic. There was a certain quiet, despite the twenty or so other people who had gathered nearby, and a sense of anticipation as we all waited. The colors were spectacular and intense, saturated in pinks and oranges as the canyon slowly woke up. We leaned against each other, pressed kisses to foreheads, and took a million pictures that could never do that view justice. Our kids still talk about it, and I’m so glad we decided it was worth sacrificing a few hours of sleep for a beautiful memory.” – PH

“We woke up at 3 in the morning, loaded sleepy kids into the truck with doughnuts and drinks, and headed toward the canyon.”

“I suggested that we stop buying Christmas gifts and rent a cottage instead. For 5 years, we’d look for a waterfront rental and we’d spend a week swimming, watching movies, [having] bonfires, fishing, [playing] games, and best of all laughing. The kids (late 20s and 30s) still talk about those adventures together. As a bonus, it stopped needless spending during the holidays.” – Heather R.

“We have a friend who owns a lovely little cabin on a small lake in Northern Wisconsin. She invited our family (us 2 adults and 4 kids + kids friends) to join her for a week…for the last 26 years! Now our kids are grown and have their own families, and they bring their kids. 2 generations. Just water play and big dinners. It has been amazing.” – Diane G.

“I was recently reflecting on a summer spent in the US (I’m from Mexico). We were there with my parents and attended summer school. I remember we had an excursion to a water park, and on that day, a Chinese girl arrived. She didn’t speak English — my sister and I were 9 and 7 — so our English wasn’t the best either. When we saw her confused face, we kind of adopted her for the day. Taking her with us to the slides and also explaining to her with signs that it was lunchtime and that we had to get food. I have a few flashbacks of us three buying a slice of pizza. The summer school teachers told my mum at the end of the day that they were impressed at how empathetic we’d been with her. I don’t know if it’s because we knew what it was not to understand everything, or because Mexican culture is very welcoming, but I feel very proud about that day. I often wonder if this girl remembers us, probably not… but that’s when I think that being kind towards others is more an inner reward than a search for public recognition. I also hope that more children are raised to be considerate towards others, as that can make a difference, even if only for a day.” – Berenice

Stories from our editors:

“One summer a few years ago, I visited a nearby resort village with my family for a weekend getaway. At that point, I hadn’t been on a family vacation in quite some time, and this trip revealed just how much both my parents and I had changed and grown over the years. For the first time, I felt that my parents truly saw me as a full-fledged adult, and I began to see them not just as my parents but as individuals — people who had once been young themselves, with their own beliefs, dreams, and feelings. I connected with them as people rather than only as authority figures, and it marked a pivotal new chapter in our relationship. We connected as a group of individuals who love and respect each other on an entirely new level.” – Silsila Bahrami, Contributing Editor

“My family has always been a feet-on-the-ground type, so we spent many of our summer weekends and spring breaks in our RV camping around the Midwest. (I only flew one time as a child, my second airplane trip ever was when I was 24!) One of our favorite go-to spots was the campground at Salamonie Lake, a reservoir in Huntington, Indiana, which was only about an hour drive away from home. We’d hike, bike, fish, and play until we were all sunburnt and our hair smelled like campfire.

We’d test our bike brakes on the steep downhill to the marina, called Pirate’s Cove, where there was a floating campstore and gas station. I’d get a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar, and my brothers and I would pool our change for a bag of popcorn to feed the fish off the pier. When I tell you those carp could pull you under like quicksand, I’m not kidding. We’d always try to pet them, hah!

“I’d get a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar, and my brothers and I would pool our change for a bag of popcorn to feed the fish off the pier.”

Sometimes we’d get the extended family to come with us, too, and we’d play flashlight tag with ten of my cousins and a cadre of neighboring campsite kids. One summer, we had a particularly great campsite that backed up to a patch of woods where we’d take our peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches for lunch, then flip logs looking for salamanders. I found the perfect walking stick and named it Merlin (of course, right?). Merlin accompanied me during every camping trip for the next ten years, until he was retired to my parents’ backyard firepit as a trusted log-adjuster. The thought of all this is making me want a s’more!” – Emily McGowan, Editorial Director

Ashley D’Arcy is the Senior Editor at FashionGroomSpot. She holds an MA in Philosophy from The New School for Social Research and has contributed to esteemed outlets such as The Nation, 032c, and Yale School of Management’s Insights where she’s leveraged her expertise in making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. In addition to her editorial work, she is training as a psychoanalytic mental health professional and provides care to patients in New York City. Ashley also explores sustainable fashion, clean beauty, and wellness trends, combining thoughtful cultural critiques with a commitment to mindful living.