With the summer heat reaching the high 80s-90s, it makes sense to not waste this perfectly good weather sitting indoors in the comfiest of pajamas. I mean, summer serves as the perfect excuse to purchase and wear new dresses and rompers, am I right ladies? ;) After all of your "I don't really need this, but I want it" splurges, I'm sure that your wallet is probably crying like mine, haha! Thus, I've comprised a list of free, budget-friendly, and costly, but fun activities that you can do by yourself or with your friends this summer!

Free:
Hiking: Catch some fresh air and explore the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer either solo or with a group of friends. I've listed a few places in the Bay Area that I've personally hiked and recommend for anyone who needs a change in scenery.
Mission Peak Regional Park in Fremont, CA
Castle Rock State Park in Saratoga, CA
Garden of Eden in Santa Cruz, CA
Fremont Older Open Space Preserve in Saratoga, CA
Montalvo Arts Cen ter in Saratoga, CA

Photoshoots: If you've got some free time and an iPhone/DSLR, then you are set, my friend! Adventure off with a buddy and you'll be surprised by how quickly time passes when you're busy snapping away. Here are some of my favorite photoshoot locations, although I will be making a more detailed list sometime in the future for you all :)
Baker Beach in San Francisco, CA
San Jose Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose, CA
The Dish in Palo Alto, CA

Netflix and Chill: When I say Netflix and Chill, I really mean Netflix and chill. Grab the nearest remote and search up any movie genre that you want to watch! I personally hate scary movies, but I find watching them oddly fun when I'm with a group of friends (yes, I'm weird like that). If you don't have Netflix, Hulu works too :)

Budget-Friendly:
Laser Tag: I will always be a kid at heart and will never turn down fun activities, as they get my heart racing and adrenaline pumping! One activity that I have always loved as a child (who am I kidding, I still love it!) was Laser Tag, as you get to navigate around a dark room shooting at your enemies with a laser beam. If you ever play against me, you best watch out because I won't go easy on ya ;)
Laser Quest in San Jose, CA

Dave and Busters: Can anyone say HALF-OFF WEDNESDAYS?! On Wednesdays, arcade games and alcoholic beverages are half off - it's a win-win situation alright! Also, if you are new to D&Bs, you can sign up for their newsletters online to receive a coupon for free tokens sent right to your email! I visited Dave and Busters last Wednesday with a group of friends and definitely had the night of my life. It definitely gets a bit crowded on Wednesdays - but the more, the merrier as I always say!
Dave and Busters in Milpitas, CA

Potluck/Picnic/BBQ in the Park/Beach: This is the perfect way to save money all the while hanging out with your close buddies. Stay organized by making a list of which individual will bring what items and more often than not, there will always be extra leftovers to take home (aw, yeah). Add to the fun by bringing a volleyball or frisbee. Also, be sure to bring graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate for some smore-makin' fun! Be sure to visit my previous blog post here for a list of my top five favorite beaches - who knows, maybe you'll end up visiting one of them this summer!
Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, CA (has a firepit for smores!)
Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos, CA
Dolores Park in San Francisco, CA

Costly, but Fun:
Paddle Board & Kayaking: Throwback to my birthday party a couple years back at Vasona Park - ah, those were good times indeed. Most of my friends selected paddle boards, while others wanted to kayak instead. This park is very spacious and I love how Vasona offers water-related activities here.
Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos, CA

High Tea: High tea is one of my favorite activities to do with my girl friends, but it can definitely get pricey! You're paying mainly for the exquisite food and ambiance, but it's definitely an experience I would recommend trying out at least once in your lifetime!
Satori Tea Company in Saratoga, CA
Lisa's Tea Treasures in Campbell, CA

Massages: I cannot stress how much I love massages - if only they were more budget-friendly! And I'm not talking about those half-assed, lazy ones you get from a friend you for 30 seconds, but an actual professional massage. There is a huge difference between a friend's massage and a masseuse's massage that I cannot put into words unless you try it out for yourself. And if you are ticklish, you have nothing to worry about - I'm a really ticklish person, but you don't have to worry about laughing throughout the entire massage because it won't happen, trust me. I would highly, highly, highly recommend a massage (especially for someone who is stressed) because it is both beneficial for your health and helps release the toxins/stress from your body. If this will be your first massage, I would recommend getting a relaxation massage and not a deep tissue massage. Down below, I have listed two massage therapists that I have had in the past and absolutely loved.
Massage Envy in Palo Alto, CA (ask for Christine!)
The Bodywell in San Jose, CA (ask for Tommy!)

Mani-pedis: Ever since my first mani-pedi, I have become addicted to getting them - but like massages, they come with a price. I love looking up different and fun nail art designs on Pinterest and showing my manicurist which design I would like makes me all giddy inside. Personally, I prefer spending the extra money and getting gel nail polish so that it doesn't chip as easily. However, be warned - gel is really bad for your nails and a lot of people don't like it, but it's all about personal preference.
Beauty Fusion Studio in Sunnyvale, CA (ask for Jenny on the weekends!)
Lakkar Mani Pedi Spa in Cupertino, CA

After looking through this entire list, I hope that you have filled your own list of summer to-dos for the next few months! Happy June everybody :)

What are you looking forward to this summer?