Happy Thursday! It’s the last Thursday of the month so I am linking up with Holly and Patty to answer 10 fun seasonal questions. I love thinking about my answers and seeing everyone else’s answers, too!

In January, we talked about winter self-care.

In February, we are talked about surviving the winter months.

In March, we talked about spring fashion.

In April, we talked about all things spring.

In May, we talked about getting ready for summer.

This month we are talking about summer travel and traditions.

1. Share your summer plans.

This summer looks a little different than our previous summers. Our vacations a packed into the first month or so and then we’ll be home for the rest of summer. Through a good friend, we connected with someone who has a beach condo that’s not far from us. I need to find out if there are any nights available in August to sneak down for a night or two.

We have swim team practice every week day and swim meets on the weekends. It sounds like a lot but it is really easy and fun!

I have some goals for this summer to keep me moving and relaxing. I am also working on getting Luke back into tip top running shape for his soccer season this fall. He hasn’t gotten back to where he was after he had the avulsion fracture in his hip in October. So we’ll be spending a good bit of time at the track together this summer.

2. What are your favorite summer traditions?

I love to see fireworks on the 4th of July, but I do not love to go somewhere to see them. We’ve been pretty fortunate the past few years to have neighbors put on great displays all around us.

We always get a slurpee on July 11th for 7/11 day.

Saturday morning swim meets and our swim team party are always a favorite!

All day-ers at the pool are fun traditions. Sometimes I plan them and sometimes they just happen. Both are amazing!

3. What is your favorite summer destination?

The beach. Any beach. As a kid, I made a lot of great memories on Sunset Beach in North Carolina. It is a small island with houses, a convenience store, an ice cream shop, a fishing pier, and not much more.

We’ve been to the Outer Banks quite a few times and I love it there! We’ve been to Corolla, Nags Head, Hatteras, and Manteo (to eat and shop). They are all so relaxing and beautiful!

My sister lived in Hilton Head, South Carolina for over 10 years. We visited her as much as possible and absolutely love the beach there!

I love that we have more time to travel in the summer and have done some non-beach trips – U.S. Open, Smoky Mountains, Deep Creek Lake, The Greenbrier, Las Vegas, New York City, and Atlanta. I would like to go out west or to the west coast sometime in the next few years. I have never been there and would like to take the kids, too.

4. Do you prefer the ocean or a lake?

Beach every single time! I love the beach so much. I love it in the summer, winter, spring, or fall! In fact, I am waking up at the beach today for the 3rd time this month.

5. Do you have any pool time planned?

Of course I do! We haven’t been this week because Luke has swimmer’s ear. I would call it raging swimmer’s ear over the weekend (right, Mom?), but it’s getting much better. Hopefully we’ll be back at the pool in no time. On a typical day, I’ll be at the pool by noon and stay until 3:30 if the boys are going to their 4:00 swim practice. If they don’t go to swim practice, we’ll stay until closer to 5.

There is always a chance that we’ll pull an all day-er and stay from open to close (12-9). Those are great days!

6. Best travel or packing tips?

Don’t travel when the sun is shining. Of course Summer Sarah loves to be outside when the sun is shining, but travel seems to be easier and less busy then. If possible, we take the 6 am flight out of town and the 8 pm flight back home. It can make for long days but maximizes our travel time. For road trips, I try to leave before rush hour starts so we can make the most of our vacation time.

7. Favorite summer movie?

I don’t watch many movies, but there are a few movies that pop right in my mind when I think of summer movies:

Endless Summer, Back to the Beach, Grease, Dirty Dancing, Weekend at Bernies, and What about Bob.

8. Beverage that says summer to you?

I love very cold, crisp white wine – Sauvignon Blanc or my new find vinho verde – in a chilled glass. I also like an ice cold Naturday beer, pineapple or strawberry lemonade. My number one summer drink is a key lime crush. I don’t have them very often but they are summertime in a glass!

9. What songs say summer to you?

Jimmy Buffett songs of course! Zac Brown Band is summer music to me. Michael Franti’s music is fun for summer. We were supposed to see him in concert for the first time last night! It hit rained out and rescheduled for tonight, but we couldn’t make it work. Bummer!

I have a fun playlist for the 4th of July with songs about America that are pretty summery and great for dancing in your kitchen, on the deck, or at the pool!

10. What do you like on your burgers or hot dogs?

On a hot dog, I only want ketchup. On a burger, I like ketchup, pickles, and one red onion ring. I also like to have a cold piece of cheese with my burger but not on it. Weird, I know, but that’s how I like it. We have a restaurant in town that makes delicious homemade pimento cheese and I always order that on the side with my burger. The cold cheese on the warm burger is perfection!

11. Charcoal or gas grill?

We have a gas grill at home but have used charcoal on vacation and tailgating. I am more comfortable using a gas grill, so I’ll pick that.

I loved these questions so much! I described my favorite ways to spend every day. I’m not sure how I didn’t talk about reading outside and by water, but that is one of my favorite summer activities. I can’t wait to see how everyone else answers. Have a great day full of sunshine and books!