Thank you Culver’s for sponsoring this post.
Summer is in full swing; my kids are out of school and we’re doing our best to enjoy everything that makes summer our favorite time of the year. As a kid I remember looking forward to enjoying summer all year long and my best memories are not about big vacation trips but about those times spent with family enjoying the long warm days. Summer memories are about those simple things that bring us together.
Even though work doesn’t stop just because the kids are on vacation I am making sure that we spend lots of time together.
Ways to Make Summer Special in Your Own Backyard
From spending time outdoors to eating out and enjoying your favorite frozen treats, here are five ways to make summer special at home, without having to travel far or spending lots of money.
Make Family Memories
My best summer memories as a kid are about spending time with my family. You don’t have to take a week off from work, travel to a far-flung destination or spend lots of money to create special memories. It’s about doing something fun and spending quality time together from a day at the beach or a local park to going out to lunch as a family or playing a family board game.
Both of my kids really enjoy going out to lunch. Our favorite place to go is our local Culver’s. I really love that Culver’s restaurants are welcoming and family-friendly. The food is great, the menu is cooked to-order, and the wide variety in the menu makes it easy to order something everyone in the family will enjoy.
There’s always something new to try from their new spicy chicken sandwich to their delicious Flavor of the Day frozen custard, and let’s not forget those favorites: their finger licking butter burgers and gooey cheese curds!
Explore Your Own Backyard
We live in Southwest Florida and summer is the best time to explore and enjoy the natural beauty of our area without the crowds of snowbirds that arrive with the colder weather. Taking advantage of the cooler and drier mornings we’re visiting our favorite hiking trails and discovering new places. Making memories and getting to know your own backyard is not only fun but it’s great to connect with your community by attending local events. We love doing the touristy things that often get overlooked by the locals and volunteering at the local organizations!
Enjoy the Taste of Summer Flavors
There are some flavors that are tied to happy memories. During the summer months enjoy those seasonal flavors and foods. Berries and cold creamy vanilla custard are two of those flavors that take me to a happy place and bring back great summer memories.
Blackberries might just be the most underrated summer fruit, often being overlooked for other summer berries. Blackberries are actually my favorite however few acknowledge their awesomeness. Growing up my grandma used to make the most amazing blackberry pie. To this day blackberry cobbler still takes me back to those fun childhood memories and reminds me of my grandma’s blackberry pie.
That is why I was so excited to find out that Blackberry Cobbler Fresh Frozen Custard is one of the new Flavors of the Day at Culver’s. A creamy frozen treat with blackberries and granola crumble; there’s no better summer treat than that! Try this Blackberry Cobbler or one of the upcoming Fresh Frozen Custard Flavors of the Day in a cup or a yummy waffle cone!
Treat Yourself To Your Favorite Frozen Dessert
One of our favorite things to do during the summer is stopping at Culver’s for lunch and treating ourselves to a delicious scoop or two of Frozen Custard! We often go there before or after heading to the beach and sometimes we even bring some extra frozen custard with us to enjoy while we have fun in the sun.
In addition to serving Chocolate and Vanilla Frozen Custard, every day Culver’s restaurants offer a different Flavor of the Day. Last weekend we visited Culver’s and tried the new Blackberry Cobbler Fresh Frozen Custard. I love that the slight tart flavor of the blackberries and the crunch of the granola topping combined with the sweet and smooth vanilla frozen custard; it all comes together to create the perfect blend of flavors and textures!
We love the trying out the new Frozen Custard flavors and we were so excited to find out that Culver’s is unveiling six (6) new Flavors of the Day in 2018 on the 10th of each month from May through October:
- May 10 – Cappuccino Cookie Crumble
- June 10 – Blackberry Cobbler
- July 10 – Chocolate Pretzel Crunch
- August 10 – Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
- September 10 – Dark Chocolate Decadence
- October 10 – Peanut Butter Salted Caramel
And if you missed any of these new Flavors of the Day all you have to do is use the flavor locator here to find out when it will be the Flavor of the Day at your local Culver’s!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
- Guatemalan Dulce de Chilacayote Recipe (Crystalized Chilacayote Candy) - February 26, 2024
- Guatemalan Naranjas en Miel Recipe (Candied Oranges Recipe) - February 25, 2024
- Traditional Guatemalan Candy - February 25, 2024
These are some great ways to make summer special, your own back garden can be such an amazing place to spend time and of course share with those you love.
Summer is always the best time to make memories with the family. I need more ice cream after seeing your post.
We love Culvers! They have some really great flavors and my kids love going there for a nice treat! We also do a lot of “stay-cation”” type things in the summer so this is perfect!
I need to go out for lunch more. The last time I went was during winter and my son really enjoyed it. I think I should plan another outing for this season.
I just love Culver’s. I haven’t been in ages. I really need to go again. I think we have one about 20 minutes away.
I wish I had a beach in my backyard. Sadly I only have a dirty river here in the desert.
You can’t find good custard a lot these days. That’s why I love Culver’s so much. Looks like you’re having a great summer so far!
I love eating chocolate and thanks for sharing your recipe! and spend time in backyard is very nice specially with your friends and family thanks for sharing!
These are great tips to enjoy your summer in your own backyard and I am sure kids will definitely have a lot of fun!
My husband is a huge fan of blackberries. I am a huge fan of ice cream so yeah :)) I like your ideas. I remember how much I love to go to the forest with my parents as a kid and help bringing wood for the fire and then asking from 2 in 2 minutes when the food will be done :))
It’s always good to find things to do nearby and helps you save on hotels for sure. the frozen custard looks yummy!
Karamel_KC
http://www.karamelsessence.com
We have hot humid summer here, as we are living in a tropical island, when Ice cream is best enjoyed. I just wish that blackberry is available in my country too.
During summer, my family goes to the neighborhood’s club house. Then invite neighbors to come over for a pool party and bring snacks and cold drinks too.
Your post has everything I dream of when I think of summer- beaches, family time and most of all ice cream! Summer is really special for both kids and adults…so many memories to be made.
We weren’t able to go on vacation this summer, so I love taking the kids to do little things around town! I wish we had an icecream shop around us!
My best childhood memories are from the summer break, which i would spend at my grandparent’s house. We didn’t go anywhere, but just being with them and with my friends from there it was the best I could ask for.
So many great ways to enjoy summer. That ice cream looks so yummy!
I live in a flat in London so I don’t have a backyard but my parents have a garden in their home in france and it is perfect for summer! swimming pool, chaises longues, sun and fun!
What a wonderful post! These are some amazing ideas. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
July 10th I’ll be there for that pretzel crunch. Marking it on the calendar. Yum.
I love the summer ideas. Make Family Memories and Favorite Frozen Dessert are good ideas. Thanks for this ideas.
Thanks for sharing your tips! It looks like you guys have lots of great time. Frozen custard sounds like a perfect snacks in the summer.
Ice cream without a doubt is a must for us. I have started gardening to spend more time outdoors.