On June 21, we’ll celebrate the first (official) day of summer – the longest day of the year.

If you’re in Auburn for the summer, then you’ll have about 14 hours and 17 minutes of daylight, and we don’t want you to waste a single second.

Here are 5 things you need to do outside on the first day of summer.

Watch the Sunrise.

Waking up early is hard. But waking up for the sunrise is worth it. Check your weather app or a sunrise/sunset calculator to see what time it rises, and plan to start your day a couple hours early. As long as you have your coffee and a good view, the day is off to a pretty great start.

Plan a Day-Trip

Daytrips are always fun. You don’t have to worry about hotels or Airbnbs, and you can explore for as little (or as long) as you want! If you’re heading somewhere outdoors, make sure you stop by Auburn Outdoors’ rental shop for all your gear. They offer everything from kayaks and stand-up paddle boards to hammocks and mountain bikes.

Have a Picnic

Picnics are the most underrated outdoor activity. There’s seriously nothing better than laying down on a big blanket under the sun with good food, friends, and music. Our favorite places to picnic in Auburn are Town Creek Park, the Arboretum, and Samford Lawn. The best part? People watching and so many pups.

Lay by the Pool

Can you imagine the most perfect day? The sun is the only thing in the sky, birds are chirping overhead, and music is faintly playing in the background. Your eyes are probably closed, covered with sunglasses and you’re by a pool. If you don’t have access to a pool already, we got ya covered. Check our hours here.

Exercise Outside

It’ll probably be too hot to workout mid-day, but jogging at golden hour in the morning or evening during the summer is magical. Yeah, you might be panting from sprints, but at least the scenery is pretty. Try running to a local park and cooling down while you stroll.

Watch the Sunset.

The best way to end the longest day of the year is definitely watching the sunset with friends. Try finding the Smith Mountain Fire Tower for a cool view. Don’t forget disposable cameras and snacks!

No matter what you end up doing on the first day of summer, we want you to make it count.

Have other plans for the longest day of the year? Let us know on social @AuburnCampusRec or in the comments below.

Be well, Auburn.