Growing up in a small town in Southern Illinois meant there wasn’t much for us to do. But, in the Summer, this sleepy little area seemed to come alive!! Beautiful hiking trails, fields full of wildflowers, serene country roads, and lakes and ponds galore were there for our enjoyment.
Being a country girl can sometimes give off the wrong meaning. For years, country folk were associated with poor, uneducated, unsophisticated people. However country girl means something entirely different in my book. It means mild mannered, polite, easy going, friendly, educated in the ways of nature, tough, resilient, and full of wonder.
There is still plenty of time to get back to your roots and enjoy a country girl summer. Here are some of my favorites!!
1. HANG OUT WITH FARM ANIMALS
Animals are fun! Nothing will make you feel more like a Country Girl then hanging out with your chickens or goats!! They are some of the most entertaining animals alive. My chickens and barn cats make for great company. They love to follow me around the yard while I garden. A bonus feature: gathering farm fresh eggs feels like an Easter morning treat!!
2. VISIT A U-PICK FLOWER FIELD
A U-pick flower field is a great way to spend a Summer afternoon. Flowers make people happy! How could you not feel glorious amongst the flowers!? Dress up and take a photo shoot, pick some to take home with you, or stand back and watch the pollinators enjoying them.
3. START YOUR OWN GARDEN
Nothing in this world is more satisfying to me than getting my hands in the dirt. Fresh vegetables are what Summertime is all about! The satisfaction of growing your own vegetables only makes them taste better. Plus, is Summer really even Summer without dirt under your nails!?
A cut flower garden is like having your own U-pick flower field right outside your back door. You can have a vase full of fresh cut flowers, and a yard full of pollinators, all of the time.
4. MAKE A COUNTRY BOUQUET
Fresh cut flowers will give your home a cozy feeling. They make beautiful table centerpieces. Plus, fresh cut flowers make breakfast sweeter somehow. Bonus points if you use a Ball jar as a vase like Grandma used to do.
5. BUILD YOUR OWN SCARECROW
Scarecrows are the epitome of country life. They add such a whimsical look to the garden. Hunt for clothes at your local thrift store and dress her up like a Southern Bell in a cute skirt and hat, or a country bumpkin in overalls.
6. DO SOME PORCH SITTING
Porch sitting is a Southern tradition. It’s where families, friends, and neighbors come together to tell stories and bond over a cold drink and good company. A welcoming porch says you’re friendly. Country folks are friendly people.
7. RELAX IN A HAMMOCK
Relaxing is hard for a country girl. We work hard and we play hard. But relaxing is something that country people have perfected. The hammock is the perfect space to read a book, feel a cool country breeze, enjoy a glass of something sweet, or curl up with your country pet. Bonus points if you use grandma’s old quilt to curl up in.
8. GO TO A FLEA MARKET
The thrill of the hunt! Junk from an old barn or grandma’s attic!? I’m all in!!! There is something invigorating about searching for that one perfect piece!! Vintage pieces are some of the best items to put in your garden decor. It adds a whimsical touch and maybe even comes with a cool back story.
9. HAVE A BARN SALE
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Last year my husband and I helped my best friend host a huge barn sale market! It was a great way to get rid of some of our old treasures we were no longer using.
You don’t have to host a huge event! A small rummage or barn sale will do the trick. It’s a great way to meet people interested in the same things that you are into and make some extra money while doing it.
10. GO BERRY PICKING
Berry picking is a great way to pass the time on a Summer afternoon. Most berry picking farms even have fun speciality, seasonal treats that they serve!! Bonus: you can make your own yummy dessert from all of your berry haul when you get home.
11. VISIT A FARMER’S MARKET
Don’t have your own garden at home? You can still enjoy fresh foods. Visit a Farmers Market!! Farmer’s Markets, like Soulard (our favorite in St. Louis, MO), can be quite entertaining!! There is so much to see and enjoy there!! They always have a plethora of fresh fruits, veggies, flowers, spices, and even farm fresh eggs. I’ve even seen chickens for sale before!!! Sometimes they have entertainment!! It can be fun just to go and people watch.
12. BUY SOME FARM FRESH EGGS
Whether you’re at a Farmer’s Market or a roadside stand having farm fresh eggs on hand definitely makes you feel like a Country Girl. Fresh eggs make every recipe better with their rich yellow yolks! Try your hand at making your own biscuits or noodles!! Bonus: they also make for the perfect country girl photos.
13. MAKE SOMETHING FROM SCRATCH
Now that you’ve got your fresh eggs, fruits and veggies why not try making something from scratch!? I mean what’s more country than biscuits and gravy or strawberry shortcake??
Making something to eat, from scratch, will definitely have you reminiscing of days gone by at Grandma’s house. I feel like all Grandma’s were secretly Country Girls!! Bonus points if you wear a fun apron like Grandma always did! They really are handy!!
ENJOY A GLASS OF SWEET TEA OR LEMONADE
Sweet tea, it’s a southern thing! Have you ever tried to order sweet tea in a Northern State? Odds are you won’t find any. We live less than three hours from St. Louis, MO but once you cross that river forget about sweet tea. My husband forgets and tries to order it every time!!
Don’t think you’ll enjoy sweet tea? Try some fresh squeezed lemonade. We like to add oranges to our lemonade too! Sooooo good. Tastes like a lemon shakeup from a country fair. Bonus points if you drink it from a Mason Jar!!
14. HAVE A PICNIC
Try eating outside!! A picnic is a country girl’s right of passage. The best picnics start with an old quilt, something made from scratch, fresh flowers, and some cold lemonade or sweet tea. Oh and don’t forget to grab a sweet straw hat! It makes you look more country, and it helps keep the sun out of your face.
15. CAN SOMETHING
Now that you’ve started your own garden you probably have a plethora of fruits and veggies!! Have you ever canned your own tomato juice or made your own strawberry jam?? It definitely makes you feel like a country girl! Plus, you’ll save money at the grocery store come wintertime and make the best chili you’ve ever had.
16. BE NEIGHBORLY
Being a good neighbor is definitely a lost art. Why not take some of your newly canned food, your “from scratch” baked goods, your fresh eggs, garden veggies, or a beautiful country bouquet to your neighbor just to say howdy!!! I promise you they won’t forget your kindness. Being kind always pays off.
17. GO OFF-ROADING
This is one of my favorite parts about living in Southern Illinois. We are Jeep people!! We love to take the top off of our Jeep and take a long scenic country drive, or up to the mountains for a fun day exploring. You never know what you might find!! Remember to pack your picnic and stop along the way!! Oh and maybe pack a change of clothes….we’ve stopped to play in the creeks before.
We’ve even gone on Jeep runs! Usually Jeep runs have hundreds of like-minded Jeepers and you follow a fun trail map! This is a great way to explore your area. We’ve taken some Jeep runs to great wineries before. So fun!!
18. FIND A LAKE OR A POND
Nothing says Summer like playing in the water. It’s so refreshing on those hot humid days. In the country there is always a lake, pond, or a swimming hole. One of our favorite pastimes is kayaking.
19. TAKE A HIKE
Hiking is a great way to explore and burn some calories!! Southern Illinois has so many amazing trails. We even have waterfalls! Taking a hike will have you feeling like you are one with nature and help you reconnect with your country roots.
20. TAKE A WALK (OR DRIVE) DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD
Aren’t a huge fan of hiking and bugs? Maybe you get too hot too easily? Why not try taking a slow Sunday drive down a back road. Country people are known for living on backroads. One of my favorite things to do is to hop in the Jeep and take a drive. I love to look at the whimsical things people put in their gardens, or just check out other people’s yards and flowers!! Even the ditches of a country road can be lined with beautiful flowers!! And what about spotting that random wildflower field in the middle of nowhere!? My husband has stopped to pick me many roadside bouquets before.
If you do like to walk, a country road is one of the most peaceful places to do that. Don’t forget to stop and smell the wildflowers!! Or maybe pick a few to take home and add to a Ball jar.
21. VISIT A COUNTY FAIR
Dress up in your best gingham dress, put your hair back in pig tails, grab your boots….it’s time for the county fair!! Most small towns will have their own version of this country tradition. This is the perfect place to experience real small town fun!!
Have you ever had a funnel cake?? How about a lemon shake up? Fair food is some of the best food you’ll ever have!! There is usually entertainment, rides, and sometimes even crafts for sale too. Bonus points if you try and win a prize at one of the games!!
A few years ago my husband and I were staying in a tree house air bnb in Tennessee. We heard the small local town was having their fair. We enjoyed a fun Friday night at the local fair, had some great food, met the locals, and even got our picture taken for the local paper. Great memories were made that night. We will never forget the hospitality of that small town.
There are so many fun ways to have a “country girl summer”! So, I say, ditch all the “hot girl summer” ideas and opt for some of these relaxing and rejuvenating ideas instead!:) If you have any other “country girl summer” ideas that I left out, please feel free to leave them in the comments!
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