Try these 5 retro summer activities with your family this summer
Summer was once synonymous with hours of unstructured recreation time –– climbing trees, riding bikes and running barefoot through oscillating lawn sprinklers. There was a lot less screen and a lot more green.
Today the prevalence of electronic devices has changed the landscape of summer. More kids spend their time on the couch in front of a screen, pupils dilated. Smart phones, iPads and online gaming increase indoor entertainment, taking away time that could be spent outside. While technology is an integral part of our daily life, a healthy balance is especially important for children.
Fresh air and exercise are proven to improve both mental and physical health. Sun exposure reduces stress and increases our vitamin D levels. Time in nature improves moods and increases self-esteem.
The summers of the 1980s and 1990s speak of simple and carefree times. Days were laid back and full of fun rolling down hills, catching fireflies or jumping off the swings of metal swing sets –– a vibe for which today’s generation seems to be longing.
Relive Your Childhood
A recent resurgence of iconic games, retro gadgets and vintage clothing provide nostalgic memories of those times. Remakes of treasured television shows and movies are also popping up –– Top Gun, anyone? From the Polaroid camera and Rubik’s Cube to Converse All-Stars and butterfly hair clips, relics from decades past are certainly making a comeback.
Here are a few ways to sprinkle some good old-fashioned 80s and 90s style fun into your family’s modern-day summer:
Roller-skating – Lace up your roller skates at Gainesville’s Skate Station Funworks. Stop in the arcade to play video game classics such as Pac-Man or Donkey Kong.
Slip-n-Slide – Cool off with this timeless childhood staple. Take a break to enjoy Fla-Vor-Ice popsicles. Dry off with a game of Twister or Hop-Scotch.
Neighborhood Games – Gather your children’s friends and teach them how to play Capture the Flag, Red Rover and Red-Light-Green-Light. See who can hula-hoop or jump rope the longest.
Community Pool Day – Make a splash with cannonballs and play endless games of tag and Marco Polo. No need for devices during adult swim when you bring Uno or Crazy 8s.
Movie Night – Introduce your children to family movie classics, such as Back to Future, Goonies, The Princess Bride or The Karate Kid while enjoying homemade S’mores.
Nostalgic Adult Fun in Gainesville
That 80s Bar, 19 W University Avenue
Listen to your favorite 80s songs with dance parties, live music and karaoke. They even have a Pac-Man arcade game. The dance club’s vibrant paintings include shutter shades and a classic Nintendo.
Blackadder Brewing Company, 618 NW 60th Street
Test your memory with 90s trivia. The beloved decade is one of their most popular rotating trivia themes. The microbrewery’s bar staff often dresses up in 90s attire to add to the fun.
All of Us Are Now by Bill Bryson
Relive the 90s Gainesville music scene. Published by the owner and operator of The Covered Dish, the book includes candid Polaroids taken by staff members and patrons. The former downtown rock club featured original music from local, regional, national and international artists in the 90s.