Every foreigner visiting Russia is probably interested in what Russians like to do in the summer. Russians like any other people like to relax in a variety of ways. If they have some free time during the summer they prefer to go to the seaside. If not, they will try hard to find the reason to spend a lot of time in the open air, to go out, to attend new places, to make new friends, and to take a lot of photos.

Here are some things that Russians like to do in the summer:

• To visit their relatives, parents, and grandparents. To enjoy home-made food.
• To put up tents by the river, to bake potatoes, to make barbeque, and to play the guitar and sing.
• To play various outdoor games, for example, football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc.
• To go to the beach, to sunbathe, or to swim in the lake or river.
• To go on vacation: to travel, to go to spa resorts, to spend their time on the beach during the day, and to go to local bars, restaurants, and night clubs at night.
• To ride bikes with their friends
• To have picnics in the forest or park
• To go fishing
• To pick mushrooms or berries
• To do the gardening
• To pick berries, and vegetables, home cooking

Here are some word and phrases that you can use to describe your vacation:

Отдых на море [OT-dih na MO-rye]  vacation by the seaside
Ходить на пляж [ha-DYEET’ na PLYAZH]  go to the beach
Играть в волейбол, футбол [ig-RAT’ v va-liy-BOL, foot-BOL]  play volleyball, football
Путешествовать [poo-ti-SHEST-va-vat’]  travel
Загорать на солнышке [za-ga-RAT’ na SOL-nish-kye]  sunbathe
Купаться в прохладной воде [koo-PAT’-sya v prah-LAD-nay va-DYE]  swim in cool water
Есть мороженое [YEST’ ma-RO-zhe-na-ye]  eat ice-cream
Делать шашлыки [DYE-lat’ shash-li-KEE]  make kebab
Ходить на пикник [ha-DEET’ na peek-NEEK]  go to a picnic
Наслаждаться закатом [nas-lazh-DAT’-sya za-KA-tam]  enjoy the sunset
Кататься на лодке [ka-TAT-sya na LOT-kye]  go on a boat
Ловить рыбу [la-VEET’ RI-boo]  go fishing
Встречать гостей [fstree-CHAT’ gas-TYEY]  meet guests
Ехать в гости [YE-hat’ v GOS-tee]  go to visit someone
Есть свежие овощи и фрукты [YEST’ SVE-zhee-ye O-va-shee i FROOK-ti]  eat fresh vegetables and fruit
Наслаждаться ароматом летних трав и цветов [nas-lazh-DAT-sya a-ra-MA-tam LYET-neeh TRAF ee tsvi-TOF]  enjoy the smell of the summer plants and flowers
Фотографировать [fa-tag-ra-FEE-ra-vat’]  take pictures
Завязывать новые знакомства [za-VYA-zi-vat’ NO-vi-ye zna-KOM-stva]  make new friends
Получать удовольствие от прохладного коктейля [pa-loo-CHAT’ oo-da-VOL’-stvi-ye at prah-LAD-na-va kak-TEY-lya]  enjoy a cooling cocktail
Гулять до утра[goo-LYAT’ da oot-RA]  spend a night out

What about you? What do you like doing in the summer when you have free time? Leave your comments below.