Since I’m tired of not being excited about anything lately, I’m giving myself a nudge with a bucket list for June/July. I don’t want to say “summer bucket list” because that gives me way too much time to flounder around still not doing anything interesting. Plus, it’s nice to be able to check easy and slightly-more-involved to-dos off of a list.

Visit the UNCC Botanical Gardens

I haven’t been out to this campus since I was in a high school band camp. The gardens are free to visit daily, and the map has enticing labels like “Moon Gate” that I’m now curious about.

Check out Bloom & Bottle

I don’t even know what it means to be a “neighborhood floral workshop and bottle shop,” but this new spot is close by in the Belmont neighborhood.

Dine on the patio at Hello, Sailor

Tragically, I have only been here once – and when I was still a vegetarian. Meaning I subbed out the blue crab on the Citrus Crab Louie Salad for extra avocado. Now I eat fish and I’m obsessed with crab and I have to get back there. Beautiful place, beautiful dishes. Prime date spot.

Go tubing down the Catawba

The perfect, lazy friend outing is floating down the Catawba River from the Lake Wylie Dam to the Pump House in Rock Hill. With some beverages. While there is a tube rental company out there, it hasn’t been open, so it’s ideal to be able to BYO sturdy tube. There are some rocks to watch out for.

Day trip to Asheville

If we can drive to Asheville for lunch at Chai Pani and a walk around downtown, or a quick hike on a weekend day, I’m in. We live so close – why would we not?

Weekend trip to Hilton Head

Since my mom has practically spent the entirety of this pandemic period at the beach condo she and my dad have, I’ve barely seen her except for when I made the trip down for her birthday weekend. It would be nice to make the drive again – and I could use the change of scenery, and the company.

Get a glass of wine on a patio – anywhere

I specifically miss Foxcroft Wine Co. and Dilworth Tasting Room right now. A lot of my girlfriends aren’t quite ready for this re-immersion, even in a patio setting. So I’ll either drag Rémy or enjoy a solo wine date – I haven’t done that in forever.

Weekend trip to Charlottesville

This one is friend-dependent, since my best friend lives out there and I’d specifically want to go visit her in addition to sipping around at vineyards. It looks like even some of my favorites like Afton Mountain Vineyards are open to the public right now, with outdoor service.

Shopping at Target

I’m serious. I’ve got to start somewhere. I also really need a swimsuit (would love to browse the one-pieces) and it would be nice to check out some of the home decor aisles. Since I spend basically all of my time at home, I feel like I could use some inspiration.

Let the games begin.