5 Fun Ways to Embrace Nostalgia This Summer

This summer at Alma, we’re going back in time. Back to when your biggest concern was beating your sibling to the remote on Saturday morning so you could watch your favorite cartoon. So dust off the GameBoy and the Tamagotchis and let’s get this party started!

Here are 5 ways to keep the nostalgic vibes going all summer long:

1. Go for a Bike Ride

How long has it been since you’ve hopped on the ole two-wheeler? If you’re like me, it’s probably been a hot minute, so don’t be discouraged when it’s harder than you remember. We’re all a little *cough* older *cough* now so it’s a slightly different experience, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun! Just don’t forget your helmet… and elbow pads… and go ahead and slap those knee pads on too just for good measure.

A few places we recommend if you live near the café are Blankets Creek, Rope Mill Park, or Veteran’s Park.  If you live further away or out of state, TrailLink is a great resource for finding trails near you. If you’re not feeling up for a whole trail ride, just take a quick spin around your neighborhood. It doesn’t take long for that sweet nostalgic feeling to kick in!

2. Break Out the Chalk

The beauty of chalk is that you don’t have to be an artist to enjoy using it. With chalk, everyone is an artist! Plus, it’s so versatile. From sketches of rainbows to stick figures to hopscotch and four-square, the options are unlimited.

Plus, please try to explain to me a better feeling than opening a brand new box of chalk. The smell alone is enough to transport me right back to kindergarten. It’s so good for us as adults to get in touch with our inner child. It helps us exercise our imagination. It gets us outside. And it reminds us that not everything has to be so serious all the time. It’s just chalk!

3. Play the OG Video Games

If you have a Nintendo Switch, you may or may not know that you can download and play classic NES games! If you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, you receive access to their library of classics which includes but is not limited to Super Mario Bros. from 1985, The Legend of Zelda from 1986, and my personal favorite Kirby’s Adventure from 1993!

Don’t have a Nintendo Switch? That’s okay! If you remember playing the 1985 Super Mario Bros., this gameplay video will give you all the serotonin you need: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLl9XBg7wSs.

 

4. Watch Your Favorite Childhood Movie

Listen, nothing takes me back to childhood like a solid Disney or Pixar movie. Just hearing the Monster’s Inc. theme song sends me right back in time to when my brother and I were browsing the aisles of our local Blockbuster and trying to convince our mom that we did, in fact, need the extra large bag of sour gummy worms.

My suggestion to you is that you gather up some of your friends or even your siblings, pop some popcorn, pick up some classic movie theatre snacks, and stream (yes, stream, I know none of y’all still have a DVD player) your favorite childhood classic. I honestly think you’ll be surprised by how much of a dopamine hit this will be for you.

5. Go to an Arcade

Now, if you’re not feeling nostalgic enough, my last suggestion for you would be to go spend a little time inside of an arcade. I don’t care what kind. It doesn’t really matter. It’s just the sounds of the games, the clicking of the pinball machines, and the flashing lights that should do the trick.

If you’re local, we do recommend that you check out The Blue Ghost Arcade in Downtown Woodstock! Their arcade is packed with pinball machines, arcade cabinet games like Galaga, Tetris, and Tron, and various gaming systems like the NES Classis Mini, GameCube, and even a Dreamcast! Nothing will take you back to being a kid like a visit to the Blue Ghost.

 

I would be remiss not to mention that any drink off our Summer Nostalgia menu would pair perfectly with any of the activities listed above. Whether you’re the gamer, the artist, the kid at heart, or the sporty type, Alma Coffee has something made specifically for you. Come hang out with us this summer and let us help you travel back in time!