Sun & Solstice
It marks the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and is the longest day of the year.
June 21st - Summer Solstice
Bryan Adams famously reminisced about his "first real six-string," playing "until my fingers bled" in the summer of this specific year.
Summer of '69
Will Smith stars as a fighter pilot fighting off an alien invasion in this massive 1996 summer hit.
Independence Day
This traditional New England summer feast features steamed clams, lobster, corn, and potatoes
Clambake
Visitors during the summer frequently spot famous wild roaming herds of horses—descendants of Spanish mustangs—galloping through the northern beaches of this coastal NC town.
Corolla
The letters S-P-F on sunscreen bottles stand for this.
Sun Protection Factor
This massive 2007 chart-topper from Rihanna featuring Jay-Z became the quintessential "Song of the Summer" after "raining" at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks.
Umbrella
You might need a bigger boat for this 1975 Steven Spielberg movie that invented the summer blockbuster.
Jaws
This refreshing cold Spanish soup is traditionally made from blended raw vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.
Gazpacho
Known for its pink-hued shores, this island nation features the famous Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island.
Bahamas
Thermal expansion from the summer heat causes this famous Parisian landmark to grow over 6 inches taller.
Eiffel Tower
Released on June 11, 1993, this Steven Spielberg film broke the record for the highest-grossing film worldwide, a title previously held by E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
Jurassic Park
"All Star" by Smash Mouth became the defining anthem of this 2001 summer blockbuster.
Shrek
Invented in Cuba, this classic summer cocktail is made with white rum, sugar, lime juice, and mint.
Mojito
Stating that "route 66" stretches from this midwestern metropolis to the Santa Monica Pier, it serves as the ultimate American vacation.
Chicago
Near the end of July, this bright star appears just before the sun, signifying the start of the "dog days of summer".
Sirius (or the Dog Star)
This tropical-sounding hit from The Beach Boys was a massive summer smash, despite the real-life city in the song lyrics being a landlocked town in Indiana.
Kokomo
This 1999 supernatural thriller starring Haley Joel Osment had audiences shivering in the August heat.
The Sixth Sense
Americans consume the most of this frozen treat, averaging about 6 gallons a year.
Ice Cream
Thousands of people gather at this ancient stone circle in England to celebrate the summer solstice.
Stonehenge
The word "summer" comes from this language's old word, "sumor".
Old English
This $500-million-streaming Harry Styles track was the smash hit of 2020, name-dropping the sugary summer fruit: "Strawberries on a summer evening."
Watermelon Sugar
This 1981 adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Harrison Ford gave the summer box office a legendary fedora-wearing archaeologist.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Botanically speaking, this summer-loving, backyard garden "vegetable" is actually classified as a fruit—specifically, a berry.
Tomato
Orville and Wilbur Wright famously achieved the first powered, controlled airplane flight on December 17, 1903, at the dunes of this Outer Banks town.
Kill Devil Hills