Photo: Connie Park

By James Austin

Summer is for play. I would know—I play games for a living as Wirecutter’s games and hobbies expert. I also grew up in perpetual summer: steamy Central Florida. And as most things go, I didn’t appreciate all that warm weather until I left it. When I moved away to Brooklyn and experienced an actual winter is when I first saw the beauty of summer: a season of longer days filled with sunshine, warmth, and extra time for play.

With this newfound appreciation of summer, I make the following case to you: Embrace your inner child. Put your toes in the grass. Play something that is as simple as it is fun. Hell, run through a sprinkler if you have one.

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The 5 best outdoor games→

There’s a time and place for complex and twisting games, but the inherently playful season of summer is, in my view, more about fun for fun’s sake. Whether that’s classic tailgating games like cornhole or ladder toss, or table top games that travel well and hold up to the rigors of nature, there are plenty of ways to add a bit of childlike whimsy to an otherwise rudderless park hangout. Whatever you choose, have fun out there.

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The best gear for cornhole The bags and boards we recommend→

6 card games we love Small enough to bring along to a summer picnic, beach day, and beyond→

Our favorite pickleball paddles Dink and lob like a pro→

Photo: Michael Murtaugh

Over the years, we’ve run more than 5,000 miles to find the comfiest, most supportive shoes for adventuring outdoors. After all that testing, our advice is that you’ll likely need to try on several different pairs before you find that Cinderella fit. To help inspire your search, we have a few recommendations, including dependable neutral trainers, stability shoes with various amounts of cushion, and a low-drop option.

How to choose the best running shoes→

Play on.

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