The summer months are the perfect time to travel to Russia if you’re not a fan of bitter cold, snow and rain – in June, July and August, you’re safe from that almost everywhere in Russia (except the far north and sometimes St. Petersburg). The big cities, however, can get smoggy and crowded during the summer months, so you may want to do like the Russians and try one of these Russian summer activities.

They don’t have much to do with sightseeing but they do have a lot to offer in terms of appreciating the culture of this country by celebrating summer the way that the Russians do.

Go to the park

Russia has a lot of space, and as such, it has a lot of green space as well – you can find a park in practically any neighborhood of practically any Russian city, even the big, packed ones like Moscow and St. Petersburg. When it gets hot, as it often does in Moscow especially, Russian people tend to gather in city parks on the evenings and weekends (and students - during the day as well). They go to the parks with their friends and have a few beers over people-watching and lively conversation. Many Russians also come to the park alone, often with a book, and sit and read for a few hours, enjoying the reprieve from the hot, crowded streets.

There are often stands in the parks selling drinks and ice cream, but be forewarned that it’s often difficult to find a cold drink unless you actually go into a grocery store.

Look for small shops in the streets lining the parks with the word “????????” (“Producti”-groceries) somewhere on their sign.

Have a barbecue

A very popular Russian weekend activity is to gather with friends in a park outside of the city – or at somebody’s house, if someone has a backyard – and to have a long barbecue that lasts long into the night. Usually, the host gets meat and vegetables and all the guests bring along side dishes and desserts potluck-style.

The most common main dish served at a Russian barbecue is “shashlik” (kebabs), pieces of meat on skewers with vegetables like onions and bell peppers. Guests usually bring along salads, like the potato salad “olivye” or the healthy beet salad “vinegret”. Guests also often bring desserts, usually a cake or perhaps chocolate. It is common for guests to also bring some alcohol; beer is the most popular barbecue drink but wine is quite commonly consumed as well.

Go to the dacha

The most common Russian summer activity is to take off for a week – or at least a weekend – to their summer house, called a dacha. Almost every Russian person in good standing who lives in a Russian city has a summer house, or at least a friend who owns one. A dacha is typically a small house a short drive outside of the city, with a small garden and fairly basic amenities. It’s usually in a village or a very small town. It is meant to serve as a getaway from the rush and craziness of city life, so the goal is for it to be very rural and close to nature.

They usually go in groups and spend their time swimming (if there are lakes or rivers around), cooking large meals, reading, drinking and talking. Many Russians look forward to going to their dacha all year long – and for many it is the highlight of the year.

You don’t have to own a house in Russia to partake in this great tradition. If you’re traveling with friends, it’s possible to rent a summer house for as long as you want (and many Russians these days rent summer houses instead of owning as well). Here are some websites to check out: xochy-dom and vrbo.