Your summer mega list

Ready to be cool for the summer? Here's your list for this season's best in beach reads, playlist needs, streaming treats and fresh eats.

A list of summer musts for reading, eating, listening, watching and wearing

Kirsten Neil · CBC Communications · Posted: Jun 28, 2019 9:58 AM EDT | Last Updated: July 2, 2019

When you live in Canada, you HAVE to make the most of the warm weather, because we certainly don't get enough of it. And when you're out and about, you don't have time to rummage through the Internet looking for the tops in beach reads, playlist needs and fresh eats.

Don't worry, we got you. Here is a big list of this season's musts in one spot.

Books

Is the beach calling? If so, here are 3 juicy reads, 6 perfect lounging books (and 6 more), 9 gripping mystery novels, 33 delights from around the world and 8 classic books by Indigenous writers that deserve another look.

Going on a road trip AND DON'T want to hear, "are we there yet? Are we there yet?" on blast? This list of 10 audio books for kids should do the trick. More goodies for the younger crowd include these 11 must reads and these 15 books by Indigenous creators.

Food

You gotta eat, which means...

You gotta prep food for the cottage! (Then invite everyone for a 10:00 a.m. Caesar. 😉)
Then you gotta fire up that grill! Here are 29 recipes to keep the bbq churning all season long.
And just like Drake, in summer you want your 'chips with the dip.' Here are 3 perfect ones for a picnic, 5 sweet ones for the kids and 1 decadent hot lobster one.

Honestly, there are too many delicious summer recipes on CBC Life. Go here for them all.

Music

Summertime and the livin' is easy-listening or pop or alt-rock or hip hop or classical...

Here are 12 albums you need to listen to this summer. Then add one of the hottest Canadian songs right now to your summer playlist. (It's definitely one of Carly Rae's, right? Right?!)

Here's a piece for those who like their music a bit more refined. And one for those who like their beats firing on all cylinders. And one that covers the 100 best Canadian albums ever.

Podcasts

If you're looking for more than music to your ears…

This list of 8 podcasts you should binge in summer might be from last year, but hey, if you didn't download them then, maybe it's time to binge them now. Or how about this list of the 25 best pods of 2018.

If you're wanting to think about your #careergoals during summer (no, seriously, some people do), give one of these 9 podcasts a go.

And never forget, Terry O'Reilly is the OG of podcast storytelling.

Play

Four words: Cheap. Fun. For. Kids. If those 30 ideas are not enough, we also got 12 ways to play with a bag of dirt.

For the adults, no backyard summer shindig is a success without a lawn-game tourney. Here are 9 super fun ones.

For the digital junkie: if you like a good gif – and a good laugh – find out how hard you ride for the maple leaf in our Never Have I Ever challenge.

Shows

In case you haven't heard, we have a new streaming service and it is fantastic. CBC Gem is full of your favourite CBC shows, past and present.

Shows like Schitt's Creek, Portlandia, The Exhibitionists, Taken, CBC Kids News, Fred Penner's Place (yes, FRED PENNER'S PLACE!), Baroness Von Sketch, Kids in the Hall, True Dating Stories and so much more. Watch anytime, on demand.

CBC Gem also houses all your regional shows, including the daily news shows in your area.