Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

As news continues to be announced about cancellations of summer events in the area, it may be easy to get sad and think there will be nothing to do this summer.

Yes, Albert Lea has many events we all love and cherish during the summer months — and we will have to take a hiatus from them this year — but they aren’t the only things that make the community a great place to be in the summer.

Albert Lea, which is marketing itself as the recreation capital of southern Minnesota, has numerous outdoor opportunities, be it for walking, running, biking, fishing or boating. We have beautiful lakes, a state park right next door, and several trails and walking paths.

We also are blessed in Albert Lea with many creative, entrepreneurial residents, some of whom are brainstorming new activities to organize that will allow for proper social distancing, such as drive-in movies and concerts.

With Gov. Tim Walz allowing for small groups to again start meeting, people can also spend time with their close friends and family, making memories and building what’s most important: relationships.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun, and we’re lucky in Albert Lea that we have such wonderful resources where we can create those memories.