The Top 10 Things To Do (and Eat) This Summer

When you're outdoors and on the go all summer long, don't limit yourself to snack-stand concessions and roadside fast food joints. We've pinpointed the 10 foods that are perfect for each of summer's most-popular activities — so ready those coolers and travel bags for these ultimate summer eats.

Photo By: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Photo By: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Photo By: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Photo By: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

1. Pool Day Ice Cream Cones

When you're hanging by the pool with no ice cream truck in sight, cool off with our homemade, customizable version of a classic: an ice cream cone with a crunchy chocolate shell (and inner-cone coating) studded with toppings. Our favorite combos to try: strawberry ice cream with pistachios, coconut ice cream with toasted coconut and salted caramel gelato with a sprinkle of sea salt.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Dipped Ice Cream Cones

2. Hand Pies for a Road Trip

Juicy raspberries and peaches form the sweet-tart filling in these hand-held pies. They travel well, so they're perfect for snacking on during a long car trip to a summer destination –– no plates or utensils needed. Try making them with other stone fruits that are abundant during the summer months, such as nectarines or apricots.

Get the Recipe: Raspberry-Peach Hand Pies

3. Block Party Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Sure, we love the slow cooker for hearty winter meals, but in summer it's great for hands-off, oven-free cooking (especially for those without access to a grill or smoker). And you know what? Preparing the barbecue staple in this way yields equally tender, flavorful results. Requiring just five minutes of prep time, this 18-sandwich recipe will impress neighbors and easily feed a crowd.

Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pulled-Pork Sandwiches

4. Popcorn Balls for Movie Night

Summer s'mores meet movie-theater popcorn in these sweet marshmallow-, chocolate- and pretzel-studded treats. Snack on them while watching an outdoor movie on a picnic blanket or at your local drive-in theater. Popcorn buckets? Optional but encouraged.

Get the Recipe: S'mores Popcorn Balls

5. Trail Mix for a Hike

This trail mix is inspired by mole, the savory Mexican sauce made with spices and chocolate. It's the perfect go-to snack for adventurous summer hikers: spicy, sweet and crunchy, and as energizing as it is flavorful. The sesame clusters are great on their own as a snack.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Chocolate-Sesame Trail Mix

6. Picnic-Perfect Fried Chicken

This fried chicken recipe isn't called picnic perfect for nothing: These super-crunchy drumsticks taste equally great straight out of the fryer or eaten chilled the next day. Soaking them in buttermilk and hot sauce, then dredging them in a spice-laced flour mixture, guarantees a punch of flavor in each bite. Just be sure not to cover them while they're hot — or you'll have soggy crusts.

Get the Recipe: Picnic-Perfect Fried Chicken

7. Beach Day (Virgin) Sangria

This is the perfect drink to bring to the beach –– you're going to need something refreshing to sip while hanging out all day under the hot sun. The frozen fruit keeps the sangria cold without diluting it (as ice cubes do) and provides something healthy to snack on when the sangria's gone. Freeze any fruits you have on hand; apples or peaches would also work well.

Get the Recipe: Virgin White Sangria with Frozen Fruit

8. Sandwiches for Day Camp

Kids love dunking carrots and cucumbers in hummus. These roll-ups make a portable meal out of those healthy snack ingredients, with a sun-dried tomato-white bean puree and the bonus of crispy bacon. They're perfect for bringing to school or camp, as they'll keep well in a lunchbox (with an ice pack) for up to four hours.

Get the Recipe: Roll-Ups

9. Kebabs for Boating

No utensils are needed for these crunchy, cool and refreshing fruit-and-vegetable kebabs finished with a flourish of spicy ancho chile salt. We envision them as perfect for enjoying on a sunny canoe trip; this recipe makes enough for two rowers, so multiply it if you're expecting a boatload of people.

Get the Recipe: Watermelon-Cucumber Kebabs with Chile Salt

10. Pecan Twists for Camping

These breakfast twists are meant to be cooked over an open fire, so they're perfect for camping in the woods. This recipe uses refrigerated dough, though traditionally bannocks (as outdoorsmen call the dish of Scottish origin) are made at camp. Cooking times will vary greatly depending on your fire, so follow the visual cues.

Get the Recipe: Campfire Pecan Sticky Twists