# HomeKit: Your Vital Travel Ally for the Summer Season
The summer season is in full effect, bringing along the excitement of travel. Whether it’s a vacation, a baseball tournament, a work conference, or all of the above, HomeKit can assist you in monitoring your home. When on the go, there are several crucial components of my HomeKit configuration that I trust completely. One important detail to remember is that you will need a [HomeKit hub](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102557) for remote access to your devices.
## Automate Your Outdoor Irrigation
Following one of the wettest Mays in recorded history in my region, the unpredictable nature of the dog days of summer can be a concern. An effortless HomeKit solution for summer travel is automating your outdoor irrigation. If you’ve ever returned home to find a dead lawn or wilted plants after a week away, you can empathize with the frustration.
There are several products designed for compatibility with HomeKit that connect to your hose, enabling you to manually activate your sprinkler or establish automations based on the schedule or local weather conditions.
## Return to a Comfortable Atmosphere
There’s nothing more unpleasant than stepping into a warm, stuffy house after a lengthy journey and having to wait hours for it to cool down. Conversely, you don’t want to waste energy cooling your home throughout the week while you’re absent. Utilizing a HomeKit-compatible thermostat, you can adjust your AC back to your desired temperature the night prior (I prefer to do this so it can start cooling down when temperatures are cooler) and save money over the week.
## Automate Your Lights to Give the Appearance of Being Home
One of the classic tricks for when you’re on vacation is leaving a few lights on to create the illusion that someone is home. However, a light that is left on continuously can make it even more obvious that you’re away. This is where HomeKit proves useful. Once you automate certain lights, you can adjust them remotely to make it seem like people are present. You can also set up some HomeKit automations to achieve this.
## Keep an Eye on Your Home with HomeKit Cameras
While traveling, I prefer not to worry excessively about my property, but I do want to remain informed if any issues arise. That’s where HomeKit Secure Video comes into play. I’ve installed a few cameras outside to keep me updated on any happenings. With HomeKit Secure Video, the footage is safely stored in iCloud+, and since I possess multiple [Apple TVs](https://amzn.to/3FyKMzX) at home, I can access the footage remotely.
## Conclusion
Summer is an ideal time for travel, but it also requires your home to receive some additional care. With the appropriate HomeKit configuration, you can ensure your lawn stays watered, your house remains cool upon your return, your lights follow a natural schedule, and your cameras provide remote monitoring capabilities. These are the exact setups I rely on when away for work or family vacations, making my travel experiences significantly less stressful.
