“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” – William Shakespeare
Yes, it’s true – summer is almost over, and August is Family Fun Month. How can you make the most of the last days of summer with the family, and make it a summer to remember? The tans may fade, but the memories of sweet times together don’t have to, especially if you rock the end of summer with some family fun. Don’t forget, Lillian Vernon’s line of beach and backyard toys can make your summer complete. We’ve got some ideas to get you started, and we’re pretty sure you’ll come up with a few of your own.
Family pedicures. Yes, even the boys can get in on this one! Mom and the girls can get matching colors or choose their own unique shade to express their personality while the weather is still warm enough to get away with sandals and flip flops. Men and boys can enjoy the luxury of someone else scrubbing their feet and who’s to know if they get a coat of clear polish while they’re at it? You might just help the men in your life discover their new favorite treat, ladies!
Be a hometown tourist for a weekend. You know what it’s like to live in a town with some killer tourist attractions and think, “Someday I really ought to go see/ do that.” If you’ve lived in your town for a while but never taken the time to see it through a visitor’s eyes, make it a point to do that with your family before summer ends. Go online and see what comes up when you search “Things to do in my town” or visit a local hotel lobby and grab a few brochures. Take a bus tour of the city, visit local landmarks, spend a day visiting art galleries, museums, or a nearby water park. Take advantage of all the family fun things to do right in your own back yard.
Attend an outdoor festival, concert, or state fair. Every town has these during the summer, and for a good reason. Carnival rides, candy corn, cotton candy, live music, hot dogs on a stick, dancing in the streets, there are some things that are just classic summer fun things to do, and you should take some time to share these things with those you love. Let the kids ride the Ferris wheel, take a pony ride, and scream their lungs out on a roller coaster. These are the things they’ll remember and want to share with their kids one day.
Go camping. You usually don’t have to go far to find a good camping spot. Why not make it an end of summer family tradition the kids can look forward to year after year? Especially if you’re lucky enough to have a state or national park nearby, or a river or lake. You might even be able to camp at your local reservoir. There’s something about camping that really brings a family together, whether you sleep in tents, a pop up trailer, or go “glamping” in a fully outfitted RV. It’s the act of getting away from it all for a day or two that changes things, and fosters communication and family togetherness. We recommend ditching the cell phones and other electronics (you can keep one for 911 type emergencies, but the idea is to unplug from civilization for a little while) and bringing along board games, cards, and other family activities everyone can participate in and enjoy. If you have a telescope, bring it with you and show your kids what the universe looks like at night when you’re out in the woods, or just learn a few constellations you can see with the naked eye and share them with your children. Teach your kids the value of learning to be quiet, listen to nature, and appreciate all life has to offer without bright city lights, electronics at their fingertips, and social media.
Have a pool party. Break out the popsicles, pool floats, and yard games and celebrate the end of summer with friends and family. Don’t have a pool? You can still have a party with a homemade slip and slide, lawn sprinklers, or a good old garden hose. Have the kids take turns squirting each other or let them squirt their moms and dads for even more fun. Channel your inner child and enjoy playing with your kids while they still think you’re cool. Have a water balloon tossing contest, make a picnic lunch or fire up the grill and enjoy some burgers and brats while the weather permits. There’s nothing better than a day in the sun having fun with family and friends in your own back yard (literally). This is also a great way to show the kids that you don’t have to travel to a distant location or spend a lot of money to make some spectacular summertime memories.
If it seems like summer sped by too fast, we understand. Someone once said summer should get a speeding ticket and we agree! Since we started with a quote, we’ll end with another one as we all wave goodbye to sun-drenched summer days and prepare for fall. “A fallen leaf is nothing more than a summer’s wave goodbye.” – Unknown