End of Summer Vacation Ideas

Historically, Labor Day is the mark of summer coming to an end. Gone are the long summer days, fun summer nights, heat waves, and summer vacation getaways. While this summer has had its challenges, a relaxing, end of the season vacation is not completely out of the question. We have put together a few fun, simple activities that your family can enjoy, even when staying close to home. There is sure to be an activity or two that will help you to unwind and relax before the start of a new school year.

Spa Day

Simply relax in a nice warm tub seasoned with essential oils or filled with bubbles. Light your favorite scented candles relax with an indulgent magazine or turn on your favorite music. You do not need to be extravagant. Add a skin nourishing face mask or finally exfoliate the dry patches on your knees and elbows. This is YOUR spa day so have fun and just relax. 

Tourist for a Day

You do not have to go far to be a tourist. Go to your own town’s website to find local attractions and plan a day to explore close by. Visit some of the parks, walking paths, and local historical sites as if you are seeing them for the first time. You can also check the visitor’s website in your area to find areas you have never visited or were not aware of. Look at what your town has for tourists, you will undoubtedly be surprised.

Yard Games

While playing a game of basketball in your driveway, or football on the lawn is fun, those are not the yard games we are talking about. Yard games can be a lot more intricate and require a little more prep than grabbing a ball.

a. Tic-Tac-Toe-Use 16 to 20 feet of rope, and large wooden or metal X’s and O’s. Simply use the rope to construct a tic tac toe board and get started.
b. Giant Jenga- 54 to 62 feet of 2×4’s cut into pieces at 10 ½” lengths. You will need 52 pieces sanded and stained. This game should be played with caution and probably is not best for children under the age of 8.
c. Cornhole-Cornhole is a game played with dried corn filled bags thrown at a box slat with a hole in it. The target needs to be slanted to see who gets closest to the hole. This is a game that you can make yourself, following these directions https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-make-a-cornhole-board/ or check local classifieds to find one already made.

d. Yard Yahtzee- Get 5 4×4 blocks to turn into dice. To make dice, round the rough edges and sand them smooth. Next, you will want to sketch the dice circles, paint the circles, using a coin as a template, black and apply varnish. If you choose, you can use a wood burner with a circular wood stamp. Next you will need 5-gallon bucket to roll the dice. Once you have all of that done, simply roll the dice and play.
e. Lawn Twister- If you are not averse to having giant brightly colored circles painted on your lawn. A game of Lawn Twister is fun for everyone. To make a twister board, on your yard, you will need yard paint and circle stencil, cutting a hole in the bottom of a bucket works great! It is better to use a twister board spinner and if it is not hard enough, begin to call out directions.