Don't Let Summer End Without.....

By Debbie Swanson

Just because most school districts dip into August for their start date, don’t let your last month of summer slip away in the back to school frenzy. Even if you’re tired of the beach, and refuse to eat one more night of barbeque, there’s still new ways to enjoy late summer. Check out these ideas for a fresh dose of summer fun.

Picking Blueberries

Sweet, plump blueberries become ripe for picking in mid-to-late July and continue through late summer. Blueberry bushes are a perfect size for pint-size pickers. Some nearby farms offering blueberry picking include: Parlee Farms (http://parleefarm.com), Carlson Orchards (www.carlsonorchards.com), or look through http://www.pickyourown.org to find a place near you.

If you’ve already enjoyed the animals and water park at Davis Farmland, plan to head back once August rolls around to the Mega-Maze. This is a great way for families to burn off any back-to-school steam navigating over bridges and through a sea of corn. Older children and even teens who may have outgrown the Farmland are sure to enjoy the Mega Maze. (www.davisfarmland.com/megamaze).

Are your kids begging for you to take them to a tropical destination? Make them happy without draining your savings: pack them in the car and try out Coco Key Water Park at the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort in Danvers. This 65,000-square foot indoor water park claims that “every day is a bright, sunny 84 degrees.” www.cocokeywaterresort.com

Remember the excitement you’d feel as a kid, when your family planned to head for the Drive-In? In the mid 1970’s, there were 60 Drive-In theater’s open in the Bay State. Today, about a dozen are left. Share that excitement with your family before this relic disappears forever. Pop some popcorn, fill the car with pillows and enjoy night under the stars for a big screen movie. www.driveintheater.com/list/massachu.htm

Your budding architect, sculptor, or just a kid with a pail and shovel will be amazed at what will arise from the sand at the Crane Beach Sandcastle Contest. Enjoy a beach day while watching the construction of carefully detailed castles, food objects, animals, and countless other designs, then cast a vote for your favorite. See it at Crane Beach in Ipswich on Aug.9 to observe (or enter!) this fun event. Raindate is Aug.10.

For 53 years, the Middlesex County 4-H Fair has taken place at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Westford. This old-fashioned fair, held annually the last weekend in August includes animal shows and exhibits, showcase horses, rabbits, cattle, sheep and poultry. Produce contests are set up for viewing, as well as a moonwalk, face painting, and countless other displays and demonstrations. www.middlesexcounty4hfair.org

Though a trip to Fenway Park is fun, don’t feel that high-priced tickets to the major leagues are the only way to satisfy your young slugger. The Cape Cod Baseball League plays all summer long at locations throughout the Cape. Regular season games run through early August, and championship games continue into the later summer. www.capecodbaseball.org for details.

Had enough day trips for the summer? Late summer is also a great opportunity to enjoy socializing at home. A carefree Sunday brunch won’t require you to light up the oven too much, or bring out the summer salads and host a multi-family potluck. Or if your child needs to re-acquaint with his peers before heading back to school, invite a small group of classmates over for an ice cream party, movie night or sprinkler fun.

And don’t forget your own hometown. Summer is a great chance to stop into those places that you drive by on your way to soccer practice or music lessons during the school year. Your kids may be delighted to partake in a few more trips to the local ice cream stand, do a family craft, or take the dog for an evening walk at the town beach.

Ask your family what’s on their ‘must do’ list for summer, and squeeze a final dose of fun out of August!

Debbie Swanson is a freelance writer living in Westford. You can visit her website at www.swansonwriting.com.