The long, lazy days of Summer can slip by faster than you’d believe. If you don’t want to be left thinking “What happened? I’ve barely even started my summer fun!” As the leaves are beginning to change color, plan to do something special while the weather is warm and the sunsets last forever. Here are three hot ideas.

Take an Epic Trip

Visiting a new place (or returning to an old favorite) creates fresh experiences and new stories to tell back home. With no snow or ice to snarl travel plans, summer is a great time to explore.

A road trip is a classic option, with friends or solo. You can pick a theme (factory tours? historic sites? baseball games?) or simply pick a direction. For less stress, do at least a little research into hotels and dining options along your route, and bring healthy snacks, sunglasses, and a basic car repair kit.

If you don’t mind a little dirt, camping lets you get close to nature on a mountaintop, at the beach, and everywhere in between. If you’re a first-time camper, the staff at state and national parks can provide all sorts of advice, and you can rent camping gear such as tents and sleeping bags rather than pay full price to buy it new.

Cruising gets you to several different places while someone else handles the planning. A Caribbean cruise provides a Tropical vibe with sun-soaked deck activities and visits to colorful beaches, lush forests, and remote snorkeling spots.

Throw a Tropical Party

Themed parties are some of the best ways to celebrate. Getting your friends together for Tiki Drinks, fun music, fresh food, and summer merriment will create great memories for everyone.

Tropical decor can feature anything from flamingos to palm trees to sea turtles to oversized flowers, and you don’t need to worry about making everything match. Check second hand stores and your own attic for appropriate dishes, figurines, linens, and other items. Brightly colored tablecloths and disposable pop-up trash cans make cleaning up a breeze.

Look for food and drink options with flavors such as pineapple, coconut, hibiscus, passionfruit, and mango. Fresh fruit is essential, rainbow baby carrots add flair, and grilled shrimp or chicken in a Hawaiian marinade rounds out the offerings. A bar spread with juice, rum, and the ingredients for classic tiki drinks is sure to be a hit, especially if you provide fruit garnishes, mini drink umbrellas, and edible flowers.

Ask your guests to wear something tropical, and offer leis or colorful sunglasses as favors. Make sure to have appropriate music, lawn games for everyone, and a box of cheap toys for any small children attending.

Embrace the Water

Hot sunny days are the perfect opportunity to try a new water sport or get back into your favorite childhood water activity (don’t forget sunscreen!). Swimming pools and backyard sprinklers are obvious candidates for good reasons, but there are plenty of ways to get wet and wild.

First, if you don’t know how to swim, now is the perfect time to learn! Once you’re confident in the water, think about the type of water sports you’ll enjoy. For adrenaline and speed, water skiing is the obvious choice, but surfing, wakeboarding, and whitewater rafting are also options. If you’d rather do something more relaxing, canoeing on a pretty pond lends itself well to picnics and nature-watching. For a good workout, try kayaking or swimming laps.

If a commercial water park is too pricey or too far away, you can create a mini water park in your own backyard or patio. Inflatable pools are available in all sizes and price points. Sprinklers come in a variety of designs and water outputs, and water balloons, water guns, and Slip ‘N Slides aren’t just for kids anymore.

Summer is the best season for having fun, trying something new, and making memories. Whether you choose to travel, host your friends, or conquer the water (or all three!), make sure to do something amazing.

Also Read:

• Effective Ways to Beat the Heat All Summer Long
• Three Ways to Style Striped Shirts This Summer
• Top 10 Stylish Summer Dresses that’ll make your day cool and perfect
• India will have hottest summer this year than usual, according to IMD report

The post Three Ideas for Creating a Special Summer appeared first on Newsblare.