Late-Summer Checklist: Things to Do Before Fall

Fall officially kicks off in mid-September, but if you look around, you might already think fall is in full swing, since all the stores have Halloween and fall decorations up already. But, before you ring in the new season, you should go through a late-summer checklist and do some special things before summer is over. I love summer and don't want to see it go, so I'll make sure to do these summer activities before we have to put away our shorts and bikinis.

See a Sunrise and Sunset

Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful to watch any season, but they're extra vibrant in the summer. Also, if you're in a cool-weather climate, it can be just brutal to try to see sunrise or sunset in the winter. So, before summer is over, do yourself a favor and get up extra early to watch the sunrise or head outside during the "golden hour" when the sun is just starting to set and take in all the glory. Sunrises and sunsets are extra beautiful over bodies of water and hills or mountains, so take note.

Go to a Pool or Beach

If you haven't been to a pool or beach yet this summer, what are you waiting for? Going to a pool or beach is a must during the summer months, at least once. When I was a kid, there was a pool where my family lived, so I went pretty much each day in the summer. But, now, I have to rely on my friends who have pools, and so far, I've only been to one pool party this season. I need to step it up. Note that some pools close on Labor Day, so check your local spot to see when they're open.

Go Camping

Fall camping can be fun, but there's nothing like camping in the summer under the stars. It's a definite late-summer checklist thing to do. If you haven't taken advantage of the warm weather to go camping yet this season, now is the time. Some camping spots get less crowded towards the end of summer, when school starts up again, so camping in the late summer period can actually be delightful. America has lots of great camping spots, too.

Have a Picnic

Nothing says summer like a picnic, so put it on your late-summer checklist. Take advantage of the beautiful weather and plan an outdoor picnic with friends or family before the snow starts to fall. Summer picnics can make for great memories that will stick with you for years to come. What's your favorite summer activity? Reach out to me and let me know.

Summer always brings a bevy of vacation options, some more exotic than others. But, you don't have to travel far or do something major to have a great vacation. There are many fun and affordable staycation ideas that can give you a memorable vacation memory by just staying close to home.

So, what exactly is the definition of a staycation? It's pretty self-explanatory, but according to the Oxford Dictionary, it's "a vacation spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. Similarly, Merriam-Webster says it's, "a vacation spent at home or nearby." I think it's a stretch to call any vacation that's spent in your home country a staycation. That would mean that someone living in Michigan who travels to California for a vacation is really having a "staycation." It makes much more sense to define a staycation as a vacation where you literally stay at home or do something fun in your local area. Thankfully, there are a plethora of great staycation ideas out there.

Plenty of cities have "be a tourist in your own town" activities promoted by their local city tourist bureaus, which are perfect for a staycation. Really, staycations have been around forever, but they increased in popularity during the pandemic, when people actually weren't allowed to travel abroad. Still, even after the pandemic, the staycation is going strong. According to an international study by tourism and hospitality experts in the U.S. and China, the "staycation phenomenon" that started during the pandemic is still very popular and likely to stay as a new normal. The study, dubbed "Customer Preferences for Staycation Package Attributes," is published online in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. It researched the local staycation preferences of Chinese tourists, as well as staycation information from the U.S., Netherlands and Indonesia.

I love a good staycation. It can be stressful to plan a huge trip to squeeze into your time off. By the time you get everything packed, do all the flight stuff and get to your hotel, you might just feel like resting for the short while that you're at your destination. What's more, you can often find so many great places close to home that you've never experienced before. I've had so many great staycations where I ventured to a part of town or the state that I had never been before, and those are among my favorite vacation memories. In that spirit, here are some fun and affordable staycation ideas. Send me your ideas, too.

Have a vacation in your living room or bedroom. Make it a movie-watching marathon. Watch a string of your favorite guilty-pleasure movies or binge-watch a brand new series. Either way, it'll be cozy and comfy.

If you have a state or national park nearby, use your vacation time to go adventuring. Being at a local park can offer some breathtaking scenery, especially in the summer. Have a picnic out there, too. If you don't have a state or national park close by, try a local park.

Nearly every town has a local museum or art gallery. Perhaps you've never really had the time to visit your local museum or art spot. Use your vacation time to explore those local spots, and you might find a new favorite place.

If you've driven by that new hotel for a while and wondered what it's like inside, why not book it for a night? You don't have to be traveling to say at a hotel, Airbnb or local bed-and-breakfast. It can make for an exciting adventure right in your backyard.

Using vacation time to plan a big party for friends is a good use of that time. Instead of traveling around the world, bring to world to you. Invite lots of your good friends, and spend some of the cash you would have on a vacation for your party. It'll be the party of the year. Make that decade.

Pamper yourself. Maybe you think having a spa day is too much of a luxury, but if you're saving money by not taking a big trip, why not use that money for a spa day? It's not just for ladies, either. Guys can book a spa day for a variety of services. It'll make for a day of bliss.