Posted on by Beckworth & Co

Labor Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. But for most people, it means saying goodbye to summer and a three-day weekend. It’s only natural to spend those three days trying to get as much summer in as you can. So if you haven’t got a chance to plan your Labor Day weekend, here are some activities you can do in three days to mark the end of summer.

There’s one thing we’re sure of as summer ends, colder waters. And you might want to experience some of these fun activities while the waters are still warm. Some water sports are only offered during summer or at least while the weather still allows it. Check the schedules to make sure you get to experience them before fall.

  • Hang out by the pool. Though you can technically take a swim any time you want depending on your location, hanging out by the pool after a dip can be difficult with a cold breeze. You’ll want to take advantage while the days are still long and the weather is still warm. If you’re on vacation, be sure to spend time by the hotel pool. Pool use will most probably be included in the hotel package you got anyway, so might as well spend the day using it.
  • Paddleboarding is great where calm waters are present. It is a family-friendly activity that all ages and skill levels can enjoy, and an incredibly easy sport to pick up and something that children love just as much as seniors. Stand up paddleboarding offers a fun way to play on the water, with the added benefit of a full-body workout. And since you stand at full height on your board, it gives you a unique vantage point for viewing what’s down under the water and out on the horizon.
  • A trip to the waterpark may just be what your family needs to cap the summer. Waterparks offer an assortment of activities designed for the whole family. There are pools, slides, fountains, and man-made rivers for all ages. Some parks even have artificial beaches with actuated waves so you can practise surfing in safer conditions.
      • Trails do close during fall and winter as some of them tend to be too dangerous to use during these seasons. A good example would be the Half Dome Trail in Yosemite in which the cables that would normally assist you to ascend the big rock would be taken down near winter or if the weather gets worse. Though hiking in summer can get quite hot, it does provide a drier path that is much safer than a wet and slippery one. So if you prefer a more guaranteed drier hike, take one now before the weather gets a little unpredictable.
      • Cooler temperatures are a good reason why camping in fall may be ideal for some people, but waking to a damp floor may not be for everybody. And it may not be all sunshine as fall can be a bit fickle and you might just experience rain or two during your trip. Take a three-day camping trip while campgrounds are still relatively dry and finding good firewood is easier. Your camping gear will also probably be lighter since you won’t need everything to be cold-proof or weatherproof. You’ll be able to enjoy more camp activities with drier conditions and it’ll be much safer for kids if you’re planning on bringing the family along the trip.

      Lakes are one of those bodies of water that do get cold as winter gets closer. So it’s no surprise if people try to get the best of what it has to offer before summer turns.

      • One idea is to try wakeboarding while wake parks still offer them. If you like water skiing, surfing, or snowboarding, wakeboarding is a great summer sport you must definitely try before summer ends. While learning any new sport is going to be difficult, wakeboarding is known to be a water sport that can be picked up quicker than many others. Once you’ve picked up the basics, wakeboarding is extremely easy to learn and extremely fun to do.
      • Take a much-needed break from all the stress and head out for a quiet time fishing. It doesn’t always have to be an adrenaline-pumping activity to get the most out of summer. A simple quiet day of fishing in the lake might just be the Labor Day weekend you need. Bring a buddy along for a great time. And if you have kids, this could be a perfect bonding activity for the family before school starts again.
      • Tubing is another sport commonly offered at the lake. Much like wakeboarding, you are also pulled by a motorboat. But it takes less effort since you don’t have to balance yourself at all, and all you have to do is hold on to the tube for as long as you can. Tubing is the perfect entry-level watersport because it’s non-intimidating, inexpensive, appropriate for all ages.

      • You may choose to eat great food with good company to celebrate Labor Day weekend and a cookout might just be exactly what you’re looking for. Even with a small gathering of friends and family, a backyard cookout is still a classic in any American holiday. The center of every cookout and barbecue is the food, of course, and cooking is part of the activity. While the grill master mans the fire, have guests serve themselves with an easy-to-use drink dispenser. This way, you'll only be responsible for refills when the dispenser runs low. This will make sure the guests are still entertained while working up an appetite. You can always set games to play for entertainment or you can simply play music to get the party started.
      • It doesn’t always have to be a party. A more intimate time involving food would be a relaxing picnic, and this can be done even outside your home. Whether you spend it at the lake, out on the beach, or at the park, a whole day of picnic can be quite fun. Just make sure you have everything you need before you go out so you don’t have to leave the perfect spot you just found just because you left the picnic blanket at home. A picnic will allow more time for talk and interaction than a cookout. Something that we could use a little more these days. It gives friends time to get caught up and family to have a chance to bond outside of the house.

       

      No other place represents summer better than the beach. So it’s no surprise that spending Labor Day weekend with sand between your toes might be the first thing that came to your mind.

      • This could be your chance to finally learn how to surf. Learning how to surf with your family or friends is an amazing bonding experience and one that can bring you even closer to each other. It’s recommended to find a safe beach with a beginner-friendly wave, particularly for families with young children.
      • Snorkeling can be a very rewarding activity. It benefits from its simplicity, where you can simply grab a mask and some fins, rather than hauling a bag full of heavy scuba gear. Snorkeling requires no formal training so almost anyone can do it. While it’s recommended that snorkelers actually know how to swim, those less confident in the water can wear a life vest or hold onto a flotation device.
      • Simply enjoy the sun. You don’t have to be active all the time to enjoy the beach. The beach also rewards those that just wish to sit and relax. Pick a less crowded beach to do this. Sit back and take in the calmness that the sea brings with each wave.

      The weather won’t suddenly change in one day and you may still experience warm weather during the first few days of fall. But even if the weather is still nice and dry, parks and facilities may close early in the season for safety reasons. Make sure you plan your trip ahead and check with the park services.

      Labor Day weekend may be the last time for a family outing before school eventually starts in September and a 3-day long weekend sounds like a great opportunity to take a break from work. But let’s not totally forget why the holiday exists. Let’s recognize and honor what American labor did to raise the nation’s standard of living and how it contributed to the greatest production the world has ever known.