If you’re anything like me, then you’re feeling a mixture of happy and sad about nearing the end of summer. While kids are on their way back to school, the season doesn’t truly end until the weather breaks. That said, we still have at least a few weeks to a month left of sunshine and warm weather. While I’m incredibly excited about fall, I’m not sure I’m quite ready for summer to fade into crisp mornings and pumpkin spice. Summer goes by so fast, and you might be feeling like you didn’t even get to enjoy it. If that’s the case, be sure to try out these four ways to live the rest of summer to the fullest!

Hit the Beach or Pool

When it comes to summer, you can’t beat a pool or beach day. This allows you to relax, soak up some sunshine, and just enjoy being outdoors, while also staying cool. I’ve had plenty of pool days this season, and it has been one of the major highlights of my summer. We also just had a family beach day recently! It was so much fun and completely unforgettable.

No matter which you decide to do, I highly recommend doing it at least once before the sunshine and heat turns to gloom and rain. Few things in life are better than spending the day in cool water and sunshine, with summer jams in the background.

Pro Tip: Pick out a summer book to read and make your favorite mocktail — these are the cherry on top of a fabulous beach or pool day!

Plan One Last Cookout

Cookouts and BBQs are some of the most popular things to do during the summer months, and for good reason! Cookouts are definitely a summer staple for my family, and we always miss being able to eat our in-season sweet corn, burgers and brats on the grill, and super fresh fruits and veggies outdoors.

While summer might be nearing its end, you still have time left to plan one last cookout with your friends and family. If you want to be a little adventurous, use this opportunity to make a new recipe you’ve been wanting to try, whether it be a tasty pasta salad, a unique dessert, or a fun punch or lemonade.

Enjoy a Sunset and Make S’mores

It’s no secret that 9pm sunsets have already made their departure. However, we still have a little while before the sun sets much too early. Be sure to use this chance to actually enjoy a summer sunset. Sit outside, enjoy the evening, and maybe even build a campfire. And you know what that means:

A nice summer night + a campfire = s’mores!

I know it can be annoying to sit outside on a summer night and get swarmed by bugs. If you want to take advantage of the rest of the summer nights to come, you might need some all-natural bug spray to keep those pesky pests away from you.

Try Something New!

I bet there’s something you’ve been wanting to try this season. Whether that’s a new recipe, building a new morning routine, a seasonal craft you’ve had saved on TikTok forever, or exploring a new hobby. Whatever it is that you’ve been thinking about doing or trying, now is the chance to do it, especially if it’s specific to summer.

I like to make an effort to try new things all the time, but I definitely like to try something new at least every season. For example, this summer I made strawberry jam with my mom for the first time, and then I also made homemade strawberry syrup with some of the stems. It seems small, but that’s all it really takes to learn a new skill or find your next hobby.

Summer may be over in the traditional sense, but the heart of the summer season is still beating strong. It’s not over until fall makes it’s arrival! Take advantage of the end of the season with these few ways to live the rest of summer to the very fullest.