Do you suddenly see parents with a new form of expression on their faces, a smile? This is a sign school is back in full swing and don’t be alarmed if some parents bust out into spontaneous skipping. With the stress of getting kids back into school, making sure they have all their school supplies, new clothes, shoes, back packs, lunch boxes, etc., I’m thinking the last thing you want to do is spend money on Labor Day weekend. As exciting as sending the kids back to school, it can be just enough to put you over your summer budget. But Labor Day weekend is really the last opportunity to take advantage of doing something with the family before the kids get super busy with projects and extra curricular activities. So, why not see what your community has to offer you for Labor Day weekend? There’s always the traditional cook out with neighbors and swimming  at the Willeo Creek pool. Labor Day is usually the last opportunity to go to the pool and soak up some rays. If you’ve had enough pool time for the summer and are looking to not be in the direct sun, there are many beautiful hikes waiting for you up in North Georgia, most only an hour away. One hike that I have done myself is Panther Creek. It’s about a 6.5 mile round trip hike and the best part, when you get to mid point, there’s a beautiful water fall. Wear your swim suit and cool off after the first part of your hike.

Maybe you have kids that are too young to do such a long hike, but you are interested in getting outdoors. Poole’s Mill Park in Forsyth County offers picnic areas, hiking, play grounds, and best of all giant rocks you can slide down in the creek. Since we’ve been getting a lot of rain recently, there’s no telling what the water levels will be, so take caution and bring a tube, the rocks can be a bit painful, I know from personal experience.

How do you feel about science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film? If you have interests in those things you might just want to check out Dragon*Con! Dragon*Con will be held in Atlanta this year from September 3^rd – 6^th.  For more information and find out who will be there, check out

Last, but never the least! Saying goodbye to the summer always means saying hello to Football! This is probably the best way to stay inside and keep cool during the last weeks of summer.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr: andycoen