Summer Fun Ideas Right Here In Town

Can you believe summer is half over already? It seems like it just started. I noticed as I drove home from my class Tuesday night, around 8:30 p.m.m that it was almost dark already. It's just not fair that the weather is warm but the days are shortening already. But there's still lots to do.

How many of you have gone down to our lovely beach (yeah, I heard about the alewives) and taken a walk on the trail, enjoyed the water or just watched the lake from a park bench? It's really kind of a well-kept secret. It's definitely a nice place to take the family and get in some quality time along with your daily dose of Vitamin D.

That said, you need only 15-20 minutes of sunshine to get that dose so be sure to bring your sun-block, apply it heavily and every 2 hours. If you’re going in the water make sure you wear one that’s appropriate for use in water to maintain it’s effectiveness. Nothing can ruin a fun day at the beach quicker than a miserable night full of sunburn or heat exhaustion. Be careful. The sun is potent!

And have you tried out our lovely bike trail? You can ride for miles on that trail and not worry about motorized traffic other than at road crossings. Do be careful there. I know as a driver that it’s not that easy to see a bike rider coming. Make sure you come to a full stop before crossing.

Remember, bicycles are vehicles and belong on the road. Use bike lanes when available and if you're not comfortable riding in traffic, use bike trails to get your exercise in. If you are riding on the road, please, please, please wear a helmet and clothing that is visible for the time of day you are riding in. You may be able to see cars, but can the drivers see you? Why take a chance?

And use lights and reflective clothing at night. I don’t know how many times I’ve almost hit someone riding at night in dark clothes! Also take water along with you. There may not be any when you need it.

The Oak Creek city bike trail starts north of Drexel and ends on County Line Road, about seven and a half miles roughly. There is little shade on the trail so going in cool weather and early morning or later in the evening are more pleasant times to ride. The trail in not overly challenging so can be enjoyed by most bike riders, and now that one can safely cross Highway 100, it’s even better.

If you’re not in the mood for something so long and want to stay closer to home, each of the city’s 11 parks also have bike trails. Most are around a half mile. If the kids get bored with riding bikes, that can use the playgrounds as well. Check the Acorn for more information on length of paths and locations of parks. This is available online here. 

So enjoy summer while we still have it. Be active, be healthy and be safe.