School is out, and it’s time for relaxing, spending time with family and friends, and throwing away the schedule. Here are a few ideas to help your family fill its time with fun the next couple of months, whether you’re staying home all summer or just need something to do for a day or two.
1. Volunteer at a local nonprofit.
If you’re looking for a way to give back to your community, there are a number of nonprofits who need volunteers. MUST Ministries will continue its Summer Lunch program, a time-honored tradition of partnering with churches, schools, corporations and volunteers to feed thousands of kids in the Atlanta metro area, through July 29. The goal is to provide breakfast and lunch to at least 6,000 children for nine weeks. To volunteer or donate supplies, visit www.mustministries.org/summer-lunch. Mostly Mutts in Kennesaw is recruiting animal lovers to help with walking dogs, bottle-feeding kittens and other tasks. To offer your services, apply at mostlymutts.org/volunteer. To find more volunteer opportunities in our area, check out www.justserve.org.
2. Take advantage of our parks.
The parks in Acworth and Kennesaw offer peaceful, natural beauty as well as a variety of activities for everyone.
Kennesaw: https://bit.ly/3AIPZ29
- At Swift-Cantrell Park, kids can explore the playgrounds, including an inclusive playground for those with special needs, or perfect their newest trick at the skatepark. Pet lovers can take their pooch to the dog park. And families can go for a walk on a trail, cool off at the splash pad and enjoy a nice picnic. Also, take part in the city’s Outdoor Movie Series by catching the family-friendly flick “Finding Nemo” (G) on July 22.
- Besides having baseball and softball fields, batting cages, tennis courts and a playground, Adams Park also is home to the Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival, which takes place Aug. 18 from 6-10 p.m. and Aug. 19 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. If you love barbecue, don’t miss this event.
- Depot Park downtown normally hosts the annual Salute to America concert and fireworks show every July 3, but this year’s event will be held downtown, due to ongoing construction on the new amphitheater. And if you’re a fan of outdoor concerts, head to the Pedestrian Underpass/Tunnel Plaza on Aug. 4, 7-9:30 p.m., to hear Run Katie Run perform as part of the First Friday Concert Series.
Acworth: https://bit.ly/3VjXEgM
- Cauble Park, on the north side of Lake Acworth, is the place to go if you’re looking for a relaxing day at the beach, a little fishing or an electric-motor boat ride. You also can watch the annual July Fourth Concert and Fireworks show there from 5-11 p.m.
- For access to Lake Allatoona, visit Dallas Landing or Proctor Landing park. Each has a beach, volleyball courts and horseshoe pits for a full day of fun.
- If you’re closer to downtown, visit Logan Farm Park for walking trails, a fishing pond and playgrounds or attend summer events like Concert on the Green: A Juneteenth Celebration and the Classic Car Cruise.
3. Check out your local library.
The North Cobb and West Cobb regional libraries plan a whole calendar full of activities each month, including storytimes, book clubs, chess, a craft club and Pokemon. See how much reading you can squeeze in through July 31 during the Summer Reading Challenge for all ages. Use your library card to check out passes for free or discounted tickets to local attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, Southern Museum, Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Zoo Atlanta, and state parks and historic sites. To see what other services and programs are available, visit www.cobbcounty.org/library.
4. Frequent the farmers markets.
Support our agricultural economy by visiting the Kennesaw Farmers Market (Mondays, through Sept. 25, 3:30-7 p.m., Main Street Underpass Plaza, https://bit.ly/3oWVfwv) or the Acworth Farmers Market (Fridays, through Oct. 27, 8 a.m.-noon, Logan Farm Park main entrance, https://bit.ly/3nmJU8g). Buy corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, watermelons, and homemade breads and desserts, then head home or to a nearby park for a cookout.
5. Plan a professional photo session.
Time was when families dressed in their Sunday best and headed to a photography studio to have portraits made in front of a bland background. Now, photographers are meeting casually dressed families in beautiful outdoor settings for portraits that are more spontaneous and carefree. Preserve memories of your family — and have fun being models for a day — by scheduling a session with a professional photographer like Brian Nejedly Photo or M. Jae Photography. And put a cherry on top by stopping for ice cream on the way home.
6. Spend time at Lake Allatoona.
Got a day with no plans? Head to the lake for some paddleboarding, kayaking, water skiing, fishing, swimming, boating, watercrafting or picnicking. Or if one day isn’t enough time to pack in all that fun, pitch a tent — or pack your recreational vehicle — for a weekend or a week of camping in one of the lake’s campgrounds. Ride your bike, walk your dog, relax on the beach and make s’mores by the campfire during a staycation that’s far enough from home to allow you to rest and recharge.
7. Try out something new.
Summer is a great time for trying new things, whether it’s taking a class, playing a new sport or starting a new hobby. Test your endurance by running a road race like Kennesaw’s Summer Sun Run 5K through downtown June 10. Sample the dishes at a new restaurant, like sushi at Wasabi, or treat your taste buds to a cuisine they’ve never tried before, like Thai or Mediterranean. Always wanted to fly your own plane? Sign up for flying lessons at Superior Flight School. Try your hand at pickleball, a fast-growing sport suitable for the whole family. Tap into your inner shutterbug by capturing images from a Cobb County park and entering your best shots in the Fun in the Park Photo Contest. For rules and entry forms, visit https://bit.ly/2RJJebn.
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