School starts soon. With school age kids of my own, I know how fast August disappears. One minute it is the Fourth of July, and the next it is time for school supplies.
If you can sneak in one more weekend, keep it simple. Here is the plan I would use: one of each, and nothing else to worry about. Four things, one weekend, no stress.
Why this blog? Hi, I'm Katie. My family and I run Mitten Rentals, and I have been hosting vacation rentals for more than ten years (Superhost since 2015). This is where I share the places I send our own guests along the West Michigan lakeshore.
READ: Adventures for the Whole Crew
My Four Part Plan for the Last Weekend of Summer
1) One Beach Day
Pick a beach, pack a lunch and stay until sunset. No rushing off to the next thing.
Need help choosing? Our beach guide has the full list.
Bring towels, a cooler, sunscreen and a few beach toys. Then let the day stretch out as long as everyone wants. Watching the sun go down over the lake is a pretty great way to say goodbye to summer.
2) One Big Adventure
Pick one big thing for the weekend. A dune ride, a boat rental or a day of picking blueberries.
Just one. That way it feels special instead of like a checklist.
If you go with a dune ride or a boat rental, book ahead. Late summer weekends can still fill up.
3) One Night at the Fire Pit
S'mores and stories. For a lot of kids, this is the best part of the trip.
Put the phones down and let it run late. It is still summer.
If your house has a fire pit, this is the easiest night of the trip. Grab the marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers on your grocery run.
READ: Welcome to Blueberry Country
4) One Last Ice Cream
Finish with one last ice cream. Pick a favorite from our ice cream crawl.
Let everyone pick their own flavor. It is the last weekend, after all.
It is the perfect way to close out the weekend, and a sweet end to the summer.
Late August weekends often still have openings, so it is not too late to plan one more trip. Check the calendar and grab one before they are gone.
Grab the beach bag and come stay with us for one more summer weekend before the school year starts. It is the best way I know to end the season.