The last day to swim at the Merkel Aquatic Center Pool is Monday, Labor Day.

McHenry is a great place to live and, particularly, to enjoy summer. But summer doesn’t last forever and Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, is one of the signs that the seasons are about to change.

And as summer ends, the little ones, and not so little ones, are back to school. In fact, most of them are back to school already. As a parent, you know all about this. Your schedule is probably already packed to the breaking point. And it’s only going to get worse. 

The point is that Labor Day offers a 3-day weekend and a last chance to kick up your heels and have a final big splash of the McHenry summer of 2023. Don’t let it pass without making the most of it.

Get out and do something. If you want to stay local, Labor Day is the last day of the year to jump in the water at the Merkel Aquatic Center. Or you can have a picnic in Knox Park, Petersen Park or one of the other outdoor recreational facilities in or around town. Remember, warm days outdoors are numbered and the countdown starts this weekend.

Staying in town is not your only option. Just North of McHenry you’ll find Glacial Park, one of McHenry County Conservation District’s gems. It’s a great place to take a hike as you commune with nature.

There are places to fish, paddle, horseback ride, and camp in McHenry County. And not far from the county, you’ll find other places to engage in the same activities and others.

As the sun sets on the holiday, you may want to return home and fire up the barbee for some steaks, dogs, burgers or some other delicacies. Bring the cooler outside loaded up with your favorite refreshments, turn on some tunes and kick back in the warmth of a late-summer sun.

On the other hand, there are places to dine. Many of these local eateries offer outdoor dining (if you happen to go to Petersen Park, you’re right down the road from McCullom Knoll which has a fine outdoor patio and a great menu to-boot). It’s not likely you’ll dine outdoors past October, at the very latest. Whether you dine on the patio at home, or the patio of a local restaurant, take advantage of all the summer you can get.

Of course, you’ve taken care of your car so you know you can trust it for whatever excursion you have planned, near or far. The point is to make sure you don’t look back on Labor Day when it’s frigid outside this coming McHenry winter and say to yourself, “I wish I had done more to enjoy summer.”