Maximizing Your Three-Day Weekend

This weekend we get Monday off to honor our troops past and present. It is a day to thank those who have sacrificed and put their lives on the line to protect us. As an added bonus, we all get a much-needed three-day weekend. So what are you going to do with your loved ones this weekend?

Enjoy this Memorial Day weekend with someone special. (Photo: Getty Images)

BBQ madness

If the weather holds up, this may be the perfect time to kick off summer festivities with a cookout. You and your partner can invite family and friends over to your place for good eats, drinks and an all around good time. Memorial Day weekend unofficially marks the start of summer, so make sure you are outside. If your place isn’t big enough, maybe opt to take the cookout to a local park and spend the day under the sun with a cold one in your hand.

Water activities

One of the many perks of Memorial Day weekend is that most swimming pools are finally opend. This includes your local pools, water parks and more. So if you and your partner want to lounge around and sun bathe or dive into the water head first, grab your swimsuits and sunscreen and have a ball.

Quick roadtrip

I personally love taking advantage of a three-day weekend and usually like to go on a quick trip to maximize any day off I get. So maybe this weekend you plan a quick beach trip with your loved one to get away for a bit. Pick a beach nearby so you can drive, or go all out and get plane tickets to farther locations. Just be prepared to be around a ton of people because while pools are guaranteed to be packed, beaches likely are too. Travel early to ensure you get a great spot and enjoy the full day.

Remember those who fought for our country this weekend. (Photo: David Gilkey/NPR)

History buffs

For those truly interested in learning more about our military’s past, take a scroll through history and visit one of the many museums in the area focused on previous wars and battles. Make a day if it and do a museum crawl where you visit a bunch or hone in on one and see every exhibit in-depth. Don’t just walk through and see everything, but actually read each plaque and sit through every educational video and audio.

Enjoy this weekend but don’t forget why you have this day off. Thank military men and women you see this weekend and enjoy the day off with them in mind.