Load up the car and head out of your McHenry driveway for some late-summer fun

Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, is

upon us. Make the most of the occasion; load
up the car and head out of your McHenry
driveway for some late summer fun, such as
watching stockcars race at one of the oval
tracks in the area.

It’s sad to think that the unofficial end of summer is on the horizon here in McHenry but what can you do? What you can do is take advantage of the days of summer that remain.

Making the most of the waning days of summer could lead you out to the backyard for a BBQ and party with friends. You can play some cornhole, listen to some music and eat some burgers, brats and dogs. And when the sun sets, you can recline with some mellow music and chat with friends under the stars by the fire.

Then again, maybe you should go somewhere and partake of some outdoor activity. You can do something that will fill you, family members and friends with fond memories to help you bear the bitter days of winter a few months in the future.

For those who are drawing a blank, here are some ideas of outdoor activities to consider:

Have an outing at a beach: You can go to Peterson Park Beach here in McHenry. If you want to go a little further, you can go to Phil’s Beach in Wauconda. You have Wonder Lake Beach in Wonder Lake or Lily Lake Beach in Lily Lake. You also have Crystal Lake Beach. There are more and a quick online search will provide you with a fuller list.

Go camping: If you decide to go camping, there are some campsite in the area, such as Chain O’Lakes State Park (go to ExploreMoreIL to make reservation). But, as long as you’re getting away to camp, you may want to drive farther afield and find a campsite in Wisconsin or elsewhere. Just make sure, wherever you go, that you go prepared.

Have a picnic: It’s as easy as packing a picnic basket, bringing some lotion to protect you from the sun and something to keep the skeeters away. Maybe you’ll want to bring a frisbee or a softball and bat – a little activity of any kind is generally a plus.

Go to a baseball game: You could go to see a professional team. The White Sox, Cubs and Brewers are all having good seasons and you’re sure to have an entertaining experience. Then again, there are semi-pro teams in the area that offer a splendid experience without taking as big of a bite out of your wallet.

You have the Kane County Cougars in Geneva, IL, the Schaumburg Boomers in Schaumburg and, just over the border north of Rockford you’ll find the homefield of the Beloit Skycarp.

Go to the races if you like fast cars: You can watch dragsters at Byron Dragway, Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, and Union Grove Dragway a little ways over the border in Wisconsin.

You can also see dirt track, oval track and road course racing in the area. There are quite a few of these tracks in the area. You can find those in Illinois by visiting https://www.getinthestands.com/united-states/illinois.

Whatever you’re going to do, don’t let summer slip away from you here in McHenry without getting the most out of the opportunities. And, make sure your vehicle is up to the drive. You don’t want to find yourself stuck on the side of the road watching other people drive by to their adventures.

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