It’s Labor Day weekend and the unofficial end of summer.
Sure, there are still a couple of weeks left until the calendar officially recognizes the change to fall, but with summer vacations mostly now a thing of the past, it leaves one last weekend to savor the best of the season.
Rather than focus on specific events, here are some ideas to help you check off the summer bucket list and make the most of the three-day weekend.
A picnic on the beach
Grab the beach chairs and blankets and plan for a later arrival at the beach. Hit the market earlier in the day and pack all your favorites, or stop somewhere like Sweet Berry Farm, Ash Mart Deli or even your favorite clam shack and then hit the sand.
With crowds already thinning out, some town beaches have cut back on operating hours, meaning free parking – but also fewer amenities – making access a little bit easier.
A beer is poured from the tap at Norey’s in Newport.
If the sand isn’t your thing, head to Brenton Point State Park or any of Newport County’s waterfront parks to enjoy the view with your meal.
Take a brewery tour
This one should require a designated driver, but with so many great options spread across Aquidneck Island, there’s an opportunity to make a day of it.
Start in Newport to sample the latest options or your favorites from Newport Craft and Norey’s, or check out the latest brewery on the scene, Pivotal. Next, drive to Middletown and stop at Coddington Brewing, Rejects Beer Co. and Taproot. Then wrap the day at Ragged Island in Portsmouth.
Just be sure to check the websites before you go, as many places have special events taking place this weekend.
Be a tourist
Sometimes the attractions in our own backyard seem to elude us, so for one day, pretend you’re not from here.
Tour a mansion or book a Rail Explorers trip. Venture into downtown Newport to shop, eat and people watch. Make the trip to Four Corners in Tiverton, or go all the way to Sakonnet Point in Little Compton.
A Rail Explorer ride stops in front of the Mount Hope Bridge.
Rent a motorized vehicle and travel the streets of Newport – safely, of course – and get the experience of being the one slowing down traffic.
Hit the trails
There are so many great hiking trails around Newport County it would be impossible to list them all, but it would be pretty interesting to see how many miles one could travel in a day.
Check out the Aquidneck Land Trust for a guide to the numerous trails they operate, including The Sakonnet Greenway Trail, which at 10 miles long is the longest contiguous nature trail on Aquidneck Island.
Head over to Sachuest Point, especially for a sunrise hike, or Norman Bird Sanctuary, where there’s a wildflower walk planned for Sunday morning.
Or check out the Fort Barton trail in Tiverton with what may be the most interesting name for a waterway in Newport County, Sin and Flesh Brook. With a name like that, it may even get you ready for the Spooky Season.
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport County summer bucket list: Beach picnic, brewery tour, hiking