Commentary By Danielle Pelkey

The North Jefferson News



Summertime fun is in full swing and there are plenty of things to do around our towns.

Of course you can hit the local ballparks and see final games for community league ball teams. I know that this has been a great source of entertainment for our family this year.

You can also make your way to a local park. Even if you don’t have little ones at your feet, you can walk the tracks or be a people-watcher on a park bench. The weather has been perfect in the afternoons to just enjoy the scenery that is in abundance in this part of the country.

I can remember my grandparents surprising us when we got home from school with an unexpected trip to every scenic route they knew of. We drove down roads I never knew existed with hopes of finding different flower blooms or colored trees.

Even if you’re not a fan of the outside, you can enjoy the pleasantries of its beauty just by opening the blinds of your home while you sit in a nice air conditioned room.

Another great idea for fun this time of the year is the Splash Pad in Gardendale by the soccer fields. I have only visited it twice, but each time it was filled with the screeches of nearby kids having the time of their lives. There are tons of fun things to do at this pad, so pack your lunches and make a full day of this one.

The adventure that I am planning next for our family is a weekday visit to the Birmingham Zoo. I would like to choose a weekday to avoid the craziness of the weekend masses. I can just imagine my kids’ excitement of seeing a real monkey for the first time or smelling the wonderful aromas that exist at the elephant exhibit.

I personally have not been to the zoo in years, so I’m curious to see how much things have changed.

If things are too hectic around your world to take these trips, why not just throw a blanket out in the front yard and make a picnic at the house. If you have kids you can turn on a sprinkler or a hose pipe and enjoy the day in the sun.

All of these wonderful experiences are waiting to be had by you this summer. You just have to get up off your couch and make the first move to the door.

Go ahead, move to a more exciting summer.