Just because you're a grown-up now, it doesn't mean your sense of fun is gone. You can keep that sense of play alive – there are plenty of fun activities to occupy you during your free time this summer! Here are just few ideas.

Rent a cabin
Get together a group of friends and families and rent a cabin for a week or even longer. The cabin rental fee may be expensive on its own, but if you get together enough people to split the cost, it can be very affordable. Plan some events for group bonding time, and some downtime for everyone to do their own thing. You might consider Amicalola Falls State Park in Northeast Georgia. It features the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. www.georgiastateparks.org.

Water park, water fight, airsoft, or paintball.
Water parks are always fun for a group, but you can always use a backyard, empty field near water access to host your water war. Make sure everyone wears clothes that aren't white, though (nuff said)... and establish rules for the water games, whether you're fighting with water pistols or balloons. If you want to really pump up the adrenaline try airsoft, paintball, or lasertag. Plan a group outing a little over 30 minutes away from the Southern Crescent area in Greenville, GA. Go to www.paintball-outfitter.com. Check out their fantastic King James Castle and King James Town, complete with a general store, church, bank, and jail!
1180 Lagrange Highway, Greenville, GA 30222 (706) 882-8721

Visit a botanical garden
If you enjoy walking and nature, botanical gardens can provide you with a day of amusement. Bring a picnic or snack and find a secluded little bench to have your meal in the peace, quiet and sunshine. You can even find out more about the native plants and animals of your area, which might spark an interest. www.callawaygardens.com
www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Go horseback riding
Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Georgia riding atop one of God's most noble creatures. www.buttsmillfarm.com
www.blalocklakes.com
www.quail-ridgefarm.com

Canoe, kayak, or tube
Enjoy the lazy days of summer peacefully drifting on warm southern streams and rivers. Flint River provides the perfect setting for a canoe, kayak, raft, or tubing trip. From a short 5 mile to a 20 mile trip, it's a fun way to keep cool and enjoy the day. 706-647-2633
www.flintriveroutdoorcenter.com

Another place to beat the heat is in Helen, GA. Helen's Cool River Tubing will get you set up with everything you need. Choose a 1 hour or 2 hour float down the Chattahoochee River. 800-896-4595 www.coolrivertubing.com

Go to camp with your kid
If you miss that summer camp experience you had as a kid, go to camp with with your child. Enjoy the beauty of Calvin Center and experience all the fun that camp has to offer with the parent & child camp program. July 20-22 770-946-4276 www.calvincenter.org

Try an extreme activity
If you're an adrenaline junkie try Zipline to get your rush! Only a few minutes from Newnan, Ga, you can find the heart-racing excitement of a Zipline Canopy Tour at Historic Banning Mill in Whitesburg, GA. If you can see yourself climbing the world's highest timber poles, looking down 300 feet at Snake Creek and stepping off the equivalent of a 30 story building, this is for you! 770-834-9149
www.historicbanningmills.com

Things to do in a da
y Got just a day or an afternoon – try one of these local attractions close to home for a short burst of fun. ZooAtlanta www,zooatlanta.com, Wild Animal Safair, 706-663-8744, Monkey Joes, www.monkeyjoes.com and Junction Lanes, www.junctionlanes.com

All of these can be fun activities on your own or with a group of friends and family, and certainly great ways to pass the warm summer days. These are just a few ideas for things parents and kids can do this summer. Make sure your vacation time doesn't go unused and fill your days with adventures!