what to do this summer

Photo: Joyce Lee

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9. Rewind

Want to travel back in time? Dig up a photo that captures a treasured summer memory and make the trek to the exact spot where it was taken. When you get there, snap a new photo of you holding the old picture. You can memorialize the moment by submitting your image to DearPhotograph.com, an online album dedicated to precisely this kind of reminiscing.

10. Become a Blobber Illustration: Kate Francis, Brown Bird Design

Do you like being airborne? Do you like large bodies of water? Do you like being airborne, then landing in large bodies of water? If so, you need to spend some quality time with a WaterBlob, one of those massive striped, inflated rectangles you often see tethered lakeside. How it works: You sit at the end extending farthest into the water while your friend jumps on the end closest to the shore, catapulting you skyward. If you haven't blobbed, you haven't lived. (thewaterblob.com)

11. Drive a Convertible... and feel the exhilarating rush when you step on the gas. But don't just put the top down during daytime—a night drive can make you feel even closer to nature. (Test-drive one for free at a dealership, or splurge at the car rental counter on your vacation.)

12. ...or a Whole House on Wheels

RVs are hot again, which means you can see America without leaving your living room (sort of). "You get all the comforts of home," says Linda Brown, president of RVing Women, a network of female road warriors. "You can shop locally, cook your own food, bring along your dogs, or even just stay in and watch movies." Get her advice for taking the wheel.

13. Make the Most of Your Weekends

You get only 13 (yes, 13!) from June through August, so don't waste a single one. Here are a few ideas.

14. Take Yourself Out to a Ball Game

A minor league game, that is. The crowds are smaller, which means no fighting to park and no 30-minute wait for a $7 hot dog. And you might just catch some major league action—Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and many more of the MLB's biggest names have done time in the minors while rehabbing an injury. Bonus: You can score seats behind home plate for as little as $10. Batter up!