The end of the school year brings unmatchable excitement for students. The freedom of an endless afternoon and little responsibility is the most common incentive for pushing through the school year. However, in the months when the time of day has no meaning and all hours are for entertainment, activities and money are often the first to go.

        Many of us with short attention spans and without disposal incomes, burn through an allowance quicker than sunburn appears. But for the teens with a set of car keys, finding ways to spend a summer day for little money is easier than it seems.

            Opportunities for a memorable summer day our boundless; below are just a few cost-effective activities worth a summer afternoon.

1.     Take a ride into Georgetown from the Arlington Metro Station for just under $5. Bring a few extra bucks for lunch and get lost in the shops. When you’re done, take a walk over to D.C. to visit some of the most prominent monuments.

2.     Check out the concert schedule at venues such as Wolf Trap, Meriwether Post Pavilion, and Jiffy Lube Live for lawn seats to one of your favorite musicians for just around $40. Bringing friends, a blanket, and a cooler of food can make for an awesome and inexpensive experience.

3.     Grab a group of friends and venture to Harper’s Ferry and take the edge off the heat while tubing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting down the Shenandoah River for only $20. Nothing says relaxing like floating down a river taking in the beautiful surrounding nature.

4.     Find a local crafts store where you can buy white t-shirts and tie dye for around $10. Craft stores are the center pieces of inexpensive ways to have fun and find a way to create something you can keep for years to come!

5.     Grab a bike and a pair of sneakers and find an off-road path to bike along. Nothing says adventure like exploring the obscure parts of your own community! For a more structured ride, you can make the stretch to the beautiful 45-mile Washington & Old Dominion Trail for an afternoon of fun and exercise!

        It isn’t always easy finding ways to spend a hot summer day without having to spend big bucks, but with a little research and a few dollars, the chances to make those summer memories are closer than they appear!