MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Labor Day weekend may signal the unofficial end of summer, but there is still time to make the most of the season in Mitchell.

Whether you want to spend a few hours outside, explore a piece of local history or simply slow down before fall arrives, here are 10 ways to enjoy the final stretch of summer close to home.

1. Spend some time at Lake Mitchell

Just minutes from downtown, Lake Mitchell remains one of the community’s most familiar outdoor destinations. Find a spot along the shoreline, enjoy the scenery or make an afternoon of exploring the lake area.

2. Explore a Mitchell park

Mitchell has 14 city parks, in addition to numerous parks and access areas around Lake Mitchell. Pack a picnic, find a playground for the kids or simply enjoy some time outdoors before cooler weather settles in.

3. Take a walk around downtown

A leisurely walk through downtown Mitchell is an easy way to spend part of an afternoon. Take another look at familiar buildings, stop into local businesses and enjoy Main Street without being in a hurry to get somewhere.

4. Visit the Corn Palace

It might be Mitchell’s best-known landmark, but living nearby can make it easy to overlook. Take some time to visit the World’s Only Corn Palace and see the building that has helped put Mitchell on the map for generations.

5. Discover some local history

Mitchell offers several places to dig deeper into the area’s past, including the Dakota Discovery Museum, Carnegie Resource Center and Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village. A museum visit can also be a good option when the late-summer weather doesn’t cooperate.

6. Pack a picnic

Labor Day weekend offers a good excuse to eat outside. Grab food from a local restaurant or pack your own lunch and head to one of Mitchell’s parks or lakeside areas.

7. Go for a bike ride

Before South Dakota’s colder weather arrives, get the bikes out for another ride. Mitchell’s trails and recreation areas offer opportunities to get outside while enjoying the transition from summer to fall.

8. Spend an evening outdoors

You don’t need an elaborate plan to enjoy the holiday weekend. Sit outside, take an evening walk or find a quiet place to watch the sunset. The final weeks of summer offer increasingly earlier sunsets without winter’s cold temperatures.

9. Play tourist in your hometown

Visit a Mitchell attraction you haven’t seen in years — or one you have never visited at all. The Corn Palace, local museums and other community landmarks can look different when you approach them as a visitor instead of a resident.

10. Make time for something simple

Summer weekends fill up quickly, and Labor Day can be a reminder that the season is winding down. Sometimes the best way to enjoy it is also the easiest: meet a friend for coffee, take the kids to a park, enjoy a backyard meal or spend an hour outside without a schedule.

There will be plenty of time for pumpkins, jackets and falling leaves. For now, Mitchell residents still have a few more summer days to enjoy.