Labor Day doesn’t mean you have to be idle

If you’re not big fan of Mondays, you’re not alone.

There have been various explanations for why so many Americans don’t greet Monday mornings with open arms. Some say it’s residual anxiety from those days of having to get up, catch the bus and face an uncertain day at school. Other theories include a lack of sleep from a busy weekend or simply the reality of starting the work cycle, which for some folks equates to drudgery.

That’s why most of us revel in the first Monday of September, designated by Congress in 1894 as a national holiday known as Labor Day. If you’re among those afforded a three-day weekend, it’s a chance to sleep in, take it easy and celebrate the unofficial end of summer – and the beginning of some of those things we love about the fall, like cooler temperatures, college and NFL football and baseball pennant races.

Some people like to travel during the long weekend. Others just want to cook out and catch up on what they recorded on their DVR.

We’d like to suggest something a little different this year – exploring our region, or least our township. Here’s a handy list of things to do Monday and we hope you check off at least one you haven’t tried:

▪  Rent a pontoon boat at the Tega Cay Marina and explore Lake Wylie, or just drop anchor off a nice cove and do some fishing.

▪  Play a set or two of tennis. Did you know there are free public courts in Tega Cay? While you’re there, check out the tennis center the city has available for a nominal membership fee.

▪  Enjoy a round of golf at any number of courses in Fort Mill and Tega Cay.

▪  Explore the Carolina Thread Trail. Trail heads can be accessed in Fort Mill and Indian Land.

▪  Hike the Anne Springs Close Greenway trails, visit the greenway’s historic cabins, the grist mill or have a nice picnic.

▪  Not far from us is Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster County. If you’ve never been there, it’s a great place for fishing, hiking, bike riding and spreading a picnic blanket and, it has a museum.

▪  Ditto for Kings Mountain State Park. Visit the site of a Revolutionary War battle that historians say was a turning point in the Southern campaign and ultimately America’s war for independence.

▪  Feeling really adventurous? Try the Canaan Canopy Zipline Tour in Rock Hill and get a bird’s eye view of York County.

Or you can keep it simple and just explore your neighborhood. Invite neighbors, especially ones you may not know well, for a walk and then have a cookout together.

There’s so much to do and see in our area and for most working folks, not enough time to enjoy it. So if the weather is nice, it just seems kind of a waste to let it pass idly.

Not that we would look down on anyone who wants to loaf on the coach or porch. After all, it is your day.

This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Labor Day doesn’t mean you have to be idle."