Ten things to do this Labor Day

Labor Day weekend is fast approaching, and once again it won't be anything like the end-of-summer holiday weekend that many recall from up north.

It will be hot, humid and buggy. Just like today. Just like every day until summer really ends here, which is roughly around Halloween.

That said, the weekend still represents a day off from work. A three-day weekend is never something to sneeze at, regardless of weather conditions.

So, with 10 days till then, now's the time to make a plan to maximize the event. Here are 10 things to consider, five of them outdoors for the rugged crowd and five of them indoors for the I'm-sick-of-summerheat crowd.

Visit a Florida spring: This limestoneladen state of ours is porous and pure in many pockets. A spring ecosystem is one of few natural places in Florida where in a single visit you could encounter manatees, alligators, otters, deer, largemouth bass, turtles, eels, ospreys and snails.

But the primary reason to visit now is simple: relief from Florida's steamy summer.

Florida's 12 state parks named for springs draw more than 2 million visitors a year to swim, snorkel, scuba, canoe, kayak or go tubing.

You've heard of Weeki Wachee and Silver Springs — major tourist attractions. But what about Ginnie Springs, reportedly the most popular freshwater diving location in the world? Or Ichetucknee Springs State Park? It boasts more than seven miles of swiftly flowing river and three separate canoe and tube launches. Sure, it can attract as many as 3,000 visitors a day during peak summer months, but isn't Labor Day weekend supposed to be about crowds? Learn more at www.floridasprings.org.

Checkout Summerset: The largest and longest running sailboat race in Southwest Florida happens every Labor Day weekend. The 43rd annual regatta with 40 boats and 250 sailors starts off the Fort Myers Beach Pier at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 30. Don't listen to people who say watching sailboat racing is like watching paint dry. Bring binoculars and a plan for a beach day afterward. Check out details at www.cmcs-sail.org

Remember Charley: Hurricane Charley punched a hole through the island of North Captiva several football fields wide. Four years later, the beachy boating destination just north of Redfish Pass is closing in fast. Think: reverse erosion. Rent a boat or rev up your own powerboat's engine and head out there. It's lovely to dip in the salty water along the sandy shore. It's great for checking out other people's boats, aka boat watching. Also good: bird watching. Take a picnic and go.

Plan around sunset: Avoid daytime heat and focus your attention on sunset and nightfall. Scout out a place along the water's edge (Lee County has more than 230 square miles of inland waterways so this shouldn't be difficult), and then pack bug spray, appetizers, beverages and something to sit on. After marveling at the scarlet sunset, stick around and watch the water for streaks of green — bioluminescence.

Be all American: Get tickets now to the Aug. 30 Fan Appreciation Fireworks at Hammond Stadium in south Fort Myers. The Miracle take on the Tampa Yankees at 7:05 p.m. The sky lights up after the game. Tickets are $6-$8. OK, it's not what I'd consider an outdoors sport, but nighttime activities are a bonus during these dog days. Details: www.miraclebaseball.com

Five picks for those who want an airconditioned holiday weekend:

Head east: South Florida's interior roads offer amazing wildlife watching. Snake Road heads north off Alligator Alley from the lone gas station on Interstate 75 in those parts and winds north toward Clewiston. On a recent trip, I saw crested caracara, limpkins, kingfishers, wild turkeys and sandhill cranes. John James Audubon would have been twittering.

Watch a movie set in the outdoors: "Into the Wild" is on my coffee table. Depressing? Sure. But anything filmed in Alaska might make me feel cooler.

Plan a vacation someplace cold: You can blow a whole day clicking around the Internet. My family is heading to Alberta, Canada, in 2009.

Drive at low tide: Sanibel's Wildlife Drive at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is open every day but Fridays, and www.saltwatertides.com can tell you when low tide is so you can watch birds feed by the dozens and hundreds from the comfort of your car.

Cook like you're camping: So it's too hot to camp, who cares? Make your favorite foods in your own kitchen to recreate the family fun you usually have in the woods. Drag out the skillet and Dutch oven. Check out www.lovetheoutdoors.com.

— Betsy Clayton is a freelancer based on Pine Island and also is Lee County Parks & Recreation's waterways coordinator. Contact her at boatingbybetsy@yahoo.com.