How to have your best summer ever

By Mary Ellen Strote

1. Get paddle-happy.
Tone your upper back and shoulders with kayaking, one sport that's doable on just about any kind of water -- except maybe your bathtub. You're a novice? Take a class (you'll learn more in a day than you would on your own all summer) or join a paddling club. Go to canoekayak.com for one in your area.

2. Make your own frozen treats.
Turn blueberries' powerful antioxidants into a nutritious, lowfat snack. Blend 3 cups fresh blueberries until smooth, add 1 1/2 cups orange juice (or cranberry, papaya or guava juice) and 2 cups plain lowfat yogurt, then pour into bar molds. Add sticks and freeze 4 hours or overnight.

3. Grill some summer fruits.
For a delicious, lowfat dessert, try grilling your favorite summer fruits. Use chunks of ripe pineapple, halves of slightly under-ripe apricots or freestone peaches. Brush with unsweetened apple juice concentrate, place on grill screen and turn every 10 minutes until lightly browned and tender.

4. Block that sunburn.
When sunscreen isn't enough, protect yourself from summer glare with a Cool Shirt from Cloudveil. With a rating of 50-plus UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor -- the SPF for fabrics), the shirt is a natural for summer travel, casual wear or as a beach coverup. Available in Dusty Blue, Celery, Rosedust and Canvas ($75; call 888-763-5969 or go to cloudveil.com).

5. Gather friends for the summer solstice.
The longest day of the year, the summer solstice, falls this year on Friday, June 21. Europeans call it "midsummer" because it corresponds with the halfway point in the growing season. To celebrate, host a special TGIF/solstice evening picnic or your own Midsummer Night's Dream costume party.

6. Count falling stars.
Put problems into perspective by stargazing. All you need are clear night skies, a star atlas and a red flashlight to keep your eyes adjusted to the darkness. For details, go to astronomy.com. And for upcoming astronomical events, including meteor showers, go to space.com.

7. Practice yoga with a view.
Take your yoga to the beach or do your asanas on a deck with a view. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, check out the new Web site sponsored by Yoga Journal (yogajournal.com) for instructions and insights. Or read How We Live Our Yoga by Valerie Jeremijenko (Beacon Press, 2001), an essay-packed guide to the whys and wherefores of this ancient practice.

8. Celebrate your freedom.
Honor the summer holidays the old-fashioned way: Help decorate a veteran's cemetery on Memorial Day, read the Declaration of Independence (aloud!) on the Fourth of July, wave the flag at a small-town parade, or grab a few lawn chairs and friends and go to a local fireworks display.

9. Turn a nearby beach, lakeside or park into an outdoor gym.
Go power-walking, boogie boarding, cycling or mountain biking. Learn in-line skating; to find Rollerblade-endorsed skate schools, go to rollerblade.com or iisa.org to locate certified instructors. Or jog the nearest Parcourse, stopping at each station to build strength and flexibility.

10. Pretend you're 10 again.
Take your inner child out to play with your best friend. Do something you both loved as kids: Chase lightning bugs, build sand castles, ride a roller coaster or just sit under a shade tree and talk.