The first temperature spike of the season is always the most exciting. Emerging from winter hibernation, it is hard to decide how to celebrate first. While you could always just go outside and soak in the sun and warmth for the first time since August, here are a few fun activities for the spring.

If you want to get creative and tan at the same time, try doodling with sidewalk chalk. Be a kid again and find your old chalk or browse Walmart for new fun kits, that weren’t around when today’s highschoolers were kids. Take a walk down memory lane and relive all your best childhood memories. Get a group of friends together and have a water gun fight with some new high-tech, water guns.

While looking for a cool-down, take a walk to Monroe’s local ice cream shops. The colorful store, Cravings, is located down town on Front St. and offers a variety of yummy treats, along with your favorite ice cream flavors. Or you could stick with the summer-time classic, Danny’s Frozen Custard. Right across the street is the Riverside playground which is open to the public, while school or afterschool care is not in session.

For nature-lovers, try some fishing down at the piers of Sterling State Park. There are also several nature trails that are great for getting some exercise and enjoying the outdoors. Munson Park is the ideal place for group activities in spring and summer. Get together a volleyball tournament or just play some one-on-one at the tennis courts.
Finally, welcome in the summer with a visit to the wave pool located in the Lake Erie Metro Park. The pool will be open for the season on May 26; admission is $7.00. The park is a nice change for those who are used to visiting Sterling. It is located in Brownstown, Michigan, so it won’t empty your gas tank making the trip.