This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

7 Things To Do Before Summer Ends

Summer isn't officially over until September, but school starts in about three weeks.

For St. Louis families, summer will be over soon—despite the scorching temperatures. Area schools start back around mid-August, with starting August 14 and starting the next day.

Now's the time to grab last minute summer fun. Temperatures are expected to remain in the high 90s for the next few weeks, but after highs of 105+, a 95 degree day may seem perfect for a walk in the park.

Be sure to "Like" Patch on Facebook

Find out what's happening in Town And Country-Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here’s a few ideas on how to squeeze the last bits off fun out of your kid’s summer break.

Hit a park: Kids love playgrounds and the summer heat has been keeping a lot of children tucked away in their basements playing video games. If you still think it’s too hot, try going in the early morning or late evening hours. Try one of these parks with great playgrounds: , or .

Find out what's happening in Town And Country-Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Take a hike: Castlewood State Park in smack in the middle of West County. The three mile River Scene Trail has a steep incline to start, but the views and board walk steps are way too much fun to miss.

Go for a swim: You don’t need a backyard pool! Go to the . If you didn't get a season pass, admission is just $6 for adults and $5 for kids.

Go for a wild water slide ride: If you haven’t already, head over to Eureka and visit Six Flags Hurricane Harbor.

Play tourist: Take the kids downtown and visit the “tourist” sites. Ride the tram to the top of the Arch, take a riverboat cruise, or visit the free CityGarden sculpture park. City Museum is another fun city trip, but give that place a whole day.

Get back to the Farm: Little kids love Grant's Farm. Admission is only $12 a car, plus mom and dad can have a few beers for free. If your family cycles, you can bring your bikes to Grant’s Trail and stop by Grant’s Farm for free. (Yes, they have a bike rack.)

See a sea lion: The St. Louis Zoo added an awesome new sea lion habitat that opened in June. Any kid that likes animals will want to visit. Head to the zoo by 8 a.m. to nab some free street parking and a free admission to the Children Zoo during the first hour the zoo is open.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Town And Country-Manchester