101 ways to enjoy your healthiest summer ever

Pamper yourself
54. Re-energize hot, tired feet with a soothing foot cream. Most contain mint, which feels cool and refreshing as you massage it in. Take a deep breath –- the aroma of mint helps you relax, too.

55. Bring the outdoors in: pick a bouquet of wildflowers for your table.

56. If your snazzy high-heel sandals make your feet ache, try Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Ball of Foot Cushions, which absorb shock at the ball of the foot to keep your feet comfortable longer. Available at drugstores for about $10.

Take a break
57. Buy a family membership to a local tourist attraction. The $115 annual fee at the Metro Toronto Zoo lets the Corby family of nearby Ajax, Ont., spend quality time together while learning about animals. Best of all, there's no pressure to see everything in one visit.

58. Rainy day? Have a Stop-and-Smell-the-Roses Day -– everyone stays in their pjs, says Corby, and you bake cupcakes and make crafts together.

59. Stop and smell the roses -– literally, says Sue Augustine, author of 5-Minute Retreats for Women (Harvest House, 2001). Wander through your garden every morning and evening you can; deadhead a flower here, pull a weed there, admire the effect and soak up the peace.

60. On occasion, treat everyone to ice cream. (But remember that one scoop will do, says Thirsk.)

61. Pitch a tent in your yard and live outdoors for a week -– you'll get an inexpensive, convenient vacation from modern life (without having to use an outhouse). If you don't own any camping equipment, borrow a tent from friends or family. Click on www.campsource.ca for parks and other camping information.

62. Take field glasses and a bird book to the park -– you'll find birds, plus peace and tranquility.

63. Sip on a frosty glass of lemonade at an outdoor café, says Augustine.

64. Consider an RV vacation to relax and unwind. A study by a travel research firm showed that RV travellers could pay up to 70 per cent less for their vacations compared with those who used more-common modes of travel. You can even use it as a travelling guesthouse when you visit faraway cousins and grandparents.

65. Plan a vacation away from the house -– and the TV. When Alison Coates of Walkerton, Ont., rented a cottage in Port Elgin, Ont., with her two kids, they did activities that they didn't do together at home: they biked at a local provincial park, walked along the rocky shoreline and played mini-golf.

Don't get bitten
66. If you're exploring parklands, deep woods or other places where mosquitoes like to hang out, protect yourself from West Nile virus and itchy bites by wearing socks, shoes, long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Light colours are less likely to attract mosquitoes.

67. Use a mosquito repellent that contains DEET (except on children under six months old, who should never use insect repellent). For children aged six months to two years in places where there are lots of mosquitoes or where West Nile virus warnings have been issued, use a repellent with 10 per cent DEET or less once a day. For children between two and 12, use a 10 per cent DEET product up to three times a day. For children over 12 and adults, use a 30 per cent DEET product (which provides 6.5 hours of protection) up to three times a day. Never apply mosquito repellent to children's faces or hands, and make sure everyone washes it off when they come inside.

68. Clean up areas where mosquitoes like to breed -– standing water in old tires, barrels, pool covers and so on. Change the water in your birdbath weekly.

69. Eat one clove of raw garlic per day. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2000 showed that individuals who ate garlic were less likely to be bitten by ticks, which can carry dangerous illnesses, such as Lyme disease.

Be sun safe
70. Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.

71. Tuck a tube of high-SPF lip balm into your tennis, golf and walking gear. That will make it easy to reapply sunscreen to the delicate, easily burned skin on your lips.

72. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of the cosmetics and medications you use will make your skin more sun sensitive (and therefore more prone to redness, sunburn and rashes). Cosmetics that contain retinoids, as well as some antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, diuretics and anti-acne medications, are on the list. Be extra careful to protect yourself from the sun if you're taking one.

73. Avoid direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.

74. Buy broad-brimmed hats for everyone in the family to shade their heads, necks and ears from the sun.

75. Let kids choose cool sunglasses (that they'll wear) that block at least 98 per cent of harmful UV rays.

76. Wear tightly woven fabrics for extra protection from the sun. Choose lightweight long-sleeved shirts and pants for the most coverage.

77. Remember the sunburn you got on the tops of your feet? Avoid getting another one by applying sunscreen to commonly neglected areas such as the feet and ears.

Page 3 of 4