Summer is in full swing and many of us are planning fun and creative ways to enjoy the season. Whether one is embarking on the vacation of a lifetime, plotting a relaxing, economical “staycation” (check out Amanda’s blog post for great ideas on the subject) or planning to Be Creative @ the Library with the little ones (DCPL plug: check!) summer is the perfect time to allow one’s imagination to run wild.

My creative outlet of choice is writing (big surprise!) and I’ve just picked up a wonderful little book on the subject called The Writing Life by Annie Dillard. It’s a slender read–111 pages that go by in a flash–full of passages on the thrills and challenges of following one’s muse. The Writing Life touches various aspects of the writer’s task such as finding inspiration, the physical work of writing and even what it feels like when an idea goes awry or doesn’t develop in the way that one hopes.  This is a book about writing but I think it can apply to any endeavor of one’s creativity or passion. So follow your hearts, be creative and, if you’ve got some time, pick up this enjoyable, bestselling book at the Library.

Now that Spring break is over, Summer is not far away. Many of us will be looking for ways to have fun close to home. Last year was the first time I had heard of a staycation. The Library has many ways to enjoy your staycation. We have books, movies, music and free programs.

Libraries throughout Georgia have again partnered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to be able to check out Georgia parks and historic passes for free. Here at DCPL, you may reserve a Georgia Park pass just like you would any other material. You may check it out for seven days. The Georgia Department of Natural Resource’s website lists all of the participating parks and historic sites. Georgia Parks that are located on National Forest land are not included in this park pass.

The Library has a few travel (staycation) books on Atlanta. These can be helpful to find some places that you would not have thought to visit. Some examples are Frommer’s Atlanta, Atlanta: A Complete guide and Around Atlanta with Kids.

The Library also has a few travel books on Georgia. For those day trips, try Hidden Georgia and Georgia Backroads Traveler. These books not only give suggestions on historic and interesting places, they also list a variety of restaurants and inns. One of my favorites that both books mention, is the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle. The owners have recently added the Blue Willow Village with a museum and shops.

For those outdoor people, check out The Hiking Trails of North Georgia. The book gives estimated times and the difficulty of each trail. Finally, for those interested in fishing. Check out my blog post from last year. Have a wonderful staycation!