A summer sans booze: Five ways to celebrate summer alcohol-free

Beer and summer can go hand in hand, but sipping brews by the pool isn’t the only way to enjoy warm summer days with your friends.

July 8, 2013; 6:00 AM • by Liz Butterfield

Here are some fun, active things you can try this summer that are just as cool without a buzz.

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Cycling

If you’re a more casual rider looking for an easy ride around the city, riding to your favorite restaurant or museum can be a fun way to spend the afternoon and get some exercise. You can also take the opportunity to explore on two wheels the places around the city that you might not have checked out before. Riding a bike can make you more familiar with your neighborhood and eliminates the parking problem experienced by some of your automotive counterparts.

The Richmond Area Bicycling Association hosts regular “Pedal and Pizza” nights that combine an evening of casual riding with community. Also check out rides other Richmonders have done in the area, look up popular Virginia Bike routes, and find downloadable maps of places to bike around Virginia.

Movies

Summer may be about spending time outside and enjoying the weather, but sometimes mother nature likes to mix it up. For an evening inside, take in a summer blockbusters, or the Byrd Theatre in Carytown shows movies at 7:15 PM and 9:45 PM everyday for $2 a ticket. Grab some popcorn and a friend and enjoy a flick you may have missed the first time it hit the big screen.

Tired of the silver screen? The Ethyl Imax Dome & Planetarium at the Science Museum of Virginia shows educational films Tuesday – Sunday for about $9 a ticket.

Fuel your habit

Going to a bar can be stuffy, loud, and overrated. Use this summer as an opportunity to check out new or unexplored coffee shops that can offer a relaxed social atmosphere with none of that bar scene hype. Some shops, like Crossroads and GlobeHopper, frequently offer live music and events.

Museums

Have you checked out Boost at the Science Museum yet? The latest permanent exhibit is a mix of fun science, health, and finding out weird stuff about your body. You’ll practically forget you’re learning anything really as you jump around the 26 interactive stations within the exhibit.

Spa day

Spending the whole weekend on the town at restaurants and bars can get expensive. Instead of racking up a tab that might make you feel queasy for more than one night, spend the money treating yourself to a massage or therapeutic treatment!

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Still looking for other things to do this summer? Don’t forget First Fridays, hunting for hot new looks at Need Supply, volunteering for Feed More, and weekend kickball leagues.

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July 8, 2013 6:00 AM 3

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