GO! Hot Springs On The

Ihave so many good memories of summer from my childhood. I was fortunate to have a family that loved to travel and during those summer family vacations I was able to see and do things that I will remember forever — Disney World, Las Vegas, skiing in Colorado, cruises across the ocean. But a lot of my fondest memories are from summertime right here in Arkansas.

One memory that really sticks out is the time my mom, dad, brother and I went fishing on Lake Ouachita. I couldn't have been more than 12 years old. We each had our fishing poles and our own corners of the boat to cast from, and I got hooked on something big. A humongous fish. I was fighting to keep upright in the boat, this massive fish threatening to pull me into the lake. The spotlight was put directly on me with my whole family watching me — I had to get this fish into the boat so I could begin my gloating.

After what seemed like an hour of struggling, I finally reeled it in. What I thought was going to be dinner turned out to be a 4-footlong fish windsock. A windsock shaped like a fish. And I had somehow managed to hook the windsock right in its mouth like a real fish. My family still laughs about that to this day, and we still pull out the pictures from time to time of me holding up my 4-foot-long windsock fish for the camera.

The first day of summer is June 20 and there are hundreds of things to do in this city to make your own memories with family and friends.

Beautiful Lake Ouachita offers everything outdoors, from fishing, camping and swimming to hiking and biking, and through July 31 anglers have the opportunity to catch tagged fish that can be redeemed for cash prizes, including “Big Al,” worth $10,000.

The award-winning Mid-America Science Museum will host its fourth annual Tinkerfest on June 18 and the Arkansas State HOG Rally will roll back into the Spa City June 23-25.

With so much to do in our own backyards, why not plan a family “staycation” and be home in time for dinner?

Have a good summer!