National Backyard Games Week

National Backyard Games Week is celebrated the week before Memorial Day. It is the unofficial start of summer to those who observe the week that is meant to foster social interactions and family time through playing games in the backyard. You do not have to limit yourself to just your backyard or to just playing games. Many people use this week to get a jump start on family traveling and summer fun (just with less technology involvement).

There are numerous ways to celebrate, and the library has books to help:

To start with the true spirit of the week there are books on outdoor games. Some titles you can start off with are:

• Outdoor Games! by Lisa Regan
• Sidewalk Chalk: Outdoor Fun and Games by Jamie Kyle McGillian
• The Adventurous Book of Outdoor Games: Classic Fun for Daring Boys and Girls by Scott Strother

If games are not your thing, there are always books on outdoor recreation, like camping, rafting, and hiking. If these types of activities are what you are looking for, the library has books to help you plan your trip. You do not even have to leave New Jersey. Here are some books on what New Jersey has to offer for outdoor fun:

• New Jersey Parks, Forests, and Natural Areas by Michael P. Brown
• Best Hikes with Children. New Jersey by Arline Zatz
• 24 Great Rail-Trails of New Jersey by Craig Della Penna

We may live in the state, but that doesn't mean we know everything there is to do in our home state. Try picking up some New Jersey guidebooks to find the hidden gems the state has to offer. You should be able to find something for everyone in guidebooks like:

• Fun with the Family in New Jersey
• Discovering New Jersey Wineries by Kevin Atticks
• New Jersey Curiosities

We are not travel agents, but the staff at any of the Mercer County Libraries can help you find information on getting outside and around New Jersey. One of the top resources are the museum passes some branches offer to places like:

• Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
• Garden State Discovery Museum/li>
• Grounds for Sculpture/li>
• And more locations in PA and NYC!/li>

Have fun exploring the state!

-Amelia R.