Labor Day is traditionally a long weekend of swimming and barbecues, the final farewell to summer. But does anyone really celebrate the true meaning of the holiday? When we asked around, we couldn't find anyone who did, so we decided to do a little research to determine what Labor Day is really all about, hoping to find a great way to celebrate it in the process.

According to the US Department of Labor, Labor Day is a "creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers." Who originated Labor Day is uncertain, but the most interesting fact we found was based on records that show Peter McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, may have suggested a day "to honor those who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

This got us thinking -- what better way to celebrate the end of summer than with a grand tour of some of the greatest grandeur (or touristy attractions) we could find?

Here's the rundown:

• Anything that was labor-intensive to make or build counts as a good place for a visit.

• Kids are great at coming up with fantastic locations -- have a family brainstorming meeting and make a list of EVERY suggestion (you can narrow it down later or keep the list for next year, too).

• If you're hard-pressed to find locations to try, visit your local Chamber of Commerce or the city library -- each is sure to have brochures and publications detailing nearby attractions.

• Research how many people and/or how many days/years it took to build or make each item you plan to visit so you can wow your kids when you get there. (Limit your knowledge to fun facts only -- this isn't supposed to be a school lesson.)

That's our Labor Day celebration. It's not for everyone (especially if you'd rather be grilling burgers in the backyard), but it's a sure bet if you're looking for a break from the ordinary this Labor Day. So try a visit to some fantastic examples of labor in your hometown this weekend. It's amazing how much fun you can find (there's gotta be a lot of labor involved in building a rollercoaster, right?).

And maybe your kids (and you) will learn a little something in the process, too.

The back-to-school get-together is perfect for a group of children who have known each other for a while but have lost touch over the summer. It's also a fantastic choice for first-timers at school, whether they are kindergarteners, first-graders, or simply new to the neighborhood. School has already started for many kids, but don't let that stop you. Family life is so terribly hectic in the weeks leading up to the first day of school, anyway, with everyone finishing up their vacations and shopping for school supplies, that it can be difficult scheduling a time beforehand when everyone is available.

Our best advice for this get-together is to keep it short and simple. It's a time for the kids to get acquainted (or re-acquainted) with each other, so the activities should be kept to a minimum. All you really need to do is provide refreshments, a place to meet, and maybe some nametags. The kids and/or moms will hopefully handle the rest. But you know that here at Celebration Style we can't help but offer a few twists for this fun back-to-school event, so here's a couple of suggestions:

• Have a "back-to-the-bus-stop" breakfast. Pile a selection of great breakfast items into your wagon and invite everyone to meet at the bus stop 30 minutes early. Bring a picnic blanket or two for a sure-fire way to get the kids up close and mingling again.

• Send a map of the local park and have a different location marked for each group of 2-3 invitees (the swings, the pitcher's mound at the baseball field, the water fountain, etc). Leave a note at each location instructing them that they must now work together to determine the party location using their maps and a list of clues you've also left. By the time they find the party, they should be great friends (again).

• Turn "What I Did on My Summer Vacation" into a costume-themed party. Have the kids come dressed as a person from a place they visited or an object that they used over the summer. Award ribbons for "Farthest Place Visited", "Closest Place Visited", "Most Exciting Activity", "Longest Road Trip", etc.

We're warning you now -- everyone we know who's tried the back-to-school party has done it every year since. So if you host a back-to-school party this year, be prepared to continue the tradition, because your kids won't let you skip it next year!

Weekends can get humdrum sometimes, even with a street full of kids to play with. If you're looking to spice up your next Saturday afternoon and avoid another round of "Mom, we're bored", we say gather up the neighborhood kids (and a few willing parents as team leaders) and get ready for a scavenger hunt.

A scavenger hunt is a great way for kids to work off some of that energy they have -- and a trip through the neighborhood knocking on doors gets them out in the fresh air and getting some exercise, all in the guise of fun.

The details are easy -- a list and a "scavenging" area for each team -- but here's a few tips from Celebration Style to make your hunt a little easier and a lot more fun:

• Make it a digital-camera scavenger hunt, where the teams have to take a photo with every item on the list, rather than bringing the item back with them. Photos make it easier to include larger or sillier items on the list, such as a "garden gnome" or a "woman wearing a hat with a feather".

• Try the same hunt as above using a video camera instead and you can watch the tapes together when everyone returns.

• Keep the lists identical, but give each team a color, too. For instance, if the list includes "someone demonstrating a hula hoop" and "someone wearing a shirt with a collar", the purple team would have to find someone with a purple hula hoop and someone with a purple collared shirt. (Remember, the more unusual the color, the harder the hunt will be).

• Set a time limit and make sure that each team has a responsible parent leader for safety.

That's it. Have fun (and notify your neighbor with the purple hula hoop to be on standby this Saturday).

If you and your girlfriends are all about the same size, this is the party for you. Gather a group of willing friends for an evening of clothes swapping that makes the end-of-season clearance at your local department store pale in comparison.

It's a simple party and it acts as a great excuse to gab with your girlfriends and nosh on fancy hors d'oeuvres that you pick up at your local gourmet grocery store and just pop into the oven -- no fuss.

The specifics are simple:

1.) Invite all willing participants of about the same size to bring a selection of clothes (still in great shape) that they have grown bored with.

2.) Assemble all of the clothes in your living room and give everyone one choice to start. Once everyone has tried on their chosen item and sashayed around for opinions, they can decide whether they want to keep the item.

3.) After everyone has found one "keeper", you all choose again. And so it goes.

So settle in for an impromptu fashion show and a night of fun with your best girlfriends -- you might just find yourself shopping your closet for a clothes swap every season.