Here are 25 activities that you can do in Smithville this summer

1. Walk your dog (but clean up its mess), take a walk or go biking on some of the 23 miles of paved trails around Smithville Lake. There are free parking lots in several locations around the trails.

2. Listen to live music and grab a bite to eat at Castaways Marina and Grill. This floating restaurant on the lake is open seven days a week and features live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

3. Attend vacation Bible school at a local church.

4. Rent a boat from Camp Branch Marina and enjoy a day on the lake.

5. There’s always something biting at Helvey Park, Municipal Reservoir. This is a great spot for the kids; my son just caught 16 fish in one night. (Granted, none of them were keepers, but he had a blast.)

6. Save a trip to downtown Kansas City and attend the Farmers Market Saturday mornings in the courtyard in downtown Smithville.

7. Hot Summer Nights begins in August. The family-friendly free concert series is held downtown every Friday evening in August. Explore the Heritage District while you are in the area. Do some shopping, grab dinner or a nice cold treat.

8. Volunteer at the local animal shelter.

9. Don’t know what to make for dinner? Try frog legs on Fridays at the Big V Country Mart deli. They’re cooked and ready to hop onto your table.

10. Wanna have some fun in your own front yard? Rent a giant moonwalk from Smithville General Rental.

11. Gotta horse? Make use of the 16 miles of equestrian trails at the lake.

12. Picnic at one of the 200 individual picnic sites around the lake.

13. Have a family gathering at one of the 11 shelter houses in Little Platte Park, Crow’s Creek or Sailboat Cove.

14. Enjoy downtown Heritag