1. Nothing spoils a road trip like a destination. Instead of squabbling over directions, play Columbus: Dedicate at least one weekend to the rush of discovery. All you need is a copilot, a tank full of gas, and a cardinal direction.

2. Any chump can put a char on a sausage This summer, use your grill to coax flame-kissed flavors out of succulent fruits, vegetables, desserts, and salads.

3. Shirts may be optional in the summer months, but sleeves are nonnegotiable when you're more than 100 feet away from a stretch of sand or a gym. It's okay to be proud of your guns, but we don't need to see them as you perform 12-ounce curls at the picnic.

4. Rainy summer Sundays call for DIY projects, not TV marathons. Flip open the garage door and overhaul your bike. Or settle in and research your family tree. A part-time purpose can give you full-time satisfaction.

5. A tan should be the sum of your summer experiences, not a bullet point on your weekend to-do list. Skip the easy-bake ovens and earn your tan with rides, runs, and swims.

6. Summer cardio shouldn't require a three-pronged plug. Sure, there's a kJ counter on the treadmill. But you can measure effort by sweat wrung out of your shirt, too.

7. Gnarly toes are more Larry the Cable Guy than Charles Bronson. Sure, a pedicure pains the soul. But funky feet frighten the fairer sex, Sasquatch. If you're sporting damaged digits, suck it up and slink into the local spa.

8. Broke students only have a few months to scrape together beer money for the year. Tip generously and that barista or bartender may even have enough left over for books.

9. No one likes a backseat barbecuer. Step away from the charcoal, interloper. There's a one-man-per-grill quota, and unless you're delivering a stack of cheese singles, a fresh beer, or a bag of buns, the cooler needs refilling.

10. Doing a quick round of pushups just to pump up your beach muscles is vanity. Have the foresight to fit in a full morning workout before hitting the beach. Sure, you look good. This way, you feel good, too.

11. Supermodels date surfers, not boogie boarders. So rent a foam-top long board for a day. You may not be hanging 10 right away, but at least you won't find yourself facedown in a sand castle of shame after overshooting the surf.

12. Arriving empty-handed at a gathering is as classy as leaving with a garbage bag full of leftovers. Bring something you're proud to claim and willing to leave behind (like a microbrew summer ale).

13. A water park is one giant DNA lost and found. Unless you enjoy marinating in a stew of lost bandages and scabs, grab a rope swing and hit the local swimming hole instead.

14. Lift the blinders, rock star. Sunglasses should shield you from dangerous UV light, not partners in conversation. Nothing screams "asshole" like someone shoving a cart around Target as if a supernova were looming around every corner.

15. Sex on the beach is a disappointment-and we're talking about both the drink and the act itself. That said, both should be tried at least once a summer, and with full gusto. Bottoms up!

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