The time has come for the official kick off of summer. Now all those ice cream stands we love and the clam shacks we shouldn’t eat at but do anyways will begin to open up. We’ll flock to the beaches, hit the trails and spend as much time outside as possible.

I’m a year round grilling guy. As long as there isn’t a foot of snow on the ground I’ll try to BBQ. When it is warm out I grill pretty much every night that I can. Some people are scared of the grill and there is no reason you should be. It is a magical and awesome thing.

This weekend is actually a boys weekend for me because my wife and daughter are headed camping with the Girl Scouts. We’ll be finally taking in the latest Star Trek movie and I can’t wait. But, what do you need to survive the weekend? Here are my essentials for a good Memorial Day Weekend.

1. Beer
   There are few things that top an ice cold beer outside on a sunny day with friends. Lots of brands will put out special summer brews or new varieties. Summer is a great time to try new beer because there will be plenty of friends around to give them to if you don’t like them. I always try to stock up with at least one staple and then mix it up every time for variety. By the end of summer you’ll have a scattered few of everything which is fun. Give Sam Adams Summer, Magic Hat #9 and Harpoon IPA a try as great starters that never miss.
2. Meat
   Sure, you might want some vegetables and other things to go with it, but at the end of the day I’m a carnivore and thus I need good quality meat to make it through the weekend. Don’t skimp and save a few pennies. Get the good stuff! Most grocery stores now have a section of the meat counter for the better cuts of meat. Sure, they cost more, but they also taste better. When I really want to go all out I make my way down to Whole Foods because they have an amazing meat counter and I can get lost there. Mix it up with some fresh fish and grilled veggies. Few things top a nice New York Strip and some fresh shrimp on the grill. (Recipes soon I promise)
3. Sunscreen
   This is essential and don’t you dare get all macho on me and say you don’t need it. The sun is bad for your skin and that is a fact. If you are going to be spending time outside this weekend (and you better) then you need to put on the sunscreen. Get one that has a high SPF and is sweat proof. That way you can put it on and forget it. Read the bottle though to see how long it is good for so that you make sure to put more on when needed. Make sure to put it on your and the kids and get every corner of exposed skin. Don’t forget behind the ears!
4. Music
   You can’t have a great summer without awesome music. Fill up your iPod and crank the tunes. Make a playlist that you can fire up any time you want to get your grove on. Don’t just stick to the mainstream and find new artists. I always like asking friends what they are into and always check them out. Some personal favorites for this time of year would be Lee Coulter, Matthew Ebel and Now is Now.
5. A parade
   Show your support of the veterans and the town you live in. Most will have a Memorial Day parade of some sort and maybe it is the small town guy in me, but I love these. Something old school Americana about them and it wouldn’t be the same without them. We’ve always gone to the cemetery over Memorial Day as well because it is an important thing. I know that Emily is going to be flagging graves as well. Don’t forget why we have this weekend and all the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy it.

What else do you need for a successful Memorial Day weekend?