The 4th of July is definitely one of the highlights of the summer. In fact, some of our greatest summer memories involve BBQs, fireworks, and red white and blue everywhere. If you're like me, now that you're older you're starting to get sick of the expected, stale 4th of July BBQ your family has every year in the same backyard, with the same people, eating the same food. Here's a list of 10 activities to spice up your 4th of July holiday weekend this year.

1. Night Pool Party

This alternative party works out best for guests and hosts. You won't have to worry about supplying whole meals for your guests, and can instead leave out drinks and snacks to eat as they please. You also can avoid the harsh rays of the sun, and still enjoy being outside. Hang some red, white and blue string lights and get red, white and blue glow sticks for perfect decor. It'll be prime fireworks time, so you won't have to worry about providing too much entertainment for guests either. Firepits are great source of light, heat, and warming up some snacks too. Your night pool party will be all your guests look forward to during the day when they're at their boring family BBQs.

2. Camping

Might as well take advantage of the beautiful weather and plan a weekend camping trip with your friends for this 4th! Pre-pack some BBQ favorites to bring along with you and roast some hot dogs and marshmallows around the fire while gazing up at the beautiful night sky. Bring some sparklers along and have your own fireworks show! And sleep under the stars surrounded by good friends. What more could you ask for?

3. Beach Day

The beach is a location that's perfect for the 4th of July. Since most people will be at backyard parties, the shore should practically be empty. Bring as many people as you know and set up your own part on the beach! Bring along grills, coolers with food and drinks, games and boards to play and surf on, and celebrate America's birthday with sand between your toes.

4. Historic Tour

This holiday is, after all, a huge event in our country's history. If you live on the east coast, battle fields and historic towns will be crawling with Revolutionary reenactments and colonial celebrations. And if not, go celebrate your own state's historic beginnings. Even if it's for a couple of hours out of the whole weekend, paying homage to our humble beginnings and our successes over the past few hundreds of years is what this holiday is all about.

5. Hiking

Again, you can't beat the great outdoors on a holiday like this. Plan a day to hike your favorite trail or go somewhere new with your friends and set up a spot to eat some food and watch fireworks from a view that must be incredible. Being high above everyone else will not nay guarantee you'll see all the fireworks around you, but make you realize how your small town or city plays a part in this huge country.

6. Host your own fireworks extravaganza

Most states allow you to purchase fireworks on your own. This year, split the costs with some buddies and host your own fireworks show! Find an open field, abandoned parking lot or even just on your street and let the fireworks show roll! You get to control when it starts, when it ends, and what you get to see. And you'll have the best view around. Invite some friends over to see how cool it is to see fireworks close up, or even to have a friendly fireworks battle.

7. Go to someone else's BBQ

Getting bored of your own BBQ, but don't wanna shake things up too much? Ask to tag along to someone else's party! Their guests, food, games and traditions will be completely different from yours, but with a similar American-summer-vibe. This way you still get your picturesque 4th of July BBQ, but with slight differences.

8. Rafting/Kayaking/Canoeing

Get out on the water this 4th of July! If you're the adventurous type, a river trip is ideal for the holiday weekend. Grab some friends and drive to the nearest river or rapids. Canoeing, kayaking or rafting is a great combination of being outside in the great outdoors forest and being in the water. Nothing's more American than getting in touch with your inner outdoorsman!

9. Block Party

Instead of every house on the street having their own party, why not save time and money to have one huge party? Contact some neighbors and see if they'd want to do a block party.It's the perfect way to bring the community together to celebrate one thing we all have in common. If your street isn't too busy, move the backyard parties to the front, and divvy up the tasks to each neighbor. If it works out, your street will look like one of those adorable block parties from the 50's where everyone actually knows and likes each other.

10. Progressive BBQ

This might take some more time planning, but will be one of the best 4th of July memories if successful. Get your friends on board with having a progressive BBQ party for the 4th. This means that each home is given a certain part of the meal or event, and after one is finished your part progresses to the next home. For example, start of at your place with light snacks. Next, head over to your boyfriend's for burgers and hot dogs. After, go to your bff's to swim in her pool. Finally, head over to another friend's for dessert and fireworks. This way, not one person is in charge of providing a whole party for everyone else, and is the perfect way to keep things from getting boring.