Too often, we don’t pay attention to what we have in our own backyard.

Earlier this week, the Butler Eagle ran its annual 100 Things To Do for summer 2019. The section included information on a variety of fun activities in the county and Western Pennsylvania region, from whitewater rafting and summer festivals to day trips and even an alpaca farm.

In other words, there are a lot of great activities in which to partake in the county. So, rather than blowing a ton of money on an expensive — and, let’s be honest, overrated — trips to tourist traps, consider doing a “staycation” and take advantage of the many great places to see and things to do in Butler County and beyond.

If you read our 100 Things To Do special section, which ran in Tuesday’s Eagle and again Wednesday and in our sister paper in Cranberry, you’ll notice that the county’s top activities can be found on land and water.

For activities revolving around the latter, county residents can go kayaking on Slippery Rock Creek, launch a canoe on Connoquenessing Creek, take a cruise or paddleboard tour at Lake Arthur or go fishing at Glade Run Lake.

Throughout the summer, a number of the county’s parks offer great classes and events, such as trail hikes at Slippery Rock Gorge, science-related activities for youths at Jennings Environmental Education Center and bird walks at Moraine State Park.

Summer festivals focus on everything from a wings competition and wine tasting to concerts, horse trading, artisan demonstrations and a nationally recognized Jeep festival. A number of camps are offered for children and teenagers, and a story in our 100 Things section outlines where county residents can go “glamping” — which is camping without the experience of being crammed into a tent and sleeping on the hard ground.

There are also some great events this summer that help local residents in need. In August, the Western PA Ride for Kids at Seneca Valley High School raises money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, while a 5K race during Cranberry Community Days in mid-July benefits the local library.

Taking part in community-sponsored festivals and events provides a financial boost to local businesses and organizations and offers an incentive for them to provide more activities for county residents.

Traveling is a wonderful experience, but there are also exciting places to see nearby.

We hope you pick up a copy of this year’s 100 Things to Do and take part in the many great activities and events that are just a short drive away in and around Butler County.