It’s the end of the summer, a recognition of hard work done, and the day you don’t wear white after — it’s Labor Day! And its arrival means it’s time to fire up the grill and bust out the swim trunks (not the ones with the netting inside; we hate the netting), then head to these pre-approved Government-Mandated Celebration locales. First up, it’s Quiet Waters Park (401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach), where the terms “water sports” and “minor barbecue-related injuries” go hand-in-hand (we kid). Actually, Quiet Waters has every amenity you could think of for successful Labor Day fun: It has a huge outdoor swimming complex called Splash Adventure that features slides, tidal pools, and water “playgrounds” galore. Then there’s the famous Ski Rixin — a cable-pulled water ski and wakeboard course where you can bust some mean moves. Plus, the park also has mountain-bike trails, fishing, and dozens of picnic areas and barbecue pits, each open on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission costs $1.50 per person on weekends and holidays, and the park is open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. To find more parks near you, visit broward.org/parks.

If you’re more into look-but-don’t-touch activities, then head to the Palm Beach Zoo (1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach). Yes, the zoo is open both the day before and on Labor Day (animals don’t take days off from being adorable). Not to mention it has tigers (icanhazcheeseburger?) and the most curmudgeonly looking creature in the known animal kingdom, the bare-faced tamarin! The zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission ranges from $6.50 to $17. Visit palmbeachzoo.org.
Mon., Sept. 5, 8 a.m., 2011