Don't wait until you get to Yellowstone or Yosemite (which, alas, will be filled with people watching television in their RVs) to have an old-fashioned campfire. Invite friends and family to sit around an open pit and make s'mores, tell ghost stories, and create indelible memories.

Inexpensive glass vases make the best hurricane lanterns, allowing you to light paths and patios with candlelight even on breezy evenings. Chapel candles and votives, $2.50 to $8, TAG, 773-697-6300. Yes Supply Company vases, $1.50 to $3.50 (six-vase minimum), www.yessupplyco.com.

Gather round. You don't have to dig up your lawn to enjoy a campfire. (But if you must, visit www.smokeybearstore.com to learn how to build a safe one.) Smith & Hawken's Backyard Firepit, made of copper and wrought iron, has a protective spark screen (sold separately), which is important if the surroundings are dry or children are present. Backyard Firepit, $129; screen, $39: www.smithandhawken.com.

Make your own. S'mores (as in "gimme some more") are a dessert sandwich made by putting a thin piece of chocolate and toasted marshmallows between two graham crackers. The first recorded recipe for this classic summer treat is in a Girl Scout handbook from 1927. If you don't like graham crackers, try ginger snaps. While Hershey's bars are the classic chocolate filling, feel free to experiment with something else, such as Nestle Crunch or imported Valrhona chocolate.