Summer essentials that make travel, entertaining and backyard downtime easier and more festive are within reach this season, according to celebrity lifestyle expert Valerie Greenberg. Her picks span affordable cooling solutions, patriotic beverages and a national sweepstakes that could add cash for food and fuel to your road-trip budget.
Affordable cooling: above-ground pools
For beating the heat at home, Greenberg points to above-ground options from Bestway that are available in multiple sizes and styles with accessories to suit different yards and family needs. She noted that these at-home pools can be an economical alternative to other cooling choices, with models starting at $250.
- Good for pools: families, small gatherings and entertaining friends
- Price entry point: $250
- Available accessories and sizing vary by model
Patriotic party beverage
To add a festive touch to summer cookouts, Greenberg recommended the limited-edition Sunny D USA celebration packs. The citrus punch is promoted as a tangy, refreshing option well suited to outdoor foods and warm-weather gatherings tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“This is a tangy orange flavored citrus punch that is incredibly refreshing, and these limited edition USA celebration packs ... they're really fun to bring a little festive flair to these patriotic celebrations as we're celebrating our nation's 250th anniversary,”
Themed beverages can be an easy way to create a celebratory atmosphere without complicated recipes or extra prep.
Road-trip boost: Cracker Barrel sweepstakes
Travelers who plan to hit the road this summer may want to enter Cracker Barrel’s Fuel Your Summer Road Trip Sweepstakes. The chain is awarding a total of $250,000 through the promotion. Through July 26, Cracker Barrel Rewards members can win weekly prizes of $1,000 in combined food and fuel gift cards; 25 weekly prizes will be awarded with qualifying purchases.
| Promotion | Prize | Entry deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Cracker Barrel Fuel Your Summer | $1,000 weekly prizes; total $250,000 | July 26 |
Greenberg also encouraged shoppers to browse the Old Country Store for travel and seasonal items and to visit the sweepstakes page at CrackerBarrel.com/summersweeps for details.
For a recap of the full segment and links to the products mentioned, Greenberg directs readers to TipsOnTV.com. The lifestyle rundown originally aired on a regional lifestyle program and has been adapted for wider distribution.
