Although the time has come to turn in the bikinis and swim trunks for pencils and overpriced textbooks, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to trade your stock of Corona’s for water or Sprite.

Keep the summer going with these cool cocktails to make the transition back to school a little easier.

Watermelon Daiquiri

If you’re not ready to give up your favorite summer fruit just yet, use watermelon as a drink ingredient. Blend two cups of seedless watermelon with light rum, sugar and lime juice. Garnish with watermelon slices for a relaxing and healthy drink. Recipe from myrecipes.com.

Summer-Ade

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade – and why not add alcohol? Pour to your liking lemonade and your choice of liquor. Some classics to try are light rum, plain or citrus-flavored vodka. For an additional surprise for your taste buds, mix with flavored syrups to create an even tastier cocktail. Recipe from delish.com.

June Bug

This month-named drink is enjoyable, regardless of the season. To make four servings, blend three cups of ginger ale, some grenadine, some orange juice and three scoops of sherbet ice cream. Add in white rum and top with sherbet for a dessert-style concoction. Recipe from bhg.com.

Punch

No good summer drink list is complete without a punch. Using a can of pink lemonade concentrate, mix with water and Sprite. Add in white wine or champagne and frozen strawberries with the syrup. Finish by scooping leftover sherbet from the previous recipe on top to garnish. Recipe from yummly.com.

Summer Breeze

What’s more relaxing than a nice summer breeze to ease the transition to fall? A nice summer drink, of course. For a sweet and strong concoction, blend peach liqueur, light rum, mango liqueur, gin, orange juice and pineapple juice. For added sweetness and healthiness, also blend in a mango and peach to add fresh flavor. Recipe from yummly.com.

Blackberry Margarita

No list of summer time drinks is complete without at least a little bit of tequila. To begin concocting this drink, dissolve a half cup of sugar in a half cup of water to make simple syrup. Do this in the microwave, then let cool. Blend syrup, a cup of white tequila, three quarters of a cup Grand Marnier, lime juice and blackberries until the mixture is smooth. Drink out of salt rimmed glasses. Recipe from myrecipes.com.

Sangria

This recipe is a way to spice up an ordinary bottle of wine and transform it into a more exciting drink. Be warned: this recipe needs to sit overnight for the full flavor to develop. Pour your choice of red wine into a large pitcher and add lime juice, lemon juice and orange juice. Add in a cup of pineapple chunks, two tablespoons of sugar and a couple shots of gin or triple sec. Let this mixture sit overnight. The following day, complete the recipe with four cups of ginger ale, berries and ice before serving and enjoy! Recipe from wine.about.com.

Beergarita

For a twist on beer and your standard margarita, try this brew. Mix together frozen lime concentrate, 24 oz. of a beer like Corona and 8 oz. of white tequila. Serve over ice and garnish with lots of limes. Recipe from drinknation.com.

Mississippi Mud

What is the best treat in the summer that you can add to your drink? Ice cream. In a pint glass, mix 1.5 oz. of Southern Comfort with 1.5 oz of coffee liqueur like Tia Maria. Add two scoops of vanilla ice cream for a cooling beverage. Recipe from yummly.com.

Pina Colada

Nothing screams summer quite like a pina colada. To hold onto those last little moments of summer by mixing 1.5 oz. of coconut rum, vanilla ice cream, crushed pineapples and ice cubes. Blend this together and enjoy the diminishing days of summery weather. Recipe from yummly.com.

Ashley Berger can be reached at [email protected]