Summer is officially upon us, which means a ton of sunshine and fun should be in your future! Why not a summer bucket list too?
I don’t know about you but I feel like the summers always go to fast for us. I never get to do everything with the kids that I want to. This year I decided to create a summer bucket list that we can use and check off together as we go.
You can download the summer bucket list at the end of this post. Here are 100 fun and memorable activities to do as a family this summer!
100 Activities For Your Summer Bucket List
Make home made play doh
Everybody loves play doh! But have you ever made it from home? Here is an easy recipe my kids and I absolutely love to make.
Go to a beach/lake
Nothing is better than sticking your toes in the sand, whether it’s a beach sand or lake sand. Find a local beach or a lake to take your kids to for a day, this activity is a great one to add to your summer bucket list.
Nature walk
Go for a fun nature walk. Maybe go for a scavenger hunt while you’re on the walk, find the coolest things that you can in nature. Then come home and make a scrapbook out of them.
Collect rocks and paint them
Did you ever paint a pet rock when you were a kid? Go outside and collect as many rocks as you can find them bring them in and paint them!
Swim in a pool
Water and summer go hand-in-hand. Find a local swimming pool or go to a friends house. Don’t have a public pool that’s open? Or a friend that you can go to? Buy a $20 kiddie pool for your backyard.
Go to the zoo
Visit your local zoo and check out all the different animals.
Visit a library
See if your local library has a reading program. Or just go to play and read books.
Make DIY sidewalk chalk
Do your children absolutely love the sidewalk chalk? Make your own, here is an easy recipe we are going to try!
Create a full driveway picture with chalk
Put that sidewalk chalk to use it to draw a huge mural on your driveway!
Make giant indoor fort
Is it raining or too hot to go outside and play? Create a giant fort in your house!
Create a fort or house out of sticks and rocks
A perfect activity for your summer bucket list! You can create anything out of sticks and rocks! Create a huge house or giant fort using these simple materials. If you need more imagination starters check out this blog post.
Make shadow drawings
Grab a piece of white paper some tape, and toy animals. Go outside and trace the shadows of these animals on your paper!
Start a new family tradition
Summer is a perfect time to start a family tradition. Whether it’s game night or movie night check out these fun traditions you can do with your family.
Visit a park
The best thing about parks are they are free and provide hours of fun for your children.
Go camping
Do you love to camp? Set a family tradition of camping in the summer or just try it one time.
Play in a sprinkler
Put on the sprinkler and let it cool off yourself and your children!
Visit ice cream shop
Nothing cools you down faster than an ice cream cone!
Make homemade ice cream
Don’t want to visit an ice cream shop? Make your own with this DIY recipe.
Make homemade popsicles
Grab a Popsicle mold and some Kool-Aid. Voila you have your own Popsicles!
Buy a frozen treat from the ice cream truck
The ice cream truck! Mark nothing so summer more than getting ice cream from the ice cream truck.
Have/go to a bonfire
Go to or have your own bonfire.
Toast marshmallows
While you’re at the bonfire toast marshmallows.
Make S’mores
Want to go the extra mile? Grab those graham crackers marshmallows and Hershey bars And makes S’mores!
Go to/host a BBQ
Have family or friends over and host a barbecue. Don’t want to host? Keep your ears out for anybody who invite you to their own barbecue.
Go on a picnic
Pack a bag or picnic basket and have a picnic at a local park or by a pond.
Play in sand and water
Grab the sand and water table and have a fun day playing in water and sand! Don’t have a water table? Make your own with a bin from the dollar store.
Build a sandcastle
While you’re playing with the sand and water go ahead and make yourself a Sandcastle. If you can’t make it to the beach this year do it in your own backyard.
Water gun fight
Grab a couple water guns from the dollar store and have yourself a family water gun fight!
Make tie dye shirts
Do you love to tie-dye? Make your own tie-dye shirts as a family with this DIY activity!
Catch fireflies
Fire flies!
There’s just something about them catching them in the summertime while running barefoot! Channel your childhood by taking part in this fun activity with your kids.
PJ movie day
Spent all day in your pajamas with your family and binge watch a bunch of movies of anybody’s choosing.
Watch the sunset
Sit on your front or back porch and watch the sunset together as a family.
Watch the sun rise
Do you have early risers? Watch the sunrise together.
Observe the moon and stars – count stars
after watching the sunset observe the moon and stars try to count as many as you can.
Play with sparklers
Grab the sparklers from your local store and watch your kids faces light up!
Fly a kite
On the next windy day grab a kite or make your own and go out and fly it!
Make lemonade
Make your own lemonade with your children maybe even try a do it yourself recipe.
Set up a lemonade stand
Once you have that lemonade aide made, set up a lemonade stand. A perfect way to teach your children a little bit about business.
Visit a farmers market
Visit your local farmers market and support your community.
Make a sensory bin
Sensory bins are fun for the whole family. Create your own with items you have around the house or cheap items from the dollar tree. Here are a couple of sensory bins we have done.
Create a Fourth of July wreath with dollar store items
Grab a wreath and items from the Dollar Tee to make your own Fourth of July wreath.
Make a bird feeder
Make your own bird feeder. Here is a favorite recipe!
Make root beer floats
Grab the root beer and vanilla ice cream. Have a root beer float as a family.
Have a walking taco
Walking tacos are super easy! Grab everything you would for a taco pop open a small bag of Fritos or Doritos how everything and viola! You have your walking Taco.
Play a baseball game
Summer and baseball go together like two peas in a pod. Play a family game or join a team.
Visit a museum
Is it the local children’s Museum or find something you enjoy as a family and visit a museum centered around it. (Music, history, etc.)
Participate in a reading challenge
See if your local library has a reading program or create your own.
Make kool-aid
This is a kid’s favorite. Buy the store-bought make your own.
Pick berries
Go to a berry patch and pick your own berries.
Go hiking
Do you enjoy hiking? Go together as a family. You don’t enjoy hiking? Find a simple easy trail that you guys can do together.
Create your own bowling rink
Create your own backyard or indoor bowling rink with plastic balls and toilet paper rolls.
Plan and cook a dinner
Have your child plan and make or help make dinner!
Plant a garden
Start a garden as a family.
Family game night
Create a new tradition of family game night. Play your childhood favorites or find new ones the whole family enjoys.
Water balloon fight
Have an epic water balloon fight. Play girls against boys or adults against kids!
Make homemade bubbles
Here is a great DIY homemade bubble recipe .
Have a dance party
Blast your favorite hits and have a dance party in your living room.
Drive in movie
Visit a drive in movie!
Watch a movie in backyard
Create your own movie screen in your backyard.
Go fishing
Go fishing as a family and see who can catch the most fish.
Visit aquarium
Visit a close aquarium. Try a scavenger hunt, some aquariums have them up on their websites!
Mini golf
Play mini golf as a family, either as teams or individuals.
Paint a giant picture
Roll out a huge paper and draw the biggest picture you can!
Learn to hula hoop
Go old school with hula hoops. Have a hula hoop contest!
Feed ducks
Do you have local pond open to the public? Go visit and feed the ducks!
Visit a flea market
Visit an antique store or flea market. Explore the unique finds together.
Fireworks
Let off your own or go to a fireworks show.
Learn to roller skate
Buy a pair of roller skates and learn how to together as a family!
Go for a bike ride
Get those bikes out and go on a family bike ride.
Scavenger hunt
Create an indoor or outdoor scavenger hunt.
Make a time capsule
Put together a time capsule and bury it in a place you can dig up in several years.
Play flashlight tag
Grab a couple flashlights and play flashlight tag in the dark!
Night swim
Go for a night swim as a family .
Play twister
Get the twister game out and play as a family.
Make an obstacle course
Make an indoor or outdoor obstacle course. Here are some fun ideas!
Make up a new dance
Make up a new dance as a family. Video tape it or perform in front of someone!
Make a craft/card and gift to nursing home
Make a craft or card and gift it to a nursing home.
Buy a new item to gift to an orphanage
Gather several items, either buy or donate that children in an orphanage are in need of (contact an adoption agency to see where to send it to) and gift them to kids in need.
Buy a subscription box
Buy a subscription box to look forward to. Here are our favorites- Kiwi Box, ToucanBox, Ivy Kids Kit.
Make slime
Make your own DIY slime. Here’s a simple recipe.
Get creative- make your own invention
Make your own invention as a family and see if it works!
Learn about one famous person
Research an inspiring famous person and learn all you can about them
Go tech free for one day (or a week!)
Put away the screens for a day! Or even try a week!
Make your own puzzle
Create your own puzzle out of paper or buy a blank puzzle set.
Go to a garage sale
Go garage saling as a family and see what type of amazing finds you come across.
Have a bake sale
Bake your favorite treats and have a bake sale.
Draw a family portrait
Sit down and draw family portraits. Hang them up on the fridge!
Visit a water park
Spend all day at a water park.
Create your own water slide
Make your own DIY water slide in your back yard. Here is a simple way to do it!
Have a family slumber party
Grab your pj’s and blankets. Have a slumber party all together.
Send a post card
Pick up a post card and send it to someone special.
Play in the rain
Put on those rain boots and dance/play in the rain.
Roll down a hill
Channel your inner child and roll down the hill together as a family!
Watermelon seed spitting contest
Have a watermelon seed spitting contest! See who an spit the furthest.
Temporary or henna tattoo
Get a henna tattoo or if your children are young, put on temporary tattoos.
Collect sea shells
Collect sea shells when you visit a beach.
Sleep in
Sleep in as long as you can one day. Stay up later than normal If you need to!
Volunteer somewhere
Find a local place to volunteer at as a family.
Spend all day outside
Spend all day outside, even eat outside if you can!
Go on a treasure hunt
Create your own treasure hunt for your kids or find one online to do.
Collect bugs
Go on a nature walk and collect bugs to observe.
Explore nature
Explore nature, notice animals, plants, etc. that you have never noticed before.
Well there you have it. Your fun bucket list for this summer. What are you waiting for? Download the free summer bucket list printable below and get started today!
If you are new to the Peaceful Nest Blog, welcome!
Be sure to read my top posts on parenting:
- Why Consistent Parenting Matters
- 12 Habits of Immensely Peaceful Moms
- 63 Mom Hacks That are Pure Genius
- Connect With Your Child and Build Up Their Heart
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Hi there, I’m Jenna! I am a devoted mommy and wife. As well as an advocate for children and creating a peaceful atmosphere for those we love. I co-wrote Faith Actually: Living Life After Tragedy with my husband. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies and currently working toward my Master’s in Positive Psychology. My number one desire is to create a peaceful home life for my family. My second desire is to share with you the tips I learn along the way!