Looking for the ultimate fun list of ideas on what to do this summer? Today I’m sharing the best summer bucket list with 20 fun, must-do activities for families and kids. Even better this free, printable list is full of budget-friendly things to do this summer, so you can have fun without breaking the bank!
Happy Wednesday! I am so excited that summer is officially upon us and because tomorrow marks the first day of my 13-day vacation, I thought I’d kick things off right by sharing with you an amazing summer bucket list with 20 fun, must-do activities that will have you enjoying every minute this summer!
Grab your summer bucket list by tapping the image above or over here!
Summer Bucket List- 20 Fun Must-Do Activities
1. Go to the beach
Nothing like a trip to the beach to start your summer bucket list off right! (I’ll be marking this off my list in 4 days!) 😉
Related: Outerbanks Family Beach Vacation
2. Eat popsicles
What can I say, it’s not a real summer without popsicles! My fave are bomb pops!
3. Camp out
Don’t wanna go anywhere? Just pitch a tent in your backyard. It’s still fun, plus you still have all the amenities nearby. It’s a win-win!
4. Make s’mores
And of course, you can’t go camping without making s’mores! Who can resist the marshmallow + chocolate goodness of s’mores?!
Try My Recipe: Delicious S’mores in a Jar
5. Watch the sunset
We all should really do this year-round, but there’s something so nice about laying on a blanket outside and watching the sunset. Bonus points for counting stars. 🙂
6. Eat breakfast outside
I’ve never did this, but I’m to the point in my life that I keep asking myself, why not? Why not eat breakfast outside? Seems like a pretty amazing idea to me!
Recipe You’ll Love: Cinnamon Sugar Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
7. Go fishing
Okay, so I’ll admit I personally get really bored with fishing( I have zero patience) but I love watching my husband and boys fish, while I relax out in the sun.
8. Swim in the lake
We don’t live near the beach, so the lake is the next best thing. It’s always nice to get out and enjoy the cool water in the summer months!
9. Have a picnic
My boys adore having a picnic. From packing up a special lunch to sitting outside on a blanket, it’s so much fun. It always reminds me to enjoy the little things.
Related: Learning to Celebrate Life’s Tiny Victories
10. Drive-in movie
Something at the top of my summer bucket list is a visit to the drive-in theater. It’s literally been years since I’ve went to the drive-in, but I have such great childhood memories of it that I definitely want to pass on the tradition to my kids now.
11. Go on a roadtrip
Another summer bucket list must-do? A spontaneous, unplanned road trip! Sometimes a fun road trip is what we all need to clear our minds and have a little fun.
Check Out Next: 2 Must-See Spots in Southwest Virginia
12. Have a craft day
I personally love crafting but too often put it off. I’m thinking a day of painting with canvases or making a handmade craft is in our family’s near future!
13. Play mini golf
Oh how I love mini golf! I’m horrible at real golf, but mini golf? I could be pro. #notreallybutistillloveit
14. Go bowling
Another fun pasttime of ours is bowling! Wanna know the funny part? Our boys are almost better than me and my hubs! 😉
15. Read more books
There’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book! I just started reading The Beaumont Series Books and I can’t put them down!
16. Tech-free day
I’m challenging each and every one of you to do a tech-free day! Heck, if you can do one day a week, even better! Technology is great, but real life is better!
Related: 8 Ways to Be More Present in Your Daily Life
17. Ride bikes
My husband and I plan to buy some bikes and hit the local trails this summer. It’s been so long since I’ve rode one, and I miss it!
18. Dessert for dinner
How fun would this be? Desserts, for dinner? Yes, please! I’m thinking this would be a great date night idea or fun twist on a family night out. And in case you need some yummy recipes, check out my easy-to-make desserts over here.
19. Have a water fight
If you saw my Insta story on Sunday, you’ll know the kids already succeeded in soaking me with their water guns. 🙂 On a hot, sunny day grab a pair of water guns or pick up some water balloons and have a blast soaking each other while cooling off!
20. Watch fireworks
Last but not least, my favorite part of summer? The 4th of July fireworks! I’m like a kid in a candy store when I see fireworks. I love them!
Check Out: Cute and Affordable 4th of July Fashion Picks
Hope you enjoyed my Summer Bucket List: 20 Fun Must-Do Activities! We’ll be heading to the Outer Banks, NC this Saturday for vacation and I’m so excited! If you’ve never been, be sure and check out my recap post from last year with some beautiful photos from our trip.
What’s on your summer bucket list? Thanks for stopping by!- Cara
Pin Me For Later
Thanks for this one!
You’re so welcome!
My summer is going to be lots of packing and moving, but I’m hoping to get some fun in there somewhere 🙂
Yes! Please do! Are you still going to be in Atlanta?
This bucket list is seriously the best! We are taking our summer slow to relax after spending the past year wedding planning. Hope you all had a wonderful vacation! Happy summer!
Thank-you! Hope you all are enjoying the newlywed life! It’s nice to slow down! 🙂
This sounds great!! I love the idea of watching the sunset and the enjoying the stars (and maybe some fireworks?)… I’m so overdue for a good do-nothing vacation. I’d take a staycation, too. 😉
Thanks! Hope you get one soon, Sara! 🙂
All of these things sound like so much fun! Watching sunsets is definitely a favorite of mine!
It’s such a normal thing in nature that we unfortunately overlook most of the time. I love it too!
I love drive-ins so much! They just feel like summer!
Right?! They just take you to another place in time!
All of these are such fun things to do this summer! We have a few of these things on our list too.
Hope you all have a great summer ahead!
This is such a good list! We actually have a drive-in pretty close to us, which I love. We didn’t have one when we lived in NC, and it’s awesome having one again. They are so fun. And, we are totally on the Popsicle bandwagon this year already!
I love drive-in theaters! And I bet Ben is loving popsicles! haha
Drive in movies and picnics are so fun! So many good activities for the summer!
xx,
Lacey
http://theglittergospelblog.com
Agreed, Lacey! Have you ever been to the Moonlight Theater in Abingdon? It was always my fave! 🙂
I feel like I need to print this out and put it on my fridge! Though, I’ve already been able to check some off the list…like dessert for dinner. 😛 Such a great idea!
Jenn
http://www.honeydewblog.com
Oh I love that! I have that planned for the very near future! 🙂
I think i might make this my list too 🙂
Have fun! 🙂
S’mores – YES! And the beach is always on my list!
I mean, who can resist s’mores or the beach?! 😉
Great way to share memories over the summer, using the bucket list as a planner.
Thanks! Have a great summer!
I’m all for everything flavored s’mores, especially Oreos and the S’mores frapp from Starbucks–so darn good! But I LOVE this list, Cara! I’m trying to do more bucket-list type activities for summer like roadtrips, drive-in movies, have a picnic, etc. Love all these ideas you shared.
Thanks Kiara! It’s good to be a little spontaneous sometimes, so that’s why I love the idea of having an impromptu road trip! 🙂
You’ve definitely put a great list of summer activities together–I was trying to think of something I would add to the list, and everything I thought of was already there 🙂 To the water fight, I would add that water balloons with oversize sling shots (it takes two people to hold it) makes a really fun park activity. You can really aim those pretty far away and it’s super fun. But…then again I have teenage boys, so my idea of fun may be a bit skewed. Love this post!
Oh wow, I can definitely see my boys loving that when they’re older haha!
Such a fun list! Love the water fight idea!
My boys love that too! haha
I’ve just written my summer bucket list, but I’m definitely going to steal a few of your ideas and add them on. Love the idea of having a water fight!
Water fights are so fun! I almost always lose though haha 😉
I love this list! We’ve already done some of these things! We need to do the rest!
Thanks! I always like to make a list to keep us on track! 🙂
I love this list! Some great ideas. I will keep them in mind when summer rolls around again. For us, winter has set in, so probably no camping or beach weather.
Thanks! Hope you all have a great winter! 🙂
Great list! I’m hoping to take Olive to her first movie in the theater this summer. We love fireworks, too! We always watch them on the 4th and then set them off on the 9th for my husband’s birthday. We look forward to them every year and it’s fun to see them with the kids. Happy vacation to you!!
I still remember the first time I took the boys to the movies. It’s so fun watching them light up with excitement! & thank-you I’m so looking forward to it!
I am so down to every single one of these and adding to it, to go kayaking in my new yak! What great fun things to do Cara!
Oh that sounds fun! Hope you have a great summer!
This is such a fun post! Love these ideas and I totally need to have no-tech days, social media is just way too consuming! Enjoy your vacay!
Marta
http://www.sweatersstripesandsweets.com
Thanks Marta! I’m looking forward to it!
This sounds like my kind of bucket list I would love to do all of these things this summer. Wish me luck!
Allie of ALLIENYC
http://www.allienyc.com
Hope you have a great summer, Allie!
that is a great summer list! reading is always a must!
Thanks! Agreed!
We went to a drive-in movie a couple of years ago and it was so fun! I’d love to do it again. And reading more books is always a summer goal for me.
I really need to read for fun more! I hope to do that this summer! 🙂
I’m especially on board for the tech-free day. That’s Saturday for me – all summer long.
I like the sound of that!
Oh wow! A tech free day sounds amazzzzzing. Also I have been craving the beach
This summer, I want to spend more time hiking and go for an outdoor rock climbing adventure!
Xxox
Laura @ http://www.cookwineandthinker.com
Oh that sounds really fun! I’ve never been rock climbing!
What a fun list. Going to the lake is something I hope to do as well. Oh, and can’t forget popcicles. Bookmarking.
Thanks! Lake days are so fun!
You remind me–there’s a book I hope to finish today! Summertime is definitely great for reading–and I would love to go to a drive-in. There’s none anywhere where we live but when we lived in our old house there was one about an hour away and we’d go at least once a summer!
They seriously take you back to another place in time- I love them!
Holy cow! A Tech-Free Day! It’s brilliant! I wonder if I can use this to make weaning my daughter off the TV a game of sorts?
Thanks! I’ve found anytime I make something into a game it makes it a lot easier to convince the kids! 😉
These are such fun ideas! Love the graphic too.
Thanks! Looking forward to a fun summer ahead!
LOVE the challenge of a tech-free day 😀
Green Fashionista
We all need breaks from technology! 🙂
Outer Banks is so fun! The perfect place for relaxation! Enjoy!:)
Thanks Lindsey! I’m very excited!
These are so fun! I do all of them except for the fishing and the camping.
Thanks! Haha I don’t fish either but it’s nice to sit and watch by the lake! 😉
Love this printable list — so many good ideas! I’m excited to head to my local popsicle place
Thanks! Nothing better than popsicles and ice cream! 🙂
I hope you enjoy your vacation! I’m printing out this bucket list!
Thanks Tanya! 🙂
These are some great ideas! We are headed out for a 30-day road trip in July and we can’t wait!
Oh wow, that sounds like a lot of fun!
What a fun list! I’m definitely trying to read more books this summer. I plan to roast some s’mores when I go to the beach!
Thanks! We do too! Nothing better than s’mores by the campfire! 🙂
We have a new drive in near our house, so I want to take the kids this summer. We are also going on family vacation (cruise), visiting the library, reading books, taking scooter rides, eating snow cones every Friday, and going to the pool!
Oh that will be so much fun! Hope you all have a blast!
This is great! I need to do this with my kids. And these are some great ideas to get us started!
Hope you all have a fun summer!
So many fun things to do with your kiddos!
I hope to get some reading in and hopefully a few other things on this list too!
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lily
Yes! A library run is in my near future!
I love your bucket list. I am so making one of my own for summer. It makes me excited 🙂
Thanks! Hope you have a great summer with your loves!
What a cute, colorful list full of memories to be made with your sweeties. Yes to your upcoming beach trip, fun in the sand and sun!
Thanks! I’m soo excited! 🙂
I think we need to make a summer bucket list; one we can cross off as we go. FUN!
Bucket lists are so fun! I like making one for every season! 🙂
Yay for beach trips!! I hope you guys have a great time!!! Pretty much everything on this list is on my to do for summer 🙂
Thanks! I’m excited! And life’s too short not to have fun, right?
So many great things on your bucket list! Yay for visiting the beach soon! I did that over the weekend so I can cross that off my list too! And yes to dessert for dinner! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
Oh yay! I’m excited to cross some things off my list very soon! 😉 Have a great weekend!
Time for me to add the idea of dessert for dinner into my life!!! We also love riding bikes, that’s been huge for us since the weather has been warm!
I miss riding bikes! I used to ride them so much when I was younger!
I loooove having summer picnics! One of my favorite summer to-dos 🙂 Enjoy the summer with your boys, Cara!
Thanks Jess! Picnics are so fun, right?!
Ah, what a fun list!! Summer is so short so you have to live it up. Hope you have the best time on your vacation – I know you need one!
Thanks girl! I can’t wait to have my toes in the sand! 🙂
That’s such a great list. I know what we’ll be trying all summer long!
Glad you loved it! Yay for summer!
Great list! Drive-in movies sound so fun, I want to go camping as well xxx
ALittleKiran | Bloglovin
Drive-in movies are my favorite!
Oh how I wish we still had a drive-in theatre here…that used to be such a fun summer activity when I was younger.
Ours just re-opened last summer, so I’m really excited!