Summer just brings the best in people, doesn’t it? Perhaps it’s the sun-filled, warm-breezy days? Or the chance to connect with friends and spend time outdoors?
A lot of people love summer but ultimately end up doing the same old stuff. Why not make your summer a little different?
This blog article has everything you need to make this summer your best one yet with the ultimate summer bucket list.
How to have a fun summer
Rather than sitting at home watching Netflix, think about what types of fun summer activities you dream of doing.
The first step is to make your own summer bucket list! This is a list of everything you want to do before the season’s change.
Or get crafty and check out How to Start a Summer Bullet Journal.
Think about adding some fun and achievable goals like trying a new vegetable salad recipe, visiting the beach, or going berry picking.
Why have a summer bucket list?
The main reason is that life can pass us by so easily if we’re not being mindful and paying attention.
The other reason I love putting together a list is that it gives me and my husband exciting activities to look forward to and plan together.
Most importantly, a summer bucket list isn’t just about non-stop activities.
It’s a collection of ideas and suggestions of activities that will encourage you to practice self-care, wellness, and most importantly have fun!
How to make your summer bucket list?
A bucket list is supposed to be fun and inspirational, not another to-do list that causes you stress.
The best bucket lists are full of activities that you are eager and excited to do!
So, by all means, use my ideas to make your own summer bucket list.
Ask yourself, what are some things you could add to your list?
Personalize your summer bucket list with names of people you want to spend time with, places you want to go, and foods you want to try.
Keep in mind that a summer bucket list for couples will be different than a summer bucket list for teens or families. If you have children, it’s really fun to include them in the activity of creating their own bucket lists.
Use the ideas on this bucket list for summer to spark your imagination rather than to hem you in. And appreciate your own summer bucket list.
Make your list special
Personalize your bucket list with names of people you want to spend time with, places you want to go, and foods you want to try.
Keep in mind that a summer bucket list for couples will be different than one for teens or families.
If you have children, it’s really fun to include them in the activity of creating their own bucket lists.
Use any of the 100 ideas to spark your imagination rather than to hem you in. And then make your own list and have fun with it!
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Grab some colored pencils or pens, a big sheet of white paper, or even post board, and go wild!
Don’t hold yourself back because you’re just brainstorming a list of ideas. It’s okay if you don’t get to ALL of the fun activities you want to do. The more imaginative you are the better!
25 ideas for a summer bucket list for adults
One of the best exercises to do once you’re an adult is to make your OWN bucket list of all the fun activities that you are eager to do.
To get you started here are my top 25 ideas for a summer bucket list for adults:
- Visit a National Park and go on a scenic hike
- Attend an outdoor music festival
- Have a beach day with friends or family
- Plan a camping trip
- Visit a new city or country
- Take a hot air balloon ride
- Rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore a nearby lake or river
- Try a new water sport such as surfing or snorkeling
- Have a picnic in a local park
- Take a road trip along the coast
- Go on a whale-watching tour
- Take a cooking class to learn how to make new summer dishes
- Have a bonfire on the beach
- Take a dance class or attend a dance party
- Go stargazing at a nearby observatory
- Try a new adventure sport like zip lining or rock climbing
- Visit a local farmer’s market and try new fruits and vegetables
- Attend an outdoor theater production or movie night
- Try a new ice cream flavor or visit an ice cream parlor
- Volunteer at a local beach or park clean-up event
- Attend a food and wine festival
- Have a game day with friends, playing sports or board games
- Rent a boat and spend the day on the water
- Visit an amusement park or water park
- Take a scenic drive and stop at small towns or historical sites along the way.
25 ideas for a summer bucket list with friends
Perhaps you’d rather create a summer bucket list with your friends since it’s usually more fun to do activities and share experiences with others.
Here are 25 of my favorite ideas for a summer bucket list to do with your friends:
- Have a barbeque or potluck in the park
- Attend a concert or music festival
- Take a scenic hike or nature walk
- Visit a new city and try local cuisine
- Rent a tandem bike and explore a new area
- Have a bonfire on the beach or by a lake
- Take a cooking or mixology class together
- Attend a wine or food festival
- Go on a scenic drive and stop at small towns or historical sites along the way
- Take a dance class or attend a dance party
- Have a movie night under the stars or attend an outdoor film festival
- Try a new adventure sport, such as zip lining or rock climbing
- Volunteer together at a local beach or park clean-up event
- Rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore a nearby lake or river
- Go on a whale-watching tour or boat trip
- Attend an outdoor theater production or play
- Have a game day with outdoor sports or lawn games
- Visit a botanical or butterfly garden
- Try a new water sport, such as surfing or snorkeling
- Take a scenic train or boat trip
- Have a spa day or massage
- Attend a jazz or classical music concert in a park or garden
- Go stargazing at a nearby observatory or take a night hike
- Have a beach day with beach volleyball or other games
- Plan a camping or RV trip and explore the great outdoors.
25 ideas for a summer bucket list for couples
One exercise that I love to do with my husband is to sit down together and write all of the fun and engaging activities we want to do together during the summer.
Instead of the long to-do list or projects that we are always attending to, our summer bucket list is actually FUN to write.
Here are 25 ideas for a summer bucket list for you and your partner:
- Take a romantic beach vacation or visit a secluded island
- Have a picnic in a scenic location, such as a park or vineyard
- Attend a concert or music festival
- Take a scenic hike or nature walk
- Visit a new city and try local cuisine
- Rent a tandem bike and explore a new area
- Go on a hot air balloon ride or scenic helicopter tour
- Have a bonfire on the beach or by a lake
- Take a cooking or mixology class together
- Attend a wine or food festival
- Go on a scenic drive and stop at small towns or historical sites along the way
- Take a dance class or attend a dance party
- Have a movie night under the stars or attend an outdoor film festival
- Try a new adventure sport, such as zip lining or rock climbing
- Volunteer together at a local beach or park clean-up event
- Rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore a nearby lake or river
- Go on a whale-watching tour or boat trip
- Attend an outdoor theater production or play
- Have a game day with outdoor sports or lawn games
- Visit a botanical or butterfly garden
- Try a new water sport, such as surfing or snorkeling
- Take a scenic train or boat trip
- Have a couples spa day or massage
- Attend a jazz or classical music concert in a park or garden
- Go stargazing at a nearby observatory or take a night hike.
25 ideas for a summer bucket list with kids
One of the best parts of having kids is spending time with them. Kids are imaginative, and creative and embrace the long days of summer.
Get a big poster board, grab some pens, and incorporate your kids into putting together the best summer bucket list for the whole family.
To get you started here are some of my favorite summer bucket activities to do with kids:
- Have a water balloon fight or visit a splash pad
- Make homemade ice cream or popsicles
- Have a family picnic in the park
- Visit a local petting zoo or farm
- Make homemade lemonade or iced tea
- Go on a nature walk or scavenger hunt
- Have a movie night under the stars
- Attend a kids’ concert or musical performance
- Try a new sport or activity, such as mini golf or horseback riding
- Visit a children’s museum or science center
- Have a craft day and make summer-themed art projects
- Play in the sprinkler or have a pool day
- Have a family game day with board games or lawn games
- Visit a butterfly or botanical garden
- Attend a summer camp or program
- Have a beach day and build sandcastles
- Try a new type of cuisine, such as a food truck or ethnic restaurant
- Have a family bike ride or go on a nature trail
- Visit an aquarium or marine park
- Make homemade ice cream or popsicles
- Attend a summer festival or fair
- Have a picnic at the lake or river
- Make a summer-themed scrapbook
- Visit a butterfly or botanical garden
- Try a new outdoor activity, such as rock climbing or kayaking.
Wrap-up
It’s that time of year when blue skies and sunshine can’t help but make you smile! Finally, your dream of spending every waking moment outside can actually become a reality.
However, instead of getting caught up in a boring routine, try making a summer bucket list and try some things you’ve never done before.
If you tried my list, what were some of your favorite activities? What activities would you add to the list? Let’s make this summer epic and have a blast!
44 Responses
Such a fun list! We seem to find some boredom in the summer, and it is nice to have some ideas.
Thank you! I agree that it’s easy to get bored with our routines and I hope you find inspiration from this list.
Love these summer bucket list ideas, I live in Scotland so some ideas were knew to me, happy summer
Wow Scotland sounds amazing! What are common activities folks do there during the summer?
This post got me excited for summer! It’s such a good idea to create a bucket list so summer doesn’t fly by without you truly enjoying it. Thank you for sharing!
You’re absolutely right and I’m happy that this post has inspired you.
Wow…what a great list. Pinned it to use some ideas this summer.
Thanks so much!
This is a great summer bucket list. I’ve got it bookmarked for the summer time!
Thanks so much Elizabeth!
These are great ideas and so doable. I am going to make a bucket list for this year. So much I want to see and do ❤️
Thank you!
Very cool ideas, I agree with you, the list should be special. For us, we spend time to find what we want to try that we did not try. And got to say, your list has some interesting things.
Thanks so much! I love that you agree about creating a special summer bucket list that is unique to you.
I haven’t attempted to do a bucket list in so long! I just see events and things happening around being advertised online and then take a screenshot or save it as an idea. a bucket list is a great idea to incorporate more though.
That’s a fantastic idea to take a screenshot and save ideas as they come along.
Lots of great ideas to do this summer! Thanks for posting!
Thank you Catherine!
Such fun ideas! Summer is a special time and these are a great way to make more memories…which is really what it is about. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Lindsey I agree with you about summer being a special time!
Love this list so timely as well!
Thanks so much!
Great ideas to incorporate for the summer. Thank you for sharing many wonderful suggestions. 😊
Pastor Natalie (Examine This Moment)
Letstakeamoment.com
Thanks so much Natalie! I’m so excited about the summer.
Great ideas. I have been trying to get my summer bucket list together. I have to jot it into my journal so I don’t miss out on the fun this summer! 🙂
Hey Laurie that’s exactly what my plan is as well. Jotting it down in my journal is fun since I can look back in a year or two and reflect back on all the fun summer activities I engaged in!
This is such a great list of ideas! I love that you sectioned it out for different people. I’m definitely going to use some of the kid’s bucket list items!
Hey Melissa thanks so much for the positive feedback!
These are amazing ideas! I love the simpler ideas, like a new ice cream flavour from an ice cream parlour! Something fun and nostalgic but doesn’t have to be a trip or a larger scale idea if that isn’t your thing!
Hey Katherine I couldn’t agree more!! There’s a new gelato place by my house and during the summer they use seasonal fruit like passion fruit and strawberries so I treat myself to a new flavor at least once a week since it’s a flavor of summer!!
I’m excited for summer! Thanks for the fun ideas of things to do. My favorite is visiting a National Park and going for a hike!
Hey Michelle I love going hiking too and we’re so lucky to live in a country where there are so many amazing National and State parks to visit and go hiking.
Such great lists! I believe I’ll add your idea for a movie night under the stars to my family’s summer bucket list.
Hey Katie thanks so much for the positive feedback. We live in Santa Barbara and they have a summer film series under the stars near the Santa Barbara courthouse. It’s free and super fun to have a picnic and watch a film.
You really had some great ideas. I am going to follow some of them. I am actually going camping this weekend. So I need to add more activities on my agenda
Hey Zandra thanks so much for your positive feedback. Excited to hear about your fun camping trip!
These are great things to learn. We definitely need to have a bucket list for summer and make it fun.
Hi Fransic I realize that when I have my summer bucket list I feel more excited since I have fun activities to look forward to AND I avoid getting into the same routine (like binge-watching shows on Netflix). Since the weather is nice I try to make the most of this time!
Great ideas for a summer bucket list! I love how you split them into categories and how they overlap. I look forward to reading more articles!
Thanks so much Julie!
Love this and have bookmarked! So many great suggestion here. Thanks!
Hi Tina thanks so much!! Can’t wait to see your list!
All great ideas! My family tends to create at least a short list we stick to for the summer every year. You have lots of small ideas that would be easy to incorporate 🙂
Hi there I think it’s a great idea to make a list that is reasonable and realistic since writing too many ideas may feel overwhelming. It’s nice to have a variety of options and I’m happy to see that your family has a list you like to stick to!