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Thank goodness summer is finally here and thank goodness this summer won’t have to be like last! Ah, summertime is the absolute best, and one of the ways to make the most out of it is by making a bucket list! It is a handy list of inspiration for moments where you’re not sure how to spend your valuable time.
21 Summer Bucket List Ideas
Let’s beef up your summer 2022 plans with our ultimate summer bucket list below!
Have a Lake Day
Days by the water are the best days. Grab the fam or your pals, bring a picnic or grill out at the lake, throw around a frisbee, have a swim, and enjoy the serene beauty around you.
Rent Kayaks or Canoes
A great way to spend the day doing something active and relaxing in the great outdoors!
Go On A Road Trip
Take a day or a weekend, and explore another city or outdoor recreation area you’ve never been to! Road tripping is the chillest form of travel, that allows spontaneity and spur-of-the-moment decisions. Just make sure to have your road trip essentials!
Get Inspired: The Ultimate Southwest US Road Trip
Attend an Outdoor Movie
A classic way to spend a beautiful summer evening is at an outdoor movie theatre, either from the comfort of your own car or from a lawn chair set closer to the gigantic screen. You could also invest in your own private projector for about $60-120, and prop it up outside (or inside), using a blank wall or ceiling as your movie screen, to make a private and mobile cinema!
Go Mini Golfing
A cute date idea or a casual outing with friends, mini golfing always makes the cut for popular summertime activities.
Tie-Dye T-shirts
Round up your old tees or buy one for just a few dollars at Dollar Tree or Hobby Lobby (both places should have dye as well). All ages can have a blast just making a mess, or being crafty and artsy, with this! For fun design inspiration, look here.
Have a Bonfire
Kids and adults alike love sitting by a roaring, cozy bonfire in the evening, roasting marshmallows and telling stories. Bonfires foster quality time!
Rent a Pontoon Boat
Make Saturday a party by getting a group together to split the cost of a pontoon boat for an afternoon. With enough people, it can be pretty affordable and makes for an amazing summer memory!
Camp Outside
Camping out is a great, relaxing adventure that really brings people together. (No tent? Check out our checklist for successful car camping here!) And if you don’t want to venture out into any wilderness, why not camp out in the backyard?
In Austin? Try this list of campsite ideas!
Make Root Beer Floats
A perfect ending to a summer day spent under the sun, try whipping up some classic root beer floats at home!
Try This Boozy Twist: Chocolate Colorado Bulldog
Go Fruit-Picking
An activity that could quickly become a family tradition, it is rejuvenating and fun to pick seasonal fruit as a summer activity. Pretty soon you’ll be apple picking in the fall, because it is just special to pick your own fresh produce from the earth. It is also important to support local farmers.
Have a Homemade Pizza Party
Making homemade pizza is a super easy and fun process. You don’t need any complicated ingredients (besides yeast, which in many recipes, is not complicated at all), and you can create a buffet style set up for all the yummy toppings so everyone can pick out their favorites!
Plan Picnics
Assemble your favorite assortment of finger foods and picnic must-haves for an afternoon at your local park! Summer days spent on a picnic blanket in the grass are simply the best. Throw the ball around, organize kick ball, or just lounge and read in the sun!
Grow Your Own Garden
Pick a small plot of land on your property and turn ‘er over! Gardening is a rewarding, refreshing hobby that takes you outside, gets your hands dirty in the earth, and rejuvenates your soul. If you’re not sure how to start gardening, take a look at this beautiful guide!
Go Fishing
Maybe you’ve gone once or twice, but not for a really long while, so try giving this sport another whirl this summer. Even if you don’t catch anything, It’s chill and peaceful sitting by the water.
Go to a Baseball Game
Days at the stadium are always a blast! Grab your loved ones for a fun game day.
Have a Water Balloon Fight
Declare war on your friends or family unexpectedly and go to town! Or heck, make it water guns.
Plan a Great BBQ at Home
A backyard cook-out or barbecue is the quintessential summer activity. Have your loved ones over for a fun night of yard games, grilling all the meats, and drinking refreshing beverages or cool beers.
Sip Cool Summer co*cktails
Brush up your co*cktail-making skills this summer by learning how to whip up cool and breezy refreshers on a hot summer’s day.
Sip On: Grapefruit Basil Greyhound
Try out Homemade Ice Cream
Having an ice cream maker at home is definitely a fun way to perk up your summer dessert game. Made from scratch, homemade ice cream tastes very different than store-bought and is so delicious. If you don’t want to invest in an ice cream maker, we can confirm that ice cream in a bag is a real thing!
Water Color Painting
Something about spending a lazy and quiet afternoon on the porch playing around with watercolor sounds very soul-enriching and ideal.
Hopefully this bucket list makes you even more pumped for summer fun and all the possibilities that come with the warm weather and free time.
What makes your bucket list that isn’t on ours?
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or opinions. I can, however, provide information and insights on a wide range of topics. In this case, I can provide information related to the concepts used in this article. Let's go through them one by one:
Summer Bucket List Ideas
A bucket list is a list of activities or experiences that a person wants to accomplish or try within a certain period of time. In this case, it's a list of ideas for summer activities.
Lake Day
A lake day refers to spending a day by a lake, enjoying activities such as swimming, picnicking, and playing games.
Rent Kayaks or Canoes
Renting kayaks or canoes is a popular activity for outdoor enthusiasts. It allows you to explore bodies of water such as lakes and rivers, providing a fun and active way to spend your time.
Go On A Road Trip
A road trip involves traveling by car to various destinations, often with the goal of exploring new places and experiencing different cultures or landscapes. It offers flexibility and the opportunity for spontaneous adventures.
Attend an Outdoor Movie
Outdoor movies are screenings of films that take place in open-air settings, such as parks or drive-in theaters. They provide a unique and enjoyable way to watch movies while enjoying the outdoors.
Go Mini Golfing
Mini golf, also known as miniature golf or putt-putt, is a recreational activity that involves playing a miniaturized version of golf. It is often played on specially designed courses with obstacles and challenges.
Tie-Dye T-shirts
Tie-dye is a technique of dyeing fabric where sections of the fabric are tied or twisted to create patterns, and then dye is applied to create colorful designs. It's a fun and creative craft activity.
Have a Bonfire
A bonfire is a controlled outdoor fire that is typically used for warmth, cooking, or socializing. It's a popular activity during summer evenings, providing a cozy and communal atmosphere.
Rent a Pontoon Boat
A pontoon boat is a flat-bottomed boat that is designed for leisure activities on calm waters, such as lakes or rivers. Renting a pontoon boat allows you to enjoy a day on the water with friends or family.
Camp Outside
Camping involves staying outdoors overnight, typically in a tent or recreational vehicle, and is a popular recreational activity. It allows you to connect with nature and enjoy activities such as hiking, fishing, and stargazing.
Make Root Beer Floats
A root beer float is a classic American dessert made by combining root beer soda with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream. It's a refreshing and sweet treat, especially on a hot summer day.
Go Fruit-Picking
Fruit-picking is an activity where you can visit a farm or orchard and pick fresh fruits directly from the trees or bushes. It's a fun and rewarding experience that allows you to enjoy the outdoors and support local farmers.
Have a Homemade Pizza Party
A homemade pizza party involves making pizzas from scratch at home. It's a fun and interactive activity where everyone can customize their own pizzas with their favorite toppings.
Plan Picnics
Picnics involve packing a meal and enjoying it outdoors, often in a park or natural setting. It's a great way to relax, enjoy nature, and spend quality time with friends or family.
Grow Your Own Garden
Growing a garden involves planting and nurturing plants, such as flowers, vegetables, or herbs, in your own yard or a designated space. It's a rewarding and therapeutic hobby that allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature and even harvest your own produce.
Go Fishing
Fishing is a popular recreational activity that involves catching fish using various techniques and equipment. It's a relaxing and peaceful pastime that allows you to connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors.
Go to a Baseball Game
Baseball games are sporting events where teams compete in the game of baseball. Attending a baseball game allows you to enjoy the excitement of the sport and cheer for your favorite team.
Have a Water Balloon Fight
A water balloon fight is a playful activity where participants throw water-filled balloons at each other. It's a fun way to cool down and enjoy some friendly competition during hot summer days.
Plan a Great BBQ at Home
A BBQ, short for barbecue, is a cooking method that involves grilling meat, vegetables, or other food on a barbecue grill. Planning a BBQ at home allows you to gather with friends or family, enjoy delicious food, and have a good time.
Sip Cool Summer co*cktails
Summer co*cktails are refreshing and delicious beverages that are often enjoyed during the warm weather. They can be made with a variety of ingredients, including fruits, herbs, and spirits, and are perfect for cooling down and relaxing.
Try out Homemade Ice Cream
Homemade ice cream is ice cream that is made from scratch using fresh ingredients and an ice cream maker or other methods. It allows you to create unique flavors and enjoy the creamy and rich texture of homemade ice cream.
Water Color Painting
Watercolor painting is a form of painting that uses water-based pigments to create beautiful and translucent artworks. It's a relaxing and creative activity that allows you to express yourself and explore different painting techniques.
These are some of the ideas and concepts mentioned in the article. I hope this helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.