🎄 Christmas
225 FUNtastic Summer Bucket List Ideas
The kids REALLY wanted to do fun things this summer and so I needed lots of summer bucket list ideas! My search had me all over the web to find all the fun ideas I just couldn’t think of for my own summer bucket list.
My search was very productive and I really wanted to share it. On top of that, once you’ve decided on the best of the best you can get my free summer bucket list printable, edit it with your own fun summer activities, and keep those awesome goals in front of you.
It’s a great way to use it as a reminder for those times you’re tempted to get mopey and plod around the house in your underwear.
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You’re not going to check off all 225 ideas. My goodness, that’d be a full-time job! And it’d probably ruin most of the fun. But I hope some of these will spark your creativity.
I just wanted to give you a little push for more fun this summer. I organized my summer bucket list ideas in categories because my brain works better that way rather than trying to think through a huge jumbled-up list of summer activities. Here you’ll find some great ideas for crafts, eating, relaxing, traveling, playing, things just for fun, and yes, even learning and working around the house.
☀️ More Summer Fun
Sun’s out, boredom’s out. These ideas are packed with easy wins, giggles, and just enough chaos to make the memories stick.
🌈 Summer Bucket List Printable – Create your own must-do list and actually check things off this year.
📝 225 Summer Bucket List Ideas – A giant idea bank so no one says “I’m bored” ever again.
🔍 Summer Scavenger Hunt Fun – Turn an ordinary day into a mini adventure with printable clues.
🏃 Backyard Games Kids Love – Easy outdoor games that burn energy (and maybe bedtime resistance).
🎲 Free Printable Summer Games – Screen-free fun that’s ready to go in minutes.
Make some new crafts this summer
Summer is the perfect time to get crafting. Especially on those super hot summer days when you don’t want to get out of the air-conditioned house!
- Make slime
- Make a piñata
- Make paper airplanes
- Play with salt dough
- Have a craft night with friends
- Make a puppet
- Make nail art
- Complete a DIY project
- Paint rocks
- Attend an art or craft class
- Make a summer scrapbook
- Paint tattoos on your legs or arms with body paint or washable markers
Summer Bucket List Ideas for the Foodie
Summer is more than hot dogs and hamburgers, it’s a great time to learn to make things from scratch.
- Make S’mores
- Have a picnic
- Make homemade ice cream
- Bake a cake
- Bake cupcakes
- Have friends over for dinner
- Make lemonade
- Get ice cream from the ice cream truck
- Bake cookies
- Make root beer floats
- Eat funnel cake
- Eat corn on the cob
- Eat chili cheese dogs
- Drink a tropical drink
- Have a BBQ with friends
- Make popsicles
- Make apple sauce
- Make homemade pasta
- Make homemade pizza
- Eat a Sno-cone
- Try a new restaurant (The more exotic the better)
- Make cake pops
- Get lunch from a food truck
- Make pancakes
- Make dinner on the grill
- Eat dinner outside
- Make a pie
- Make jam
- Have an over the top milkshake
- Try a new fruit (The farmer’s market or an international market is great for that).
Put Some Things on Your Summer Bucket List Just for Fun
There are many creative ways to have fun. Choose a couple you’ve never done but always wanted to.
- Write a book
- Keep a journal
- Catch fireflies
- Use the fire pit
- Sing more
- Make a fairy garden
- Vacation Bible School
- Use your gift cards
- Date night once a week
- Do random acts of kindness
- Take lots of photos
- Watch fireworks
- Watch old cartoons
- Stay up past midnight
- Go on a Ferris wheel
- Have a slumber party
- Watch a meteor shower
- Dye the tips of your hair a funky color
- Make a summer music playlist
- Have a photoshoot with friends
- Have an outdoor movie night
- Do something nice for a neighbor
- Take candid photos of family members
- Buy a new dress
- Take a picture each day
- Have theme days
- Organize a block party
- Send a postcard
- Buy a new pair of sandals
- Make a time capsule
- Have a sleepover
- Camp out in the backyard
- Have a nature scavenger hunt
Explore Exciting Places over the summer
Now that you have a little more free time, it may be time to visit some new places and have new adventures.
- Go fruit picking
- Go to the pool
- Go to the beach
- Go to the zoo
- Go to the museum
- Go to the amusement park
- Go to the water park
- Go to the planetarium
- Go to the aquarium
- Go to the botanical gardens
- Visit downtown
- Go to see a blockbuster movie
- Go to an outdoor concert or music festival
- Visit family
- Visit friends
- Go on a retreat
- Go on a bike ride
- Go to the circus
- Go to the carnival
- Go to summer camp
- Go on a camping trip with family
- Go to garage sales
- Go to the farmer’s market
- Swim in a lake
- Go on a road trip
- Go to a professional sports game
- Hike a new trail
- Ride a roller coaster
- Go bowling
- Go to a dollar movie
- Go to the nature center
- Visit a farm
- Go to the pet store
- Go to a parade
- Visit Grandpa and Grandma
- Visit a new playground or local park
- Tour a fire station
- Go on a factory tour
- Go to the aquatic center
- Go to the library
- Bonfire at the beach
- Go dancing
- Go to a drive-in movie
- Go laser tag
- Explore a new town
- Go on a spontaneous day trip
- Go feed the ducks
- Indulge in a spa day!
- Go snorkeling
- Visit a state park or a national park
- Go to a petting zoo
- Go see a show at the theater
- Go geocaching
- Go to a tea house
- Go to the arcade
- Go to the trampoline park
- Explore tide pools
- Go to an exotic grocery store
- Go hiking
- Go fishing
Take the Time to Learn Something New this Summer
This is the time of year to learn a new skill that will last a lifetime.
- Practice skipping stones
- Learn to sew
- Learn to play an instrument
- Learn to knit
- Learn to crochet
- Learn to surf
- Boogie board and catch a wave
- Paint with watercolors
- Learn origami
- Learn to do calligraphy
- Make balloon animals
- Take a class
- Teach my pet a trick
- Overcome a fear
- Learn a magic trick
- Learn a new language
Fun things for kids to do with friends, or you!
Kids just want to play, that’s quality time for them. So turn off your phone and engage in fun activities for them.
- Blow bubbles
- Play with chalk
- Fly a kite
- Have a water fight
- Build a fort
- Play in the sprinklers
- Build a sandcastle
- Build a stomp rocket launcher
- Play board games
- Have a water balloon fight
- Swing on the swings
- Play Frisbee
- Play hopscotch
- Finger paint
- Go on a treasure hunt
- Play cricket
- Play badminton
- Make an obstacle course
- Catch bugs
- Make a movie
- Play mini-golf
- Play Twister
- Have a pillow fight
- Play cards
- Jump on a trampoline
- Make a pillow fort
- Have family game nights
- Jump rope
- Do a puzzle
- Play with glow sticks
- Use a Slip ‘n Slide
- Have a lemonade stand
- Ride a carousel
- Rent a bounce house
- Build a blanket fort
- Play Bingo
Don’t Forget to Relax too
Your ultimate summer bucket list doesn’t have to be full of busy activities, the simple act of spending the whole day barefoot counts in my book. Less stress makes for a better summer.
- Watch an old movie
- Stay in bed until noon
- Sleep in (a lot)
- Take a walk in the park
- Watch a sunrise
- Watch a sunset
- Go birdwatching
- Go stargazing
- Take walks in the neighborhood
- Watch clouds
- Sleep in a hammock
- Collect seashells
- Sleep in a tent in the backyard
- Pick flowers
- Write a thank you note to a friend
- Call an old friend
- Go screen-free for a day, maybe even a whole weekend
- Have breakfast in bed
- Stay in pajamas all-day
- Go barefoot for a day
- Start a blessings jar
- Read the Bible every day
- Write a letter to a soldier
- Join the Library summer reading program
- Read a book
Make Good Use of Those Extra Summer Light Hours
It may be time to be productive this summer.
- Wash the car
- Make overdue home repairs
- Volunteer
- Wash the dog
- Have a garage sale
- Clean your room
- Organize your closet
- Exercise everyday
- Clean the garage
- Repaint a wall
- Refinish furniture
- Plant a tree
- Plant flowers
So what do you plan to do this summer? Do you have more fun summer bucket list ideas to add to this list? Let me know in the comments.
I wish you good times and much fun and may this be the best summer ever! So, go, explore, create!! And don’t forget to go get your free printable summer bucket list!
Pin it these fun summer bucket list ideas for next year too:
Picked for you:
Check out our Summer printables
I love this list Nathalie! I like the one about swimming in a lake. We visited our relatives in Minnesota and we jumped off the boat and went swimming. It felt like old times when I was a kid!
Nathalie,
Great list!
A few of these would have happened without even trying but there’s some great ideas here.
My oldest already got eaten by mosquitos sleeping outside. So we can cross that off her summer to-do list. But I can’t wait to go stargazing.