72 Summer Bucket List Ideas for 2023 (Add Your Picks!)

Kelly R. said:  A drive-in theater is a fun summer bucket list idea that allows you to catch a new movie while enjoying your own space! Dress in PJs, bring plenty of fun movie snacks, and load up on pillows and blankets for a comfy experience. You might want to bring a board game to play while you're waiting for the movie to start.

Shila said:  Whether it's a planned outdoor activity on a hot day or you're just watering your lawn anyway, invite your kids to come outside and run through the sprinklers!

Shila said:  Say goodbye to training wheels this summer and teach your kid to ride a big kid bike! Achieving this skill can open the door to so many more family-friendly bike trail options to add to your summer bucket list.

Shila said:  A backyard movie night works best if you own (or can rent) a projector, but rolling your big screen TV outdoors works well too! When the sun goes down, pop in a family movie and invite a couple friends over to watch outside.

Shila said:  Every state in the U.S. has an abundance of reserved land for the public to enjoy and for nature to thrive untouched. See which ones are near you and add a day of hiking, boating, canoeing, biking, or bird watching to your family summer bucket list!

Shila said:  Read a complete chapter book series! Kids are often very proud to say that they've accomplished this feat. Choose from any popular chapter books that your kids would be exited to read, from The Mouse and the Motorcycle to The Mysterious Benedict Society. You could read out loud as a family, too!

Shila said:  Complete with a blanket and basket, one of my favorite family bucket list ideas is a picnic in the park (or even the backyard)! Packing the basket with picnic food is such an exciting activity for kids.

Shila said:  Keep an eye out for the prefect breezy day and go fly a kite for your summer bucket list!

Kelly R. said:  Keep a giant coloring poster rolled out on your dining room table with colored pencils fully stocked, and it can be a project that the family works on a little bit at a time all summer long. We love doing this while listening to audiobooks!

Shila said:  There are many family-friendly national parks in the USA, all magnificent in their own right.

Shila said:  Fill up some water balloons and you know the rest! An eco-friendly, reusable alternative can be to make DIY water bombs. Just cut inexpensive dishwashing sponges into strips about an inch wide and 4 inches long. Then, tie a few strips together around the middle longwise, fan them out, soak and throw!

Kelly R. said:  Kids in grades 1-6 can participate in the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program, where they read 8 books during the summer and bring in a completed reading log to earn a free book! My kids love this one best because the prize selection is great and they get to choose it themselves, but many local libraries and bookstores offer similar challenges. Print out a reading log at the link to get started!

Shila said:  Wake the gang early to capture a clear sunrise. A warm mug of hot chocolate will make the early wake-up easier, but opt for catching a sunset instead if that's more your style!

Alexandra F. said:  Use a popsicle mold to make your own refreshing summer treat. Try any of these simple popsicle recipes or experiment with pureed fruit, juice, yogurt, ice cream and more. See if you can come up with your family's favorite signature flavor before summer is out!

Shila said:  A foodie challenge is one of those epic summer bucket list ideas that you can enjoy all break long. Pick a theme for your challenge that's exciting for your family. Maybe you order from a new restaurant every Friday night, or sample cuisines from as many different countries as you can.

Sarah Calamita said:  Strawberry, raspberry, peach, nectarine, blueberry....so many options! Kids involved in picking will be more apt to eat them and help you cook with them.

Kristy Pepping said:  Either print an online list of things to find around your yard, or create a list as a family. Then make a game of it. See who can find all the items on the list first.

Kristy Pepping said:  There are ways to tie dye that don't involve quite as much mess. You can do Sharpie marker tie dye or purchase a kit that comes with pre-measured dye in squeezable bottles. Both versions are easy enough to do and will create fun wearable art project this summer.

Shila said:  Stop and smell the roses this summer, literally! Botanic gardens and conservatories are ideal for all-ages family fun. Check out what's in bloom by you! Connect with nature, go on leisurely walks, take beautiful photos of the kids, relax in fresh air and more. This is a great non travel summer bucket list idea that will help you feel like you're someplace else!

Shila said:  If they're ready for an upgrade, transform your child's bedroom into a tween or teen's dream! Consider repainting or wallpapering, purchasing a new bedspread, an area rug, cool artwork, and trendy lighting. Your kids may feel that much more grown up when they return to school in the fall!

Kelly R. said:  One summer, we played all of our family board games one time each, and made a chart to keep track of how many times each family member won for a summer-long competition. We found that it was also a great way to weed out the games that we had outgrown (or just didn't like).

Shila said:  Challenge your family to make a dessert recipe from scratch. The kitchen may be a mess, but your summer will be more sweet!

Shila said:  Fishing is a great family bucket list activity for all ages, and you'll have time for some great conversations with your kids. Note that you may need to apply for a local permit.

Kristy Pepping said:  Write a letter to family or a friend. Tell them what you have been up to during your summer and ask them to write back. Keep your pen pal letters going all summer long.

Shila said:  Pack the supplies, plan some tasty camping meals (including marshmallows for s'mores!) and stay overnight at a campground. From pitching the tent that you'll sleep in together, to sitting around the fire sharing silly stories, this is an epic memory to make as a family! No campground? Camp in your backyard! Sleeping under the stars at home can be just as nice. You can make s'mores in your oven, too!

Shila said:  Running a non-stop mile is true "milestone" to check-off on a summer bucket list! Help your kids create realistic targets (i.e., 1-mile under 10 minutes) and try to work toward the goal every day. Maybe someday you and your family can tackle an organized race together!

Alexandra F. said:  Nothing like those long summer nights to inspire us to turn our gaze upward! Whether on a family camping trip, at a local observatory, or in your own backyard, spend a peaceful evening admiring the beauty of the night sky. A home telescope or pair of binoculars will allow you to see celestial objects more clearly, but you really don't need any fancy equipment to enjoy the view. Who knows, it may even inspire a new hobby for the kids (or you)!

Kelly R. said:  Encourage everyone in the family to pick random acts of kindness to carry out!

Kelly R. said:  Check out a local lake and feed the ducks! Instead of bread, opt for healthier choices like corn, defrosted frozen peas, and seeds.

Kristy Pepping said:  Summer is a great time to print off those photos from the school year. If you have a good printer, just print them out or send them to an online photo company to mail you the prints. Either way, your family will enjoy looking back at the memories from the past year. To further organize your project, you can use a label maker and label each section of photos so that you remember each experience in the future.

Kelly R. said:  Summer is a fun time to experiment with some different hairstyles, especially when you're not in a rush to get out the door in the morning for school. There are lots of easy hairstyle tutorials on YouTube!

Shila said:  Challenge the family to learn new dance moves like the Dougie, the Macarena, the Worm or Jackhammers!

Shila said:  If your family lives near a mountain, go climb it! Bearing safety in mind with younger kids, you may want to avoid spots that are off-the-grid and instead stick to official city or state parks with marked trails. Play some trail games together and enjoy the view from the top!

Kelly R. said:  Pick a theme like donuts or ice cream, and over the course of the summer visit a bunch of different local dessert spots to try them all out! We like doing this on our summer bucket list each year to remember to help support local small businesses.

Kelly R. said:  If your kids haven't mastered blowing a bubble yet, this is perfect for the summer bucket list! I picked up a pack of bubble gum at the beginning of the summer and let them practice on family walks.

Kelly R. said:  Catch a local fireworks show for the 4th of July, or see if there will be one happening as part of another summertime fair or festival.

Kelly R. said:  Check the schedules for any local outdoor concert series held in your area, and plan to catch at least one with the kids this summer. You can make an event of it by packing a fun dinner to enjoy outside on a blanket!

Kelly R. said:  Head outside at night to collect fireflies in a jar or bug catcher, enjoy looking at them up close, and gently release them!

Kelly R. said:  If your kids are old enough, let them choose one night to make dinner for the whole family. From planning the meal to serving it and taking all the credit, they can tackle the whole thing. Maybe you can help with the dishes, though!

Kristy Pepping said:  Use this summer to make a garden of your favorite veggies, fruits and herbs.

Shila said:  Add "mastering the splits" to your summer bucket list. Improving your flexibility takes a lot of time! Kids will need to learn how to properly stretch a little bit every day. It will take a lot of perseverance and patience.

Shila said:  Take that "summer bucket" list and fill it up with soap and water. Wash the family car on the driveway with a bucket of suds, sponges, and a hose.

Shila said:  Challenge yourselves this summer to learning a new language! Of course it may be unrealistic to achieve full fluency, but certainly you can challenge yourself to mastering a few small phrases. For example, you can learn to greet hello in 10 languages, learn to count to 20 in Mandarin, etc.

Kelly R. said:  Spending more time volunteering at our favorite local organization is on our 2023 summer bucket list, since we have fewer school and activity obligations going on. You can try at-home volunteer opportunities if you haven't found a spot nearby that welcomes kids.

Kelly R. said:  Pick a theme for your family's summertime movie nights! You could spend the summer watching different kids sports movies each time, watching movies based on books, or making your way through all of the Pixar movies in order! What other fun themes can you think of?

Kelly R. said:  Decide to celebrate a bunch of wacky holidays on your summer bucket list! How about Sunglasses Day (June 27), Teddy Bear Picnic Day (July 10), Cow Appreciation Day (July 15), Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day (July 27), and Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day (August 8)? Mark a bunch of them on your calendar, and the fun summer activities will practically plan themselves!

Sarah Calamita said:  It is so fun to find a caterpillar and watch it grow. There are really cute caterpillar cages you can buy and it also teaches kids about the life cycle of a butterfly.

Kristy Pepping said:  Do you have a dog or another family pet you've been meaning to train or teach a new trick to? Summer is a great time to try one or two out!

Shila said:  Encourage entrepreneurial skills and host a kid-friendly lemonade stand in your front yard. You'll catch many people on neighborhood walks.

Kelly R. said:  One of the first summer bucket list ideas you check off should be creating a big family playlist to enjoy all break long. It will be the soundtrack to your summer! Choose a bunch of songs everyone loves that will get you in the right mood for summer break (Beach Boys, anyone?), and keep adding to it as you think of more.