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

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?