100+ Fun Summer Bucket List Ideas for the Family (+ free printable!)

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If you’re looking for fun ideas for the family and kids this summer, here are 100+ summer bucket list ideas that are kid-friendly and budget-friendly!  Free printable available! Keep reading to get inspired for fun for the whole family!

Creative and Fun Activities for Kids Throughout the Summer

Life has been crazy these past few years.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s had to rethink their plans and come up with something new. 

For that reason, we had to learn to re-invent the wheel a bit when it comes to summer fun.

One good thing from the past few years, now that we are finally in a post-Covid world, is that we pushed our creativity to the limits and really learned how to enjoy our families and what is most important.

From that experience, I’ve compiled tried and true summer boredom busters you can work your way though all summer long.

Summer Bucket List Free Printables PDF Download

This is my favorite, ultimate Summer Bucket List. Essentially, these are real fun activities for kids, ones that you can sorta pull out of a hat, that don’t require a lot of preparation. 

Most are free, though some may have a little cost involved (food, etc.). 

This list is NOT meant to be pressure or another to-do list. It’s just a tool, something handy to give you ideas to keep things fresh and new.

And really, not-so-new. A lot of these are what kids would do in days past for a good, old-fashioned fun summer, before we got so high-tech and feeling like mom needed to be the camp counselor or cruise director of entertainment.

You can write a few down, put them in a jar, and pick randomly. You can let your kids choose. Or you can never show them the list and you choose, and you’ll seem like the most fun mom ever!

Do a few, do most, do them all – totally up to what fits your family.

The list comes with check boxes if you want to keep track. There’s also a blank version if you want to create your own custom summer bucket list!

You can grab the free printable at the end of the post for easy reference!

OK, on to the activities that will make summer a blast for you and your kids!

100+ Ideas for the Whole Family: Summer Bucket List 

1. Stargaze and look at constellations
2. Camp out: living room, backyard or legit camping (Grab these free camping printables for extra fun!)
3. Make a bonfire with S’mores
4. Play in the sprinkler or with a hose
5. Set up an obstacle or ninja course
6. Set up a water obstacle course
7. Play old school outdoor games (tag, capture the flag, kick the can, jacks, hide & seek)
8. Play hopscotch
9. Jump rope
10. Take a bike ride on the trails or in the country
11. Watch the sunset at the beach or lake
12. See fireworks
13. Make homemade ice cream
14. Invent new popsicle combinations
15. Make an ice cream float
16. Go on a nature walk or hike
17. Swim at night
18. Visit a farmer’s market
19. Build a blanket and pillow fort
20. Build an outdoor fort in the yard
21. Spend the afternoon lazy river tubing
22. Go kayaking or canoeing
23. Go on a day trip
24. Have a watermelon seed spitting contest
25. Go to a concert or see a show in the park
26. Write chalk messages on the sidewalk
27. Have a water war with water balloons or water guns
28. Have a family game night outdoors
29. Have an ultimate frisbee game
30. Play outdoor sports: wiffleball, kickball, badminton, volleyball, etc.
31. Go fruit picking (whatever is in season)
32. Attend a fair
33. Do a photoshoot in the park
34. Learn to fly a kite
35. Plant flowers or a garden
36. Have a picnic in the park
37. Go to the drive-in
38. Try geocaching
39. Make a bird feeder and track the kinds of birds that come
40. Catch frogs, worms, and fireflies (and then release!)
41. Pay for someone at the drive-thru
42. Perform random acts of kindness (Get some ideas Acts of Kindness Ideas here and Creative Ways Kids Can Give Back here!)
    
43. Learn to skip rocks
44. Make paper boats to put in a stream
45. Have a scavenger hunt (Check out some fun scavenger hunts here!)
    
46. Learn a new craft (painting, jewelry making, sewing, etc)
47. Write and/or film a movie
48. Have a Lego-building contest
49. Get henna tattoos
50. Movie marathon or binge-watching day
51. Late-night restaurant/fast-food run
52. Watch a local sports event
53. Have a hula hoop contest
54. Choreograph and make up dances to your favorite songs
    
55. Have a dance party
56. Set up a backyard movie
57. Play in the rain and jump in puddles
58. Make a scrapbook
59. Do a family puzzle
60. Play flashlight tag
61. Visit a splash pad
62. Wash the cars and bikes (and toy trucks and cars!)
63. Have a lemonade stand
64. Go fishing
65. Eat breakfast for dinner
66. Go on a breakfast picnic
67. Climb trees
68. Feed the ducks
69. Make tie-dye shirts
70. Photo scavenger hunt (if you’re planning on camping, definitely check out this one!)
    
71. Build something with things at home (woodworking is a fun option!)
    
72. Go for a walk at night
73. Roast hotdogs and eat foil pack dinners
74. Eat foil pack meals
75. Paint kindness rocks and distribute
76. Eat someplace new
77. Watch a caterpillar turn to a butterfly
78. Play frisbee
79. Have a water balloon pinata
80. Go to the beach
81. Volunteer
82.  Create a time capsule
83. Make a slip-n-slide
84. Go to the zoo/aquarium
85. Selfie challenge
86. Play lawn games
87. Go foraging
88. Attend library activities
89. Make homemade grilled pizzas
90. Have an Uno tournament
91. Watch a sunrise
92. Take a nap outside
93. Read a new book series
94. Play mini-golf
95. Go roller-skating or rollerblading
96. Go bowling
97. Celebrate Christmas in July
98. Find a water hole
99. Visit a state park
100. Pajama day
101. Have a luau or theme party
102. Explore somewhere new
103. Karaoke night
104. Visit a trampoline park

I hope I gave you some fun ideas to keep your summer moving in a fun direction!

Life gets busy, but here are still a ton of good times to be had and memories to be made. It’s really what you make of what you have, and who you’re with.

And if the family is healthy and together, you’re so much better off than so many. This summer bucket list can help make this year even better than you imagined!

If these ideas don’t work, feel free to fill out the blank version and create your own!

Be sure to grab the free printable PDF download at the very end of the post!

More Summer Fun and Staycation Ideas 

If you aren’t traveling this summer, check out these 50 Memorable Staycation Ideas. 

And if you need some ideas just to keep the kids busy at home – quick, easy, low-prep activities, here are 70 (some overlap to this list) that wouldn’t necessarily be ‘bucket list’ items but more like boredom busters! 

If you like some kind of routine or system to organize your summer fun, check out this complete summer schedule for kids template, which has theme ideas for every day!

Or if a planner is more your style, try this family summer planner free printable – a 15 page PDF with everything you need for a smooth summer!

If you need a few more options, subscription boxes are another fun choice to keep the kids busy (and entertained and learning!) So many to choose from!

And if you want to keep the kids moving, even on rainy days, here are some exercise videos for kids (and moms) on YouTube as another option for TV – but at least they’re moving!

More Seasonal Activities for Kids and Families

If you’re type A and looking ahead, check out these fun, family-and-kid-friendly activities and ideas!

Fall Bucket List for Families (+ free printable) 

Christmas Bucket List – 30 Activities for Families (+free printable) 

25+ Meaningful & Fun New Year& Family Traditions You’ll Love

If you try some ideas, take some pictures and let me know! Tag me on Instagram @100affections or leave a comment on Pinterest!

 

 

Thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!