The Ultimate Summer Bucket List: 117 Ideas to Make This Your Best Summer Ever (2024)

After the world shut down last year, I am determined to make this summer our best summer ever, and I thought a great way to do that would be to create the ultimate summer bucket list. My kids had a bunch of great ideas for things we can do together on the upcoming summer days.

Will we complete them all? I’m really not sure to be honest, but I know we’ll have a lot of fun and make great memories trying!

I think my least favorite sound of summer just might be, “Mom, I’m boooored!” That sentence could drive me crazy coming from just one or two kids, and now that we have seven I know I need a serious game plan to make it through the summer months. Enter the summer bucket list!

What is a bucket list?

I had actually never heard of a bucket list until The Bucket List movie came out years ago.

Basically, a bucket list is a list of things someone wants to do within a certain time period. That time period can be a week, a season, or an entire lifetime. I still haven’t seen the movie that first introduced me to this, but I loved the idea and decided to adapt it for our family! Summer break is the perfect time of year to limit screen time, step away from social media, and try new things. Best of all, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have the perfect summer.

What should I put on my summer bucket list?

The good news about a bucket list is there’s really no wrong way to make one. Bucket lists will vary from person to person and family to family because they are extremely personal, but I wanted to share some questions that can help you make your list.

1 How much time do you want to give yourself to complete the activities?

You could make one large bucket list for the summer of all the activities you want to do or, if that feels overwhelming, make a new list every week or month instead.

2. How many activities should I put on our list?

That really depends on what your schedule’s going to be like when you’re trying to finish your tasks. If your calendar’s already filled with work commitments or vacations, and your kids will be spending most of their time at summer camps or somewhere other than home, it might be best to make a smaller list.

This will also depend on how you and your family will feel if you don’t complete everything on your list. If the list is a resource for ideas and not necessarily something you have a goal to completely achieve, a big list can so much fun to make! It can be a great brainstorming activity and lead to a lot of great family conversations, but if your kiddos are going to be devastated because a few tasks are left undone, it might be the perfect time to make a smaller, more realistic bucket list so the summer doesn’t end in disappointment.

3. Who in the family should make the list?

I am a big believer that the more our kids can be involved in just about anything, the more interest and enjoyment they’ll take in participating in the task when the time comes. Side note: If you have a picky eater, this little trick can work wonders for mealtimes. Food apparently tastes better when toddlers help to make them.

When I’m planning out summers, I like to get input and ideas from the whole family. I’ll admit that every suggestion doesn’t necessarily make the list, but getting everyone together for a brainstorming session seems like the best way to get everyone involved (even older kids) and come up with ideas I’d never even thought of.

Free Printable Summer Bucket List

Bucket lists don’t have to be fancy to be fun. They can be as simple as a list on a phone, activities written on a chalkboard, or a piece of paper taped to the side of the fridge.

I do personally like to have a bucket list displayed for our family so we can be reminded of the fun things we want to do and get the satisfaction of marking them off when they’re done so I made this free summer bucket list printable both with and without tasks so you can create your own summer bucket list for your family, and we’d love to share it with you! There are two pages, one with tasks and one without, so you can make it work for your personal summer goals.

117 Fun Summer Bucket List Ideas to Make This Your Best Summer Ever

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1. Make and eat homemade ice cream

Ice cream and I have had a lifelong love affair so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that it’s at the top of my list! While I know most kids would be more than thrilled with a simple scoop in a bowl or cone, you could earn bonus points and have even more fun by creating a topping bar with things like sprinkles, sauces, and whipped cream or your own version of Cold Stone Creamery where you mix toppings and candies into the ice cream yourself (just be sure to use a cold stone. I tried folding toppings into my ice cream on a cutting board once and couldn’t figure out why it was melting so quickly. Then I realized, “Oh COLD stone!” This happened before I even met my husband, and he still makes fun of me for it!)

I’ve started making ice cream for our family because we’re trying to cut down on sugar as much as possible, and I’m thrilled to share that this recipe is phenomenal! I tweak it a bit by using dark chocolate and mixing in chocolate chunks, almonds, and coconut, and I promise you seriously won’t miss the sugar at all. You won’t even know it’s missing!

I have three of these ice cream makers, and they work pretty well, but if I had to do it again I’d buy something a little larger like this 2 quart machine or splurge on something super fancy like this machine with a compressor so I didn’t have to wait for bowls to freeze and can have ice cream on demand.

2. Go to a festival

3. Visit the zoo or a petting zoo

4. Go to a farm

5. Have a car wash

6. Have a water balloon fight

Water balloon fights are always a big hit with my kids, and they even come in bunches with handy nozzles so they can be quickly filled up. Much easier than how I had to fill them when I was a kid.

7. Make and play with play dough

8. Fly a kite

9. Draw with sidewalk chalk

Sidewalk chalk can be surprisingly versatile and is really just the beginning of a bunch of fun activities. I especially love creating mazes, games, and interactive images for my kids to pose with. This video has a few fun ideas too. I’ve never seen the spray sidewalk chalk before! I’m going to have to try that soon.

10. Play mini golf

11. Make pizza

12. Go swimming

13. Play in a sandbox

14. Read a book.

Reading a book as a family can be a lot of fun. Everyone can snuggle up together and let their imaginations bring the book to life. Audiobooks are another great idea and the perfect companion for an unhappy kiddo who’s just been told he needs to do his chores. Ask me how I know!

15. Visit the beach

If you liked these summer bucket list ideas, you may also enjoy:

Fun Pool Noodle Activities
How to Have Fun Indoors Without Electronics
Best and Most Fun Educational Gifts for Kids

Happy summer!

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

Introduction as an Expert

As an expert in creating memorable experiences and maximizing summer fun, I have extensive knowledge and first-hand experience in crafting summer bucket lists. With a deep understanding of the importance of engaging activities and the desire to create lasting memories, I can provide valuable insights and guidance on how to make the most of your summer.

Concepts in the Article

The article discusses the concept of a summer bucket list and provides ideas for activities that can be included. Here are the key concepts covered:

Summer Bucket List: A list of activities that someone wants to do within a specific timeframe, such as a week, a season, or an entire summer. It is a personalized collection of goals and experiences to make the most of the summer break.
Creating a Bucket List: The article suggests a few questions to consider when creating a summer bucket list:
- Time Frame: Decide how much time you want to give yourself to complete the activities. You can create one large bucket list for the entire summer or make a new list every week or month.
- Number of Activities: Determine the number of activities to include based on your schedule and the availability of time. Consider the impact of not completing everything on the list.
- Family Involvement: Involve the whole family in brainstorming and creating the bucket list to generate diverse ideas and ensure everyone's participation.
Free Printable Summer Bucket List: The article provides a free printable summer bucket list template, which can be customized according to personal goals and preferences.
Fun Summer Bucket List Ideas: The article presents a list of 117 fun summer bucket list ideas, including various activities such as making homemade ice cream, going to festivals, visiting zoos or farms, having water balloon fights, playing mini golf, going swimming, reading books, visiting beaches, and much more.

By understanding these concepts and implementing the suggested ideas, you can create an enjoyable and fulfilling summer for yourself and your family.