Looking for some fun things to do in the summer? Then you’ve landed on the perfect blog post, my friend!
Summer is one of my favorite times of the year. As a New Englander, I’m lucky enough to experience all four seasons. Our winters are long and sometimes dreary, and I often find myself dreaming of those warmer days when I’m stuck indoors. When summer is upon us, it tends to be the most fleeting, so it’s very important to make the most of that time. Summer definitely brings out the best in a lot of us, especially when we spend that time with friends and family. In this way, it’s essential that we have plenty of things to do in the summer!
30+ THINGS TO DO IN THE SUMMER
Here are some fun things to do in the summer that will inspire your own summer bucket list. These ideas can easily be incorporated into your daily routines, too!
- Have an at-home car wash. Is it a hot day? Do you have a dirty car? Then an at-home car wash is the perfect activity for you! This can be extra fun when you get your kiddos involved, too. (Be prepared for water hose fights!)
- Make homemade snow cones. Whether you invest in a snow cone maker or crush some ice yourself with a rolling pin and plastic bag, this is one of the best ways to cool down. When I was a kid, my mom would sprinkle the pink Country Time lemonade powder over crushed ice for us and it was the best. treat. ever!
- Go on bike rides. Meet up with friends on a local bike path and go for a spin together!
- Go fishing. While I’ve never fished myself, I know this is a great summer pastime that many people enjoy.
- Visit a farmers’ market to eat in-season produce. Eating in-season produce is one of the best ways to celebrate any season! Plus, it’s so much fun to stroll around a farmers’ market to indulge in some treats, all while supporting your local community.
- Make a meal with produce from your own garden. If you’re into gardening, then you know how special it is when your garden starts to yield produce! Show off your hard work by presenting your produce in a delicious summer dish.
- Go on a picnic. Once you’ve picked your perfect location, pack your ideal meal to enjoy in the outdoors. This can be a great solo date, too!
- Go sailing or go on a boat tour. This is one of the best ways to enjoy the water during the summer! If you’re local, Newport, RI has some great boat tour options!
- Host a yard sale. If you decluttered before you dove into spring cleaning, chances are you have tons of stuff you want to get rid off! Pick a date and then put posters all around town to advertise. You could even get your neighbors in on the deal to have a super big yard sale!
- Make or participate in a reading challenge. When I was a kid, I always participated in my local library’s summer reading challenge. If you have kids, this would be an amazing thing to sign them up for! But adults can partake in the fun, too — find a reading challenge online to join, or consider starting a book club with your close friends.
- Opt for lighter, more vibrant foods. This could be the perfect time to try out that new salad place you’ve been hearing about!
- Keep a pitcher of a fun, cold beverage in your fridge at all times. Brew fresh iced tea or try your hand at making homemade lemonade.
- Go on a road trip. Pack up your car and hit the road for a fun destination! Over the last few summers, my husband and I have taken a few road trips ranging anywhere from 3 to 9 hours long. We found these lengths drivable in one day so we could spend more time at our actual location.
- Go to an amusement and/or water park. Even though I’m a fully grown woman, I will admit that going to a water park in the summer is one of my favorite things ever. Wave pools are my absolute favorite! So do yourself a favor and get in touch with your fun, childlike side by going to one of these places!
- Attend a (free) outdoor concert. If you love music, then this is a must. You can splurge on going to see your favorite artist at an outdoor venue, or discover somebody new at a free event.
- Be a tourist in your own town for a day. Imagine you had a friend or relative come to visit you and it’s their first time in your town or city. Which places would you take them to? What foods would you eat? Plan out what that day would look like and then do it yourself!
- Go on a long ride. One of the best feelings ever is taking a long car ride while blasting your favorite music with the windows rolled down. Opt for scenic routes and plan to stop for a treat along the way!
- Update your landscaping. Freshen up the outside of your home by planting some new flowers or installing a water feature.
- Get regular pedicures. Our feet can take a beating in the summer. Getting a pedicure once a week or every two weeks is a great way to ensure that your feet stay nice and smooth. And since you’re probably wearing sandals and flip-flops all the time, it’s a great time to show off vibrant nail polish colors!
- Find free air conditioning. When it’s a super hot day but you don’t want to stay at home, it’s a good idea to find a place with free air conditioning. Some places include the mall, the movies and the library.
- Go mini golfing or try out a golfing range. These activities are more fun in the sun, and pair greatly with an ice cream date afterwards.
- Enjoy some delicious grilled meals. Whether you invite some friends over for a weeknight dinner or just enjoy some hamburgers with your family, there’s nothing like eating grilled food to make it feel like summer.
- Host a cookout. Fire up the grill and invite all your family and friends over! Whether it’s for a reason (like the 4th of July or a birthday) or none at all, there’s no better way to spend time with your loved ones in the summer than with a cookout.
- Go swimming. Whether you’re lucky enough to have a pool or have access to a lake/public pool, make sure you take a dip in the summer. It’s the quintessential summer experience!
- Have a beach day. Get up early and pack your favorite snacks for a glorious day in the sun. Don’t forget sunblock and baby powder to easily remove sand from your skin!
- Go kayaking. This is a fun outdoor activity that can actually help you to stay cool since you’re on the water.
- Make homemade popsicles. Strawberry basil and watermelon lime have been my two favorite flavors to make.
- Have a fire and make s’mores. This is one of my and my husband’s favorite activities to do on summer weeknights. It’s a great way to get outside after working indoors all day long!
- Go berry picking. Here in Rhode Island, we get to pick strawberries in June and blueberries in July. I so look forward to these activities, plus the baking that comes after!
- Go camping. Whether you go to a camp site or just set up in your backyard, there’s nothing quite like the experience of living outdoors.
- Put decorations up for the 4th of July. Deck your space out in red, white, and blue!
- Watch a fireworks show or get some sparklers. Many parks and outdoor venues host fireworks shows in the summer. If that’s not your thing, grab a pack of sparklers and make your own spectacular show!
- Spend as much time outside as possible. Whether you bring your laptop outside to take a meeting or eat your breakfast on your patio, just try to live outdoors as often as you can. Before you know it, temperatures will drop and you’ll have no choice but to stay inside!
- Have regular ice cream dates with friends. This is a great way to stay connected with your loved ones while enjoying a treat together.
- Play yard games. My brother bought this game for his house last year and it has become a favorite in my family. Some other ideas include cornhole, bocce, and horseshoes.
- Buy a new bathing suit you feel great in. We all deserve to go to the beach or pool in the summer, and feel good while doing it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Summer brings out the best forms of rest and relaxation for many of us. What are some things to do in the summer that I missed? What’s on your summer bucket list? Let me know in the comments below!
This blog post was all about things to do in the summer.
RELATED: Looking for more seasonal activities? My blog post 55 Seasonal Activities To Make Routine Fun does just that!
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