130+ Best Summer Bucket List Ideas (FREE Printable)

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This summer bucket list printable is packed with fun things for kids to do on a hot summer day.

These fun summer activities are a great way to take advantage of the warm weather during the summer season and enjoy summer break.

summer bucket list

Summer Bucket List

Summer is right around the corner and we’re already planning a big list of summer activities our whole family will enjoy.

So, we created this free printable summer bucket list to share with you all – this summer bucket list is loaded with fun activities you can do with your family on summer days. 

These fun summer bucket list ideas are a great way to make the most of summer vacation.

From classic summer things like bike riding, word search puzzles and water fights to unique summer bucket list ideas like rock painting, surfboard crafts and mud pies – our awesome summer bucket list ideas are fun for the entire family.

And, if you want to make your own summer bucket list with your own activities and ideas – we’ve got your covered.

We created a blank version of this same summer bucket list that you can fill in however you want.

What’s A Bucket List

summer bucket list

We love bucket lists!

If you’ve never heard of one the concept is really quite simple – a list of things you want to do, places you may want to visit or things you want to achieve.

You can create bucket lists about just about anything. From a Christmas bucket list you’ll work through during the month of December to travel bucket lists and even season specific ones – you can literally create a bucket list for ANYTHING.

This summer bucket list was created for kids to enjoy during the summer. It’s a great way to inspire families to do different things during summer break and make the best of their time off from school.

You can do some or all of the summer bucket list items – the goal is just to have lots and lots of fun.

Related: FREE printable fall bucket list for kids

35 Summer Bucket List Ideas

summer bucket lists

Go On A Road Trip

Heading out on new adventures is always a great time! Jump in the car and explore a great new place with the kids.

Make Homemade Ice Cream

Use an electric ice cream maker to make delicious homemade ice cream – it’s one of our favorite treats in the summer!

Make A Memory Book

end of year memory book for kids

Have the kids make a end-of-year memory book over the summer so they can remember all the details of their school year.

Visit A New Park

Enjoy the great outdoors by visiting new local parks. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy a picnic with the kids.

Go For A Bike Ride

Sunny days are perfect for bike riding! This is the perfect time to explore a new-to-you area with the kids.

Go To The Amusement Park

summer bucket list

Ride the ferris wheel at an amusement park. Bonus points if you ride the roller coaster too! 

Visit A Local Museum

Find a neat exhibition to enjoy with the kids. Use Get Your Guide to find exhibitions across the United States. Did you know there’s even an exhibition about video games? Ahhhhhhmazing!

Attend An Outdoor Concert

Whether you’re into country or hip hop an outdoor music festival is a guaranteed good time. The best part? You and the kids can dance up a storm.

Visit a Local Farmer’s Market

Hit up a local farmer’s market to buy delicious local produce. Then, use these new things to whip up a delicious meal with the kids.

Head to a National Park 

Find a local state park and plan a nature walk to look for local wildlife. Pack plenty of cool water if it’s an especially hot day to stay hydrated.

Have a Backyard Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are one of our favorite ways to spend some quality time together. Plan an outdoor scavenger hunt with a list of things your children need to find – fun will be had by all!

Make Mudpies

summer bucket list

Kids love playing with dirt! Print a copy of our free mud pie recipes and let kids enjoy foraging for ingredients. And if you’re feeling really adventurous – make your own DIY Mud Kitchen using supplies you pick up at local dollar stores.

Catch A Baseball Game

Find out when your local little league team is playing and check it out! It’s one of our favorite outdoor activities that costs no money – you may even make new friends too!

Have A Water Fight 

Whether it’s a water balloon fight or a super soaker show down – water fights are always loads of fun for kids of all ages.  They’re also a great way to cool off on a really hot day.

Plant Flowers

Show off your green thumb by planting flowers with the kids. This is a fun way to learn about planting flowers during this time of year.

Have A Beach Day

We don’t all live by the ocean – but we can still enjoy a beach day! Haul out your beach umbrella and bathing suits and have a pretend beach day in the backyard. 

Go To A Water Park

Enjoy some water slide fun with the kids at your local water park! Nothing beats cooling off at the water park on a hot summer day!

Go On A Boat Ride

Pay per ride boat services allow you to get out on the water in safe and fun ways.

Read A Great Book

Head to the local library to take out a great book to read! You can even join book clubs to discuss the books you’re reading! You’ll be amazed by the number of books you can read in one summer. 

Play Summer Bingo

summer bingo printable

Play a couple of rounds of summer bingo! Invite some friends or family to play too! Print off our free printable summer bingo to set up your own bingo game.

Make Paper Airplanes

Sounds so simple but it’s so much fun. My family has had the best times folding up paper airplanes and flying them to see which one gets furthest.

Go Camping in The Backyard

Put up a tent in your backyard and go camping for the night. Bring some snuggly blankets and enjoy some quiet time working on a camping word search together as a family.

Have a Garage Sale

​Host a garage sale to sell off toys, boys and clothes you no longer need! Use the money to do a family activity together.

Visit a Wildlife Sanctuary

What animals can you spot? Enjoy a sanctuary where you can see a variety of different animals in their natural habitat.

Create an Outdoor Movie Theater

No summer bucket list is complete without an outdoor movie! A DIY outdoor movie is way easier to set up than it seems.

Catch Fireflies

Use an old mason jar to catch as many fireflies as you can.

Setup a Lemonade Stand

This classic summer activity is so much fun and a great way to catch up with neighbours and friends.

Try New Foods at a Food Truck

Find a local food truck and try a new-to-you food!

Tell Ghost Stories

summer bucket list

Make a campfire and tell spooky stories.

Visit The Science Center

Learn some neat facts about science with a visit to a local science Center.

Paint Rocks

Our family loves painting and hiding rock. Hide your creations in your neighborhood as a fun surprise for your neighbors. Check out our huge collection of painted rock ideas for some inspiration.

Make Art With Chalk

Sidewalk chalk is so much fun! Check out this huge collection of sidewalk chalk ideas for some fun ideas you can create with the kids.

Make a Time Capsule

Fill your time capsule with neat items like photos, objects, newspaper clippings and even flyers from local businesses. Bury it in a great spot in your yard!

Try a New Sport

There are so many fun sports you can try. Play dodge ball, softball, pickle ball or frisbee!

Make a DIY Music Video

Get your dance on by making a music video of your favourite songs! Film it so you can share it on your socials.

Go Fishing

Head to the lake for some fishing fun! Pack a picnic and make it a whole day affair.

Roast Marshmallows

Roast marshmallows or make s’mores using a kit! This is a must on any summer bucket list!

Fly a Kite

Head to a windy spot to fly a kite!

Make a Bird Feeder

Summer Bucket list

Create a DIY bird feeder and hang it on min your yard. Enjoy spotting the different types of birds it attracts throughout the summer.

Make Your Own Summer Bucket List

You can make your own bucket list using our free blank summer bucket list template. Feel free to add as many of our ideas as you want in addition to your own.

Make sure to add activities and ideas that you and your family look forward to doing. Also, make sure that they are summer bucket list ideas – so things that you can only do during the warm summer months. 

Even More Summer Bucket List Ideas

summer bucket list

​There are way more summer bucket list ideas that you can add to your own summer activity list. The possibilities are really endless.

Here are even more fun activities that would be perfect for adding to your summer bucket list

  • Make a surfboard craft
  • Do a cartwheel
  • Play dice
  • Swing on a tree swing
  • Jump in a trampoline
  • Visit new to you local businesses
  • Make Jello play-doh
  • Take a walk at night to see the city lights
  • Go on a hike
  • Make homemade donuts
  • Jump rope
  • Go waterskiing
  • Make an air dry clay craft
  • Blow soap bubbles
  • Use a slip and slide
  • Make your own DIY water games
  • Eat a snow cone
  • Make cotton candy from scratch
  • Play with Play-Doh
  • Watch a sunset
  • Make a craft like our colorful surfboard craft or pool float craft
  • Watch a sunrise
  • Take a nap in a tent
  • Go roller blading
  • Build an outdoor blanket fort
  • Run through a sprinkler
  • Make a sensory bin
  • Watch fireworks
  • Get your face painted
  • Get a temporary tattoo
  • Make your own popsicles
  • Go to a drive in movie
  • Build a sand castle
  • Collect sea shells
  • Play street hockey
  • Make clothespin crafts
  • Pick dandelions
  • Catch butterflies
  • Go to a splash pad
  • Play animal bingo
  • Go berry picking
  • Go geocaching
  • Make your own milkshakes
  • Eat ice cream for breakfast
  • Run through the grass bare foot
  • Eat a fresh watermelon
  • Go stargazing at night 
  • Play tic tac toe
  • Celebrate Christmas in July
  • Make homemade ice cream sandwiches
  • Plant a veggie garden
  • Play frisbee
  • Use a pogo stick
  • Go bird watching
  • Skateboard
  • Donate food to a food bank
  • Play tennis
  • Go aqua-dancing
  • Color a color by number page
  • Wear a mermaid tail
  • Swim in the ocean or lake
  • Play board games with the family
  • Hula hoop
  • Do the limbo
  • Do a word search puzzle
  • Have a pillow fight
  • Stay  up all night
  • Prank someone
  • Have a family movie night
  • Make a campfire
  • Launch fire crackers
  • Make slime 
  • Have a puppet show
  • Put on a concert for your family
  • Make a root beer float
  • Have a shaving cream fight
  • Make a tie-dye craft
  • Do some folded paper origami
  • Make a friendship bracelet
  • Go bowling
  • Have a nerf gun fight
  • Do a new LEGO set
  • Play flashlight tag
  • Play hide and seek at night
  • Take a walk in the rain
  • Play pin the nose on the clown
  • Do some fingerpainting
  • Bake cookies for a friend
  • Play hopscotch
  • Make sail paper boats
  • Play would you rather?
  • Go mini-golfing
  • Donate some toys
  • Play with a yo-yo
  • Learn a magic trick
  • Jump rope
  • Write a letter to someone
  • Feed the ducks
  • Have a DIY spa day
  • Write a poem
  • Buy an ice cream from an ice cream truck
  • Start a blessings jar
  • Wash the family car
  • Create a comic book
  • Play capture the flag with friends
  • Make homemade pizza with your favorite toppings
  • Make melted crayon art
  • Create a tissue paper sun catcher
  • Do some mixed media crafting
  • Go cloud watching 

More Activities For Kids

Summer bingo – playing bingo on a summer night is the perfect summer activity! 

Summer word search – an adorable summer themed word search puzzle for kids.

Summer crafts for kids – add these crafts to your own summer bucket list when you feel like getting creative with the kids.

Tic Tac Toe – one of our favorite free summer bucket list ideas you can download and use for free.


There you have it! A free printable summer bucket list loaded with fun ideas for kids to do on their free time during the summer.

We’d love to know if you are planning to use this list of activities. Snap a photo and show us the fun ways you’re using our bucket list via social media – Facebook is your best bet.

We may even feature your picture in this post. 

What good ideas are on your summer bucket list?

P.S keep your eyes out for an adorable Summer themed craft next week!

Download Links

Click on the the link below to download both copies of our summer bucket list printable in pdf format.

summer bucket list

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