101 Summer Bucket List Ideas (2024)

Looking for Summer bucket list ideas to keep you and your kids busy and happy this summer? Here are tons of ideas for friends and families to do together – and a FREE printable list!

Summertime is my favorite time of the year. It’s hot, the days are long, and it feels like there are so many special occasions.

However, if you are off of your normal routine – kids are home from school, college is out, you have a break from work – the days can feel long and the weeks can feel longer.

Enter the summer bucket list.

A bucket list is a great way to make a big list of fun ideas to have in your back pocket. When someone feels bored or restless, refer to the bucket list for a new activity.

Let the summer fun begin!

Click here to download the FREE printable summer bucket list!

What is a bucket list?

A bucket list is a list of activities or accomplishments you want to get done by a set date or time. Traditionally it’s before you “kick the bucket,” but in our case, it is by the end of summer!

What makes a great bucket list for kids?

A great way to make your kids get excited about a bucket list is to let them be involved. You can give them ideas – and I have tons of ideas for you! – but you should also let them come up with some ideas and get to choose what makes the cut.

A lot of these are ideas for kids but a lot of them could also work for teens, college students, roommates, or couples. Fun activities have no age limit!

How to use the bucket list

Print the list and hang it up on your fridge or bulletin board. Or, write ideas on slips of paper and create a Bored Jar for the summer!

How to make a custom bucket list

If you want to make a bucket list that is perfect for you, you need to first think about your priorities and what you want to do!

Do you want to spend time outside? Focus on outdoor activities!

Want to learn new skills? Think about classes you can take or museums you might visit.

Pick specific bucket list ideas that suit your goals for the ultimate customized summer bucket list.

101 Summer Bucket List Ideas (2)

Ultimate Summer Bucket List Ideas

Here are a ton of fun summer activity ideas to get your summer bucket list started! I tried to focus on things that were very cheap or free and could be done with or without kids. Enjoy!

  1. Pick strawberries
  2. Have a water balloon fight
  3. Make ice cream from scratch
  4. Visit a museum
  5. Fly a kite
  6. Decorate a sidewalk with chalk
  7. Blow bubbles
  8. Paint rocks
  9. Tie dye t-shirts
  10. Try origami
  11. Go for a hike
  12. Have a picnic
  13. Stargaze
  14. Catch fireflies
  15. Watch fireworks
  16. Dance in the rain
  17. Watch a sunrise
  18. Watch a sunset
  19. Have a food fight
  20. Plant a garden
  21. Host a scavenger hunt
  22. Bury a time capsule
  23. Go to the library
  24. Go for a bike ride
  25. Play in the sprinklers
  26. Play on a slip and slide
  27. Make s’mores
  28. Have a pillow fight
  29. Camp in the back yard
  30. Do a random act of kindness (here are ideas for Random Acts of Kindness for Kids!)
  31. Play flashlight tag
  32. Paint a wall
  33. Play bingo
  34. Bake treats for a neighbor
  35. Make homemade pizza
  36. Identify plants in your neighborhood
  37. Make paper airplanes
  38. Skip rocks on a pond
  39. Have a yard sale
  40. Decorate cookies
  41. Have a favorite movie marathon
  42. Host a game night
  43. Make popsicles
  44. Take a class and learn a new skill
  45. Feed the ducks
  46. Make pickles
  47. Go to a local festival
  48. Do a craft
  49. Have a “yes” day
  50. Build a sandcastle
  51. Have breakfast for dinner
  52. Organize a drawer or closet
  53. Cook a new recipe
  54. Build a fort
  55. Start a collection
  56. Make sushi
  57. Play hide and seek
  58. Eat a watermelon
  59. Walk through a new neighborhood
  60. Catch fireflies
  61. Make ice cream floats
  62. Try a new vegetable
  63. Wear your pajamas all day
  64. Sit by the fire and sing
  65. Invite someone new to dinner
  66. Set up a bird feeder
  67. Play dodge ball
  68. Take a nap in a hammock
  69. Make mud pies
  70. Read at least ten books – check out this summer reading list!
  71. Go fishing
  72. Make a new friend
  73. Get a pen pal
  74. Visit a new park
  75. Get a house plant
  76. Wrap a gift with recycled wrapping paper
  77. Play Marco Polo
  78. Plant flowers
  79. Feed ducks or birds
  80. Cook dinner over a bonfire
  81. Visit a farmer’s market
  82. Have a slumber party
  83. Go to an outdoor concert
  84. Do a good deed
  85. Make slime
  86. Have a water gun war
  87. Shop at a yard sale
  88. Write and mail a handwritten letter
  89. Ride in a boat
  90. Make ice cream sundaes
  91. Roast marshmallows
  92. Teach a dog a new trick
  93. Petsit for a friend
  94. Decorate bikes and have a parade
  95. Unplug for 1 day
  96. Sleep in a tent
  97. Visit an ice cream truck
  98. Make tortillas from scratch
  99. Attend a sporting event
  100. Paint a landscape
  101. Video chat a friend or relative
101 Summer Bucket List Ideas (3)

Free printable Summer Bucket List!

Want to print your bucket list and hang it on the fridge or a bulletin board? You are in luck! Click here to sign up and I will email you a Summer bucket list printable!

You will get two files – one is filled in with 50 Summer bucket list ideas and the other has blanks so that you and your family can add your own ideas!

What’s on your summer bucket list?

101 Summer Bucket List Ideas (5)

Morgan

Hey there, I’m Morgan, the creative mind behind CelebratingWithKids.com! As a parent of two lively little ones, I’ve made it my mission to turn ordinary days into extraordinary adventures, sharing playful activities, thoughtful toy reviews, and delightful printables to help families celebrate every moment together. 🎉👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🎈

101 Summer Bucket List Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What's on your bucket list answers? ›

These 50 bucket list ideas might spark some inspiration — and a bit of bravery, too.
  • Sleep under the stars. ...
  • Visit your dream destination. ...
  • Go back to school. ...
  • Learn how to paint. ...
  • Read 100 books in a year. ...
  • Jump out of a plane. ...
  • Go on the most romantic date ever. ...
  • Bake a cake from scratch.
Mar 28, 2023

What is 1 thing on your bucket list? ›

101 Things To Do Before You Die
  • Travel all around the world. ...
  • Learn a new language. ...
  • Try a profession in a different field. ...
  • Achieve your ideal weight. ...
  • Run a marathon. ...
  • Take part in a triathlon. ...
  • Take up a new sport. ...
  • Go scuba diving / snorkeling and experience marine life up close.

What's on your bucket list this summer? ›

10 Summer Bucket List Ideas
  • Have a picnic. It only takes an hour or two and it's a fun, relaxing activity with a family or friend. ...
  • Spend the day at the beach. ...
  • Go to an amusem*nt park. ...
  • Throw a BBQ at your house. ...
  • Go camping for a weekend. ...
  • Stargaze. ...
  • Attend a bonfire. ...
  • Watch a movie at a drive-in theater.

How do you write a summer bucket list? ›

Tips for creating your summer bucket list
  1. Don't compare or compete. ...
  2. Don't treat it as a to-do list. ...
  3. Research Local Events. ...
  4. Include a mix of different kinds of activities. ...
  5. Watch a movie. ...
  6. Visit your local library. ...
  7. Read a book. ...
  8. Explore a museum or art gallery.

What is the most common thing on a bucket list? ›

Without a doubt, the most popular experience on someone's bucket list had to do with travel—and 77% of our survey indicated that they had some sort of travel goal on their personal lists.

How do I complete my bucket list? ›

  1. 1) Find Accountability.
  2. 2) Have multiple things you can do on a random Saturday.
  3. 3) Have other things that will take you years to accomplish.
  4. 4) Tell EVERYONE about your new bucket list goals.
  5. 5) Postcards don't always make the best bucket list items.
  6. 6) Think about all facets of life.
  7. 7) Add Something You've Already Done.
Apr 7, 2023

Can a bucket list be anything? ›

Bucket lists can be useful in any area of your life, including your hobbies. No matter what you're into, you can make a list of things you'd like to accomplish, like reading 100 books, spending a year sewing your own clothing, or watching all the films or your favorite director or actor.

Do most people have a bucket list? ›

A survey conducted by Stanford University School of Medicine found that over 90% of participants had a bucket list. The researchers sorted bucket list items into six categories. Those, along with examples, are included below: Travel (78.5%) - visit a specific attraction, city, or country.

Do you know what a bucket list is? ›

A bucket list is a collection of experiences a person wishes to have before they die. On my list, for example, I have places I want to visit, things I want to do, experiences I want to have, and items I want to buy.

Why make a summer bucket list? ›

A summer bucket list lets you indulge your daydreams and think about all the things you, and your family or friends, want to do during the short season. It helps you make the most out of your time, so you don't feel disappointed by all you didn't do come the first day of fall.

What is good about the bucket list? ›

It allows us to reflect on what matters most to us, on our personal values and identify important life milestones and experiences that we want to have before a certain milestone in our life ( e.g. high school graduation, college graduation, before retirement, before we die).

What is your bucket list as a student? ›

  • #1: Study Abroad.
  • #2: Eat at Every Local Restaurant in Town.
  • #3: Go On A Road Trip With Friends.
  • #4: Make the Dean's List.
  • #5: Dye Your Hair, Pierce Something, or Get a Tattoo.
  • #6: Enjoy Your Student Discount.
  • #7: Apply For Your First Credit Card.
  • #8: Participate in School Traditions.
Dec 20, 2023

How do I make a simple bucket list? ›

Think of things you'd like to have done before you die. This can be anything that you'd regret not having done in your life, a book that you always wanted to read, a food that you always wanted to sample, a group you'd always wanted to see perform live, a place you've always wanted to visit, stuff like that.

How do I fill my summer? ›

15 Fun Ways to Fill Your Summer
  1. Brush up on your local history.
  2. Splash or swim the day away.
  3. Catch a game.
  4. Shop your local farmers market and stores.
  5. Visit the library.
  6. Volunteer.

What should a bucket list look like? ›

Include anything you like on your bucket list. List career goals, travel destinations, health, finance, or relationship goals. It can be as long or as short as you want. Really, if you can dream it, you can do it.

What is your bucket list and why? ›

A bucket list is made up of a variety of personal goals, dreams, and experiences that a person wishes to accomplish in their lifetime. This can include travel adventures, professional achievements, personal development goals, relationship milestones, creative projects, and acts of giving back.

How many things are on a bucket list? ›

Bucket lists may be 10 or 100 items long and consist of a range of different categories. The examples listed above may help you discover which category is most or least important to you. It's also important to hand-write your bucket list opposed to typing it or not solidifying it at all.

What is your bucket list essay? ›

I believe that bucket list items don't necessarily have to be activities that we want to complete before we die, but also, life improvements that are necessary but at the moment are difficult to obtain. First, Traveling all around the world has always been my goal since I was little.

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