120 Epic Summer Bucket List Ideas for You to Make Every Day Count

Time passes so fast. Blink your eyes and you’ll realize that it’s already mid-July, the sun’s blazing, and you’re still trying to figure out how to make the most out of summer? I used to spend the first two weeks out of school purely watching TV until I was so bored I had to find something else to do.

Whether you’re looking to spice up your weekend with friends, help your teens dodge boredom, or keep your kids busy (and out of trouble), here are 120 summer bucket list ideas to squeeze every last drop of fun from the sunny season.

1. Summer Bucket List for Adults

Suns out, buns out. Adulting has a sneaky way of turning summer into just another season packed with responsibilities and to-do lists. We might not all live by the beach, but with great weather go unwind, adventure, and finally prioritize some fun for yourself.

1. Go on a whale-watching tour
2. Swim with dolphins
3. Cross the Sahara desert on a camel caravan
4. Throw a BBQ party
5. Go on a sunrise adventure in a hot-air balloon
6. Experience a silent meditation retreat
7. Go on a multi-day horseback riding adventure
8. Complete a marathon
9. Go on an African safari
10. Learn to fly a plane with a professional pilot
11. Participate in a traditional vineyard harvest
12. Drive a race car on a professional track
13. Go parasailing over a beautiful beach
14. Pilot a drone in a professional drone racing course
15. Experience a day as a zookeeper
16. Join a beekeeping workshop and harvest honey
17. Train to become a certified scuba diver
18. Attend a vintage car rally
19. Journey through an underground cave system
20. Go sandboarding in a desert
21. Visit a water park
22. Rent a kayak for sunset kayaking
23. Host a garden party
24. Start a sunrise yoga session
25. Read a book by the pool or river 
26. Attend an outdoor concert or movie screening
27. Paint your nails with unique designs for summer
28. Visit a nearby orchard for fruit picking
29. Have a stargazing night
30. Organize an outdoor picnic

2. Summer Bucket List for Teens

School’s finally out, and summer’s finally here. Teens these days are probably already scrolling TikTok, trying to find something better to do than just melting on the couch.

Even if you’re nowhere near the beach, these sunny days were made for epic memories, late-night hangouts, and the kind of adventures you’ll still be talking about when September rolls around. Grab your besties, go on an on outdoor adventure, there’s no limit to what a teen can do.

1. Build a treehouse
2. Bike across your state
3. Learn to skydive
4. Participate in an archaeological dig
5. Experience the thrill of base jumping
6. Learn a rare martial art
7. Experience living off-grid for a week
8. Participate in an ocean clean-up project
9. Organize a large-scale tree-planting initiative
10. Photograph a rare wildlife species
11. Learn traditional archery from a master
12. Start a small business for a summer
13. Take a masterclass in calligraphy
14. Organize a beach bonfire night
15. Start a vlog or blog to document your summer experiences
16. Organize a DIY outdoor movie theatre
17. Learn a new skill
18. Plan a day trip to an amusement or theme park
19. Organize a backyard camping
20. Organize a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood
21. Attend a legendary music festival or concert
22. Plan a road trip
23. Take a photography challenge
24. Go hiking or biking
25. Read a book series over the summer
26. Go rock climbing
27. Plan a ‘staycation’
28. Learn a new language
29. Create an outdoor art installation
30. Visit a national park

3. Summer Bucket List for Kids

The world is your plaything when you’re a kid. As a parent, I always hope to expand my child’s horizons and create memories they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives. Here are a few summer ideas for kids that may keep them away from screens! 

However, safety is always the main focus for kids, so make sure that you investigate the people and companies behind any of these activities before allowing your kid to do them.

1. Lunar eclipse camping adventure
2. Grow a garden from seed to harvest
3. Visit a zoo or aquarium
4. Attend a rocket launch
5. Take a beginner’s horseback riding lesson
6. Build a giant Lego structure
7. Camp out in the backyard
8. Go on an interactive dinosaur fossil hunt
9. Visit a local farm to pick fresh fruits
10. Volunteer at an animal shelter for a day
11. Take part in a children’s pottery-making workshop
12. Visit a planetarium and learn about the solar system
13. Organize a paper airplane-making and flying contest
14. Create a miniature golf course at home
15. Set up a butterfly garden
16. Start a small business, like a lemonade stand
17. Build and fly a kite of your own design
18. Build a birdhouse
19. Create a time-lapse video of a growing plant
20. Build a sandcastle city on the beach
21. Make homemade ice cream from scratch
22. Have a water gun fight
23. Have a water balloon fight
24. Have a sprinkler dance party
25. Do a science experiment like a tornado in a bottle
26. Make an outdoor fort
27. Have a family bike ride
28. Watch a movie outside
29. Eat a snow cone
30. Paint rocks

4. Summer Bucket List With Friends

What’s summer without your friends to hype you up and make even the simplest moments legendary? Finally turn those group chats into actual plans and coordinate those PTO days.

Create new memories of wild adventures, chill hangouts, or anything that gets your crew together. These bucket list ideas will keep your squad thriving all summer long.

1. Experience a helicopter tour over a natural landscape
2. Spend a night in an underwater hotel
3. Spend a week in a secluded wilderness cabin
4. Complete a cross-country road trip in a vintage vehicle
5. Organize a charity sports tournament
6. Train with a professional sports team for a day
7. Go on a nighttime scuba diving adventure
8. Go on a multi-day river rafting expedition
9. Learn to play a new musical instrument and perform together
10. Make tie-dye shirts
11. Go on a geocaching treasure hunt
12. Go on a road trip adventure
13. Have a summer-themed potluck party
14. Create a summer photo challenge
15. Start a book club
16. Organize a sunrise or sunset watching
17. Start a group fitness challenge
18. Host a summer-themed game night
19. Take a group painting class
20. Make tropical smoothies
21. Try geocaching
22. Create a summer playlist
23. Participate in a fun run or charity walk
24. Plan a beach clean-up
25. Rent a boat for a sunset boat cruise
26. Start a mini book or film club for the summer
27. Plan a backyard Olympics
28. Have a DIY spa day
29. Go on a nature photography
30. Plan a sustainable living day

What’s on Your Summer Bucket List?

Summer is a special season when the sun shines a little brighter and the days last a little longer. It’s an ideal opportunity to create lasting memories. It’s the time to soak in life, whether through outdoor adventures, trying new things, or enjoying moments with loved ones.

A summer bucket list is all about making the most of the good weather and your free time. So, let your hair down, laugh a lot, and make this summer one you’ll remember fondly. It’s all about enjoying the little moments and making the most of this sunny season.

This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks. 

Nadia Boeckmann

Founder at Nadia OnPoint | Website

Nadia is a full-time blogger and founder ofNadia OnPoint. She's a Business Administration Graduate who enjoys reading, writing, and watching Anime. She's here to hook you up with trendy gift guides for absolutely everyone in your life. When not working on her blog, you'll most likely find her reading a book or wasting too much time on Instagram.

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