71 Summer Bucket List Ideas for 2025 (Add Yours!)

Even if you usually prefer the seedless variety, get your hands on a watermelon with seeds at least once during the summer break to have a watermelon seed spitting contest with the kids! Take turns spitting watermelon seeds and see who can launch theirs the farthest.

For a family PJ day, pick a day where everyone in the house wears their PJs from morning to night. That means you, too, mom and dad! Drive it home by serving breakfast for dinner.

Say goodbye to training wheels this summer and teach your kid to ride a big kid bike! Achieving this skill can open the door to so many more family-friendly bike trail options to add to your summer bucket list.

A summer backyard movie night works best if you own (or can borrow) a projector, but rolling your TV outdoors works too! When the sun goes down, queue up a summer family movie and invite a couple friends over to watch outside.

Every state in the U.S. has reserved land for the public to enjoy and for nature to thrive untouched. See which ones are near you and add a day of hiking, boating, canoeing, biking, or bird watching to your family summer bucket list!

Wake the gang early to watch a sunrise. A warm mug of hot chocolate will make the early wake-up easier, but opt for catching a sunset instead if that's more your style!

Frozen treats are a must over summer break, and it's easy and fun to use a popsicle mold to make your own popsicles. Try simple popsicle recipes or experiment with pureed fruit, juice, yogurt, ice cream and more. See if you can come up with your family's favorite signature flavor before summer is out!

Today's tie dye kits are a little less messy, with pre-measured dye in squeezable bottles. It's a fun wearable art project to try over the summer.

Stop and smell the roses this summer, literally! Botanic gardens and conservatories are ideal for all-ages family fun. Check out what's in bloom by you! Connect with nature, go on leisurely walks, take beautiful photos of the kids, relax in fresh air and more. This is a great non travel summer bucket list idea that will help you feel like you're someplace else!

If they're ready for an upgrade and aging out of their little kid bedroom decor, summer is the perfect time to redecorate a bedroom for your tween or teen.

Shila said:  Consider repainting or wallpapering, purchasing a new bedspread, an area rug, cool artwork, and trendy lighting. Your kids may feel that much more grown up when they return to school in the fall!

Fishing is a great family summer bucket list activity for all ages, and you'll have time for some great conversations with your kids. Note that you may need to apply for a local permit.

Shila said:  Fishing is a great family bucket list activity for all ages, and you'll have time for some great conversations with your kids. Note that you may need to apply for a local permit.

A scavenger hunt is a fun summer bucket list activity that kids really get into. Find and print a list online, or take a stab at creating one yourself with a list of things the kids might find around the house or backyard.

Pack the supplies, plan some tasty camping meals (including marshmallows for s'mores!) and stay overnight at a campground. From pitching the tent that you'll sleep in together to sitting around the fire sharing silly stories, this is an epic summer memory to make as a family. No campground? Camp in your backyard! Sleeping under the stars at home can be just as nice.

A foodie challenge is one of those epic summer bucket list ideas that you can enjoy all break long. Pick a theme for your challenge that's exciting for your family. Maybe you order from a new restaurant every Friday night, or sample cuisines from as many different countries as you can.

Nothing like those long summer nights to inspire us to turn our gaze upward! Whether on a family camping trip, at a local observatory, or in your own backyard, spend a peaceful evening admiring the beauty of the night sky. A home telescope or pair of binoculars will allow you to see celestial objects more clearly, but you really don't need any fancy equipment to enjoy the view. Who knows, it may even inspire a new hobby for the kids (or you)!