We all love the idea of a big summer vacation — the beach resort, the road trip, the theme park where you spend $22 on a hot dog and pretend it’s fine. But let’s be honest: the planning alone can feel like a second job. And between the cost, the time-off requests, and trying to coordinate everyone’s schedule, sometimes it just doesn’t happen. That doesn’t mean your summer has to be any less magical. Some of the best memories our kids will carry with them forever happen right in the backyard, at the end of the street, or on a completely ordinary Tuesday night that had absolutely no business being that good.
I made a list this year. Not a to-do list — a memory list.
Fifteen things I actually want us to do before the school supplies hit the shelves (you know, in July, because apparently that’s allowed now).
I’m sharing the whole thing below, along with the gear that makes each one actually happen without a meltdown — theirs or mine.
You can also make your own list with the digital download available here!
The list
1 Spend a day at the beach
Yes, even if it’s crowded. Yes, even if someone gets sand somewhere unspeakable. It’s always worth it. A beach wagon and a pop-up shade tent will genuinely change your life.Beach day essentials
2 Go for a family bike ride
Find a trail, let the kids set the pace (brace yourself), and bring snacks. The snacks are non-negotiable. Don’t forget helmets.Kids bike helmets
3 Surprise the kids with ice cream
No occasion, no reason, no warning. Just “get in the car.” Watch their faces. Tuck that moment away forever.
4 Visit a new playground
Make it an adventure — pick one in a town you’ve never been to. New playground, new energy. They’ll run until their legs give out and sleep like champs.
5 Make s’mores outside
No firepit? A tabletop fire bowl works perfectly and costs a fraction of the vacation you didn’t take. Worth every penny.Tabletop fire Pit
6 Watch the sunset together
Bring a blanket, put the phones face down, and just sit. It’s free. It’s beautiful. It’s the kind of quiet your soul needs after a loud week.Outdoor blankets
7 Run through sprinklers or water balloons
Self-filling water balloons have completely changed this activity and I will not hear otherwise. Get in the game. Yes, you too.Water Fun
8 Pack a picnic for dinner
Sandwiches taste better outside. It’s science. Grab a good insulated cooler bag, pick a pretty spot, and eat dinner somewhere you’ve never eaten dinner before.Picnic sets & cooler bags
9 Stay outside a little longer than usual
Let bedtime slide. Just once. The dishes can wait, the inbox can wait, the whole world can wait. This moment cannot.
Some of the best summers happen entirely at home. You just have to decide they will.
10 Have an outdoor movie night
A portable projector, a white sheet, a pile of blankets and pillows, and whatever movie gets voted on loudest. This is the one my kids ask for every single week and honestly — I get it. It’s pure magic.Portable projectors
11 Catch fireflies at dusk
Mason jars, holes poked in the lid, pure wonder on their faces. Let them go before bed. Some things you just can’t replicate at any theme park in the world.Bug catcher kits for kids
12 Visit a local farmers market
Give the kids a small budget and let them pick whatever looks good. You will be surprised, delighted, and possibly handed a very confident tomato.
13 Make homemade popsicles together
Let them pick the flavors, make a mess, and taste-test approximately seventeen times before they’re even frozen. Mango-strawberry is currently winning in our house.Popsicle molds
14 Visit a farm or pick-your-own fruit stand
Whatever’s in season — strawberries, blueberries, peaches. Kids will eat three times as much fruit when they picked it themselves. Guaranteed.
15 Have a sidewalk chalk art contest
Judge the results. Give everyone first place. Get the big 52-color set because if you’re going to do it, you’re going to do it right. Sidewalk Chalk Activity Pack
Want everything in one place?
I’ve put together an Amazon storefront with all my favorite summer picks — organized by activity so you can shop the whole list in minutes and get back to actually enjoying your summer.
You don’t need to do all fifteen. Pick three. Start this weekend. The ones your kids will remember when they’re grown are almost never the expensive ones — they’re the warm nights, the jar of fireflies, the sprinkler in the front yard, the Tuesday that somehow became the best day of the whole summer. That’s the magic. It was always right here.
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