Each year we do a summer bucket list. I started this on the blog maybe 4 years ago. Basically we just make a list of fun things we want to do for summer. It has become a tradition in our house and my children look forward to it year after year.
The process has evolved over the years, we have tried different things and changed the schedule a bit. Now I feel pretty comfortable with what works and what doesn’t for our family.
What doesn’t work for us is a loosey goosey summer. We tried that last year. I had very little scheduled, very little planned and we spent a lot of days relaxing and hitting the pool. I know that is an ideal summer for many people but for us, I felt like we wasted the summer. I didn’t feel like we had made memories and it just seemed like summer slipped away while we weren’t looking 🙂 Plus I am not good at sitting. I’ll play in the pool with the kids for a bit and then get antsy and then read 3 pages of Real Simple and then I am ready to keep it moving.
We also tried one summer where I had a daily schedule- Monday was for art, Tuesday water play or pool time, Wednesday was adventures such as the zoo or a new park and so on. That also didn’t work really well for us. It was nice to have structure but what if Tuesday was cool or rainy and we didn’t want to go to the pool. Or what if I didn’t get a chance to plan an art project and get supplies for Monday. We learned that we definitely prefer flexibility in the schedule.
So back to basics and that is a nice long summer bucket list filled with all sorts of things to do. This year I changed things up just a little and added a few things I personally want to learn to do. So our list is really for the entire family this year not just the kiddos. I don’t stress at all about getting to every single item. Just a framework.
You can do as little or as much as you like- I know my list is long but we like to stay busy. If that isn’t for you- no worries! The key is to enjoy this moment in time with your family.
I broke my list up into: Let’s Eat, Let’s Go, Let’s Create and Let’s Learn and filled in some restaurants I want to try, art I think the kids will enjoy and a few places we’d like to go.
The list doesn’t include normal stuff we do like library trips and farmer’s market visits and trips to the park and to the pool and whatnot.
Here is my list:
Let’s Eat:
We are specializing in amazing ice cream parlors I have heard about and a few pizza places and brunch spots that I read about in various local magazines. Instagram is a great resource to learn about cool spots in your area.
Let’s Go:
- A few local hiking spots
- Indoor Surfing
- Parasailing
- Family Vaca to Seattle and Canada
- Local museum
- Local pear festival
- Nature Center
- Concert in the Park
- Six Flags
- Aquatic Center
- Local Farm
- And we want to see BFG (my daughter loved the book) and the Secret Life of Pets in theaters.
- Fly a Kite
- Catch Fireflies
- Peach picking
- Local Lavender Field
- 4th Grade Church Group
- American Girl Store
Let’s Create:
- Woven Bracelets
- Sunglass Cases (sewing practice)
- Watercolor Crayons
- Kool Aid Hair Color
- Tie Dye t-shirts
- Fairy Photo Shoot
- Harry Potter Book Release Party
::Projects I am hoping to post on the blog:
- Birdhouse Project
- Tie Dye Cookies
- Balloon Cookies
- Rainbow Bookmarks
- Water Chalk
- Jewelry Organizer
- Hoop Art Pinboard
- Peach Ice Cream
- Tile Paint
Let’s Learn:
- Vacation Bible School
- Sewing Classes
- Cooking Classes
- Braiding Hair
- Hand Lettering
- French Lessons
- Science Experiments
- Instagram/Photo Editing
- Photography
- Compassion Project
For the let’s learn, my daughter has already taken (4) sewing classes at Joann’s stores and we can’t wait to sign up for more. I plan to take some with her too since we are both beginners. My kid’s are learning a few recipes with me in the kitchen this summer and my oldest is taking cupcake decorating classes at Joann’s. I am hoping to take a cooking class or two as well.
I want to learn to do braids on the girls’ hair so that is my project and also working on hand lettering. I studied French in college and I want to just expose the girls to a little of the language. I checked out French for Kids CDs at the local library and we plan to listen to those while we do some art projects this summer.
My oldest is into photography right now so I am teaching her a little more about editing photos and I am going to create a private Instagram account so she can have a place to organize her pictures. And I am treating myself to a new Sports lens for my camera and plan to learn how to use that. So excited to get it!
What are your plans for summer?
Here are prior year’s activities for a little more inspiration:
Daily Activity Summer Schedule
Free Printable Fun List– plus tons more ideas for simple fun
Tamara H. says
I did not realize you are in N Cali. We are in the East Bay outside SF. I was curious where the lavender fields are located that you are planning to visit.
Thanks!
Charlene says
Hi Tamara,
My friend is a photographer and suggested this place:
https://www.facebook.com/BywaterHollowLavender/
I am hoping to go this weekend because it is the last one 🙂 June just flew past for me this year.
I don’t know if you ever get to Loomis but the gardens from the owners of High Hand open a few times a year and they are lovely. They have a somewhat large patch of lavender too:
http://www.maplerockgardens.com/
There is also a lavender festival in summer in Sonoma or Napa- we went last year and it was pretty but man it was hot. I don’t know that I would go back and I can’t think of what winery it was at. It was just open fields of lavender so pretty to look but we absolutely boiled last year.
Stephanie H says
Ok, I have to know,… Where do you go Peach Picking? My Roseville Mom’s Club would love that!!!
Charlene says
Hi Stephanie,
Fun! In the past we have gone to Twin Peaks. It looks like they won’t have U Pick this year but I was going to double check at the Farmer’s Market with them. It is always the same guy that does the Farmers Markets in the area.
https://www.facebook.com/Twin-Peaks-Orchards-117375321619633/
There is also the peach festival in Marysville that we sometimes go to:
http://marysvillepeachfest.com/
Here are the U Pick Farms for Apple Hill. I know for sure it is strawberry and blueberry season right now but I see Peaches listed too:
http://applehill.com/project_category/pick-your-own/
I would keep an eye on the Facebook page. They listed the bluberry farms last week and should have peaches up soon too:
https://www.facebook.com/AppleHillGrowersAssociation
And here is another option although a little far for me to drive:
http://gridley.wix.com/johnsonupickfarm
Have fun!