Are you planning out a summer bucket list? We have 31 summer bucket list ideas for you! From frozen drinks to longer days, everything is just better in the summer. We look forward to this season all year long and every year vow that this will be the best summer ever. Unfortunately, as I’m sure you can relate, work, school, and other responsibilities can get in the way of all the fun. Before you know it, Labor Day approaches and summer is over. With one month to go, it’s time to milk the most fun imaginable out of what’s left of the season. Here’s your exclusive guide to an amazing summer with fun ideas to try every day. These ideas are fun whether you’re in a relationship (hello date night!) or solo (hello self care!) Let Lana Del Rey have her summertime sadness. You don’t have time for anything but fun and happiness with these summer bucket list ideas.

31 Summer Bucket List Ideas

Day 1 – summer bucket list idea:

Drive with the windows down, your favorite summer songs blasting, and singing at the top of your lungs. Even if your destination is the office and not the beach, it’ll make getting there way more fun.

Day 2 – summer bucket list idea:

Have an adventurous day on the water! Try an activity like: Kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, scuba diving, and/or zip lining! Check out daily coupon sites like Groupon to score an awesome deal. Tip: Thrilling activities like these can help increase your feelings of love so take your summer crush along! {Suggested reading: Date ideas that boost your love!}

Day 3 – summer bucket list idea:

Take advantage of the beautiful weather and take your workout outdoors! Rock climbing, hiking, swimming, bike riding- so many fun ideas to get your activity in and feel like you’re having a fun summer day. If you have the time, follow it up with a looooooong leisurely brunch al fresco.

Day 4 – summer bucket list idea:

Beat the Monday blues by stopping by the beach for a relaxing walk on your way home. No beach nearby? Walk though a local park, by the lake, or through a garden. These long sunny days will be over before you know it, so make sure you’re taking advantage as best as you can!

Day 5 – summer bucket list idea:

Pick a song of the summer. Choose a track that’ s upbeat and maybe even slightly cheesy. Play it while you’re driving, getting ready…all the time. Whenever you hear it in the future it’ll remind you of your amazing summer.

Day 6 – summer bucket list idea:

Light a candle on your desk with a coconut scent, set Pandora at work to a salsa or Hawaiian station, and sip on an iced coconut latte to get yourself in a vacation state of mind. No matter where you are, or how mundane the day is, focus on that coconut taste and pretend you’re somewhere tropical far away.

Day 7 – summer bucket list idea:

Take your lunch outside and have an outdoor picnic to get your weekend started early! Even if you only have 30 minutes for lunch, why not take those outside? Any outdoor space you have available to you is perfect for a picnic!

Day 8 – summer bucket list idea:

Spend the day at a water park! We know you probably haven’t gone since you were a kid, but you’d be surprised how good of a date activity this can be. You’ll have lots of spontaneous fun and make lots of goofy memories. Plus, as we’ve mentioned before, thrilling activities boost your bond with those you participate in them with.

Day 9 – summer bucket list idea:

Hit up a farmers market and create a fresh and yummy lunch using in season ingredients. Make a little extra so you can take a yummy and healthy lunch along with you tomorrow. Make sure to buy some fruits and veggies that you can stash in your office fridge so you’ll have something healthy to snack on. It can be really fun to purchase something new that you’ve never tried before and look up recipes.

Day 10 – summer bucket list idea:

Hot steamy nights are fun when you’re having a relaxing night outdoors, but not when you’re trying to sleep. Pop your sheets in the freezer before bed and sleep with your windows open to enjoy the warm breeze. It’ll feel so good on a super hot night.

Day 11 – summer bucket list idea:

Instead of going out to happy hour after work, stay in, gather your friends, and try to create the world’s best margarita recipe. You can also turn this into a competition and see who can create the best margarita. Tip: try different flavors of gelato and fresh squeezed limes instead of store-bought mixes. We had an amazing margarita in Mexico years ago that was made with gelato and to this day, it’s still the best margarita we’ve ever had!

Day 12 – summer bucket list idea:

Cool down with a yummy popsicle as you drive. It’ll be harder for traffic to bum you out as you enjoy this sweet treat. I do this all the time in the summer, even in the morning, and it makes the drive feel so much more fun, plus cools you down! If you don’t want to get an unhealthy sugar rush in the morning, try freezing healthy smoothie recipes into popsicle molds and have that for breakfast! Popsicles for breakfast, that are still healthy and sneaking in all the greens? Yes please!

Day 13 – summer bucket list idea:

Keep a bikini or swim trunks in your car so you’re always ready for an impromptu tanning or hot tub session. You never know what spontaneous moments can come up in the summer. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve actually used swimsuits that we’ve kept in the car or how many times we wished we had swimsuits in the car! There are so many fun spontaneous moments available in the summer if you are just open to the idea of them!

Day 14 – summer bucket list idea:

Take a random Friday off and go on a day trip. You can research it beforehand and plan it (studies have shown that just the act of planning a trip can boost happiness levels) or be spontaneous and just drive somewhere (this will increase the excitement factor). Feeling extra gutsy? Take your day trip alone and enjoy some much needed me-time. We love these books which give you itineraries for 36 hour long trips.

Day 15 – summer bucket list idea:

Bored? Search events in your area. You might find something like an outdoor concert, food truck extravaganza, or produce-themed festival. There are often so many more fun activities in our area than we ever realize. Some of the events might sound silly or dorky, but goofy experiences are what usually make the best memories.

Day 16 – summer bucket list idea:

Have a beach day! Take along a cooler full of snacks, some toys (like a volleyball, Frisbee…), and plenty of sunscreen. Channel your inner five-year-old and challenge your friends to a sandcastle building contest. If you feel like sneaking along some adult beverages, try spiking some capri-suns and stashing it in the freezer for a yummy slushy cocktail.

Day 17 – summer bucket list idea:

It can be hard to transition back to the work-week after a fun summer weekend. Ease into it by busting out water guns and/or water balloons after work and challenging your significant other to a friendly fight. There’s no better time than summer to let loose and have some fun and being able to act like a kid with your significant other can be a big boost to your relationship.

Day 18 – summer bucket list idea:

Take advantage of the longer days, the sun will be setting earlier pretty soon! Boycott the gym and take your workout outdoors for some fresh air. Being outside will challenge your muscles in a different way than working out inside and provide you with extra relaxation benefits.

Day 19 – summer bucket list idea:

Wind down your night with an at home mini spa. Use a tropical inspired scrub of coconut oil mixed with sea salt and apply a hair mask. Your skin will be glowing and your hair will be super soft just in time for the weekend. Coupled up? Turn it into a couples spa and trade massages, scrubs, and head rubs. Gentlemen, you might be surprised how much you will like this…

Day 20 – summer bucket list idea:

Cool down after work by running through the sprinklers. Bonus points: set up a slip and slide in your backyard. Again, there’s no better time than summer to pretend to be a kid again.

Day 21 – summer bucket list idea:

Camp out in your backyard. Light a fire, make some s’mores, tell scary stories, and stay up all night. If you’re not really an outdoorsy person, why not set up a mock tent in your living room and camp out there? Again, a summer bucket list idea where you are channeling your inner kid, but that’s because it’s always so much fun!

Day 22 – summer bucket list idea: 

Most towns host outdoor movies every Saturday evenings and/or Sunday mornings during the summer. Find one in your area and take along a picnic as you enjoy the big screen outdoors. Hit up an outdoor bar or lounge afterwards.

Day 23 – summer bucket list idea:

Gather up your friends and rent a boat for a day. Bring along your favorite summer music, lots of snacks and drinks and spend the day partying or relaxing (you do you!) under the sun.

Day 24 – summer bucket list idea:

Play time with kids! Don’t have your own? Offer to babysit your younger cousins or your neighbor’s kid while the parents go out on a date. They’ll love you, you’ll feel good getting to pass on your fun summer energy, and best of all you can use it as an excuse to engage in all your favorite childhood activities. Play games, build a fort out of blankets, eat ice cream before dinner… Better yet, just do all those things without kids!

Day 25 – summer bucket list idea:

Your tan is probably looking really good at this point in the month. Stock up on some brightly colored tanks, skirts, shorts, and dresses to wear. They are super cute, you’ll stand out, the colors will perk up your mood, and it’ll be much harder to pull off these colors once your back to pasty winter skin.

Day 26 – summer bucket list idea:

Most likely there’s a fair or carnival in your town this month. Stop by after work for some deep fried Oreos, to play a few games, and scream your lungs out on a rollercoaster.

Day 27 – summer bucket list idea:

Take some time after work to do something creative outdoors. Some ideas: set up an easel and paint in the park, take photographs in a garden, or sit in an outdoor café people to people watch and write a short story.

Friday of Labor Day Weekend – summer bucket list ideas:

Take the day off and turn it into a four-day weekend! Get ready for your trip with a spa day to relax and beautify you.

Saturday and Sunday of LDW – summer bucket list ideas:

Labor day weekend! Celebrate the end of summer with a big bang! Go for a weekend trip somewhere exciting or host back-to-back pool parties!

Monday of LDW – summer bucket list ideas:

Spend the day de-compressing. Chill by the pool with a trashy summer novel or your favorite magazines and something cool and refreshing to drink. Just because summer is over doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Spend some time with your planner and schedule in fun activities to look forward to every week. {Suggested Reading: How to Live Life Like a Vacation}

Check out bucket list ideas for couples!

What are your favorite summer bucket list ideas?

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