Our Summer Bucket List
Photo in Graphic: Erica Carryl | Vine & Branch Photography
Our oldest has been on summer break for about a week now. And it didn't take long for her to tell us that she was already bored. After being in school in person for the majority of the year... I'm not surprised she's having trouble figuring out what to do.
Her brother is still going to preschool. Her parents don't have summers off. Part of me feels a little sorry for her... And the other part of me—the part that grew up in the 80s—needs her to learn how to be more comfortable with boredom. Because boredom can inspire creativity and ingenuity... and some of her most fascinating projects were born from stretches of boredom.
But please... Don't worry.
She starts camp in a couple of weeks, so she's not going to have to fend for herself all summer. More importantly, we decided as a family to make the most of our summer. Especially since we were so limited last summer due to the pandemic and the lockdown.
We sat down last week and wrote out our Summer Bucket List of activities we want to do before school starts up again. Deciding which activities to focus on wasn't easy, so we didn't limit ourselves to a certain number. Instead, we filled our list with as many things as we could think of!
I know it's likely we won't do everything on our Summer Bucket List. It's a guide, rather than a list of absolute must-dos. So when it comes time to plan our schedules, it'll be super helpful to have all our ideas in one place.
Curious to see what made our Summer Bucket List? Need some inspiration to help you create your own?
Keep reading!
Let's start with our Summer Bucket List items that involve food. (Naturally.)
- EAT LOBSTER ROLLS from Lobster Landing
- MAKE HOMEMADE ICE CREAM - The kids love strawberry ice cream, but I wouldn't mind trying a new flavor.
- HAVE AN ICE CREAM SUNDAE PARTY
- MAKE A SUMMER DESSERT like these s'mores bars
- GO ON A PICNIC
- TAKE A PIZZA TOUR around New Haven - because Stephen still needs to try the pizza from Modern or Sally's.
- PICK FRUIT at a pick-your-own farm or orchard
- VISIT A LOCAL BREWERY
- EAT STEAMED CHEESEBURGERS - another Connecticut staple that Stephen's never had before!
Here are our Summer Bucket List items that encourage us to play!
- SPEND THE AFTERNOON AT THE PLAYGROUND
- PLAY WITH BUBBLES
- GO FISHING
- HAVE A TEA PARTY
- BUILD A SANDCASTLE
- PLAY MINIATURE GOLF
- GO TO A BASEBALL GAME - While I wish this meant a trip to Fenway... I'm thinking we should start with the Hartford Yard Goats...
- PLAY IN THE SPRINKLER
- BUILD A FORT IN THE LIVING ROOM
- STOMP IN PUDDLES
Next up? Our Summer Bucket List items that let us discover and explore!
- GO ON A HIKE - It's time to explore White Memorial and/or Steep Rock Preserve.
- RIDE A TRAIN - I think the family would love to book an excursion with the Railroad Museum of New England. Then again, I haven't been on an Essex Steam Train excursion since I was a kid, so...
- VISIT THE AQUARIUM
- VISIT THE ZOO
- WANDER A MUSEUM - Our art-loving daughter would probably enjoy a visit to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, but maybe the Eric Carle Museum would be better for the whole family.
- GO TO THE BEACH and dip our toes in the water
- ATTEND AN OUTDOOR CONCERT
- GO TO THE DRIVE-IN OR OUTDOOR MOVIE
- TAKE A BOAT RIDE
- SEE DINOSAUR TRACKS at Dinosaur State Park
- SPEND AFTERNOON PAINTING EN PLEIN AIR
- VISIT ANIMALS at local farm or petting zoo
While it'll be great to get out and explore, we're not going to want to spend all our free time out and about. Here are our Summer Bucket List items that will let us be comfy at home.
- HAVE A SLEEPOVER in the living room
- HAVE A MOVIE NIGHT
- READ IN THE HAMMOCK
- HAVE A GAME NIGHT
- SPEND ALL DAY IN PAJAMAS
- WRITE LETTERS TO SPECIAL PEOPLE
Speaking of special people, it wouldn't be a complete Summer Bucket List without visits to our special people!
- VISIT GRAMMA AND GRANDPA
- VISIT GRANDMOM AND POPPOP
- VISIT FRIENDS in the Lehigh Valley
And, last but not least... Here are the Summer Bucket List items that are going to force Mom and Dad to get something done around the house!
- PAINT ROOMS ON FIRST FLOOR - We're talking about the kitchen/nook, dining room, living room, and office. Pray for us.
- REDO THE LAUNDRY ROOM - This is also on the first floor. A "redo" will include new paint (or possibly fun wallpaper) and new shelving. Plus some other things I haven't fully planned out yet. I can't wait!
- PAINT C'S BEDROOM - We need to make good on the birthday present we offered back in March. Any guesses how many coats of pink paint we'll need to cover up the sage green that's in there now?
I hope you're able to have some family fun this summer... and that our Summer Bucket List of family-friendly activities inspires you to create a bucket list of your own so you can start your summer off right!
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