Make the most of your summer by filling out a fun and FREE summer bucket list printable + 40 summer bucket list ideas!
Although summer doesn’t “officially” start until later this month, I mean come on, it’s SUMMER!!! The temperatures are soaring, the sun is shining, and I even saw my first firefly last weekend – aww! (Northwesterners, are we still sure fireflies don’t exist where you live?!)
This is the first summer Lincoln’s been truly excited and anxious to get out and about everyday (the first thing he asks after waking up is, “what are we doing today?“) That said, I want to make each day count because when we’re tucking him into bed at night he asks, “what was your favorite part of the day?” and when we turn the question back on him, there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing him say whatever fun thing we did that day was (vs, I don’t know, watching Mickey’s Three Musketeers, for instance. ?)
Thanks to some insanely amazing May weather, we’ve already had a chance to fill our days and weekends with summery activities like making popsicles, going to the pool, attending a baseball game, grilling any chance we get, taking long walks, attempting to fish, running through the sprinkler, and visiting the Farmer’s Market.
Oh, and teaching Lincoln the virtues of cleanliness (aka adding a couple squirts of soap into his water table as it filled it up then watching him play independently with the suds for an hour. YES!)
Although we’ve already got a running start there’s still so much to do, so I thought I’d write a Summer Bucket List so we don’t find ourselves turning to each other every morning or Friday night and asking, “what should we do today/this weekend?” Some of the activities are specific to the Central Iowa area, but I know you’ll get some good ideas for where you live, too.
Oh, and don’t miss the last bucket list item! ?
Additionally I created a FREE Summer Bucket List printable so you and your friends and family can write out your own bucket list to tackle this summer!
Click here to view/print the Summer Bucket List printable OR right click this link then choose “Save Link As…” to download the printable to your device.
2016 Summer Bucket List
- Attend a summer concert
- Play mini golf
- Visit Reimen Gardens
- Find a Sunday night tradition
- Catch fireflies with Lincoln
- Take a “babymoon” weekend with Ben
- Visit a trail outside our neighborhood
- Go to the pool 1x week
- Ride the Union Park Carousel
- Read 3 books (at least!)
- Go to a baseball game
- CATCH. A. FISH.
- Visit the Omaha Zoo
- Visit Living History Farms
- Have a picnic
- See a movie at the theater
- Shop the Valley Junction Farmers Market
- Go camping
- Walk around the Iowa State University campus
- Go boating/kayaking/paddle boating
- Go to Deuling Pianos
- Get a slushie at the Dairy Stripe
- Go berry picking
- Attend the Art Festival
- Go on at least 3 date nights with Ben
- Make a 4th of July Craft
- Walk the High Trestle Bridge Trail in the evening
- Visit Effigy Mounds
- Teach Lincoln to ride a trike (Lord, help me!)
- Attend the Indianola National Balloon Classic
- Go to Sunday Tunes at Summerset Winery
- Visit the Jester Park Natural Playscape
- Go bowling
- Take a family vacation
- Visit the zoo
- Attend the (one and only) Iowa State Fair
- Creek walk at The Ledges
- Go to a 4th of July Parade
- Roast hot dogs over a bonfire
- Choose a name for our little…BOY! Yes, yes, yes – baby #2 is another boy and we are so excited that Lincoln is going to have a little brother!! With so many gents in both Ben’s and my family, we figured it was more likely than a girl, and we’re just so excited. Growing up with two brothers, and raising Lincoln so far, I just feel like I know boys. Although three against one? I’ve definitely got my work cut out for me! ;)
Tell me, what summer bucket list items and events did I miss? How do YOU celebrate summer?
OMG OMG OMG! SOOO happy for you guys!!! CONGRATS!!!! I have two boys, too, and they are the best buds ever! WOO!!!
Thank you, Joanna!! We hope they will be close!
If you make it to the Omaha zoo this summer, my advice is to get there early! It’s been VERY busy already this season with the new grassland exhibit open and traffic gets really crazy by mid-day. And bring a swim suit for Lincoln to play in the splash pad!
Ooo good call on the swimsuit – I didn’t know they had a water area. I haven’t been since I was a little kid!
Congrats on another little boy! I am a mommy to three boys (6, 3.5, & 17m) and I felt that way after finding out our 2nd was a boy too! We also have 5 nephews and 1 niece so get that whole “thought it was a girl” which was how I felt with my 3rd.
I love love LOVE your blog and have been a reader for years! It’s so sweet watching your family grow. Lincoln is a doll. Thanks for the bucket list printable too, as I am a teacher and love to be organized with my crew. Of I’m not, chaos ensues.
HA – same!! I need lists for everything in my life or like you said, complete chaos.
Congrats on baby boy #2! If you’re looking for another easy (and FREE) bucket list item, try out the Jester Park natural play scape. I thought it would be boring, but Carter really loved it when he was about Lincoln’s age and just a little older.
Ooo, that sounds really fun, Erin – thanks for the tip! I also forgot to include Brenton Arboretum in the list which I hear is a great place to take easy nature hikes. http://www.thebrentonarboretum.org/ Definitely will check out Jester though. Hope you guys are having a great summer so far! :)
How did I not know about Brenton Arboretum? It looks great! We’ll definitely check it out!
Such a great idea! It seems like summers go by way too quickly and before you know it you didn’t do as much fun summery things as you wanted to! What a great way to keep on track!
Congrats on having another little boy. The pictures of Lincoln are adorable, I’m sure his little brother will be just as cute! :)
They seriously do – I cannot believe we’re already 1/3 of the way through June!
I’m a boy mama and I love it so much. You are one lucky lady. There is nothing like raising brothers! :)
Aww, so great to hear, Lonna! There will be a lot going on, that’s for sure! ;)
Yay, another boy! I have two boys as well and it’s been so fun seeing my 3 year old love on his little brother (who’s now 8 months). Being outnumbered isn’t bad at all, you’ll just be the Queen of the Castle. ;-) Love the summer bucket list too!
That’s how I’m looking at it too and Ben’s good at teaching little boys to love on their Mama!
I would say check out the Science Center of Iowa. Amazing stuff to do!
We love SCI – perfect for those sweltering summer days!
Kristin, when you go to Effigy Mounds, In the area very close there is also Pikes Peak (Iowa, who knew?) absolutely beautiful, with hiking trails. Also in the area is Spook Cave (not spooky). Lincoln would love it. Also make a stop at Eagles Landing Winery!
Ah, great tip, thank you Kris! I’ve heard of Pikes Peak but had no idea it was close to Effigy. Definitely will make a big day of everything in that area!
We’re dying to visit the Omaha Zoo too – just waiting for it to finish being renovated :)
Congratulations to you, Ben and Lincoln! He will be an awesome big brother!
hey kristin! when you visit the Omaha Zoo, you should eat lunch at Block 16, downtown. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!
Ooo, ok!! Thanks for the rec – I don’t know anything about the Omaha dining scene!
we have some great restaurants in Omaha….i also love the twisted cork–the food is amazing. for breakfast–you can’t go wrong with the culprit cafe downtown or wheatfields (downtown or midtown). The Bohemian Cafe is closing for good in September which is SOOOOO SAD, but you should dine there before it is gone forever. ONE LAST suggestion is to go to South Omaha for tacos-Taqueria Tiaquana is my favorite. OH WAIT, one more last suggestion–we have three great indian placed in town: The Jaipur, Kurry Xpress, and Mother India–i’ve tried them all! :)
have fun in Omaha!!
When you hit up Effigy Mounds – continue a little further South (15 minutes) to McGregor, IA to hike Pike’s Peak. Beautiful hike with an overlook of the Mississippi River.
Sounds awesome, Becca, we’ll definitely do that!