Celebrating Summer With These 25 Great Ideas and Activities!

Although the children in my neighborhood will be heading back to school in just twenty short days, there is still plenty of summer left! Up in the mid-atlantic my granddaughters are just looking forward to heading off to summer camp in a little over a week! So, if you haven’t taken the time to enjoy the summer weather yet, read on and find something, or better yet, TWENTY-FIVE SOMETHINGS to do before summer is gone!

  I promise there is not one back-to-school or get ready for fall idea on here!  Grab the family or friends, or both! 

1. Get to the beach

One more day at the beach is a great way to celebrate summer before it is gone!  If you don’t have a beach near you, how about a local lake or river?  

2.  S’mores

Do you know you have more than SIXTY more evenings of summer to light the fire pit and toast some marshmallows to make this classic summertime treat?

3.  Visit a National Park

Use this website to locate a National Park near you!  

4.  Celebrate with lemons and limes

Some people are crazy for sweet tea, but others love lemonade.  Get all lemon and limey by setting a colorful summer table celebrating the tart and the sweet!

5.  Make homemade ice cream

Is there a better way for celebrating summer than ice cream?  You can find my family’s ice cream recipe at Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.

6.  Fly a kite

7.  Enjoy being outdoors

No matter if it is a walk through the woods, through your neighborhood, or just sitting on the front porch, getting outside is one of the real joys of celebrating summer.

8.  Host a beach ball bash

Yes, I did host a beach party on the 11th floor! I am so glad to have a pool in my backyard now and can just keep my feet on the ground or in the water!

9.  Read a book

Before school begins, or just the hustle and bustle of fall and all of the holidays in the upcoming months, take the time to sit down and enjoy a book!  

10.  Go apple picking 

Apple picking begins as early as the last couple of weeks of August!  Get a head start on apple season while summer weather still makes it a treat!  What to do with all of those apples?  Here are 30 delightful apple recipes!  

11.  Go for a bicycle ride

12.  Dine outdoors

That is kind of a gimme…in the backyard, on the deck, or at a restaurant, pick outdoors for that summertime meal!

13.  Make a driftwood sailboat

. Want the tutorial on these cute sailboats?  Find it at Gather Driftwood on Your Summer Vacation. 

14.  Make something with seashells

I like to entertain and set pretty tables, so I used my seashell collection to make custom seashell chargers!  

15.  Spend time outdoors

16.  Play in the sprinkler

17.  Visit a farmer’s market

18. Host a Dog Days of Summer Party

Are you feeling like it is the “dog days of summer”?  If so, celebrate all things dogs with your own Dog Days of Summer Party!  

19.  Watch a movie outdoors

Check your local community center or library for outdoor movie times and locations.  Gather up the lawn chairs and blankets (don’t forget the bug spray)!  My favorite way to keep the mosquitos at bay is with a Thermacell Portable device!

20.  Play a sport OR watch a game

It might be golf, a kickball game, head out to a major or minor league or even a local pick up game 

21.  Go boating

Don’t have a boat?  Find somewhere near you to rent a boat or kayaks and get out on the water before summer is gone!

22.  Take a road trip

I don’t know what is near you, but for me, one of my favorite places to visit is Charleston!  Maybe it is a day, maybe a weekend, it doesn’t matter, pack up the family and head out to a favorite spot, or someplace you have never been before!  

23.  Go to a waterpark

24.  Go fishing

25.  Cook lobsters on the grill

It is so easy to cook lobsters on the grill!  Check out my recipes and How to Host a Lobster Dinner! 

Whatever you choose to do before summer is gone, make it yours and make it fun!