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7 Experiences to Add to Your Summer Bucket List
Ahh, sweet summertime. Whether you’re one of the lucky ones who still gets to experience a months-long break away from college every summer, or you’ve moved on to the working world, there will always be something nostalgic and exciting about the start of summer.
The longer days and warmer nights bring endless possibilities, and opportunities for making lasting memories with friends. Then again, it’s all too easy for the time to slip away from you. But with these 7 classic summertime experiences on your bucket list, you’ll be sure to make the most of every moment.
- Hit the Road
Is there anything more American than the classic cross-country road trip? Of course, there’s no need to traverse the entire lower 48 in order to cross this one off your bucket list. Grab a map and outline a route within your own state and the surrounding areas.
Drive along the coast of Maine, eat all the southern cuisine you can find between Charleston and Nashville, or scope out historic spots along Route 66 in New Mexico. The adventures are endless!
- Host a Backyard BBQ
Nothing says “summer” like a chilled-out backyard bash with your closest friends. Fire up the grill, fill the beer cooler with ice, and stock up on fun summery barware like drink floats, koozies, and insulated glassware to keep your drinks icy cold in the hot sun.
Bonus points if you have access to a pool, or at least a good old-fashioned sprinkler for you and your friends to jump through, just like when you were kids.
- Watch a Movie at a Drive-In Theater
Yes, believe it or not these still exist. A quick search for drive-in theaters in your area will yield the closest locations; all you have left to do is hop in the car and go.
For optimum results, plan an outing to the drive-in with one of your friends who owns a truck. Park the truck facing away from the screen, and fill the bed with cozy pillows and blankets.
Up the nostalgia factor by grabbing your own diner-inspired cuisine on the way, like burgers and milkshakes. Perfect for a sweet summer date night too!
- Go Tent-Camping
It’s something that everyone should experience at least once, and there’s no better time than when the nights are at their warmest. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being surrounded by nature, spending your days splashing in the lake or fishing in the river, and your evenings roasting marshmallows over the fire and sleeping under the stars. And if you don’t know how to make marshmallows, now might be the perfect opportunity to learn. There is nothing quite like sitting in front of a campfire, taking it all in and enjoying what summer nights have to offer.
For the best camping experience, be sure to reserve your spot in advance and bring along plenty of food, booze, and games for everyone to enjoy.
- Head to the Beach
Would it really be summer without at least one trip to the beach? Go all out and unleash your inner child: boogie board through the waves, eat watermelon and popsicles on an oversized beach blanket, and build elaborate sand castles then knock them down.
And don’t forget the boardwalk, one of the most overlooked beach activities. As kitschy and cheesy as they can be, there’s something incredibly fun about riding the wooden roller coasters, playing old-school arcade games, and eating cotton candy while the sun sets.
- Cheer on the Home Team at a Baseball Game
Whether you opt for peanuts and Cracker Jack or chili dogs and nachos, there’s nothing like spending an afternoon watching your local team play ball. Even if your city doesn’t have a Major League Baseball team, don’t discount just how fun attending a Minor League game can be.
Call up a big group of friends, get decked out in your team’s colors, and get ready for a long day of beer, stadium food, and good-spirited team rivalry.
- Attend a Music Festival
“Summer” and “music festivals” have gone hand-in-hand for centuries, long before Woodstock took the world by storm in 1969. No matter where you’re located, you’re sure to be within driving range of at least one of the festivals on this summer’s hot lineup.
From the Governors Ball in New York City to Bonnaroo in Tennessee, and from Summerfest in Milwaukee to Lollapalooza in Chicago and Outside Lands in San Francisco, music festivals across the nation are all about bringing people together and celebrating the spirit of summer.
Whatever you end up doing this summer, with the right group of friends and a little sense of adventure, this summer is sure to be one for the books.
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