"At last, the days are starting to get warmer and longer, which means we can finally start to think about all of the fun things this summer has in store. Whether you’re hanging out with friends, spending quality time with family, or having a solo moment, taking advantage of the best time of the year (yes, it’s definitely the best) is a must. However, trying to find fun new things to do is a problem we’re all too familiar with—why is it always the hardest thing to think of?
Well, don’t worry, because we’ve put together a go-to list of some of our favorite summer activities that’ll keep you occupied all season long. From outdoorsy activities that take full advantage of the warm weather to creative new hobbies you won’t be able to get enough of, we’ve got you covered with the ideal summer bucket list. Here are 40 fun things to do this summer that’ll make this the best one yet:
1. Go on a sunrise hike
If you live somewhere that gets really warm in the summer, you know that doing anything outside in the heat of the afternoon is miserable. To get ahead of the sweltering temps, go hiking first thing in the morning. Yes, a sunrise hike does mean you have to get up early, but connecting with nature right when you wake up can be a great way to ground yourself before taking on the day. Plus, you can always bring your coffee with you!
2. Visit your local farmers market
Farmers markets are a great way to celebrate local businesses, while also snagging the freshest produce for your week. Summer brings many yummy fruits and vegetables—from juicy watermelons and peaches to cucumbers and zucchini. Fill up a tote bag with your favorites, then get creative in the kitchen with your fresh-picked goodies.
3. Make a fruity cocktail or mocktail
There is nothing more summery than sipping on a fun, flirty beverage. Think: a strawberry margarita, lemon drop martini, Aperol spritz, or watermelon mint mocktail. Perfect your recipe for at-home happy hours, or invite friends or family over for a cocktail night where everyone mixes up their own signature drink.
4. Start a gratitude journal
Setting aside time to ground yourself in the things that make you happy is a great way to recharge and refresh. Whether it’s little things like feeling the sun on your face or bigger things like spending time with loved ones on vacation, there are many reasons to celebrate that we often don’t even realize, and writing them down can help us be more mindful of them!
5. Hit your local flea markets
Any excuse to go shopping, right? Summertime is the prime season for outdoor flea markets. Look around on Instagram and Facebook to find ones near you where you can snag some vintage clothes, accessories, and decor to amp up your summer style while enjoying the sunny weather, too.
6. Go see a matinee
Movie tickets can get pretty expensive these days, but thankfully, many theaters offer discounts for earlier showings or on certain days. There are so many releases to get excited about this summer—from The Materialists to Freakier Friday—and matinee showings are a great opportunity to enjoy them all, with the added benefit of lower prices and smaller crowds.
7. Take a drive with a new playlist
Every summer needs a soundtrack to go with it, so take some time to curate a playlist of your favorite songs to play on long road trips or scenic drives. Or skip the hard part of picking songs and look up a user-curated Spotify playlist that matches your vibe. Whether you want to channel millennial nostalgia with some road trip jams or feel like you’re on an Italian summer vacation, you’re sure to find one for even the most specific of moods.
8. Call your loved ones
Having more time to hang out with friends and family is one of the best parts of summer, but if many of your loved ones are long-distance, you can still set aside time to connect this season. Summer is a great time to take advantage of those longer days and reach out to that one friend you’ve been missing or finally call your mom back to chat about the week.
9. Pick strawberries
Why settle for grocery store strawberries when you can go straight to the source and pick your own this summer? Not only is this a fun summer activity with endless adorable photo ops, but you’ll leave with delicious, fresh, juicy produce. When life gives you strawberries, make strawberry lemonade—or whatever the saying is.
10. Hop on a food tour
It’s so easy to get stuck in a routine in your own city, frequenting the same restaurants and bars every weekend. To switch things up this summer, play tourist by signing up for a food tour. You can spend your afternoon discovering new food favorites and enjoy a day breaking away from your usual schedule.
11. Treat yourself to a spa day
If you ask me, summer is the season of self-care. While we might not get months off from school and responsibilities like we did as children, it’s still a great time to take time for yourself. Whether your idea of a spa day is an at-home manicure or booking yourself a massage at the highest-rated spa in your city, treat yourself to some you time.
12. Throw a dinner party
Adorable, over-the-top dinner parties are all over social media these days, but throwing one is actually easier than you might think. Pick a theme and coordinate the menu, table decorations, and dress code accordingly, or keep it simple by having everyone bring a dish to share. Either way, enjoying a delicious meal with friends is always a good idea.
13. Take a nap in a hammock
Hammocking is the perfect summer activity for when you want to spend time outside but you want to do, well, nothing. Say goodbye to bed rotting this summer and instead take a much-needed nap in the great outdoors. Simply find a sturdy set of trees, hang up your hammock, and relax.
14. Go to a sports game
Take yourself out to the ballgame or any other sporting event this summer. From the major leagues to your neighborhood rec team, watching a sports game is a quintessential summer activity. Who knows, by next year, you might be promoted from your spot in the stands to a member of the team.
15. Take up flower arranging
If you are still feeling inspired by Meghan Markle’s thematic floral centerpieces, try experimenting with your own floral creations this summer. Take a class or watch some online tutorials to learn some tips and tricks, then pick up some grocery store blooms to play around with. You don’t have to spend a ton to create a beautiful arrangement for your kitchen table.
16. Attend to an outdoor play
We might not all have access to Broadway plays year-round, but chances are you can find a local theater that puts on an outdoor production during the summer. It’s an amazing way to enjoy entertainment and the warm weather simultaneously while supporting local arts. Grab your friends, pack some snacks, and enjoy the magic of live theater.
17. Take a weekend road trip
A full-blown weeklong vacay isn’t always in the cards, but that doesn’t mean you should have a trip-less summer. Skip the pricey plane tickets and instead plan a low-stakes, weekend road trip somewhere close by. Grab some friends, family, or your partner and blast a killer road-trip playlist all the way there.
18. Learn a new instrument
Is there an instrument you’ve always wanted to learn? With plenty of long summer days ahead, this season is a great opportunity to practice your skills on guitar, piano, or any other instrument. If you’re a true beginner, start with a class at a local music center or watch some online tutorials to learn the basics.
19. Put on a yard sale
Yard sales are a great way to make some extra cash and get rid of excess clutter, and summer is the perfect time for one. Spend some time rounding up items you no longer need, then chill outside and earn some money to spend at happy hour or on your summer nails. It’s a win-win.
20. See a drive-in movie
Summer is not the time to stay cooped up on your couch or in a cold, dark movie theater. Find a local drive-in movie or movie in the park, grab some of your favorite snacks, and enjoy a cool summer night while watching some classic films or buzzy new releases.
21. Take a pottery class
If you’ve been wanting to pick up a new hobby and take a break from the hot sun, a pottery class is something you have to try ASAP. It’s a super relaxing activity, you’ll get some cute new decor or dinnerware, and you can also make new friends in the process.
22. Go to a music festival
Summer is the season for music festivals (yes, there’s more out there than just Coachella), so if you’re an avid concertgoer and looking for a weekend getaway, start looking for tickets now. Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, and Bonnaroo are just a handful of the major ones out there, but exploring local, smaller festivals and outdoor concerts in your area is just as fun, too.
23. Have a scrapbook party
Creative activities can be so therapeutic and are a fun way to connect with yourself and friends. Put together a scrapbook this summer to make new memories while reminiscing about old ones. Gather mementos like photo prints, Polaroids, restaurant receipts, or movie tickets, then decorate the pages with fun stickers, pressed flowers, or whatever else inspires you!
24. Find an outdoor workout group
No matter where you’re living this summer, there’s definitely some sort of outdoor workout group you can sign up for. Whether you choose a running club, beach volleyball team, or morning yoga classes in the park, this is a great way to get outdoors, stay active, and meet some new people with similar interests (or even better, fellow people who were also forced out there by their friends).
25. Host a paint-and-sip night
Grab a couple of bottles of wine and then swing by your local art supply store to put on the ultimate paint-and-sip night. This is such a fun way to get a group together and do something other than hit the town or watch TV. And you can also move the party out to the backyard or patio to enjoy the sunny weather.
26. Join a summer book club
If you’re going to spend a good chunk of summer with your nose in a book anyway, why not join a book club to chat with others about your favorite reads? Even better, gather a few friends and start your own. It’s the perfect way to have something consistent on your schedule to look forward to.
27. Plan a staycation
Even if a one-night getaway is all you’re able to do, you can still make it one of your best summer memories. Book a room at that hotel you always drive by but have never stayed at, or find a cute Airbnb close by. Then take advantage of a much-needed break from reality with your friends or partner, or even a little solo trip for the soul.
28. Try gardening
Whether you have a whole yard you’ve been dying to spice up with some flowers or want to put a couple of little plants on your windowsill, the summer sun offers the perfect environment to dive into your plant mom era.
29. Make your own jewelry
Statement jewelry is one of this summer’s biggest accessory trends, so try making your own pieces for a one-of-a-kind look. Pop by your local craft store for all of the materials you need, then find a nice outdoor spot to set up in. Spend the afternoon making a fun summer craft to create some pieces that fit your taste to a T.
30. Try new a happy hour spot
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing like being a regular at a local bar and restaurant, but to keep things fun and fresh, try scoping out some new spots with your friends to see if you stumble upon a new go-to. It’ll keep your weekly outings exciting and allow for a nice change of scenery, too.
31. Plan a camping trip
Even if camping doesn’t seem like your thing, the summer is the best time to give it a go. It’s always too cold the rest of the year, so take advantage while you can! Head to the beach, venture into the mountains, or even just set up a tent in your backyard for a night out in nature.
32. Take a cooking class
Remember that dinner party we mentioned earlier? Well, here’s your chance to learn some recipes to make it unforgettable. Cooking classes are a really fun way to pick up a new hobby, meet new people, and of course, eat some 10/10 food in the process.
33. Get into the water
Whether it’s swimming, surfing, kayaking, tubing, or simply basking on a floaty, doing some sort of water activity is obviously the best way to stay cool and have fun on a hot summer day. It’s as easy as finding the nearest body of water and making a whole day out of it.
34. Find volunteer opportunities
With some quick research on local opportunities to help out in your community, you can find a ton of volunteer positions (like helping at a summer camp or assembling and handing out care packages to those in need) that still get you outside and allow you to give back. It’s fulfilling and fun—what more could you want?
35. Go stargazing
Astrology girlies, this one’s for you. I know that this one sounds a bit cheesy, but bear with me here. Drive out to an amazing viewpoint with some blankets and snacks to see some beautiful constellations on a warm and clear summer night—you will not regret it.
36. Visit a winery for a tasting
Live out your Napa Valley dreams and grab your group of girlfriends to go to a winery and sip on some high-quality bevs in the sun. You can really complete the vibe by dressing in your best coastal grandma chic look, too.
37. Try out a film or digital camera
Sure, iPhone pictures are great—but photos on a film or digital camera make for such a cute way to capture those main-character summer moments. You can pick up a disposable camera from your local convenience store or snag a reusable one from a local film store and become the beloved photographer your friend group desperately needs.
38. Keep hot girl walking
Hot girl walks aren’t a new idea, but they should especially be taken advantage of in the summertime. It’s the perfect way to stay active, get outside, and spend some quality time with yourself or have someone join you for a much-needed catch-up convo.
39. Go to a fair or carnival
PSA: Fairs and carnivals are not just for families and children. Grab your friends or significant other and channel your inner child by playing fun games, going on rides, and eating all the ice cream sundaes and fried food your heart desires. It makes for a fun full-day activity that’s guaranteed to make you laugh all the way through.
40. Have a picnic
Finding a nice outdoor spot for a simple picnic is a perfect summer date idea or an easy way to get outside with your friends. It can be as low-maintenance as tossing down a blanket and picking up some sandwiches, or you can browse Pinterest for some set-up inspo and make a whole afternoon out of it.
McKenna Pringle, Branded Content Editorial Assistant
As the Branded Content Editorial Assistant, McKenna collaborates with our sales team by creating both written and social media content, collecting and analyzing performance data to report back to our partners, and assisting our editors with their everyday tasks to ensure a smooth, productive, and fun process.
Madigan Will, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Madigan writes and edits content for every topic under the digital media sun. As the oldest of four siblings, she enjoys utilizing her big sister persona to connect and inspire readers—helping them discover new ways to maximize their everyday.