For many, summer is a period of freedom. The kids are home from school, you’ve booked the family trips and the extra sunlight makes days seem infinite. While it can be tempting to abandon the chaotic frenzy of an overscheduled school year, you’ll likely want to plan some summer activities to keep things exciting.
Keep the whole family entertained with these 101 summer activities perfect for any budget. Plus, learn how the AAA Discounts & Rewards® program can help you save money as you have fun.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
“I’m bored.” Those two little words strike fear in the heart of every parent and caregiver, especially during the summer when your kids may not have many organized activities. These low-tech summer activities will help you keep your kids entertained from sunup to sundown.
1. Break Out the Water Balloons
Water balloons instantly make any day — especially a hot one — better. Plus, there are endless ways to play with them. Stick to the classics and have a water balloon fight, or replace the ball in your favorite game with a water balloon. You can even play hot potato or do spoon races with them.
Water balloons can take a while to fill up, so if you have impatient kids, it may be better to fill them up out of sight and then suggest the activity when you’ve got a stockpile ready to throw.
Consider filling your water balloons with shaving cream instead of water if you have younger kids. It makes the balloons lighter and less likely to break so there’s less mess.
2. Make Sidewalk Art
Turn the outside into a canvas with sidewalk chalk. You can even make math problems or grammar games more fun if you do them outside. Spread positivity with positive messages, draw a different scene in each concrete square on your sidewalk or just let the kids scribble. Regardless, you’ll have a brand-new blank canvas after the next rain (or spray of the garden hose).
3. Host a Tea Party
Gather the whole gang, including stuffies, action figures, imaginary friends and neighborhood playmates, for a tea party. Depending on the age and imagination level of the attendees, you can use imaginary food and drinks or serve a few sweet treats and apple juice. Elevate your tea party with some costumes. Feather boas, tiaras and other colorful accessories will have all attendees looking their best.
4. Fly a Kite
Any time you find yourself enjoying a day with a nice breeze, teach your child to fly a kite. You can pick up a cheap plastic one with your child’s favorite cartoon character on it at your local superstore or order one online. You’ll probably need to get the kite flying for them since that can be tricky, but then hand the line over to them so they can control it.
If your kids are older, they can even make their own kites from scratch.
5. Play Flashlight Tag
Once the sun starts to set, pull out a few flashlights (be sure to check the batteries before you start!) and play a round of flashlight tag. Just like regular tag, one person is “it” and tries to “tag” everyone else, but instead of touching them, they just need to shine their flashlight on their target. Specific rules vary, but this is a great outdoor evening game to keep kids entertained.
6. Participate in a Summer Reading Program
Your local library is probably offering some sort of summer reading program. On a day that’s too hot to spend time outside, take a trip to the library and stock up on books. Kids can keep track of their reading and earn prizes based on how many books or pages they read.
7. Make a Bird Feeder
Attract a little nature to your backyard with a homemade bird feeder. There are several ways to make a bird feeder using everyday household items, like a pinecone, popsicle sticks, a jar lid or a cardboard toilet paper roll. Then hang the bird feeder where you can see it from a window and monitor what birds show up and when they eat. Use a birdwatcher app to help you identify the different types of birds and learn more about them.
8. Do Some Science
Just because school is out doesn’t mean learning is over — science happens all year! Dig for fossils in the dirt, or start a bug or plant journal. There’s also a nearly endless list of science experiments youngsters can do at home with a bit of support from an adult. Learn about the weather, the water cycle and more.
9. Create a Comic Book
If it’s too rainy or hot to explore outside, harness your child’s imagination to create a comic book. Depending on your child’s age, simply hand them some paper and writing utensils and let them work, or you can have them tell you a story and write it down for them to illustrate.
10. Set Up Playdates
You aren’t in this alone — reach out to the parents and caregivers of other children and get a regular playdate on the books. Maybe you all go on an outing together (the zoo, a children’s museum or an aquarium make great destinations!) or take turns meeting at each other’s houses. Either way, you’ll get some face time with other adults while your child has fun with kids their age.
11. Host a Slumber Party
If you’re feeling up to it, host a slumber party for your child’s friends. Stock up on their favorite junk food, queue up their favorite movies and get ready for a night with little sleep but loads of fun.
The best part? Set up a rotating schedule with other parents so everyone takes turns hosting. You might have one night with rambunctious children keeping you up all night with their hijinks, but you’ll get a couple of kid-free nights, too.
12. Challenge Everyone to a Competition
Kids can be competitive, and most don’t care what it’s about. Simply issue a challenge and they’re on board! You can challenge kids to do anything, getting them to compete for prizes (real or imaginary). See who can hula hoop the longest, jump the farthest or run the fastest. Minute-to-win-it games are also popular competitions kids will eat up.
13. Get Creative With Nature
Get artsy in nature! Encourage kids to find leaves and then make leaf rubbings. Have them trace shadows they find and turn them into artwork. Put water in a cup, hand them a paintbrush and tell them to paint with it on the concrete. Make some daisy crowns. The possibilities are endless!
14. Play in the Sprinkler
We may be able to watch TV on a computer that fits in our pocket, but some classic summer activities can’t be beat. Running through a sprinkler is one of them. Nothing brings more joy to a child than throwing on a swimsuit, running barefoot in the yard and chasing water in a sprinkler.
15. Hold a Bike Parade
This neighborhood activity will keep kids busy for hours. Invite all the kids to decorate their bikes like parade floats with streamers, signs and whatever else they want to add. Then have them form a parade and ride their bikes through the neighborhood. Invite parents and others to view the procession, and offer prizes for “Best Decorated.”
16. Make a Fairy Garden
Fairy gardens are a great way to teach your children the basics of gardening while also stretching their imagination muscles. A fairy garden is a place where fairies visit when no one is looking. Create the garden in a safe place, such as near a tree or in a corner of your yard. Let your child select the plants and any small accessories they want to include, then help them set up the garden and cultivate it.
17. Have a Shaving Cream Fight
Surprise your kids one afternoon with an impromptu shaving cream fight. All you need is shaving cream, but if you can get the kids in goggles and swimwear, all the better! Show them how to work a shaving cream dispenser, then let them go to town spraying each other. They’ll be delighted that they get to make a mess, and you’ll be delighted that they just need a quick hose-off to get clean.
18. Skip Stones
Take your child to a calm body of water like a local lake and teach them the art of skipping rocks. Even if they don’t master it right away, they’ll work on their hand-eye coordination and dexterity while you spend quality time together without your cell phones interrupting.
19. Squirt Gun Painting
Fill multiple squirt guns with liquid watercolor paints. (You could also use water with food coloring.) Then hang paper on an easel or tree outside (or use an old white sheet for a larger canvas) and have kids shoot at it with the different squirt guns to make colorful abstract art. Once they’re done spraying, take the paper down and lie it flat to dry with a few stones to hold it down.
20. Race With Water Guns
Looking for an alternative to squirt guns that doesn’t include a child getting soaked? Try a water gun race instead (but don’t be surprised if your child still gets wet at some point!). Poke holes in the bottom of a plastic cup and run a string through it. Tie the ends of the string to two different points to create a straight line. Set up as many of those as you have competitors.
Give each competitor a squirt gun, assign them a cup and tell them to shoot the cup with their water gun. Whoever’s cup crosses the finish line first wins the race!
21. Play Balloon Tennis
When it’s just too hot to be active outside, glue small paper plates to popsicle sticks to create paddles. (You can also use fly swatters if you have them handy.) Then blow up a few balloons — you technically only need one, but have a few spares in case they pop. Once you’re all set up, hand the kids their paddles and release one of the balloons. They should hit it back and forth using only their paddles, burning a lot of energy in the process!
This activity will keep them busy, but you won’t have to worry about anything getting broken like you would if they were playing tennis in the house.
22. Tie-Dye Something
Get creative with some tie-dye! This is easiest with a T-shirt, but any white fabric will do. Not only will your kids end up with colorful new items of clothing to wear, but they’ll also learn how to be creative, how colors interact to make new colors and the importance of patience.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR TEENS
The most important thing to help a teen have a great summer is to get them to put down their cell phone and engage with the rest of the world. Balance activities that tap into their need to be independent with some childlike fun.
23. Get a Part-Time Job
The summer is the perfect time to pick up a part-time job. Whether they’re serving burgers at a local fast food joint, babysitting for a neighbor or serving as a summer camp counselor, they’ll learn responsibility while making some spending money.
24. Volunteer
Giving back is a great way for your teen to stay busy this summer. Encourage them to volunteer for an organization that’s important to them or relevant to their future career. For example, if they know they want to be a teacher, they can volunteer as a tutor at the library, or if they love animals, they can walk dogs at the local animal shelter.
25. Participate in Neighborhood Pick-Up Games
You’re never too old for a neighborhood pick-up game. Encourage teens to reach out to their neighborhood buddies to play some street hockey in the afternoon or schedule a regular meet-up at the park to shoot some hoops.
26. Do a Random Act of Kindness
Ask your teen to look around the neighborhood and find ways they can help. Maybe someone needs their lawn mowed or someone else needs help painting a fence. Challenge them to find small ways to make their community a better place.
27. Put Together a Time Capsule
Our world changes quickly, so suggest your teen and their friends put together a time capsule of their summer. They can collect memorabilia throughout the summer, like concert tickets, movie ticket stubs and photos, and add them to a time capsule. At the end of the summer, they can bury it and revisit it when they graduate high school.
28. Compete in a Blind Taste Test
This is a fun sleepover activity for your teen and their friends. Give each teen a blindfold, then offer them samples of different foods, condiments and beverages. Ask them to write down their guesses, or take it a step further and ask them to rate each item. Then reveal the answers and offer a prize to the person who correctly identifies the most foods.
29. Hold a Photoshoot With Their Besties
Encourage your teen to get dressed up with their friends and head to a scenic spot in town to take photos. This is an especially great idea if they are off to college in the fall.
30. Make a Movie
If your teen is creative, have them make a movie over the summer. This can be as simple or as complicated as they like. Maybe it’s just a series of images from their summer combined with a voiceover summarizing what they did, or maybe they go all out and draft a script and shoot a movie with their friends.
31. Learn To Cook or Bake
Spend the summer teaching your teen recipes. Give them time to practice so that by the time they head off on their own, they’ll be able to feed themselves more than just a grilled cheese sandwich. Share some traditional family dishes, teach them some staple dishes and head to YouTube to try new recipes together.
Order all your ingredients from Gopuff and save $12 off your first order with your AAA membership.
32. Take a Class
Sign them up for a class. Local libraries and community centers offer summer classes for teens on subjects ranging from driver’s ed to how to knit to the basics of Dungeons and Dragons. If nothing’s available in person near you, consider online classes in an area of interest to them.
33. Go Mini Golfing or to the Arcade
Get your teen out of the house with their friends by sending them to play a round or two of mini golf. If it’s raining, send them to the local arcade instead. They may still be playing video games, but at least they’ll be doing it in person with other people.
34. Pick Up a New Hobby
Use the summer to help them nurture an existing hobby or start a new one. Encourage them to push outside their comfort zone and try something new. Enlist one of their buddies to join them to help them stay motivated.
35. Shadow a Profession
If your teen knows what profession they want to pursue after college, help them arrange a shadowing opportunity. Whether they go in just once or once a week, they’ll be able to learn more about their options after high school, helping them make better decisions about postsecondary choices.
36. Spend Some One-on-One Time With a Parent or Caregiver
It may be tempting to leave your teen to fend for themselves, especially if they seem fairly independent already. But to stay grounded, teens need time with a trusted adult they know has their back. Schedule a regular time with just you and your teen doing what they want. Grab a coffee, go out to lunch, take a walk — what you do doesn’t matter, but establishing an open dialogue now will help keep your relationship strong through the complicated teen years.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS
Adults need some summer fun, too! Whether you’re enjoying a staycation or making the most of your weekends and long summer evenings, these summer activities can add a little fun to your summer.
37. Host an Outdoor Potluck
Invite your friends, family and neighbors to bring their favorite summer dishes and beverages to your place for an outdoor potluck. Stick with traditional summer barbecue fare or challenge your guests to follow a menu theme, like childhood favorites or Fourth of July. Remember to ask about allergies so you don’t accidentally send anyone into anaphylactic shock on your patio.
38. Enjoy Some Summer Cocktails (or Mocktails)
Test out some new cocktail recipes or create your own, then invite your friends and family over to help you drink them. Since there’s a link between our taste buds and memory, make a signature cocktail for the summer and serve it at every get-together. Whenever you drink that cocktail in the future, you’ll be transported back to the summer.
39. Take a Scenic Drive
Hop in your car with some friends and hit the road. Drive to your favorite spot or travel with no destination in mind while blasting your favorite playlist with the windows down.
Use your AAA membership to save 5 cents off every gallon of gas with the Fuel Rewards® Program at Shell so you can drive even farther.
40. Make Over Your Backyard
Turn your backyard into an oasis so beautiful and peaceful you won’t need to travel far to feel like you’re on a getaway. Spend a few weekends putting some sweat equity into a new deck or patio, plant some flowers or add a water feature. Then grab some sweet tea and enjoy the fruits of your labor for the rest of the summer.
41. Go on a Charity Run
A charity run is a win-win situation: You get some exercise, and you raise money for your favorite nonprofit. While it’s totally acceptable to walk on a charity run, sign up for one at the end of the summer and spend time each week training so you’re ready to go.
42. Plant a Garden
Get in touch with nature by planting a garden. The type doesn’t matter — flower, herb, vegetable or butterfly — as long as you get some dirt under your fingernails.
43. Can or Pickle What You Grow
The best part of a vegetable garden is getting to eat what you grow, but sometimes you can’t eat it all before it spoils, which is where canning and pickling come into play. This way, you’ll still be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor in the dead of winter. Pick up some canning supplies, a few ingredients and start preserving!
44. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Get away from — or at least above — it all on a hot air balloon ride. Gaze down at some beautiful scenery while enjoying the peace and quiet you can only experience in a hot air balloon. Schedule it for sunrise or sunset for spectacular photos.
45. Learn a New Skill
Whether you want to learn a new language or become a better photographer, spend some time working on a new skill this summer. Set some goals, invest in some resources and get to work. If you can, learn it with a partner, friend or family member for added motivation to stick with it.
46. Cross Something Off Your Bucket List
Make it your mission to cross at least one thing off your bucket list before the leaves start falling. Take that trip you’ve wanted to take, go skydiving or swim with dolphins. Document the journey so you can relive the experience when the winter blues strike.
47. Go on a Wine Tasting or Brewery Tour
Delight your taste buds with a wine tasting or brewery tour. Gather a few of your favorite people and spend the day imbibing and eating from charcuterie boards. If you can, book an overnight stay so you don’t have to worry about getting home.
48. Grill Everything
Depending on where you live, grilling weather may only be a few months, so take advantage of it. Grill everything, from your fruits and veggies to your favorite meats. Try your hand at making your own barbecue sauce and marinades, or stick to your favorites.
49. Try a New Restaurant
There’s nothing wrong with eating at your favorite restaurant, but it pays to switch things up every once in a while. Make a list of all the restaurants you’ve heard about that you want to try but haven’t. At least once a month, pick a new place off the list to try. Who knows — you just may find your new summer hangout spot.
Save 10 percent off food, non-alcoholic beverages and merchandise at Hard Rock Cafe or Landry’s restaurants.
50. Organize a Neighborhood Event
Work with a few neighbors to organize an event. It can be anything from a multi-home garage sale to a block party to a movie night. Maybe you’ll start a new annual tradition, but at the very least, you’ll make memories with your neighbors.
51. Rent Your Dream Car
You may not be able to afford to own that fancy convertible on your “things I’ll buy when I win the lottery list,” but maybe you can rent it for a day. Rent it for a special occasion with one of our rental car partners, like an anniversary or birthday, or for a road trip.
52. Start Composting
Composting tends to be something people want to do but never get around to. This summer is the perfect time to get your compost pile started! Your garden will thank you and you’ll minimize your impact on the environment.
53. Clean Out the Garage
There’s no better time to clean out your garage than the summer. After avoiding it all winter and tackling the chaos of spring planting, your garage could probably benefit from a complete overhaul. Take advantage of the nice weather to move everything out, hose it down and put everything back in its proper place.
54. Shop at the Farmers Market
Look at your community website to find out when it hosts the local farmers market, and then spend a morning perusing the aisles. You’ll be surprised by what you might find from local vendors, and you can’t beat the freshness of the fruits and vegetables.
55. Find Something Unique at an Antique or Arts and Crafts Show
While the big-box stores are convenient and affordable, everyone shops there. Supplement your decor with finds from local antique or craft shows. Plus, you’ll be upcycling or supporting local artists, so you can feel good about your purchases.
56. Catch Some Outdoor Music
Live music just sounds better when it’s performed outside. Breathe in the fresh air and dance to your heart’s content, but don’t forget to hydrate!
Get your tickets with AAA and save up to 30 percent on your concert tickets.
57. Host a Bonfire
Invite your friends over for a bonfire. Cook hot dogs on a stick and toast marshmallows for s’mores while swapping stories with friends. Plus, the smoke from the fire will keep the bugs away!
58. Attend a Festival
Check your community calendar for upcoming festivals. Whether they’re celebrating music, ribs, art or something else, you’ll have a great time. Enjoy the festival fashion, eat delicious food and have fun with friends.
59. Start Crafting
Sometimes it’s too hot to be outside during the summer, and you want to retreat into the comfort of your AC. On those days, try your hand at a new craft. Put on a podcast or your favorite comfort TV show in the background while you work, or enjoy the silence while the kids are at camp.
60. Deep Clean Your Home
If you missed your spring cleaning, roll up your sleeves and get to work. Listen to an audiobook or your favorite podcast and systematically clean your house with open windows to let in some fresh air. Declutter and donate what you can, then relax in your improved space.
61. Enjoy a Sunrise or Sunset
Head to a local vantage point to enjoy a peaceful sunrise to start your day on the right foot (bonus points if you work out beforehand). If you aren’t a morning person, catch the beautiful colors of a sunset. Enjoy them alone or with a partner or friend, and don’t forget your coffee or favorite alcoholic beverage.
62. Exercise Outside
Working out is always a great choice, but exercising outside is even better. Soak up some vitamin D and breathe in the fresh air while you do your morning downward dog, or skip the treadmill in favor of a run in the park.
63. Focus on Self-Care
Integrate some summer-themed self-care into your daily routine. The additional sunlight brings a natural energy boost, so take advantage of it by exercising in the morning. Fuel your body with in-season fruits and vegetables. Go barefoot in the grass, work outside for the day or whatever else brings you joy.
64. Explore Local Garage Sales
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and garage sales are proof of that. Discover what day your community holds garage sales, and explore neighborhood yard sales for new-to-you treasures.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES
Take advantage of the slower pace of the summer by spending time together as a family. These summer activities for families will keep everyone from infants to your grandparents having fun.
65. Pick Your Own Fruit
Spend a day picking whatever fruit is in season in your area. Then bring your haul home and bake a pie, muffins or scones with the kids. After all, food tastes better when you’ve had to gather it yourself.
66. Have a Theme Day
As a family, sit down and decide on a theme day. Everything — the clothes you wear, the things you do, the food you eat — has to fit the theme. If you can’t agree, vote or plan more than one day. The theme can be anything from your favorite holiday to your favorite book or movie franchise.
67. Host an Outdoor Movie Night
Hang a sheet outside, point a projector at it and stream your favorite family movies as night falls. Spread out some blankets, munch on some popcorn and enjoy a night under the stars with your favorite characters.
Order all your salty movie snacks from The Popcorn Factory to save with your AAA membership.
68. Spend a Day on the Water
If you’re near a body of water, take advantage of it! Pack up the family, a picnic lunch and some sunscreen and hit the beach, lake or river. Spend the day sunbathing and playing games on the shore, or try a water sport like tubing, jetskiing or kayaking.
69. Catch a Movie
Enjoy a summer blockbuster or a fun kids’ movie as a family. If you’re looking for refuge from the heat, head to your favorite movie theater and relax with some sweet or salty movie snacks. For a more nostalgic vibe, pile everyone into the car, head to the local drive-in and enjoy a movie from your car.
Catch the latest film at the best price with AAA.
70. Enjoy Music Together
Everyone loves music, even if we can’t all agree on a favorite artist or genre. Make a family playlist or give every family member a day to control the stereo. Do karaoke, dance in the living room or make your own instruments from everyday objects and jam out.
71. Read a Book Together
Hold a family book club. How you do this is up to you: Listen to an audiobook on a road trip, read to your kids every night before bed or read independently and then talk about it. Give everyone a turn to pick a book. If you all can’t agree, just set up a family reading time when the whole family gathers in one room to read.
72. Get Active
Make the most of the nice weather and get active. Go on a hike, take a leisurely bike ride or rollerblade around the neighborhood. Add a walk into your daily routine or go to the pool in the morning.
73. Visit a Nearby Town
You may be unable to go on vacation, but that doesn’t mean you’re trapped at home. Take a day trip to a nearby town and spend the day exploring. Plan it just like a vacation, taking time to research attractions and restaurants so you get the vacation feel without the price tag of a hotel.
74. Go on a Picnic
Pack up some sandwiches or pick up your favorite to-go meal. Grab a blanket and your grub and chow down outside. You can do this at home to keep things simple, or head to a nearby park for a change of scenery.
75. Explore a State or National Park
Local parks are great, but they tend to be on the smaller side. Visit a state or national park instead and spend a day or two getting in tune with nature. Explore trails on foot or a mountain bike, ride a horse or swim in the lake.
76. Visit a Historical Site
No matter where you live, a historical site is bound to be nearby. Whether it’s a battlefield, an old fort, a historic neighborhood or the home of a famous historical figure, visit as a family and learn more about your local history.
77. Cheer for Your Local Team
Watch your favorite professional, minor league or college sports team play. Baseball, soccer and tennis are usually in session all summer, while you can catch hockey and basketball playoffs in early summer. You can also watch some preseason football in August. Make sure to grab some delicious stadium food to complete the experience.
Cheer for your favorite sports team from the best seats at the best price from AAA Tickets.
78. Watch Outdoor Theater
Odds are a local theater troupe is offering some outdoor theater this summer. Gather up the family and some lawn chairs to see Shakespeare in the Park or a musical production at a local amphitheater.
79. Tour an Art Museum
On a rainy day, head inside the local art museum. Tour on your own or get a guided audio tour to learn more about the works you see. Challenge everyone to share their favorite piece at the end of the visit.
80. Have Fun at an Amusement Park
While we aren’t all near Disney World or Universal, there’s probably an amusement park near you that’s the perfect place to spend a summer day. If you can, go between Tuesday and Thursday to avoid the crowds.
Save money on amusement park admission with your AAA membership.
81. Camp in the Backyard
Sleeping inside is boring, but sometimes camping involves leaving luxuries behind, like a flushable toilet. Get the best of both worlds by pitching a tent in the backyard for the weekend. Stay up late eating s’mores and telling scary stories before falling asleep under the stars.
82. Take in a Parade
Summer weather is perfect for catching a parade. Enjoy the floats and marching bands with the family, whether you’re celebrating Memorial Day, Pride, Fourth of July or a local tradition.
83. Have Fun at a Local Fair
Eat delicious fair food, win prizes and ride your favorite rides to your heart’s content at your local fair. The fair offers something for every age group, so the entire family will enjoy making memories.
84. Visit the Animals at the Zoo
Spend a day with the animals at your local zoo. See everyone’s favorite animal, eat at the food court, play in the jungle gym and see an animal or two up close and personal at the petting zoo. If you have little ones who can’t make it through the entire zoo, get a membership so you can do one section of the zoo at a time.
FREE SUMMER ACTIVITIES
You can still have a fun summer while trying to save money. Check out these free summer activities that are fun for the entire family and won’t hurt your budget.
85. Stargaze
Find a spot away from the city lights and gaze at the stars. Look for constellations using an app on your phone, or make up your own. Bring a blanket and a sweater since it may get chilly at night when the sun goes down.
86. Hold a Dance Party
Blast your favorite playlist and dance the day away in your living room or on the back patio. String some twinkle lights and invite your friends to join in. Serve lemonade and your favorite summer snacks between songs.
87. Look for Shapes in the Clouds
On a sunny day with a few clouds, lie in the grass and use your imagination to find shapes in the clouds. You can do this activity alone, but it’s more fun with friends or family so you can compare shapes.
88. Put on a Backyard Play
Rally the neighborhood kids together to put on a backyard play. Whether they write it themselves or use a one-act script from the library or online, they’ll have a blast pretending to be someone else for a while. Invite the entire neighborhood to watch the performance.
89. Create a Summer Playlist
We often attach memories to songs, so create a playlist of your favorite summer moments. Add the song that played at the stadium before you caught a home run ball and the song that played on the radio during your road trip. Whenever you listen to it again, you’ll be transported back to that moment in time.
90. Play in the Rain
Kids love to play in the rain, but somewhere on the path to adulthood, we lose that simple joy. Instead of watching the rain fall and thinking about how badly your yard needed it, run outside and jump in some puddles with your kids.
91. Climb a Tree
Teach your kids to climb a tree. It’s fun and it helps develop coordination, balance and perseverance. If you don’t know how to climb a tree (a lot of people don’t know these days), learn together!
92. Go on a Digital Detox
Be truly present this summer with a digital detox. Start small by not logging into social media for a few days or implementing phone-free hours for the entire family. Limit screen time or prune your social media accounts of anything toxic. Turn your phone off completely for a day or two if you can. Your mental health will thank you!
93. Play Some Old-School Playground Games
Break out the old-school playground games that don’t require any supplies: red rover, Simon says, hide and seek, blind man’s bluff or whatever else you played as a kid. If you have the necessary supplies handy, play hopscotch, four square or jump rope.
94. Go to a Local Park
Walk or ride your bike to a local park. Spend a day on the swings, playing ball on the soccer or baseball field, or enjoying a book on a blanket. Talk to the other people at the park to make new friends in your community.
95. Check Out What Your Library Has Planned
Most local libraries offer summer programming that is mostly free. They’ll offer classes on anything from art to local history, and run book clubs or author visits you can attend for free.
96. Take a Nap Outside
Stretch out on a hammock and sway in the breeze while you catch a few Zs. Or lie on a blanket with a book and read until your eyes get heavy. Just make sure you nap in the shade to avoid an uncomfortable sunburn.
97. Go Barefoot
Leave the shoes at the door and wiggle your toes in the grass or the sand. There’s a lot of debate about whether this has any actual psychological or health benefits, but there’s a good chance it will make you smile anyway as you feel the earth through your feet.
98. Porch Sit
Pour yourself a cup of coffee and sit on your front porch to watch the neighborhood wake up. Spend an afternoon with an iced tea or lemonade saying hello to the neighbors as they go about their day. Not only will you get some fresh air, but you may make some connections with your neighbors.
99. Practice Mindfulness
Summer often has a slower pace for many people, so use the extra time to work on your mindfulness. Settle into a quiet place, take some deep breaths and focus on the moment as you meditate. Truly live in the moment, feeling your emotions and giving yourself time with your thoughts.
100. Keep a Journal
Since summer often includes fun and new experiences, it’s the perfect time to start keeping a journal. Record your thoughts and feelings in a traditional journal or start tracking habits, feelings and goals in a bullet journal.
101. Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Download a scavenger hunt activity and challenge the entire family to complete it. You’ll see your home, backyard or neighborhood in a different light and have fun competing or working together to find random objects.
SAVE ON SUMMER ACTIVITIES WITH AAA
No matter what you do this summer, take your AAA membership with you. Use it to save money on tickets for summer attractions with AAA Tickets or on car rentals, or earn rewards on everyday purchases. Sign up today to make it a summer to remember without breaking the bank.