Hungry Healthy Happy

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Salad Recipes
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Recipes to your Inbox
  • Shop
search icon
Homepage link
  • Salad Recipes
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Recipes to your Inbox
  • Shop
×
Hungry Healthy Happy » Blog

Summer Bucket List

Updated: Oct 26, 2022 · Published: Jul 24, 2019 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 44 Comments

63 shares
  • 40
  • 5

Kids have finished school for the summer, so that means that summer has officially started. We want to make the most of summer this year, so here are all of the things on our summer bucket list. They might inspire you to create your own too.

A hut on a beach with palm trees.

I have so many things I want to tick off my general bucket list, but I thought it would be good to have one just for summer, so that we can make the most of all the sunshine we have been having.

Camping, yoga, road trips and star gazing - this summer is going to be one to remember. Some things I have done before, but want to do again and others are new things to tick off.

Summer Bucket List

  • Make this summer count - I feel like when I was a kid I made the most of every single second of summer, but since growing up every summer just seems to pass by. This summer I am going to make the most of it.
  • Go camping - We went camping for the first time 2 years ago and loved it. Sure, it's a lot of effort and you don't have the best nights sleep, but that is part of the fun. Back to basics, no TV or being attached to your phone and sitting round a camp fire. We are surrounded by beautiful countryside where we live, with some great campsites, so it's time to make the most of that. This time it will be with a baby and toddler!
A baby sat in a green tent with two blue chairs.
  • Take a picture/video every day from today - A picture each day that sums up our day and then I will share it as a collage in my end of summer post.
  • Go Stand-Up paddle Boarding - I did this a couple of years ago in Thailand and ever since then I have wanted to do it again. There is a place near us that does it, so there really isn't any excuse. Apart from a lake in Lancashire isn't quite as appealing as the warm sea in Thailand.
A woman taking a selfie while Stand up paddle boarding.
  • Make s'mores - Can you believe that I only had s'mores for the first time last year?! I have some making up to do and it sounds like the perfect treat to go alongside camping.
  • Stay up all night - I haven't done this for well over 10 years and I think it is time to do it again. Stay awake until the sun comes up. But in reality, staying up late when you have a 10 week old it staying up past 9pm!
  • Visit 10 New National Trust Sites - We have a National Trust membership and we really aren't making the most of it. Time to explore some new places and once you have the membership it's a free day out.
  • Have a water fight - We are set for even more hot weather this summer, so I think I am going to buy some water balloons and a couple of cheap water pistols and have a water fight in the garden. 35 isn't too old for a water fight is it?
  • Run 5K - A couple of years ago I built my way up to running 10km and then I got pregnant and let it all slip. I now can't even run for a minute straight. So, I am slowly building my way up to running 5km again.
competitors dressed in pink running in the race for life.
  • Hire a bike and cycle somewhere - I realised the other day that I haven't been on a bike in good few years. I'm not planning on buying a bicycle, just hiring one and taking it out into the countryside for a bit of an explore. I will no doubt be Instagramming straight after with a picture of all my bike related injuries. I don't have great balance at the best of times, let alone being on 2 wheels.
  • Spend the whole day watching films - Old films that Dave and I used to watch when we first got together. So things like American Pie, Road Trip, Cruel Intentions. Classics!
  • Go to a festival - We always said that having a kid wouldn't stop us from doing the things we loved and that included festivals. So, this summer we are taking Avery to her 3rd festival and Ziggy to his first.
A woman holding a baby at a muddy festival.
  • Donate to the food bank every month - I don't want this list to be totally selfish, and this is something I want to do more often and not just at Christmas time like we usually do.
  • Make homemade frozen treats - We have an ice cream maker that we have only used once and I don't think that is acceptable. Think of all that homemade ice cream we are missing out on. We've already made some amazing frozen yogurt.
  • Visit every location on the "10 Breathtakingly Beautiful Lancashire Views" list - 10 amazing views no more than an hour from us. I bet there will be some amazing sunrises and sunsets there.
  • Spend the afternoon and evening on a rooftop bar - wine optional. 
  • See more of the England - We are so lucky to have seen so much of the world, but we have seen very little of the country we live in. Being on the Lancashire/Yorkshire boarder, there is so much within a short distance, so this summer we are going to go on more day trips as see some more cities and some more of the countryside.
A grassy valley in Hope Valley, Derbyshire.
  • Watch a beautiful sunrise and sunset - I have seen some beautiful ones in the past, but there are still plenty more to see.
Sunset over a the sea with a wall in the foreground.
  • Go canoeing - A bit easier than SUP, but just as fun. You can hire them out at the lake at the park near us.
  • Fly a kite - I have never flown a kite before. We were at the beach a couple of weeks ago and someone was trying, and failing, to fly a kite. We were all laughing, so maybe I should see if I could do it myself.
  • Spend more time outdoors - Working from home means that I spend the majority of my time indoors, so I want to spend more time outdoors, even if it is just sitting in the garden to do some reading.
A row of trees in a field.
  • Pick wildflowers - I want to go on a long country walk and pick some beautiful wild flowers to bring home.
  • Make BBQ'd pizza - Seriously, it's a thing. Make our own pizzas and cook them on the BBQ. It's a plan!
  • Dance in the rain - It always looks like so much fun in films, so I want to give it a try.
  • Picnic On The Beach - Lots of beach time this summer with delicious homemade food sounds like a good idea.
  • Make a meal from farm (or farmer's market) to table - It doesn't get much fresher than that.
  • Go wild swimming - What better way to cool down after a long hike than go wild swimming.
The sun setting over a large lake.
  • Read more - Although I spend most of my day reading, it is more for blog related stuff rather than just for enjoyment. I have about 6 books that I have started to read, 20 more on the shelf ready to read and about 30 on my Amazon wish list that I am waiting to buy.
  • Go on a road trip - Good music, good company and great views. It is what hot summer days were made for.
A car driving along a winding valley road.
  • Spend more time writing - Being a writer, this should be a pretty easy one to complete. I just need to schedule my time better.
  • Have a romantic candlelit dinner in the garden - This one will be a nice surprise for the husband (as long as he isn't reading this).
  • Go on the Witch Trial tour - We live in Pendle, which is famous for the witch trials of the early 1600s. There is a tour near us that sounds amazing. I did the tour in Salem in Massachusetts, so at least this is closer to home.
  • Go fruit picking - We have been really successful with growing some things in our garden this year, but fruit isn't one of them. So, I want to go fruit picking and then make delicious pies with our haul.
A woman in a field picking peas.
  • Say yes to everything for a week - This is something I have been wanting to do for a couple of years, ever since reading Yes Man (see, I do read some books). I am not going to tell anyone that I am doing it, until the week is over, as I am sure someone will take advantage of it. With life being so busy at the moment, it can be easy getting into the habit of saying no to everything. But, good things can happen when you say yes. This doesn't apply to work related stuff though.
  • Go a whole day without phone, TV and computer - Apparently, there is life beyond phones, TVs and computers. I don't believe it, so I will have to test this one out for myself.
  • Stargaze - Stars are pretty. Enough said.
  • Go zip lining again- I have done this a couple of times now, but I want to do it over and over again. There is a HUGE one in Wales that I would love to do.
Zip-lining upside down over the tops of trees.

Things to do in summer

  • Have a garden party - It's time to get everyone together and have fun in the sun.
  • Try a bright lipstick - I tend to wear a lot of black, but I want to start adding more colour to my life and I think lipstick is a great place to start.
  • Stay in a cabin in the woods - I know that is usually the scene of a horror movie, but it just looks so romantic.
  • Spend the entire day in bed - Why not?! We work really hard, so why not take the whole day off to do nothing.
Ottoman bed with purple cushions and throw.
  • Make Ice Cream Floats - Another summer essential for cooling down, and I haven't had one since I was about 10.
  • Eat breakfast for dinner - This is not specifically a summer thing, but I have never done it. A big stack of pancakes at 9pm sounds good to me. Maybe I can pair this with the romantic candlelit dinner haha.
A plate of waffles with nutella, cream and strawberries.
  • Host a brunch party - Everyone is all about dinner parties or having a BBQ, but what about brunch? It's the best meal of that day and that deserves to be celebrated.
  • Do some yoga every day - I am not talking about 45 minutes every day, but at 10 minutes every day.
A silhouette of a person doing Yoga.

What do you want to do more of this summer? Do you have a summer bucket list?

Looking for more bucket list ideas? Take a look at my Before 40 Bucket List or my Autumn Bucket List.

You'll love these too...

  • A collage of six Christmas dishes.
    Christmas Dinner Meal Plan
  • Four picture collage of different picky plates.
    The Ultimate Guide To Picky Plates (Shopping, Prepping and Creating)
  • 30 Healthy Summer Recipes
  • A baby sat in a high chair with a mixing bowl and wooden spoon
    Cooking With Kids (Tips, Recipes and Tasks by Age)

Comments

  1. Lisa Huff says

    July 30, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    Great ideas! Love the idea of taking a picture every day!

    Reply
  2. Marianne says

    July 14, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    This is a very inspiring post. I love the take a picture everyday , romantic candlelit garden dinner and the picnics. I might add, rent a canoe.

    Reply
  3. Zofia says

    July 12, 2015 at 3:21 pm

    If you want to see a movie in IMAX, I recommend choosing one with a lot of special effects (like an adventure movie) to make the most of the IMAX experience. Maybe it's just me but for some movies I don't realise I'm watching them in IMAX as they are so 'normal' (if that makes any sense).
    PS. Good luck on your 10K!

    Reply
  4. Lilinha Espindula says

    July 02, 2015 at 10:41 pm

    Some lovely items in your Summer bucket list. I also have an ice cream maker that has only been used once. I didn't know it was possible to make pizzas in the BBQ, so I will be checking out and trying it too! x

    Reply
  5. Nicki Kelly says

    July 02, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    I LOVE your list and it has some great suggestions. But hmmm...summer. I live near Dundee and I think Scotland has forgotten to have summer. Nevertheless, some of your ideas are fun enough to try even in 14C (today's temperature). So I'm off to make frozen banana "ice cream" without the cream, doing some yoga and getting ready for a romantic candlelit dinner with my husband.....except it will be indoors!

    Reply
  6. sharon martin says

    July 02, 2015 at 12:13 pm

    I haven't got one but after reading yours I want a bucket list myself now lol x I want to make the most of the kids during the summer holidays and try to juggle work around them to make it matter this year xx

    Reply
  7. Alison says

    July 01, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    Great list! I know I would fall out of a hammock but have the camping on my list. I seem to have a list of places I must visit this summer rather than things to do

    Reply
  8. Zoe says

    July 01, 2015 at 9:38 am

    A pool party is a must if you are in Vegas, as is going to the Grand Canyon. I went to Vegas as an end of year trip last year and I would love to go back.

    I might make one of these lists myself!

    Reply
  9. Helen says

    July 01, 2015 at 9:37 am

    Good luck with your 10km race. I am training for one at the moment too, but I still can't run 5km :(

    Reply
  10. Nadia says

    June 30, 2015 at 11:49 pm

    I can relate to so many things on your list! I was just saying to hubby yesterday we need to explore our city more and that I want to travel around the UK. Actually I want to travel everywhere but we don't get the chance to do much traveling. I also want to take a dance class and watch films all day...in fact, I could say I want to do everything on your list, apart from rock climbing and zip lining because I don't like heights :P x

    Reply
  11. Manali @ CookWithManali says

    June 30, 2015 at 11:25 pm

    great list Dannii! Hope you are able to tick all these off your list by end of summer! :)

    Reply
  12. Lori @ TheHealthMinded.com says

    June 30, 2015 at 10:15 pm

    Great list and celebratory of the summer months. Squeeze out what you can, Dannii, and enjoy it al!

    Reply
  13. Sue says

    June 30, 2015 at 9:42 pm

    When hubby and I have been to other cities (NY, Bruges, Paris) we have tried to see as much of the city as possible using a tourist guide booklet. I decided, LA st time we flew to Gatwick, that I would pick up a tourist guide for London - last summer we were London Tourists for the day. I worked in the west end for 11 years and live 20minutes away by train but never took the time to look. I'd highly recommend it - get a guide book and look at your home city like you've never seen it! Bet it'll be a great day out and I definitely want to do it again as there's so much we didn't get time to see.
    Great summer bucket list Dani. I may even pinch a few ideas.

    Reply
« Older Comments

Made this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Dannii with a sunset behind her.

Welcome

My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

About me...

Salad Recipes

  • Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad in a white dish surrounded by crumbled feta.
    Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad

  • A plate with salad surrounded by watermelon slices
    Kale, Watermelon and Feta Salad

  • A large bowl of chickpea tuna salad with a serving spoon in it.
    Chickpea Tuna Salad

  • Chopped Blue Cheese Salad in a large white bowl.
    Chopped Blue Cheese Salad

  • A bowl of watercress salad with a wooden fork and spoon in it.
    Watercress Salad

  • Little Gem Salad in a round white bowl.
    Little Gem Salad

Recipe Books

The Hungry Healthy Happy book cover.
The healthy slow cooker book cover.
the front cover of The Picky Plate eBook.

Popular Recipes

  • Leftover chicken pasta on a black plate.
    Leftover Chicken Pasta

  • Mediterranean Rice Salad in a large round serving dish.
    Mediterranean Rice Salad

  • Fourteen healthy flapjacks on a sheet of parchment paper.
    Healthy Flapjacks

  • A tortilla chip being dipped into some nacho cheese sauce.
    2 Minute Nacho Cheese Sauce

  • Sticky Ginger Beef in a bowl with rice and broccoli.
    10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef Mince

  • Baked Egg Tortilla in a round baking dish.
    Baked Egg Tortilla (Tortilla Quiche)

Footer

Help & Information

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Advertising
  • Blog

About us

  • About us
  • Newsletter Sign Up!
  • Press enquiries
  • FAQ

Follow us


Featured in

A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

As an Amazon Associate we earn certain commissions from qualifying purchases. By using our site, you agree that we can collect and use your data. Our privacy statement has more details.

Copyright © 2011-2024 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved

  • 40
  • 5