You can also hear all about summer family activities as a podcast episode on the Parenting in Real Life Podcast on Apple Podcasts or on your favorite podcast app.
As the vaccine continues to roll out, we think we’ll see two different groups emerge this summer.
Group 1 is people who are still hesitant to come out or get the vaccine and will still mostly stay inside this summer because they want to or because they have to.
Group 2 is people who have been anxious to get out and will do All. The. Things this summer.
So with this in mind, we wanted to share summer family activities for both!
Social Distance Summer Family Activities
Camping
If you want to go camping this summer, but haven’t made reservations just yet, make sure to book now because things fill up fast! Camping is a great summer family activity for those who want to social distance and be outside, but it’s also a great activity for those who are ready to be back to normal. From what we’ve seen so far, it looks like campsites will fill up fast. So in your summer planning, make sure to reserve a spot soon.
Another fun action is to go camping in your backyard. We actually had a bad experience with that this last summer because our boys broke our tent. They jumped on the fiberglass poles and they broke in half – so we need to buy new poles to fix our tent. But if your tent is working, then setting up a backyard getaway is super fun for kids! And I love it because I can sleep inside. 🙂
National Parks and hikes
Another outdoors activity to help you social distance is to visit National Parks. However, we’ve been to a few national parks already this year already and they were super busy. So try to avoid holidays and busy weekends if you want avoid the crowds. Also, make sure to book hotels or AirBnBs or VRBO or whoever you use soon if you’re staying more than a day. Those tend to fill up quickly too.
If you’re anxious to get outside, but don’t live near or want to go a National Park, then local hikes (or walks) are a great way to explore where you live.
Backyard fun
If you have access to a projector, a movie in the backyard is a super fun idea! You can even invite neighbors and spread seats out. Our family also really enjoys backyard games like capture the flag, water balloon fights, laser tag, and catch. You can also check out these other night games we to play.
We also love to make s’mores on the campfire. Movable fire pits are pretty cheap to get these days and it’s so fun to sit out on a summer night and make a delicious treat together. If smores are a bit too sticky for you, then check out this toasty pie recipe that you can also make on the campfire. It’s a family favorite!
Stargazing is also another fun thing to do in your yard together as a family.
Family Bike Rides
Family bikes rides are always fun, but you can mix up your summer family activities by also painting rocks and hiding them on your bike rides. A fun book to read with your kids about rock painting is Rock On Kindness which was written by a friend of mine! You can also do a scavenger and look for things as you ride. Here’s an example of a scavenger hunt printable you can use.
Garden
One of our favorite things to do all summer is to garden. You can do this no matter where you live! You can plant a garden in your backyard, in pots on a patio, or even herbs indoors. We love making food with the ingredients that we grew! If you’re wanting to start a garden, here are some beginner tips.
Another favorite thing to do is go berry picking. You can do this at a local U-Pick farm. My parents actually have quite a few berry bushes in their backyard and my kids love to pick berries at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
Back to Normal Summer Family Activities
Library
Reading to your kids is super important and continuing to read them during the summer is even more important to keep those brains working. Or if your kids are old enough to read, make sure to get them reading throughout the summer too. Lots of libraries have summer activities like reading challenges or take home kits as well as story time for the youngest kids. If your local library is lacking a bit or doesn’t have the programs you’re looking for, most libraries in a county are connected. Check out the library in another city nearby and see what that library has to offer.
Sports and camps
The summer is a great chance for kids to try new sports and activities. We love doing sports through the city and local recreation center where the lessons are inexpensive and usually shorter so kids can see if they like the sport and want to pursue it. Swim lessons are always a good idea. Most are filling up already so sign your kids up soon!
When we lived in Wisconsin, the city had a kids camp all summer. It was twice a week for 2 hours all summer and really affordable. My kids loved it and it gave them a chance to have structured play and learning time. Unfortunately we don’t really have anything like that in Utah, but if you have kids camps near you, take advantage of it!
Splash pads
Especially with little kids, I love that everyone can play at a splash pad and have fun without worrying about drowning. I always try to have a beach bag ready with towels and sunscreen so we can get to the splash pad at any time. It always takes so long to get ready so this will help get you out the door faster.
Passes
There are lots of passes opportunities, especially over the summer. Some great places with passes are Childrens’ Museums, aquariums, zoo, and pools. You usually only need to go twice for the pass to be worth it.
You’ll have to check your local movie theater, but they often have summer movies for kids during the day that are much cheaper. A lot of bowling alleys will also have special summer pricing for kids.
Sporting Event or Farmer’s Markets
We love attending sporting events with out kids, especially Minor League Baseball games. The tickets are usually quite a bit cheaper and then you don’t feel bad when you need to leave early with your kids. Minor League Soccer and Basketball games are also fun to attend with your family.
We also love going to local farmers markets. If you ever get a chance to go to the Madison, WI Farmers Market, it will be well worth your time. It’s amazing!!! Check to see if your city or a city nearby has a farmer’s market and support your local businesses and farms.
What are you doing this summer with your family?