I know everyone’s talking about how summer is almost over, but it’s not even August! And people are always like OMG I love fall and pumpkins and cider and sweaters, and I do like those things, but the summer months are my favorite. I don’t want to think about going back to school, and we still have until Labor Day, and weekends through September to embrace summer. Summer break means warm weather, sunshine, lazy days, and no homework. It’s the perfect time to stay up a little later and have an outdoor movie night. If you’re looking for some easy and fun activities to do with little kids, and some ideas for adults, too, here’s my summer bucket list. 

My Summer Bucket List: Fun Ideas You’ll Love for 2024

I shared our plan for a slow, lazy summer. We’re about halfway through and honestly, it’s been great. There’s so much pressure to get our kids enrolled in a million activities. But I wanted to try a different approach. Sometimes, that’s essential, but I have a full-time au pair who lives in our home. She helps with our kids from 8-5PM. So my first thought was that we could have fun and do what the kids want to do. And bonus: we would save a lot of money on camp while having help at home.

My kids are also best friends with one another and want to be together. It’s hard to find a camp that would not split them up since they’re 2 years apart. I know this won’t always be the case, and this year felt like a great opportunity to let them bond. Because I work for myself, I’m able to be flexible. I can take some time off before or after my son’s nap to enjoy summer with my kids. 

My Personal (Adult) Summer Bucket List

I was postpartum last summer, pregnant the summer before that, and my daughter was immunocompromised the two previous summers. So the thing I wanted to do the most this summer was just get out and enjoy the season. I’ve done a pretty good job at it. I have done farmer’s markets, lunches, dinners, and coffee with friends. We’ve been making plans with family friends, too. And I have my first post-kids girls trip next month! It’s been really nice. 

Sit by the pool without my kids: I’ve been to the pool quite a few times this summer but hadn’t been without my kids until a few weeks ago, and it was glorious. 

Big Star: I love Big Star (tacos) and margaritas and had an afternoon lunch date with my husband and friends. 

Host a patio night for with girlfriends: I have a few girlfriends I’d like to introduce to one another, and just thought it would be fun to get everyone together while the weather is nice, maybe later August or one night in September. 

How We Put Our Summer Bucket List Together

Earlier this summer, our au pair and I shared a note on our phones and added a list of fun things we wanted to do with the kids during the summer season. We added any and all fun summer activities that we thought the kids might enjoy. There are a few things we’ve done which I’ll share here, and there are quite a few things left on our list. We didn’t exactly get a head start to summer since my girls and I hated the cicadas and sort of hid inside until they left. But I want to make this the best summer, and make up for the weeks that we hid out indoors. 

Our (Little Kid Friendly) Ultimate Summer Bucket List

I shared an extensive list of summer activities, but wanted to put together my own summer bucket list. This is a shorter list of fun and easy activities that the entire family will love. So you might not see a road trip, camping trip, or baseball game on this list since I have a toddler and I’m in a different era. But it’s my own list of activities that I’d like to experience with my 3 kids ages 6, 4, and 1. 

Farmer’s Market 

Children’s Museum

Amusement Park (Santa’s Village)

Legoland (in Schaumburg)

Children’s Farm

Navy Pier

Lincoln Park Zoo 

Brookfield Zoo

Lincoln Park Farmer’s Market

Beach Day

Museum of Ice Cream

CAMP Store to visit Bluey and Bingo

Eli’s Ark for Ice Cream

The Bean (Downtown Chicago)

Visit a Local Museum 

Splash Pad

Have a Picnic

Visit the Nature Museum or Arboretum

Visit New Parks

Playgrounds are probably my least favorite thing to do solo with multiple kids. I don’t mind going with one child or a second adult, but I want to be able to have eyes on everyone while letting them explore.  It’s impossible to keep tabs on all 3 which stresses me out. 

What We’ve Done This Summer

I had this whole plan to take a day trip downtown once a week. And I suppose was a little overzealous since my youngest still naps in the middle of the day. We’ve gone a few times – once to the aquarium, and another time to get my older daughter’s ears pierced. I’ve had solo trips downtown for dinner with friends and hair appointments, too. But I’d love to get out more with the kids while the weather is nice.

I ended up adding a few more things to our shared list that I want to note here. Here’s what we’ve done so far and what I’d still like to do with the kids (and my own personal list) before summer ends. 

Make Homemade Ice Cream: The perfect summer activity that isn’t too messy, doesn’t take too much time, and can be enjoyed by everyone. I’ve been using our Ninja Creami, which I highly recommend, to make ice cream with coconut sugar and sorbet with zero added sugar. 

Read a Favorite Book: My oldest and I started reading Matilda by Roald Dahl. My husband and I take turns reading one chapter every night, and we’re almost done. 

Visit a Farmers Market: This is perfect way to start sunny day in the summer. I’ve visited a few different farmer’s markets with and without my kids, and have taken the kids to our neighborhood farmer’s market once or twice this summer. We need to keep going because they absolutely loved the crepes and acai bowls, andI love getting fresh fruit, vegetables, and bread, too. It’s a really nice way to start the day. 

Brookfield Zoo: We’ve been to this zoo a few times since it’s a lot easier than Lincoln Park, but I love the Lincoln Park zoo. 

Ride a Ferris Wheel: There’s now a ferris wheel at the zoo and I was reminded of how much I don’t enjoy being up high this summer. Box checked. Didn’t love it. 

Aquarium: visited the Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago, and all my kids loved it. Sure, it’s an indoor activity and not summer specific, but I love saving these activities for those hot or rainy days when you don’t want to be outside. 

Local Library: This is something my kids did quite often when the cicadas were here. It was a nice, bug-free activity that got them out of the house. 

CAMP Store to visit Bluey and Bingo: My kids absolutely loved this! It’s expensive but if your kids love Bluey, is well worth it. 

Arboretum: Explore the beauty of nature at a botanical garden or arboretum. Ours has a children’s section with a playground, interactive displays, and a pond. 

Legoland (in Schaumburg): Ok, so this was admittedly not my favorite activity at all, but it was something to do on a hot day, and my kids enjoyed it. I would recommend doing this if you’re desperate on a freezing day and can’t think of anything else to do. 

Free Activities 

Outdoor Movie Night: This is always fun, but is easier to do when it starts getting dark around 7PM. It stays light so late, and my 4 year old can’t really start a movie at 8:30 or 9PM. 

Have a Picnic: I did sort of do my own version of this with my middle daughter. We picked up her favorite cheese and cracker box at Starbucks and sat at a picnic table by the train, and had a great time. You could also pack a simple picnic with sandwiches and snacks, but our no-prep version was fun, too. 

Go on a Nature Walk: Find kid-friendly trails in your area. These trails are usually shorter and less challenging, making them perfect for younger kids. We actually live really close to one so I have no excuse. Bring along a small backpack with snacks, water, and never forget the first aid kit. I bring one wherever we go. 

Attend an Outdoor Concert: This is one of those great if the opportunity arises kind of moments, and if not, I’m seeing Taylor Swift in London next month, and Wembley Stadium is outdoors, so there you go. 

Lincoln Park Zoo: I always love city zoos – there’s something so fun about seeing downtown from the zoo, and I love how walkable the surrounding area is, too. Bonus: admission is free!

Lincoln Park Farmer’s Market: One of my favorite farmer’s markets – I love starting the morning here, then venturing over to the farm and zoo. They have the best fresh produce, flowers, and pastries, too. 

Beach: If you live near a beach, plan regular beach outings. Build sandcastles, collect seashells, and let the kids splash in the shallow water. Remember to bring plenty of sunscreen, hats, and water to stay hydrated. This is one of those things I always enjoy doing, except we’re about an hour from the beach, and my toddler naps at 12:30, so it’s just a trek that I haven’t quite mastered at this stage. But I’d still like to go.

Explore new Playgrounds: I’d like to take my kids to some new parks with our au pair, so we can easily keep an eye on all 3 kids. I’d like them to visit a new playground every week for the next month, which is just 4 new playgrounds. This will keep the kids excited and eager to explore a new park. 

Outings That are Still On My Summer Bucket List

Visit an Amusement Park: Everyone always has a good time at an amusement park. There’s one we went to last year and another we haven’t been to, so I think it would be fun to visit both with the kids We haven’t been to our local amusement park yet, but are planning to go and it’s always a fun way to spend an afternoon. 

Children’s Museum: We have done this a few times. It’s a great activity for all 3 kids since there’s something for every age, and it’s a great way to keep my toddler busy. 

Children’s Farm: There are a few cute farms for kids in the suburbs, so I’d like to take the kids to do that. There’s also a farm right by the Lincoln Park zoo, so we’ll visit when we go to the zoo as well. 

Museum of Ice Cream: We are planning on doing this in the coming week – I’m so excited to take the kids!

Eli’s Ark for Ice Cream: This place looks so cute, and is sort of a trek for ice cream, but we need to make the trip. 

Dinosaur Museum: The Field Museum, or as my kids like to call it, The Dinosaur Museum, is always a hit. 

Splash Pad: I am not a water park fan and think my kids are a little too young. But Splash pads are always fun for little kids. Ours has a water slide and a cute little area for babies and toddlers, too.  

The Bean (Downtown Chicago): My oldest has been but my younger two haven’t. I’m probably playing it up to be more fun than it actually is but it’s on the list anyway. 

Visit the Nature Museum: This one is downtown, too, but my kids love it. 

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