The 5 Experiences Topping Our Family Summer Bucket List
The sun is shining again and thunderstorms are predicted this week so I’m calling that a win in the summer is almost here category. Every summer, our family sits down and creates a little to do list–a family summer bucket list if you will. This year, the kids are a little bit older and have realized how much we can do with just a little planning. I’ll include a short list of must-haves for your summer survival kit to go along with our top 5 things on our family summer bucket list.
Get Your Summer Survival Kit Ready Now
What’s summer without sunscreen and lots of it? With little ones under 10, I’ve found that a face stick and a waterproof spray of some sort are must-haves. Add in some aloe, insect repellant, a bottle of calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream, some bandaids and triple antibiotic ointment and you’ve got the perfect survival kit for outdoor lovers! Snacks need to be plentiful and planned out. I’ll restock the fresh fruits, veggies and dairy items every few weeks but I bulk buy non-perishables. Lastly, I keep a bag stocked for the pool with towels, toys, and sunscreen. This year, I really wanted to add a versatile bag specifically for our family summer bucket list outings. Luckily, last week Twelvelittle sent me the cutest On-The-Go Backpack to try out. It’s going to be perfect for all of our plans–especially with 3 kids with a wide range of ages and needs.
Whittling Down the Family Summer Bucket List
We are a family of 5 with lots of activities, 2 active kiddos, a very active toddler, 2 jobs and a mix of interests. How in the universe will we ever be able to create a list that isn’t completely overwhelming and has something for everyone? I’ve found a family meeting with some paper, markers, a map and the family calendar gets the job done quickly. Everyone gets to make suggestions or write their own list and then we compile what becomes our family summer bucket list. Here are our top 5 excursions on the 2019 list.
5.) Museums, museums, museums!
We live in a fairly large metropolitan area so there is no shortage of museums to visit. Since all are inside, we will add these to the dog days of summer when it’s too hot to move or breathe outside. We can easily fit snacks for everyone in the On-The-Go Backpack as well as diapers for the baby, light sweatshirts for all three in case it gets cold inside and a drink for everyone. On our family summer bucket list, we list every museum we can think of that interests us and hope to make it to as many as possible. Topping our list are museums with dinosaurs, money, and sports. Museums typically have discounted or free rates at various times during the week so with a little planning this is a cheap but fun way to get out of the house.
4.) Swimming and Water Parks to beat the heat!
All 3 of our kids are water babies. We start the summer with 2 weeks of swimming lessons and usually go to the pool 3-4 times a week. This summer the big kids are wanting to try water parks too, therefore we are planning one trip mid-summer so they can experience bigger slides and water rides. This is a great time to check and make sure we have enough properly fitting floaties, towels and replace what isn’t up to standards. I’m so excited to find that the On-The-Go Backpack from Twelvelittle is waterproof which means it’s perfect for when we go to swimming lessons and the water park. No need to lug around a ginormous swim bag to fulfill this part of our family summer bucket list.
3.) Get Lost In The Great Outdoors
Camping! Hiking! Fishing! S’mores! We each had a different favorite outdoor activity for our family summer bucket list. Thankfully they can all be accomplished in one trip. Our survival kit gets used a lot on this one. Insect repellant, sunscreen and menu planning can make or break this experience. Rather than take the big swim bag, we will once again utilize the On-The-Go Backpack for our go-to diaper bag/swim bag/hiking bag. It is versatile enough to work perfectly in any of those capacities. Thus helping us decrease the amount of “stuff” that makes it into our campsite. My goal for camping this summer is to minimize what we take with us and focus on the memories we’ll be making.
2.) Road trips Make the Best Vacations!
Overwhelmingly, everyone in our family mentioned wanting to go on a road trip this summer. There’s something freeing about hopping in the car and heading out on the wide open road. Packing for a road trip can become its own spirit animal. Utilizing backpacks for the kids’ clothes means one less bag my husband and I have to lug around. Since our toddler doesn’t have a backpack, I’ll pack the On-The-Go Backpack with her things. Additionally, a quick trip to any dollar store and a library will stock an entertainment bag with books, crayons, toys, notepads, games, magazines and movies. Lastly, I pack a small convenience store in a cooler so we can have snacks along the way. It’s no wonder a road trip almost reached the top of our family summer bucket list!
1.) Family Time Is The Most Important Time
I grew up in a big family that is spread throughout the midwest. Every summer, my first cousins and their families gather together for cousin vacation. We’ve learned it’s really all about finding a place where we can simply be together. This is by far the #1 thing our kids look forward to all year long. If family time hasn’t been on your radar recently, I can’t recommend enough adding it to your family summer bucket list. Our cousin vacation is a quick 5-hour road trip. Therefore, I can implement most of the previously mentioned road tripping plans. Since we have access to a fire pit and a game room for game nights, we pick up supplies for s’mores and appetizers. Truly this is our favorite pick on the family summer bucket list.
Honorable Mentions That Are High On Our Family Summer Bucket List
There are so many amazing things we love about summer that just didn’t quite hit our top 5. Small things like getting shaved ice, riding bikes and making homemade ice cream. Or big things like summer camp, playing summer sports and several trips to the zoo. We also love library scavenger hunts, story times and movie nights on the couch (or outside!). The common denominator in our list is family and snacks. We’ve found that as long as we are together, the memories made and lessons learned are unmeasurable. Enjoy!!
The survival kit is a good idea, and having a bucket list is something I never thought of before, but it can make a difference. I’d want to start planning it mid-winter when it is dark, cold and drear outside, so it gives you something to look forward to!
So many places to go.. I think it’s optimal that what you bring is well thought out beforehand. Nice list
So much great ideals here!! The summer survival kit is really a smart thing to have. For some reason between fall and summer I always get lost with my products. I need to set a summer kit to keep at home and also one to take on the road
I could take this bag on various roadtrips.
I love road trips but don’t have a car for that last few years so have not bee going on one.miss them!
This family summer bucket list sounds very fun. Thanks for sharing!
I would love to do a road trip with my family.
I like the Museum idea- my kids would really enjoy that!
Perfect how it slips onto a suitcase!
This bag is the perfect size for me and my grandchildren, perfect for all our swimming supplies and for a day of fishing!
Hmmm. Hard to tel if this bag is big enough for us or not.
I like the design, the stripes are cute and add that nautical look to the bag. Plus, the bag is good for not just babies but older kids as well, and there are plenty of needed compartments so this would be great for the beach, a theme park or road trip with the kids.
I don’t know how you can do the road tripping. One day of driving is enough for us lol. Everyone gets anxious being crammed into tight quarters after a few hours.
i like that it easily slips onto the suitcase. none of my backpacks do this! its the best feature to me.
This backpack is perfect for my large family! I love all the storage and that it has wheels.
The top of my family’s bucket list is the grand canyon and southern beaches. We love the sun!
great bag for organizing! Love all the space
I cannot wait for summer it has been too long a winter and I want to go hiking and swimming.
My summer bucket list has changed dramatically since my kids have grown up. I pick a few things I want to do again, & try to intersperse a few new things. I have to look at the costs since money is tight. I also need to plan a trip north to see my siblings, kids, & grandkids. This backpack looks perfect to carry necessities for one!
I love all the storage that this bag has! This would be perfect to take everywhere!
I love how many pockets this has, it would be perfect for a kid on the go.
This bag is awesome, super big!. I thought it was smaller
I love the size and design of this bag . Since i travel often I can put so much inside of it things i need even to carry on the plane to keep my items close at hand that i need to use.
This looks like a great bag for when on the go and also great when walking to store and back.
Super cute bag. Will be great for travel.
Looks like you have thought of everything. I used to say that I could live out of our diaper bag for a week, if we ever got stranded somewhere.
I love creating bucket list with my kids. I love seeing what they are interested in doing and then doing it.
You have my kind of bucket list.
The ideas you’ve posted are great ones for the summer time. I like that the bag can really hold plenty of items, and simpler to carry as a backpack.
This bag looks amazing. Perfect for our upcoming road trips.
To spend as much time as we can outside, and hopefully by the beach or lake a majority of the time.
I miss road trips! Those were the best but with hubby switching jobs, he can’t get the time off like he used to! 🙁
It looks like you have a fun summer planned. It’s great that you have lots of plans that are outdoors.
First off, this bag is SO cute . The stripes remind me of a RL bag – I love that it attaches to luggage as well. Looks pretty roomie inside as well.
We often take our granddaughter on short trips with us – I like the fact that we can attach the backpack to our luggage and that it holds quite a bit.
I travel quite a bit for work. This bag would definately come in handy. I love everything about it.
That backpack looks so helpful.
This backpack sounds perfect and looks so stylish. Everything is so well thought out in the design.
The bag looks awesome! Looks like it has a lot of room. Love all the pockets
These bags look so neat and I’d love to have one to use for family outings!
This bag would be perfect to take on summer vacations/travel as well as to the beach! It has a lot of room!
this backpack is for everyone it seems museum goers, campers, hikers, waterpark guests it has lots of nice lil pockets n holders for random things
This is such a cute backpack! I love how they have a different pattern on the outside and inside. 🙂 I love how many pockets it has and that it is waterproof as well! The slot on the back for luggage carrying is a feature that I have never seen before and it would be so handy for traveling! Thank you so much for your review.
my little niece loves back packs think she would enjoy this one
This looks so roomy! I love all the pockets!
This would make a perfect gift for our youngest who just announced that they are expecting their first child at our Easter celebration this past weekend.
This backpack looks super sturdy and stylist. It has enough room to carry around all the baby essentials.
I like this backpack because of all the items you can carry around in it.
I love the stripes on this backpack, it just looks like fun for summer
Taking my grand kids to the Columbus Zoo this year is on my list. This backpack would be great to pack all our must have in. I am a big fan of carrying a back pack with all that I need to bring
I love those sweet little moccasins tucked inside <3. this backpack looks amazing. the pockets and compartments are a moms dream! I could stay very well organized with this bag
Thank you! I’m sorta obsessed with them myself…we may have them in a few colors. 🙂
Like you I am hoping for a lot of swimming and a lot of family time!
The first aid kit in a backpack is so necessary!!
Seems sturdy and ready for many great adventures; good luck on the bucket list 🙂
This post really makes me look forward to summer adventures. We like to spend lots of time at the beach and parks as well as getting to the science center and children’s museum. This backpack would be great to have along to organize our supplies.
I love this back pack because not only is it cute to look at but it has so much room to put things and little storage areas. I need this to bring some important items like meds and sunscreen. I have a tendency to bring more than I need and this bag would be perfect for that.
I like the look and design of this bag. It looks nice and roomy
I’m obsessed with backpack diaper bags, they are so practical! and this one is so cute and has so many features and pockets!!
This looks nice! I love the look of it and how much you can store inside.
Road trips are a toss up for me. They are fun until you cannot wait to get there. hehe. Great bucket list.
Love that it’s waterproof. Its a great size too so that it works for every member of the family.
I love that this backpack is waterproof and I also love the exterior and interior pockets for organization!
I’m loving your bucket list and this bag looks great and good sized!
The bag is almost bigger than her but they have to carry so much stuff anymore and they need it so it’s great and stylish.
I love this article and the idea of bucket lists. I’m so ready for summer!
i love all the products you put together. very helpful
I could really use this it looks very small but has a lot of room.This backpack is very cute and it’s perfect for trips.