Your Summer Bucket List - Incredible Things to Do in Summer (2024)

The long, hot days and short, balmy nights of summer make it the season when many of us feel most alive. The time of year lends itself to all sorts of fantastic activities, some of which definitely deserve a spot on the ultimate summer bucket list!

If you need some inspiration, take a look at our suggestions below, and you’ll soon be compiling a bucket list for the summer that could just change your life.

What Should Be On My Summer Bucket List?

First off, what is a bucket list? Some say it’s a list of things to do. But a bucket list is much more than a to-do list.

It’s more like a super-charged wish list. The term became part of our vocabulary after the release of the 2007 movie, The Bucket List. Starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, the comedy-drama film tells the story of two terminally ill men who set off on a road trip. Their goal is to do things they’ve always wanted to do before they kick the metaphorical bucket…

Your summer bucket list should include at least a few sunshine-drenched activities you’ve always wanted to do. It can also include activities that you’ve done before and would like to repeat at least once. For example, you may have gone blackberry-picking as a child, and now want to introduce your own children to the activity.

Ultimately, it’s your list, and you can make it as long or as short, as simple or as elaborate as your imagination allows!

How Do You Make A Summer Bucket List?

When making a list, start by thinking about all the things you would like to do, to try, or to experience at least once in your life. If any of them are distinctly summery, or the season would be the best one for them, write them down.

Next, think about past summers. If you remember any activities that you promised yourself you would repeat, places you said you’d visit, or experiences you wanted to share with loved ones, write them down.

The purpose of a bucket list is to help you ensure you do everything you’ve ever dreamed of!

Summer Bucket List Ideas

If you’re ready to start planning some fun in the sun, take a look at these fabulous bucket list ideas for summer:

1. Go On A Road Trip

   

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   A road trip was central to the movie that kicked off the bucket list craze, so we think that it’s only fitting to start our list with a road trip!

   Whether you set off on your own, with family or friends, remember that it’s about the journey and not the destination. Consider travelling to places of interest you’ve always wanted to see or choose a route renowned for the beautiful scenery it offers along the way.

   Alternatively, go on a driving holiday in another country, rent a luxury vehicle or a supercar and see the world in a whole new and exciting way.

2. Forage For Food

   

   Foraging for food in forests and hedgerows has become uber trendy and it can be a fulfilling, fun experience.

   If you’ve never done it before, you need to add it to your bucket list for summer. Whether you limit your activity to picking blackberries, or you join a guide who can explain the finer points of foraged food, it’s sure to be one of the highlights of the season.

3. Visit An Incredible Cave

   

   Spending time underground may sound like a strange thing to do in summer, but if you haven’t explored a cave before, you should add spelunking to your bucket list. After all, there’s a whole other world to explore than one the above ground!

   Unique wonderlands await you in the most fabulous caves in the UK, Europe, and elsewhere. Contact your local tourism office to find out about the best caves near you, or visit famous sites such as Slovenia’s Postojna Cave, the Czech Republic’s Punkva Cave, Malta’s Blue Grotto, and the UK’s Cheddar Gorge Caves.

4. Learn How To Make Ice-Cream

   

   Ice-cream is the perfect treat on a hot summer’s day, but why limit yourself to eating it?

   Learning how to make ice-cream and gelato is easy, fun, and rewarding in all sorts of ways. There are plenty of tutorial videos you can watch on YouTube, but an even better idea is to join an ice-cream making course. Making ice-cream is a must-do item for any summer bucket list. Who knows? By next year, you may be at the head of your very own icy empire!

5. Create Your Own Fragrance

   

   The summer air is scented with the fragrance of countless flowers. Let the fragrant air inspire you to create a perfume or cologne of your very own. Whether you make a solid perfume using beeswax and essential oils, or you join master perfumers who can offer expert tips for making something luxurious, it is an unusual and exciting addition to your bucket list for the summer.

6. Brew Your Own Beer

   

   Drinking well-brewed craft beer is one thing, and touring a brewery is quite another. Brewing your beer, however, is altogether different. It’s much easier than you may think, and with a proliferation of physical and online home-brew shops, you can get the equipment and ingredients you need in a jiffy.

   Guides are available through the same shops, and you can find plenty of hints and tips online. Add it to your bucket list, and then invite your friends over for a tasting party when your brew is ready for the quaffing.

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7. Try A Taste Bud-Tingling Experience

   

   Whether you choose a traditional dish or an innovative gastronomic creation by a top chef, trying food that is new to you can be an adventure in its own right.

   Don’t let the season go by without treating your taste buds to something exciting. Consider adding a Michelin-starred dining experience or a visit to a small restaurant known by word-of-mouth to be one of the best places in town. Alternatively, why not try cooking something new at home? Trying new food deserves a place on your summer bucket list.

8. Visit A Tropical Island

   

   Relaxing on the beach is a quintessential summer experience. If you’re one of the people in this world who have never been to a beach or swam in the ocean, perhaps it’s time to change that? Sure, you can head to the beach that is closest to where you live, but we’ve got a better idea for your summer bucket list.

   Why not visit a tropical island?

   Where better to stroll on golden sand, splash around in warm water, and watch the sun rise or set? Consider jetting off to the Bahamas, Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Maldives, Hawaii, or Madagascar.

9. Swim In The Dead Sea

   

   If you love swimming, then there’s no more exotic experience than taking a dip in the Dead Sea. Bordering The West Bank, Israel and Jerusalem, this body of water has such a high salt content that you cannot sink. Floating about is hugely therapeutic both for the body and soul, and it’s the perfect bucket list idea for anyone looking for an amazing break.

10. Take To The Sky

    

    If you have always wanted to do something adventurous in the sky, make it part of your bucket list summer. You could enjoy a view of town and country from a helicopter or be a daredevil and experience the thrill of the loop-the-loop and other aerobatic stunts in a small plane.

    Another idea is to immerse yourself in the old-world romance of a hot air balloon flight, the perfect summer activity to do with your bae.

11. Set Off On Safari

    

    If the wild has always fascinated you, a safari needs to be on your summer bucket list. South Africa is a safari lovers paradise, and there are so many sunny destinations to choose from. You can view big game in the Kruger National Park, get up and personal with the local wildlife in the Kalahari, or marvel at the vast plains of Kenya.

12. Go On a Camel Ride In Egypt

    

    Egypt is one of the most fascinating places on earth. If you love ancient history and are fascinated by the pharaohs, why not soak up the sights in the most authentic way? There are numerous tours that take you to see the pyramids in Giza from the back of a camel! You can explore the enormous desert and marvel at how the Egyptians were master craftsmen and have left such a lasting legacy, all from the saddle. This may sound like a crazy summer bucket list idea, but it’s one you’ll never forget.

13. Have An Andrenaline Adventure

    

    Summer is the season for adventure, so why not add it to your bucket list and make it happen? Go mountain biking in Bolivia, explore the famous Galapagos Islands, or jump out of an aeroplane at your local sky-diving centre. It’ll be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will make the season one to remember forever.

14. Do An Act Of Kindness

    

    Spend part of your summer doing good for others, whether they be people or animals. You can keep your acts of kindness as simple as volunteering at a local animal shelter, or you can commit to something bigger. Consider volunteering at an animal rehabilitation centre in India, building houses in one of many African countries, or even doing some work for Sea Shepherd. Whatever your choice of charitable work, it would make a wonderful addition to your bucket list for summer.

Feeling inspired? Draw up your summer bucket list now and start ticking off your adventures one by one!

Tom Emerson

Tom’s travel writings are a testament to his insatiable curiosity and love for the road less traveled. Eschewing the typical tourist spots, Tom has built a reputation for uncovering hidden gems known only to locals.

From secluded mountain villages in the Himalayas to untouched beaches in the South Pacific, his adventures have taken him to the world’s most undiscovered corners.