We’ve compiled the best summer activities to make unforgettable memories with your best friend, romantic partner or family members! These twenty activity ideas take advantage of the warm weather and give you a variety of fun days—whether you’re looking for relaxation, adventure or a little of both. During summer, it’s the perfect time to take a beach day, watch an outdoor sports game, or plan an epic pop culture summer party. You don’t need to take a trip out of state to have the best summer ever! Try a few of these creative activities and make every summer day feel like a vacation.
20 Activities for Summer Vacation
Go on a picnic date with your partner.
Visit your local park and enjoy a romantic picnic outside. Take your picnic to the next level by packing a gourmet charcuterie tray, champagne, and chocolate-covered strawberries. Finish the date with a grand gesture and surprise your S.O. with a special gift that’s personalized just for them like the Book of Us. Book of Us captures your unique love story on every page and will be treasured for years and years!
Host a pop-culture themed summer party.
Plan an epic outdoor get-together with a pop culture theme and ask everyone to dress up accordingly. We love the idea of a Euphoria-themed party with a cool high-school prom vibe that features colorful drinks with edible glitter, metallic decorations, and a killer playlist.
Visit a water park.
Beat the heat at a fun outdoor or indoor water park! Make it a day event or treat yourself to an overnight stay at a hotel.
Have a bonfire with friends.
Invite friends to a bonfire where you can roast marshmallows, listen to music, and play group games.
Attend a music festival.
Summer is the perfect time to check out music festivals in your city or nationwide.
Do a puzzle on a rainy day.
When it’s raining and boredom strikes, puzzles will keep your family entertained and happy! Personalized puzzles are especially engaging. Choose a custom puzzle that features a cute couple’s photo or one with your family’s names.
Visit a local swimming pool or beach.
Swimming is the ultimate summer activity! Visit a public pool or enjoy a beach day at the lake or ocean. If you don’t have a pool or beach nearby, take a staycation at a hotel with a pool.
Golf at a regular course or go mini golfing.
This is a fun date activity, or something the whole family can enjoy to make memories. Treat yourself to ice cream afterwards.
Visit a local brewery and food truck.
Most local breweries will host food trucks on summer weekends. Choose a weekend to visit one or two local breweries, sample a few beers and enjoy lunch at a food truck.
Go to a baseball game.
Enjoy this great American pastime with your family! There’s nothing better than cheering on your team with a hot dog and blue skies.
Play frisbee golf in your backyard.
Scatter hula hoops around the grass and play frisbee golf. This is a great last-minute activity when you want to play a fun game.
Spend the day at a State Fair or Renaissance Festival.
Eat, drink, and party all day long! Most states host a State Fair or Renaissance Festival in the summer, where you can sample lots of deep-fried food, listen to some great music, and take in a few shows.
Replicate a drive-in movie theater at home.
Re-create a drive-in movie theater experience! Set up a projector and attach a sheet to your garage door to play a movie. Just like an old-fashioned drive-in, you can watch from your car in the driveway while snacking on burgers and root beer floats!
Enjoy a grown-up “yes day.”
Have the perfect “yes day” by saying “yes” to whatever your boyfriend, girlfriend or partner wants to do (within reason, of course). Ask them, “What is your perfect day?” and then make it happen!
Take a class to learn something new.
Sign up for a class with your best friend or partner to learn a new skill or hobby! Try yoga, a cooking class or a pottery class. This is a great activity for when you got a little too sunburnt on your last outing.
Go skydiving.
Unleash your adventurous side and soar through the sky! Skydiving is a great couple’s activity or friend activity in the summer when you want to take an exhilarating risk.
Challenge your friends in an escape room.
Find an escape room near you and work together to get out. This summer activity lets you escape the heat and make hilarious memories with your friends as you build your teamwork skills!
Take a hiking and camping trip.
Spend a long weekend hiking to scenic spots and camping overnight. Roast hot dogs over a fire, stargaze at night, and bring binoculars to observe the local wildlife.
Go canoeing or kayaking on the water.
Enjoy a day where you can get some exercise and cool off at the same time! Find a local park where you can rent equipment (if you don’t have your own) and bring a friend.
Create a summer reading challenge.
Challenge yourself to read a certain number of books over the summer. Create a book tournament reading bracket and see which book comes out on top as the best summer read!
We hope these summer activities will help you make joyful memories all summer long!
