Family-Friendly Activities to Keep You Entertained All Summer Long (PLUS free printable summer reward chart for kids!)

Summer is in full swing and after weeks of the kids being home from school, you might be hearing complaints of boredom. So we’re sharing a list of 100 family-friendly activities to help you enjoy more time together. From backyard treasure hunts to museum trips, this post offers fun and easy ideas that will keep the whole family entertained this summer.

With 100 ideas to choose from, there’s something for every family to enjoy this summer. Plus, with my printable summer behavior chart, you can keep the kids engaged and excited all season long. They’ll love earning stickers for completing tasks and working toward a weekly reward. Whether it's a trip to the baseball game or the beach, this summer is sure to be full of fun and lasting memories.

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Free Printable Reward Chart for Kids

This is the magical chart our family has been using for 2+ years and goodness gracious has it been a life saver!
Here’s my pdf file with start dates of Monday, Sunday and Saturday so you can choose what works best for you.
PS. I bought **these tiny stickers** from Amazon to make filling in the chart more fun and to help ensure the kids use it week after week.
(Downloads on this site are for personal use only, please do not sell, edit or redistribute the digital files - thanks!)

Download

List of 100 summer activities for families

1. Family camping trip

2. Outdoor movies in the backyard

3. Visit a national park or a botanical garden

4. Have a family barbecue

5. Visit a farmer’s market

6. Make homemade ice cream or popsicles

7. Go on a nature walk or hike

8. Have a neighborhood scavenger hunt

9. DIY family photoshoot

10. Visit a local farm or petting zoo

11. Create a lemonade stand

12. Have a water balloon fight

13. Go on a bike ride

14. Build a sandcastle at the beach

15. Go on a fishing trip

16. Have a picnic in the park

17. Night camping in the backyard

18. Go on a road trip

19. Host a family Olympics

20. Plant a family garden

21. Go star gazing

22. Visit a museum or art gallery

23. Have a family game night

24. Take a surf lesson

25. DIY tie-dye t-shirts

26. Host a karaoke night

27. Make a homemade pizza night

28. Make a giant outdoor checkerboard using black and white paper plates

29. Visit a water park or amusement park

30. Host a family garage sale

31. Catch fireflies or make a firefly lantern using twinkle lights and a glass jar

32. Host a charades game night

33. Bake and decorate cupcakes

How I simplify my life

I’ve found that whenever I simplify anything in my life, I simultaneously reduce stress. The Helm Planner is my favorite way to simplify.

Simplify Life

34. Create a family summer reading challenge

35. Make DIY bird feeders

36. Visit a zoo or an aquarium

37. Go on a treasure hunt

38. Have a campfire and roast marshmallows

39. Visit a local historic site

40. Take a cooking class

41. Visit a butterfly house

42. Make a family time capsule

43. Make homemade fruit smoothies

44. Go horseback riding

45. Have a home spa day

46. Host a neighborhood potluck

47. Have a movie marathon

48. Visit a planetarium

49. Learn to play a musical instrument

50. Go strawberry or blueberry picking

51. Have a kite flying day

52. Create a family cookbook

53. Make homemade lemonade

54. Have a family paint night

55. Take a yoga or fitness class together

56. Visit a local charity and volunteer

57. Build a fort in the living room

58. Have a DIY car wash

59. Go on a city tour

60. Bake cookies together

61. Have an outdoor tea party

62. Visit a fireworks show

63. Have a crepe making morning

64. Have a family dance-off or a day of impromptu dance parties

65. Visit a science center

66. Learn a new card game

67. Go bowling or mini-golfing

68. Have a DIY terrarium day

69. Learn to make homemade jam

70. Visit a local theater performance

71. Have a building block challenge

72. Go to a drive-in movie

73. Have a family swim day

74. Make a DIY photo booth

75. Paint kindness rocks and set up a rock box for sharing

76. Visit a trampoline park

A better life planner

A life planner packed with creativity, designed to bring you less stress and more happiness.

upgrade your life (planner)

77. Host a family talent show

78. Go paddle boarding or kayaking

79. Make s'mores over a bonfire

80. Visit a local sports game

81. Have a teddy bear picnic

82. Try geocaching

83. Have a DIY bracelet making day

84. Visit an escape room

85. Set up an obstacle course in the backyard

86. Put on a sock puppet theatre

87. Go rollerblading

88. Make a summer scrapbook

89. Make a mini library to share books in your neighborhood

90. Learn a few magic tricks and put on a show

91. Visit a local swimming pool

92. Make a DIY playdough

93. Try a new restaurant

94. Have a family costume contest

95. Go on a ferry or boat ride

96. Visit a theme park

97. Make homemade pretzels

98. Have a shadow puppet show

99. Visit your local library

100. Have a family story-telling night

Our family favorites are charades and board games, lake days and our weekly pizza-and-a-movie nights. In a world that glamorizes “busy” and “excess,” I try really hard to lean into the simple and doable things. More intention and creativity, less frazzle and chaos. Win-win.

You might also like this blog post 50 Art Projects to Try When You’re Bored.