Are you looking for fun and unique activities that are more exciting than the usual?
Are you wondering how to fit all that you want to do into your daily life and budget?
This epic list of 339 summer bucket list ideas for adults has you covered!
Table of Contents
About the Author - Dr. Angela Caveney
Introduction
Ah, summer—the season that embodies the essence of fun, sun, and the pursuit of happiness.
Are you an empty nester or newly retired and hoping for a bit of reinvention?
Or maybe you and your partner aim to rekindle your connection during the more relaxed summer months and are looking for some great dating ideas.
The sunshine season is the perfect time to take a step back, reignite old passions and get out of our comfort zones by trying some new things.
Ready to make this summer legendary?
Wondering how to find time?
Before we get started, I'd like to address the most common question I hear from my friends, family members and therapy clients when I start talking about bucket lists, as well as about trying out new activities more generally.
"I'm so busy! How do I find the time to do everything I want to do?"
The first step to answering this question is to make sure you know your core personal values inside and out.
Next, you need to have a solid idea of the goals you have for what you want life to look like.
With these things clear in your mind, it then comes down to understanding that you DO have time... for the things that are most important to you.
Not convinced? (It's ok. Most people aren't. It's a different way of looking at life.)
This article about slowing life down will help.
Now...let's get to it!
Outdoor Summer Bucket List Ideas for Adults
Free outdoor activities
Watch a sunrise from a hilltop
Go for a full moon night walk
Learn to identify constellations and stargaze
Swim in a natural body of water
Hike a local trail you’ve never explored
Camp in a national forest
Birdwatch in a wildlife preserve
Low cost outdoor activities
Have a picnic in the park with homemade sandwiches
Rent a kayak or paddleboard for a day on the water
Spend a day fishing or crabbing
Rent a bike and explore a scenic trail
Visit a botanical garden or arboretum
Buy a hammock and set it up for a day of relaxation in nature
Attend a workshop on foraging - and then go do it
Visit a state park you’ve never been to
Rent equipment and go snorkeling in a local reef
Attend a workshop on wilderness survival skills
Rent a mountain bike and explore off-road trails
Buy a fishing license and go fishing
Attend a local outdoor photography class
Take a horseback riding lesson in a scenic area
Expensive outdoor activities
Go on a guided overnight camping or backpacking trip
Take a hot air balloon ride at dawn
Enroll in a surf school
Book a weekend at a remote cabin in the woods
Join a guided scenic photography tour
Go on a sailing or a yacht day trip
Take a helicopter tour of a national park
Rent a luxury RV for a week long road trip
Take a scuba diving certification course
Book a safari
Attend a luxury yoga retreat in a natural setting
Go on a guided fly fishing trip to a renowned river
Book a multi-day guided rafting adventure
Thrill-Seeking Summer Bucket List Ideas for Adults
Free thrill seeking activities
Cliff jump at a local swimming hole
Participate in a flash mob
Street luge down a steep hill
Parkour in an urban park
Skinny-dip at a secluded beach during a full moon
Explore caves
Low cost thrill-seeking activities
Bungee jump off a bridge
Take a kite boarding lesson
Whitewater raft on a challenging river
Zipline through a forest canopy
Hang glide off a small cliff
Sandboard on desert dunes
Skydive in a wind tunnel
Expensive thrill-seeking activities
Skydive from an airplane
Base jump with a wingsuit
Go shark cage diving in open water
Try heliskiing in remote mountains
Go deep sea fishing for marlin or tuna
Participate in a desert rally race
Take a submarine tour of underwater wrecks
Cultural Summer Bucket List Ideas For Adults
Free cultural activities
Attend a free outdoor art festival
Participate in a community mural project
Visit local historical landmarks
Explore ethnic neighborhoods in your city
Attend a free lecture or workshop at a museum
Join a cultural exchange meetup group
Go to a free outdoor theater performance
Enjoy free admission days at museums
Walk through a public sculpture park
Attend a poetry reading in the park
Low cost cultural activities
Buy tickets to a local cultural fair
Attend a live ethnic music concert
Take a cooking class of a cuisine from a different culture
Visit a cultural exhibition at a community college
Go to a film screening of foreign films
Participate in a traditional dance workshop
Attend a book talk by an author from another country
Visit a botanical garden with plants from around the world
Join a guided historical or cultural walking tour of your city
Expensive cultural activities
Book a cultural immersion workshop
Take a guided tour abroad focusing on local arts and crafts
Attend a high-end cultural gala or fundraiser
Join an exclusive wine tasting tour in a renowned region
Book a private guided tour of ancient ruins
Enroll in a master class in a traditional art form
Attend a renowned international film festival
Take a luxury cruise focusing on cultural exploration
Enroll in an intensive language immersion program
Culinary Summer Bucket List Ideas For Adults
Low cost culinary activity ideas
Host a potluck dinner with a summer theme
Make homemade ice cream
Have a backyard BBQ
Create your own summer fruit water infusions
Forage for wild edible plants and make a salad
Bake a pie with berries you pick from a local farm
Start an herb garden and use your herbs in recipes
Cook a meal over a fire
Visit a local farmers' market and prepare a meal with your finds
Experiment with making different flavored BBQ sauces
Attend a wine tasting at a local vineyard
Try out a new summer cocktail recipe each week
Expensive culinary activity ideas
Dine at a Michelin-star restaurant with a summer tasting menu
Book a culinary vacation focused on summer cuisine
Go on a gourmet food cruise
Join a luxury wine club for the summer
Take a guided tour of famous eateries in a major city
Rent a beach house and hire a personal chef
Go on a seafood tasting tour along the coast
Fitness Related Summer Bucket List Ideas For Adults
Free fitness goal and activity ideas
Join a park run in your local area
Start a daily yoga challenge with online videos
Take a long-distance bike ride on a trail
Organize a hiking group with friends or family
Swim laps in a community pool
Try out outdoor body weight workouts
Participate in a community clean-up while jogging (plogging)
Practice Tai Chi or Qigong in a local park
Commit to walking 10,000 steps a day
Low cost fitness goal and activity ideas
Sign up for an outdoor boot camp
Take beginner lessons in a sport you’ve always wanted to try
Get a jump rope and master jump rope workouts
Buy and learn to use resistance bands for strength training
Enroll in a community sports league
Purchase a month-long trial at a local gym or fitness center
Invest in a good pair of running shoes and start a "Couch to 5K" program
Expensive fitness goal and activity ideas
Hire a personal trainer
Sign up for advanced sports lessons (e.g., scuba diving, rock climbing)
Book a cycling or hiking tour in another country
Enroll in a martial arts or boxing gym
Buy a membership at a climbing gym
Buy a paddleboard or surfboard and take up water sports
Invest in a home gym system
Register for a triathlon or marathon and hire a coach
Summer Bucket List Ideas for Seniors
Free senior activity ideas
Join a senior walking club in a local park
Participate in a free art class hosted by a community center
Attend a "seniors day" event at a local museum
Enjoy a morning of bird watching
Take part in a library book club specializing in classic literature
Low cost senior activity ideas
Enroll in a Tai Chi or gentle yoga class designed for seniors
Take a pottery or painting class offered at a discounted rate for seniors
Enjoy a leisurely tea tasting at a local tearoom
Attend a matinee movie or play
Visit a planetarium that offers a senior discount
Attend a workshop on genealogy
Expensive senior activity ideas
Book a scenic train ride through the countryside
Enjoy a weekend retreat at a wellness center that offers programs for seniors
Go on a gentle river cruise focusing on nature and wildlife
Attend a concert series or theater subscription tailored to classical tastes
Splurge on a professional family photo session for your entire extended family
Stay at a resort that offers tailored programs for senior wellness
Creative Summer Bucket List Ideas For Adults
Free creative activity ideas
Organize a neighborhood scavenger hunt with unique, local landmarks
Start a "book and hike" club and discuss books at the top of a hiking trail
Host a driveway art gallery day, featuring local artists and neighbor's artwork
Create a community garden mural project
Participate in a city-wide "hidden rocks" hunt, painting and hiding rocks for others to find
Offer a free class teaching a skill you already have
Organize a "flash mob" dance or choir performance in a public area
Run a DIY canoe day at a local lake with homemade boats
Low cost creative activity ideas
Rent quirky bikes or scooters to explore a city’s art district
Take an improv comedy workshop
Attend a Murder Mystery Dinner
Start geocaching
Host a themed costume picnic in a park (e.g., 70s disco, superheros)
Expensive creative activity ideas
Book a private flight lesson for an afternoon
Sign up for a behind-the-scenes tour of a local distillery, including tastings and mixology classes
Organize a private screening of a favorite movie in an old theater, with themed decorations and costumes
Attend a workshop in another country focusing on a unique skill (e.g., glassblowing in Italy)
Rent an exotic sports car for a day of scenic driving
Book a private island day trip with snorkeling and a beach picnic
Social Gathering Summer Bucket List Ideas
Free social gathering ideas
Create a beach bonfire night
Host an outdoor movie night
Create a sunset hiking group
Form a group to volunteer at a local event for a cause you care about
Organize community yoga in the park
Plan a poetry reading under the stars
Low cost social gathering ideas
Sing your heart out during karaoke night at a local bar
Embark on a thrift shopping spree
Solve mysteries together in a mystery escape room challenge
Compete in a friendly mini-golf tournament
Host an ice cream social
Glide across a lake in rented paddle boats
Expensive social gathering ideas
Enjoy a weekend group getaway at a cabin
Organize a group vineyard tour and tasting
Enjoy a gourmet cooking class with a local chef
Charter a party boat for a day
Plan a group spa day
Organize a group guided hiking or kayaking tour
Attend a high-profile sports event as a group
Personal Growth Summer Bucket List Ideas for Adults
Free personal growth goals and activities
Create (and follow) a morning routine
Start a gratitude journal
Try bullet journaling
Commit to reading one book a week
Learn a new language online
Set and review personal monthly goals
Begin a 30-day fitness challenge
Practice public speaking
Create a vision board for your future
Low cost personal growth goals and activities
Enroll in an online course to learn a new skill
Buy a plant and learn how to care for it
Join a social club
Expensive personal growth goals and activities
Hire a personal coach or mentor
Attend a spiritual retreat or workshop
Get a comprehensive health and wellness check-up
Bucket List Ideas for Adults To Give Back
Free ways to give back
Help at a local food bank
Volunteer for beach clean-up days
Assist at animal shelters
Offer to tutor students online
Join a local park restoration project
Engage in senior citizen companionship programs
Spend time building homes with a housing charity
Low cost ways to give back
Buy and distribute care packages to the homeless
Create handmade gifts for children in hospitals
Sponsor a local youth sports team
Host a charity garage sale
Buy supplies for a community beautification project
Purchase and donate books to local schools or libraries
Expensive ways to give back
Fund a scholarship for deserving students
Sponsor a child's education in a developing country
Donate to fund a well in a village lacking clean water
Invest in medical equipment for underfunded clinics
Sponsor an exhibition or event for emerging artists
Contribute to the rescue and rehabilitation of endangered wildlife
Make a significant contribution to disaster recovery funds in crisis-hit areas
Historical Exploration Summer Bucket List Ideas for Adults
Free historical exploration activity ideas
Join a community archaeological dig or historical preservation project
Research your ancestry at a public library
Volunteer at a historic site or event
Attend a reenactment of a historical event
Low cost historical exploration activity ideas
Rent a metal detector and explore local areas for historical artifacts
Buy a historically themed board game to play with friends and family
Visit a nearby historic village or colonial farm
Attend a history book club or discussion group
Subscribe to a history magazine or journal
Visit smaller, lesser-known museums dedicated to specific historical events or periods
Attend a vintage or antique fair to learn the history of different items
Expensive historical exploration activity ideas
Book a guided historical tour in another country
Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Take part in an overseas archaeological excavation as a volunteer
Attend a high-profile history conference or symposium
Go on a historical exploration themed cruise (e.g., Viking history, Mediterranean civilizations)
Book a private tour of historical archives or libraries
Stay in a historic castle, manor, or estate that offers historical experiences
Participate in a culinary tour that explores the history of specific cuisines or cooking methods
Gardening Summer Bucket List Ideas for Adults
Free gardening activity ideas
Plant a bee-friendly garden with native flowers
Participate in a seed swap event
Grow vegetables from kitchen scraps
Low cost gardening activity ideas
Install a simple drip irrigation system for your garden
Take a workshop on organic gardening techniques
Build a raised bed vegetable garden
Build a worm composting bin
Plant a pollinator garden
Buy and plant a fruit tree in your yard
Purchase a bat house to encourage natural pest control
Start a community garden
Expensive gardening activity ideas
Invest in a high-quality greenhouse
Hire a landscape architect to design a sustainable garden
Green Living Summer Bucket List Ideas for Adults
Free green living friendly activities
Start composting
Build a bird feeder from recycled materials
Join a local volunteer tree-planting initiative
Volunteer for beach clean-up days
Ride your bike to work
Conduct a DIY eco-friendly home products workshop
Host a clothing swap
Organize a community clean-up day
Low cost green living activities
Organize a community tree planting day
Attend a workshop on sustainable living practices
Buy a rain barrel to collect and store rainwater
Invest in a few beneficial insect colonies, like ladybugs or praying mantises
DIY recycled paper and embed wildflower seeds for plantable art
Expensive green living activities
Install a green roof or living wall
Take an eco-tourism trip to a rainforest
Enroll in an organic farming course and stay at an eco-lodge
Book a sustainable cooking class in a foreign country
Invest in solar panels for your home
Take a permaculture design course
Purchase an electric bicycle for emissions-free transportation
Attend a retreat focused on permaculture and sustainable living
Take a scuba diving course with a focus on marine conservation
Convert your diesel garden machinery to electric
Arts and Crafts Summer Bucket List Ideas for Adults
Free arts and crafts activity ideas
Sketch a sunrise or sunset from your favorite outdoor spot
Create nature-inspired mandalas from found objects
Host a beach art day with sand sculptures and driftwood art
Organize a photography walk in your local park
Participate in a community mural painting
Craft handmade greeting cards from old magazines and scraps
Try your hand at urban sketching in your city
Host a free art class for your neighbors
Low cost arts and crafts activity ideas
Attend a local craft fair and support artists
Take a pottery painting class
Get a small weaving loom and start weaving
Sign up for a stained glass art workshop
Enroll in an online calligraphy class
Build and decorate a fairy garden in your backyard
Take a silk-screen printing workshop
Expensive arts and crafts activity ideas
Attend an art retreat
Sign up for a multi-week glass blowing class
Purchase a professional-grade sewing machine for fashion design
Enroll in a metalworking course to create jewelry or sculptures
Buy an advanced woodworking toolkit for crafting furniture
Take part in a landscape painting course in an exotic location
Invest in a quality pottery wheel and kiln for ceramics
Join a leather working class and make your own handbags or wallets
Music and Dance Related Summer Bucket List Ideas for Adults
Free ways to enjoy music and dancing
Attend a free outdoor concert or music festival
Host a backyard dance party with friends
Participate in a community drum circle
Create and share a summer playlist with friends
Learn a new dance style through online tutorials
Organize an acoustic open mic night
Low cost ways to enjoy music and dancing
Take a beginner's class in a dance style you’ve always wanted to try
Buy tickets for an outdoor amphitheater show
Buy a ukulele and learn to play summer tunes
Attend a local salsa night at a nearby club
Buy a harmonica and learn to play blues by the bonfire
Purchase a DIY instrument kit and build your own
Expensive ways to enjoy music and dancing
Attend a famous music festival in another country
Take private dance lessons from a renowned instructor
Join a luxury dance retreat in an exotic location
Book a trip to Broadway and watch several musicals
Buy an electric guitar and take lessons
Invest in high-end DJ equipment and learn to DJ
Enroll in a songwriting workshop in a scenic location
Purchase front-row tickets to see your favorite band live
Book a cabin for a secluded songwriting retreat
Take a ballroom dancing cruise
Book Related Summer Bucket List Ideas for Adults
Free book related activity ideas
Join a local library’s summer reading challenge
Organize a book swap with friends
Start a book club (can be virtual)
Write a short story or poem
Participate in a public library book discussion
Volunteer at a library or community literacy event
Explore free ebooks and audiobooks from your library's digital resources
Low cost book related activity ideas
Attend a book signing or author talk at a local bookstore
Buy a novel from an independent bookstore
Subscribe to a literary magazine for a year
Purchase a journal specifically for book notes and reviews
Purchase a used set of classics you’ve never read
Attend a writing workshop at a community center
Order a literary-themed cookbook and try recipes inspired by your favorite novels
Expensive book related activity ideas
Attend a writer’s conference or literary festival
Sign up for a “bookcation” - a vacation themed around a novel's setting
Take a masterclass with a bestselling author
Get a first edition of your favorite book
Book a literary tour in a famous author’s hometown
Subscribe to a premium book subscription box
Invest in a rare or antique book collection
Have a custom bookshelf built for your home library
Commission artwork inspired by your favorite book or character
Final Thoughts
I hope you found inspiration in this article about summer bucket list ideas for adults!
Creating your summer bucket list is about more than just scribbling down adventures and dreams. It's a heartfelt commitment to exploring all that life has to offer.
Whether you're soaking in the pages of a treasured novel, expanding your knowledge of an unfamiliar culture, or simply finding the courage to dance like no one is watching, each item on your list is a step closer to a life well lived.
Echoing the timeless wisdom of Emmerson, "Life is a journey, not a destination." Why not make sure that your journey is an epic adventure?
About the Author
Angela Caveney, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist, Neuropsychologist and Founder of The Trybe Women's Social Club. Her absolute favorite things to do are to help women find their people, rediscover themselves and thrive throughout midlife. She can be reached directly at angela@the-trybe.com.