50 Ways to Savor the Summer Season with Family

When the days grow long and the temperatures rise, instead of staying indoors glued to electronics, head outdoors and make a few memories with 50 Ways to Savor the Summer Season with Family.

Summertime

Summer with family means sparklers on Independence Day, picnics at sunset on the beach, dripping popsicles, and homemade ice cream. Savoring the summer with family means camping trips and days played out in the sun until dinner is called. It is late nights out under the stars, BBQ’s, and fresh produce from the garden or farmers markets. Summer means sunset picnics with Bruschetta , Panzanella Salad, or a bowl of Roasted Heirloom Tomato Soup and a Pesto Chicken Sandwich with friends featuring the flavors of summer. Whatever the activity, savoring the summertime with family means connecting, being outdoors together, and drinking in every last drop of sunshine.

50 Ways to Savor the Summer Season

1. Dinner picnic at the beach. Stay until the sun sets.
2. Stargaze and sleep out under the stars. Check out these dark sky sites for the best places to stargaze in the US. Additionally, find out when there will be a meteor shower and travel to a dark spot near you to observe it.
3. Squirtgun or water balloon fight!
4. Work on a family project: Build a tree fort, pond, or go-cart.
5. Camping trip (even if it is in your own backyard).
6. Swim together- even at night- Skinny dipping is even better for mom and dad.
7. Celebrate birthdays! Whether you have a special birthday hat, breakfast in bed/or out with just mom and dad, your favorite dinner on a special plate, and/or king or queen for the day status, make birthdays special. Celebrate and be celebrated. Take some time as a family to go around the table and bless the birthday boy/girl with what you love about them, prophetic words, blessings, etc. 
8. Build a lemonade stand and sell lemonade. This is also a good way to teach entrepreneurship.
9. Wake up early to watch the sunrise together.
10. Make homemade popsicles or ice cream and experiment with funky flavors.
11. Host a neighborhood BBQ and get to know your neighbors.
12. Pick-your-own berries at a local farm and make something yummy together when you get home. We do pick-your-own strawberries every summer and have only strawberry shortcake for dinner that night.
13. Make jam preserves or can summer produce to enjoy in the winter.
14. Celebrate the Summer Solstice (the longest day of the year) with fresh squeezed lemonade, homemade flower crowns, Giant Bubbles, and a sun craft.
15. Watch Thunderstorms.
16. Blow giant bubbles with a homemade bubble wand.
17. Visit a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, or local farm.
18. Collect seashells by the seashore and get chased by the waves.
19. Hike a waterfall and recharge with all the positive ions in the air.
20. Get a pedicure with the girls and show off your pretty toes.
21. Create a theme dinner and a movie night and go all out with costumes, themed food, and decorations (pirate, jungle, Jane Austin, Marvel, Star Wars, medieval times, etc.)
22. Learn about and grow a healing herb and make something DIY with it (ex: elderberries make a yummy elderberry syrup, winter immunity tincture, or a fun gummy vitamin.)
23. Roast S’mores, or hotdogs and sing campfire songs.
24. Go on a night walk and watch the fireflies. Listen to the evening creature serenade.
25. Walk barefoot in the grass and really stop to feel it.  This is called earthing. There is such a thing.
26. Pick flowers and fill vases or pitchers all over your home and create a beautiful space to make the family feel loved.
27. Create an outdoor movie theatre with a sheet, pop some popcorn, and watch a fun summer movie
28. Work in the garden, play in the dirt.
29. See a 4^th of July parade, wave a flag, paint pictures in the air with a sparkler, and stay up late for fireworks.
30. Go fishing with one of your kids, just the two of you.
31. Feed the ducks your old, stale bread.
32. Take a hike.
33. EnJOY an ice cream cone while window shopping in town.
34. Go boating, sailing, and water skiing.
35. Take a picnic lunch to a park.
36. See a Play or Symphony in the park with a picnic.
37. Take a drive in the country and play your favorite driving soundtrack.
38. Get chased by the waves at the shore.
39. Build a sandcastle.
40. Eat a lobster roll or a bowl of clam or fish chowder by the sea
41. Take pictures of beautiful things or beautiful people and have a family photo contest. You might even discover a budding photographer among you.
42. Go lazy tubing, kayaking, or canoeing down a river.
43. Involve the family in meal planning. Make a list and shop at a farmer’s market. This is a great way to support a local farmer and build community relationships as well as teach your children where their food comes from.
44. Plan a themed birthday party and take weeks making decorations from scratch together.
45. Stop at a roadside stand and buy flowers, freshly picked berries, watermelon, or corn.
46. Film and edit a movie with your family, adding special effects and music, and then watch it with a bowl full of popcorn.
47. Go snipe hunting
48. Catch fireflies in a jar and watch them glow…then set them free.
49. Play horseshoes, bocce ball, or lawn croquet.
50. Run in the sprinklers or play on a slip-n-slide with your children and discover your inner child.

Check out the following posts to learn more about the many ways you can savor each season:

• 55 Ways to Get Cozy and EnJOY Autumn with Family
• 30 Ways to EnJOY the Springtime with Family
• 60 Ways to Savor the Winter Season with Family

In everything you do -eat, play, and, love- may it always be Seasoned with Joy!