25 Fun Things to do this Summer

Have fun this Summer without having to travel! Here are 25 things to do while staying close to home.

Sometimes Summer time is full of travel plans all over the place. But, other times, you just might want to choose to have a “staycation”.

In can be a lot of fun to be “tourists” right in your own backyard as part of your Summer vacation.

I decided to put together a list of Summer Things to do, after pondering what WE could do for fun this Summer – while we’re staying close to home.

Hopefully it will give you some ideas while you stay in your neighborhood, too.

Summer Things to Do While Staying Close to Home

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Choosing to treat your own extended backyard as your vacation spot might take some time to wrap your mind around. But, once you do, you just might discover how fun staycations are!

Since you are saving money from not going on an actual vacation, you can choose to splurge on things that you normally wouldn’t even consider – like a maid for a day or a spa treatment.

Here are some things I’ve brainstormed as we look ahead to a fun Summer close to home.

1. Go on a picnic.

2. Treat yourself to a Dairy Queen Blizzard.

3. Go for a hike or walk in an area you’ve never been before.

4. Tour a local museum on a hot day (and enjoy their air conditioning!).

5. Buy a magazine and sit outside and read it.

6. Put a water feature on your deck.

7. Pick a bouquet of flowers and bring it into the house to enjoy.

8. Get take out food for dinner, drive somewhere pretty, and eat it. (Add in some nice music for bonus points.;)

9. Make a craft. (This beach rock mosaic mirror or watercolor art are both great options for all ages.)

10. Read a good book under the shade of a tree or big umbrella.

11. Have an afternoon tea party on your patio with friends.

12. Find a local bed and breakfast or air bnb, and book a weekend “away”.

13. Spend a day at a local beach, river bank, or pond.

Even if you’ve been there many times before, pretend you’re a tourist for a day. Take sunscreen, a picnic, books to read – and anything else a tourist would take.

14. Float down a river in an inner tube. 

15. Go fishing.

16. Have a root beer float.

17. Watch a movie outside on a big screen.

18. Make strawberry pie.

19. Freshen up your bedroom so it feels like a relaxing hotel room.

You could add in some pretty flowers, new sheets, and a summer scented candle.

20. Have a Christmas in July party. (Go ahead and exchange some gifts, too.)

21. Paint your toenails your favorite shade, or treat yourself to a professional pedicure.

Find some of my favorite beauty products in my Amazon Shop.

22. Buy a fun new, cool summer outfit or dress. (You’re saving lots of money not going on vacation, after all!)

23. Pretend for a day that your home is a luxury hotel, and hire a maid service to clean it.

24. Buy new coffee mugs and call it a “souvenir” from your staycation.

25. Spend some time planning meals and indulge in recipes you wouldn’t normally cook.

I know, I know, this sounds like work, doesn’t it? But stick with me a minute.

Part of the fun of vacation (for me, anyway) is the eating out part! If that isn’t an option, then work together with the rest of the people in your household to plan, prepare, and anticipate some fun new meals.

Like an anticipated vacation, the planning is part of the fun.

There you have it – 25 ideas. Do you have any you’d like to add to the list?

Print off your Summer Bucket List

Now that you have some ideas for fun things to do this Summer, why don’t you print off a Summer bucket list, fill it out, and have fun crossing them off the list!

Sign up for some Summer Reading…

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