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There’s always a sadness that overwhelms us when summer comes to a close. But if there’s one way to end it right it’s by making sure you get through this end of summer bucket list to round it out.
The end of summer is quickly approaching and with it, all the amazing things that you can do out in the sun are passing into your rear-view mirror.
Soon we’ll be sipping on fall spiced lattes and watching children run around in costumes, with their treat bags filled to the brim. And Summer will be long gone. The weather will grow cool and our days of swimming in crowded watering holes and hosting barbecues every weekend will be gone for another year.
The end of summer is the perfect time to check off all those things from your list that you wanted to do for the last three months, but just never got around to doing. This list is all about rounding out your summer experience so you can make this year’s summer a memorable one for years to come.
Table of Adventures
1 // Go camping with your friends and/or family.
Trips with people always require a little schedule-wrangling, but camping is relatively cheap, it’s easy (as long as you have the equipment), and it’s so quintessentially ‘summer’ that you should be able to organize a trip with friends.
If you haven’t gotten around to doing it this year, you should set a date with those people you love. Some people don’t enjoy camping in the brutal heat of summer, so late September is an awesome compromise time.
Just make sure to remind people what they are supposed to bring, because no one wants to arrive at the campground and realize no one brought the hot dog buns. Remember the bug spray!
2 // Attend a festival and sing your heart out and feel free.
There’s really nothing like heading out to a festival and dancing the night away among the crowd. The camaraderie and enthusiasm fuels itself (and you), and you can be dancing for hours without even realizing it.
Find a concert that you wouldn’t mind getting yourself lost in, get your gear and your clothes together, pack a water bottle or two, and lose a little control before we all have to head back into the real world again. (Boo!)
3 // Take a road trip to the one place you wanted to visit all year.
I have a lengthy road trip list and after having done one portion of it with friends a few years ago I am eager to check off those states I haven’t gotten the pleasure to visit yet. Summer is the best time for it, since there really is nothing like cruising down the highway with your music blasting and your best friend riding shotgun.
As you make your way around to cities and towns you’ve never been to, you’ll see wonders and have conversations with the people who you’ll never forget. One great way to have a fulfilling road trip is to pick two to three places you really want to go to and create a route that way.
You can use Roadtrippers for that, by the way.
4 // Visit your local amusem*nt park.
This is the perfect time to get in your last few visits to your nearest amusem*nt park. A lot of parks start their ‘end of the season’ park ticket sales during this time, too.
Whether it’s Six Flags, Hershey Park, or Splish Splash, enjoy all of those rides and the memories you and your friends create while you’re there. Don’t forget to eat all of the funnel cake, hot dogs, and Dippin’ Dots that your stomach can handle, too!
5 // Kiss that special someone during a summer rainstorm.
So here’s the plan: get your special someone to go on a picnic with you, or out to dinner. Tell them you checked the weather. The plot twist: you did, and it’s supposed to rain.
You’ve got yourself a perfect recipe for a movie scene kiss, and, if you never noticed, rain water is super refreshing in the summer when it pulls all that mugginess out of the air.
Just remember not to wear white… or do. 😉
6 // Take a photoshoot in a field of flowers.
We’ve all seen the photos of women twirling in a field of sunflowers. That can be you, too! (Also, sunflowers grow between the summer and early fall, so that classic Instagram look is easily doable at this time of year).
Grab whatever camera you have – phone, DSLR, polaroid, etc. – and a friend or two and have a mini photoshoot. You’re enjoying the season in its fullness, and all your followers should know.
7 // Find a beach that has baby turtles hatching and making their way to the sea and help them make their way back to the waves.
Baby turtles hatch two months after their mother lays her eggs. Usually, that’s in June or July, so, depending on when momma lays them you may be able to help some baby turtles make their way back home.
Just don’t literally help them, like… don’t pick up wild animals, it can mess them up. And don’t use a flashlight to guide them, as the bright lights can confuse the little turtles and mess up their sense of direction. But you can scare off any birds trying to bother them! And you can hang out with some baby turtles as they slowly nudge their way to the sea.
But, if there are no turtles hatching on the beaches by you, you can always see some constellations down by the beach. Compromise. 🙂
8 // Make your way to a drive-in theater and watch that last summer movie.
I highly recommend going to the drive-in whenever you can. The catch is that drive-in theaters aren’t nearly as easy to find as they were decades ago, but I have seen some towns sponsor community movie nights. Even if you have to drive a little bit to get to the show, just crank that AC and pack yourself some snacks and you’ll be in for a really fun evening.
9 // Have a picnic under a shady tree with some chill tunes.
You can do this on your own or with any number of people, but having that last summer hurrah picnic is a great way to say goodbye to a great summer. Bring a portable speaker and put on some easy-going tunes that keep the summer vibes going. Think Golden Hour, Wild + Free or Beach Vibes on Spotify, and your picnic will be thumping before you know it.
If there is a nearby park that allows barbecues, even better! Take some photos with your friends and relish in the last tastes of summer.
10 // Take a relaxing dip at the beach before it gets too cold to go back until the sun warms up again next year.
Whether you go to the beach during the day or at night, taking that last dip into the ocean for the summer is one of the sweetest pleasures in life. Feeling the sand in between your toes and the waves lapping against your legs is so relaxing, and it is such a fond memory of summer’s past.
This is easy enough, so long as you have enough room. If you’re camping, this is pretty much a given, but if you have a backyard fire pit, you can roast some marshmallows, have a few beers (if that’s your poison), and reminisce about great times with friends.
In between dips, you can lounge on a towel under your beach umbrella with a good book, your portable speakers, and some great food you threw in a cooler. Just don’t forget your sunscreen.
11 // Throw a bonfire.
Bonfires tend to be a bit loud, with everyone laughing and telling stories, so maybe give your neighbors a shout beforehand – heck, maybe they have a story they want to share too!
Another great thing about bonfires is that your dinner plans are pretty much already figured out. Roast some marshmallows, set up a little camping grill, foil wrap some potatoes – you literally can’t go wrong! If you’re looking for something like that, a Hobo Dinner is my favorite campfire dinner.
12 // Finish that book you started at the beginning of the summer season.
I’m really bad at this lately. As a kid, and up until college, I would finish 30+ books in a year, but now? Forget about it. It takes me two years to finish one book. I’ve got a half dozen I’ve started, so be better than me and make it to that last page!
You can read at a park or sitting outside a coffee shop, if you like, and the warm weather and the cool breeze will help you keep those pages turning.
13 // Pick some strawberries before they disappear for apple and pumpkin picking season.
I know that I always get sad when I miss out on strawberry season; everyone talks about pumpkins and apples, and they’re great, don’t get me wrong. But strawberry picking is so much fun, and the berries are sooo good when they’re freshly picked. It is not an afternoon trip you’ll regret!
Conclusion to Things to Do Before Summer Ends
Summer, no matter how old we are, brings memories of fireworks, swimming, and laughter. No matter how you spend it, just make sure you end it off well. Have a great summer!
