Summer Bucket List

Can you believe that it's already June?! That means that school is out in less than a month and I need to figure out what the heck I'm going to do with these kids all summer. We have a cottage that we're renting for a week in August in Tobermory, ON, but there is still a lot of summer (60 days to be exact) that I need to fill with things to do.

Ideally we'll be outside as much as possible. I can't wait to explore and try new things with the kids now that they're all a bit older.

Here are some of the things I'd love to do with the kids this summer:

1. Go to at least 5 different beaches

Last year we went to the same 2 beaches over and over again. This year I'd like to get out and explore a little more and try and find new ones to go to.

2. Camp out in the backyard

I'm so afraid of bugs that we've never been camping before as a family. I feel like camping in the backyard is a good first step to get us on our way to real camping.

3. Go to a drive-in movie

We've never been to a drive-in movie before and we have a theatre not too far from us. It's definitely something I want to experience with the kids this summer now that our youngest is older.

4. Go to at least 5 different splash pads

As with the beaches, last year we only went to 2 different splash pads. They are starting to pop up more and more so I'd like to take the kids to find some new ones.

5. See waterfalls

Apparently you don't have to go to a tropical island to see waterfalls. I've heard that Hamilton, ON has quite a few beautiful ones, so one day I'd like to take the kids for a drive out that way (about 2 hours away) so we can go exploring and see them.

6. Go on a boat tour

In the opposite direction of the waterfalls in Brockville, ON (about 3 hours away), you can actually take a boat cruise through the 1000 Islands. There are also boat cruises in Midland, ON which is a bit closer (about 1 hour away). I guess we'll have to see how the little guy is taking to all of the driving. He is not a fan of being strapped in the car.

7. Climb Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain is a ski hill about 45 minutes North of us in Collingwood, ON. We actually did all climb it last year, and this year I would like to do it again. But perhaps instead of going up through the forest, we try the straight up trail (they only made it half way up that last year).

8. Have an ice cream party

Even though I'm hoping to have our eating cleaned up considerably this summer, we are still going to have some treats and an ice cream party sounds like the perfect thing to do. Ice cream, toppings, fun and friends. Sounds pretty worth it to me.

9. Picnic at 5 different parks

Weather permitting, I'd like to take the kids for a picnic to a different park everyday for a "work week". Just like beaches and splash pads, there are so many parks in our area that we have yet to play at.

10. Check out local farmers markets

We finally went to our first farmers market last week and now I'm hooked. I'd like to take the kids to some other ones around here so we can buy our groceries and support local.

11. See fireworks

My kids love fireworks. I'd like to take them to see as many as we can this summer.

12. Go to some summer festivals

Our city usually has some sort of festival every weekend. I'd like to try and get the kids out to some of them this year.

What are your summer plans? Let me know in the comments below.