summer outside: a bucket list to kick off the season

The days are stretching, the wildflowers are blooming and the heat is heat-ing! We are officially kicking off summer with a heatwave across much of the United States. Lucky me - I’m heading to Las Vegas this weekend for a work trip where it will be a jaw-dropping 108°F (42°C). Trying to not focus on the sweltering temperatures, I’m looking ahead to all of the lovely things that summer holds - the fireflies, the garden vegetables, and the nearly endless outdoor time.

Over the last week or so, an abundance of Substack posts focusing on the magic of the summer are getting me over the moon excited for the season ahead:

Laura Fenton’s not-a-bucket-list bucket list, where she wrote about foraging berries, styling summer sheets, and visiting secret gardens, not to mention:

Sleeping in late(r); iced coffee; fireworks; fireflies; homemade popsicles and the store-brand ice cream sandwiches; summer birthdays; linen dresses that feel like nightgowns; lemonade; camping; an ice-cold movie theater on a hot, humid day; sandals; the absurd abundance at the farmer’s market; yard sales and library book sales.

Lauren Marie’s plan for a boring girl summer, including:

Eat the juiciest stone fruits and citrus without a napkin in sight. Then jump into the lake before all the sugars make your hands, neck, and chest sticky.

Jodie Melissa Roger’s collection of summer solstice rituals and lovely reflection on the tension between making the most of summer and finding time to slow down:

I love this time of year so much that I often get swept up in it all, then I find the busyness and longer days can leave me craving slowness and rest, so finding moments to ground and soften is something I’m slowly learning to include.

And I can’t forget to mention Emma Straub’s lovingly curated (and short!) summer reading assignment.

I absolutely LOVE a seasonal bucket list. Jotting down a handful of things that you want to make sure you do before the end of the season is so simple, but so powerful. It is incredibly easy to fill up all your time working, attending required social commitments, running errands, and letting a whole summer pass without making it to the beach or heading outside to see the stars even once. So here I am, nudging you to choose 4-5 activities you want to be sure to do this summer. Write them down - in your notes app, on a sheet of paper, right on your calendar. It does not need to be fancy! It can take one minute! Just write it down and keep them in mind as you make plans this summer. Here is my own list of must-dos for this summer.

Kayaking on the Mississippi

There is a paddleshare program on our local river and I have wanted to rent a kayak and go for a paddle the last two summers without making it happen once. This is my year! I’ll reserve in advance, head to a local park along the river to pick up my rental kayak, spend a few hours slowly paddling my way downstream, and pull up on the shore in another park. Now if only I can magically schedule this for a perfect weather day!

Lazing through a beach day

One of the biggest highlights of living in Minneapolis is that we are a city of lakes. The city is dotted by a chain of lakes encircled with walking and biking paths, public beaches and ample green space. While I will be about as far from an ocean as possible, I still want to make the most of summer by enjoying a lovely (lakeside) beach day (or three!) this year.

Watch a movie in the park

This may have been my last outdoor movie, in 2016 (!) at the Ventnor Fringe, which is a fantastic festival. If you find yourself anywhere near the Isle of Wight in late July - do go!

Every summer there are movies in the park and every single year I mean to go and somehow miss each and every one. This year, I am making it happen! I already have several dates saved on my calendar including Wonka at my local park, which will be an absolute delight. If you’re in Minneapolis, you can find the summer park schedule here (along with live music dates!) If you’re somewhere else, do a quick online search and I bet you can find something similar in your area.

Hosting a backyard dinner

Is there anything more lovely than a meal outside with friends? There is no image that makes me happier than the idea of lingering outside late into a warm summer night around a cozy, candlelit table chatting and laughing with friends. That is exactly the energy I want for my summer and in order to make it happen, I will be hosting a dinner in my backyard at least once this summer.

Sipping a cocktail in the sunshine

Along with al fresco dining, sipping on a delicious drink and sitting in the sunlight is one of the true great pleasures of summer for me. Whether it’s a shrub or an aperol spritz or a hop water or a glass of rose or a Corona, as long is the sun is out and good company is around (maybe a friend, maybe a summer read!) you will find me happy.

Now, it’s your turn. Go write your own list! After you’ve written it down for you, I would love to hear what is on your must-do list this summer. What seasonal activities are you looking forward to over the next few months? Do share!

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If you enjoyed this post, you’ll also enjoy:

• spring eating: scones for a farewell to spring

• spring inside: a seasonal bucket list

• spring outside: a seasonal bucket list

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