Summer used to feel far longer than it does today. The days stretched out and nobody seemed to be in a hurry about anything.
We did not have much entertainment, but we really did not need it. A garden hose, a bike, and a few hours of daylight were enough to occupy us for an entire afternoon.
I continue to do nearly all of these every summer, and my children and grandchildren have adopted a few of these as well. Here are twenty-seven good old-fashioned summer ideas.
Running Through the Sprinkler in the Front Yard
We had a sprinkler and a patch of grass before anyone had a pool. The whole afternoon was settled as someone dragged the hose out front and turned it on. There is still nothing quite like that first shock of cold water on a hot day. I set one up for my grandkids last July and they stayed out there for two hours.
Freezing Juice in Ice Trays for Popsicles
Since store-bought frozen treats were a rare treat, we created our own popsicles with juice from the fridge. We would pour the liquid into ice cube trays, cover the trays with foil, and stick toothpicks through the foil as handles. The waiting process felt like an eternity, but the finished products were worth the effort. They were even better than the popsicles you could buy at the store, probably because we made them.
Making Ice Cream With a Hand Crank
Making ice cream at home was always a fun family activity. One of us would pack the ice and salt into the ice cream maker and then we would all take turns cranking the handle until our arms gave out. It would take a long time, but it was certainly worth it. Nothing from the supermarket compares to that first soft scoop from the ice cream maker.
Catching Fireflies in a Mason Jar
When it became dark, we took some jars with holes punched in their lids and went into the yard. There is a certain magic to holding a jar full of glowing lights. We always let them go right before bed as part of the ritual. Today, kids still get excited about this, which says it all.
Setting Up a Lemonade Stand at the End of the Driveway
A card table at the end of the driveway, a pitcher, and a hand-lettered sign made you a business owner for the afternoon. Neighbors would stop and overpay for a cup because that is what neighbors did. You learned a little about money and a lot about talking to people. My grandkids ran one last summer and made about four dollars and a hundred memories.
Sleeping Outside Under the Stars
The hottest nights we would take sleeping bags out to the yard, or the porch. There was nothing to do but talk, and look up until we fell asleep. The sky gets a lot more interesting when you have nowhere else to be. It costs nothing, and it still feels like an adventure at any age.
A Movie at the Drive-In
Getting into the car wearing pajamas and going to a field to watch a movie was amazing. There was a movie speaker that connected to the car window and we brought popcorn in a paper bag. Most of us fell asleep before the second movie even started. If you can find a drive-in, it is worth the trip.
Eating Watermelon Outside Where the Mess Did Not Matter
Thick wedges of watermelon were passed out on the back steps. You ate it leaning forward so the juice dripped into the grass and not on your shirt. Someone always started a seed spitting contest. On a really hot day, watermelon is the most refreshing thing you can eat.
A Whole Afternoon at the Fishing Hole
Fishing wasn’t really about the fishing. It was about having a nice place to spend an afternoon. You made sure to have your pole, a can of worms, and a bunch of patience for the next few hours. I remember a lot of the conversations I had with my grandfather while we were fishing. It never mattered that nothing was biting.
Swimming in the Creek Instead of a Pool
The creek was a little muddy, completely free, and cold. We knew which bends were deep enough to jump into and which rocks to avoid. It beat any pool because it felt like it was ours. There’s a wildness to swimming outside that a chlorinated rectangle cannot compare to.
Riding Bikes Until the Streetlights Came On
The only rule was to be home when the streetlights came on. We could ride anywhere, and in the spans of hours, we could bike countless miles through the neighborhood with no parents watching. We learned to problem solve without adults nearby to guide us. I still go for an evening ride when the weather cooperates.
Pitching a Tent in the Backyard
You did not need a campground when you had a yard and an old tent. We built a fire in the pit, told stories, and inevitably ended up back inside by two in the morning. The whole point was the adventure, not how far from home you got. It is the easiest way there is to give a kid a memory.
Card Games on the Front Porch
Evenings in the summer would mean playing cards and whoever happened to walk by would join us. Whether it was rummy, hearts, or some other game that someone’s aunt had just made up, it was fun. There were no screens to distract us and the trash talk was on point. Even now, a deck of cards is the cheapest form of entertainment available.
An Afternoon in the Hammock With a Book
A hammock strung between two trees is one of humanity’s better inventions. You take a book out there fully intending to read and end up asleep by chapter two. That is not a failure, that is the whole point. Summer gives you permission to do nothing, and a hammock makes it official.
Picking Berries Until Your Fingers Were Stained
We got to pick berries along the fence rows, which meant purple hands and full buckets. About a third of the berries never made it to the bucket at all. Whatever berries made it into the bucket were destined to become a cobbler or just go into the freezer. There is just something special about picking fruit yourself that I can’t quite put my finger on.
A Proper Backyard Cookout
Everyone brought a dish and a lawn chair to the backyard. Somebody fired up the grill, and there was corn on the cob and potato salad. We even dragged a table outside. No one made a fancy dish, and no one needed to. That’s what makes a cookout the best excuse to get everyone together.
A Night at the County Fair
The county fair had lights and livestock and questionable rides and food you would never eat anywhere else. You walked until you hurt and spent way too much on the ring toss. It smelled of fried dough and sawdust. Most towns still have them and they are still fun.
The Small Town Fourth of July Parade
The parade came right down Main Street with fire trucks, a couple of tractors, and candy thrown to the curb. You staked out a spot on the sidewalk an hour early with folding chairs. It was homemade and a little ragged and everybody loved it. Small town parades have not changed one bit, thankfully.
Making Sun Tea on the Back Step
A jar of water, a few tea bags, and a sunny step made a gallon of tea by afternoon. There was no boiling and no rushing, just letting the sun do all the work. I think it tastes smoother than tea made on the stove. I still set a jar out, mostly because watching it brew feels like summer.
Water Balloon Fights That Soaked Everybody
It took me longer to fill up balloons than the time it actually took to do the fight, but it was worth it. The ten minutes of absolute mayhem made all the prep worth it. Any adult who got close was an instant target. It is still the quickest way to make a hot day more fun.
Catching Tadpoles Down at the Creek
We would spend entire days at the waterside catching tadpoles, crawdads, and the occasional frog in jars and in our hands. Hands-on science was happening and no one was aware they were learning. Take a child to the creek and see how quickly they forget about a device.
Watching a Thunderstorm Roll In From the Porch
With the sky turning green and the wind beginning to howl, everyone came out onto the porch to watch. The scent of rain was in the air and the temperature was dropping ten degrees in a minute. We were all sitting and watching the show, because that is exactly what it was. The weather brought the best free entertainment of the summer evening.
Marshmallows Over a Backyard Fire
A fire in the backyard and a bag of marshmallows is an entire night planned out. Everyone has their trick to getting the marshmallows perfect, whether it’s golden brown or charred to a crisp. There is something special about talking around the fire that is different from talking anywhere else. It is almost free and people stay for hours.
Chasing Down the Ice Cream Truck
You heard that ice cream truck jingle and ran into your house to grab some money. In less than a minute, all the other kids from the neighborhood joined you at the curb. The ice cream was never that good, but it didn’t matter. Some sounds just take you straight back.
A Tomato Sandwich Straight From the Garden
A ripe tomato still warm from the sun, white bread, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. That is the entire recipe and it is one of the best things you will eat all year. It only works in summer and only with a real tomato. Eat it over the sink, because it is going to drip.
Kick the Can and Flashlight Tag After Dark
When it got dark outside, our whole neighborhood turned into a playing field. We all knew our yards by heart and played kick the can, flashlight tag, and hide and seek. Every night when our parents called us in, we would beg for ten more minutes. We played those games until we could not see, and they did not cost a thing.
Stopping at the Roadside Produce Stand
There was always a stand by the road with a hand-painted sign and a coffee can for the money. Corn, tomatoes, peaches, and whatever else came in that week. It was fresher than anything in a store, and you were handing cash straight to the person who grew it. I still pull over every time I see one.
