Top 3 Ideas for Family Summer Fun!

It’s finally summer! What better way to celebrate the sunshine and hot summer days than spending time with family and friends? As a kid, I would always be so excited to finally be out of school, yet after the first two weeks, I was bored and didn’t know what to do with my free time. My sister and I spent most days at home, usually laying outside or reading and watching TV inside. Those simple boring days have led me to create a list of a few different family fun days we definitely would have enjoyed over the years. Below, I’m going to talk about three of my favorite ways to have some major summer fun no matter what age you are or what the weather may be. Hope you enjoy! *This post contains affiliate links.

Fun in the Sun

Who doesn’t want to spend the days outside, getting a little tan, soaking up the sun we’ve missed all winter long? First & foremost, don’t forget your SPF. That’s important no matter what you’re doing, but especially if you’re spending the day by the pool. Don’t have a pool? No worries! I found this awesome Banzai water slide that I seriously still love to use. It’s not too big, but it’s inexpensive and it’s too fun to pass up. My sister & I end up just laying out in the water that collects at the bottom when we’re tired of using it as a slide. Seriously, guys.

Planning a party for your little ones? Is there anything better than water guns and water balloon fights? They are so much fun, really no matter what age, and it’s just one more way to stay cool and keep yourself & the kids active. Plus, hide and seek water fights are too fun!

My last recommendation is an ole’ fashioned sprinkler. Growing up, this was our go to. We absolutely never got tired of running back and forth through the water, no matter how cold it was coming from the hose. That simple yard sprinkler provided some of the best memories from my childhood summers. Even in the spring and early fall, after school, as soon as Mom got home from work, sprinkler time. Weekends, as soon as we woke up, sprinkler time. So much fun!

What is summer fun without excellent music?? Use this link for a Try Amazon Music Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial. Play during game night, outside on the patio when you’re in the pool, or let dad listen while he’s grilling away. Plus it’s free for 30 days, y’all. It doesn’t get better than that!

Summer Cook-Outs

We all look so forward to summer because of the cook outs and bonfires. In my family, we grill out almost every single night! But you’ve gotta have the right stuff to have the most successful cook outs, especially if you’re having people over! A nice grill set is a must! We have one from Weber Grill that was given as a gift, and it’s amazing! Heavy duty stuff, that’s for sure. Obviously you need a good menu too. I’ll be posting later about some of the best cook out recipes, so be sure to check it out! You also need a good wheeled cooler to keep all those adult beverages icy cold. We have one of these at my house, and it can hold up to 60 cans of your choice. Don’t forget citronella candles and mosquito repellent, too. Bug bites are the biggest reason I don’t want to go outside, so these are essentials! Lastly, to finish off the night right, a cute little fire pit is a must. I’ve linked one just like the one we use at a friend’s house. It’s the perfect size, without being too expensive. It’ll help keep the bugs away, while winding everyone down from a good day. Don’t forget the marshmallows!

Rainy Day Activities

So of course all the above ideas are awesome for when it’s warm and sunny outside. What about days when it’s rainy and you just can’t sit still any longer? How about game night?

One of my favorite games of ALL time is UNO. I have so many good memories of playing this game throughout my whole childhood and especially into high school that this is absolutely the first game on the list! It’s so much fun for people of all ages and you can play with as many people as you want! I once played a 2.5 hour game of UNO at daycare with one of my teachers. Anybody have a marathon game like that or any cool memories?

Apples to Apples is a newer game than UNO, but has still been around long enough that I bet a ton of you guys have played. It’s probably geared more toward teens and adults, but it’s still so much fun to get a big group together, or even just a few to play this card game. With Apples to Apples, there’s guaranteed to never be a dull moment. You can make it simple & straight forward or can even make it a little inappropriate, depending who you’re playing with. It’s a ritual to play Apples to Apples after Christmas dinner at my grandma’s house with all the cousins!

Clue is a board game where you need to pay a little more attention than the previous two, but it’s still a lot of fun and definitely helps pass the time on rainy days. They have several different versions of the game out now, with a family favorite being the Seinfeld version. When my sister comes home from school, she almost always insists on playing Clue. Naturally, we all sit around on the floor in the living room and play all night! Good for kids and adults of all ages, it’s another game that’s hard to pass up.

Last, but certainly not least, I know everyone wants their kids reading at least a little bit throughout the summer. Another thing Amazon offers is a free trial to try Kindle for 30 days. Check it out and try it! You literally have nothing to lose. You can download the Kindle App and use it on almost any device. Again, try it! You have nothing to lose, and if it’s not what you wanted, just end your trial and there’s no charge! You know the kids are glued to their phones and iPads anyway, may as well put them to good use.

Do any of these tips work for you?? What are your favorite rainy day and sunny day summer time activities? Let’s hear all the family day recommendations y’all have!