Fun Summer Activities For The Whole Family

Looking for ways to keep everyone busy this summer while getting in some quality family time? These summer activities for the whole family will help you find ways to get everyone spending time together and making amazing memories this summer to last a lifetime. From camping trips to a backyard garden, there are so many amazing ways to spend summer with your family.

Just recently a cousin and I were reminiscing about an activity that my family did when I was a kid, it’s a memory that grows ever more tender as older generations leave us and new generations come along. Summer activities are the ones that come to mind so often when talking with family members.

You too can begin building these fantastic memories with your kids with some great summer activities.

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7 Memory Building Ideas for Summer Activities

Whether you consider yourself outdoorsy or not there are some really fun ideas here to enjoy for your family’s summer activities.

Go on a Family Camping Trip

Camping is a great frugal family activity that allows you to get up and get out to enjoy quality time without all the distractions of home. If you already have that camping gear or have friends and family you can borrow it from you can make a camping trip very frugal.

My friend Sara has some great Family Camping Tips & Tricks, be sure to check them out.

Plan activities that allow you to spend time with your family while camping like going on a hiking trip or spending quality time fishing. This is a great way to make summer memories that will last a lifetime.

Take a Family Hike

If you have local trails or a state park nearby you can go on a hiking trip with the family for some fun. This doesn’t have to be a full-fledged hiking boot and everything trip to benefit your family. Even a local walking trail with interesting features can be an amazing opportunity for your family. For families with young children bring along a stroller or wagon with all-terrain wheels or a child carrier that allows you to easily carry your young child on your back to make sure the fun doesn’t end just because your little one can’t keep up or get tired and needs to rest.

To make it more fun for everyone, pack a backpack with snacks and drinks to make sure everyone has when they need to be comfortable and happy. All that exercise can make you tired and cranky if you don’t pack plenty of fuel for your journey.

Host an Outdoor Movie Night

If you have space in your backyard, an outdoor movie night is a great way to spend time with friends and family on a nice warm summer night. With a low-cost projector that comes with a screen along with plenty of snacks, you can have an entire summer full of great family movie nights after the sun goes down. Even better you and your friends can go in on the cost and trade it back and forth and take turns hosting for a frugal way to enjoy backyard movie nights.

Gather together cozy seating and make the most of your movie nights by setting up a comfy place for everyone to relax while they watch the movie. Plus, invite a few kids over from the neighborhood. This is a great way to get to know your neighbors and build an environment that becomes THE house everyone wants to hangout at.

Go Fishing Together as a Family

Fishing is a great way to relax and spend some quality time with your family. Whether young all together or use fishing as a chance to have one on one time with the kids you can have a lot of fun with quality family time.

Get kids their own child-size fishing poles to make it more fun for them. Fishing is a great activity for kids to work on gross motor skills and learn about the environment and where our food comes from giving you ample benefits to taking your kids along.

Make Homemade Ice Cream

While you could always opt to go out for ice cream on a hot summer day it is even more fun to gather the family together to make homemade ice cream if fun and unique flavor combinations.

To make it even more fun put together a topping bar for your family to make their own fun combinations. You can use an ice cream maker for traditional ice cream or opt for a no-churn ice cream that takes a few hours to solidify making it a great activity in the morning before an evening event.

Or, for a fun activity that everyone can get involved with give this Play and Freeze Ice Cream Ball a try.

Slip off to the beach

Going to the beach is a great family activity for a hot summer day. There is nothing quite as satisfying as dipping your toes into cool water when the sun is making you perspire. And, it’s great to let the kids enjoy some physical activity while staying cool in the water.

You don’t need to live near the ocean to take advantage of going and swimming in natural water with your family. Look for local beaches along lakes and rivers to enjoy all the fun of the beach close to home. This National Geographic Field Guide to the Water’s edge will get you started finding a beach near you.

Build a sandcastle, collect shells or rocks, and enjoy quality time together exploring and enjoying the sunshine.

Start a garden

For a family activity that can benefit everyone, have your family gather together to create a great garden growing everyone’s favorite fruits and vegetables. When the whole family chips in the whole process feel so much easier and more enjoyable.

Gardening is a great activity that will keep your family busy all summer long with a huge reward for all of your hard work. Kids learn so much when helping to run a garden and can use this knowledge to help them in school and in life when they are older making for even more benefits than just teamwork and quality time with your family.

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Grab these Fun Family Backyard Summer Activities

• Pipe Ball Yard Game
• Yardzee, Yard Dice Game
• Backyard Corn Hole Game