At the end of every school year, I find myself slightly overwhelmed by the thought of having my children home for three straight months. A few years ago, a wise friend gave me the idea of making a summer bucket list — any time the “I’m bored” whining starts, we have some ideas to draw from! My children and I make our lists together, so they get to add things they’re excited about too. Our list is still in progress, but here’s what we are planning to do this summer!
- Check out some new pools and splash pads from the DCR list. Artesani is our summer go-to, but this year we are going to explore some new ones!
- Visit the USS Constitution. We’ve been in Boston for 14 years and have never been. With a Boston Public Library museum pass, you can get up to nine people into the museum for free!
- Have a picnic on Bunker Hill and see the monument (unfortunately, the monument is still closed for climbing — but the grounds are lovely for picnicking!).
- Go strawberry picking at our favorite family farm! Boston Moms puts together an awesome list of berry farms every year, so there are lots of good choices!
- Wicked Good Playdates! I’ll be at the one in Chestnut Hill — will I see you there?
- Hike our first real mountain. We are thinking of Lonesome Lake and the Kinsmans or Mt. Monadnock — but I would love to hear your favorites for kid-friendly hikes!
- Read Your Way to Fenway. Summer reading programs at the library are the best!
- Swim at Walden Pond — just be sure to get there early, as the lot fills up quickly!
- Bike the Minuteman Trail. Our youngest is just learning how to ride a two-wheeler, and I can’t wait for family bike rides this summer. Especially with soaring fuel prices, we plan to explore more of the city by bike!
- Go to the new four-story Beacon Hill Bookstore.
- Take a ferry ride out to the Boston Harbor Islands.
- Swim at Mirabella Pool. Located on the Boston Harbor in the North End, this one takes a while to warm up — think mid-August — but once it does, you cannot beat the views of the Harbor!
- Peach picking! (Or, for those who prefer true southern peaches, there are still a few boxes left on the peach truck!]. Tougas Family Farm never fails to produce really yummy peaches!
- Take in an outdoor movie or concert. Our friends have highly recommended the Summer in the Highlands series in Newton, but there are lots of downtown options also!
- Visit Daddy at his office (and take some touristy photos around Harvard Square). And we’ll be sure to visit the original Berryline for a special sweet treat!
- Go to the Copley Public Library — maybe even pop in for a LEGO builders day!
- Blow giant bubbles.
- Create our own ice cream flavor.
- Go to the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl.
- Camping! We have trips planned to Nickerson and Shawme-Crowell State Forests, both of which we have found to be very kid-friendly!
- Fireworks! Our favorites are up over the beach in Winthrop, but the Pops Fireworks Spectacular is always excellent also!
- Kayaking on the Charles River. We bought an inflatable kayak a few years ago, and it’s awesome for quick jaunts out! But you can also rent kayaks or canoes (including one-way rentals!) from Paddle Boston.
- Free Slurpee Day on July 11 (7/11)!
- Check out Patriots Training Camp down in Foxboro. Yes, it’s about seeing the team, but there are also a bunch of free, fun activities for kids!
What’s on your Boston summer bucket list?!