50 Super Fun Summer Bucket List Activities to Guarantee Summer 2025 is an Incredible One (+ a Printable!)

Sweet summertime. I can practically feel the warmth of the sunshine, and smell the bonfires that will help make the perfect s’mores. After making it through many rainy spring days, our summertime reward is here! I want to make sure to take advantage of these warm months when we get to ditch our winter coats in favor of sunscreen. 

Every year, my family likes to come up with a summer bucket list of things we want to experience and accomplish. Some are simple and quick ideas, while others require more time and planning.

Whatever mood you’re in, the Kidlist team is here to help you find activities that will fill your days and nights with summer memories you’ll be dreaming about well into next season! Our Summer Bucket List is organized by how much time the activities will take. It’s a great resource to use when you’re coming up with ideas of what your family is excited about. Be sure to read to the end for our free printable!

Our summer bucket list is sponsored by DuPage Children’s Museum and Hershey Super Sweet Adventure. We love both and think you will too.

Local Summer Fun

1. Visit a New-to-You Playground

There are many awesome parks and playgrounds in the suburbs! Our list of the 10 best playgrounds is a great starting place. Harvester Park in Burr Ridge is epic and a must see and we also have the scoop on the newest renovated playgrounds.

2. Splash Around at a Splash Pad

When my kids start complaining that they’re TOO hot, I know that it’s time to add water play to our day! With dozens of free local splash pads, my kids will be checking this off their bucket list several times this summer. This year, we’re excited to head to Phillips Park Splash Pad so we can swing by the playground during our visit.

3. Shop at a Farmers Market

With a local farmers market almost every day of the week, there are many opportunities to support small businesses and family farms while enjoying the fresh air. There are also a couple changes to last year’s list, so be sure to check it out for local updates.

4. Touch a Truck

Have a truck-loving kiddo? Check out a Touch-a-Truck event and give them the chance to sit in the actual driver’s seat, push buttons, and honk the horn. While there are events throughout the summer, May and August are especially hopping with options. This is one of our family’s favorite activities.

5. Play Mini Golf

As my littles turn into bigs, watching them play mini golf is so much fun. It definitely gives them a chance to work on their short game and patience as they take turns. This is a great activity for the whole family. We’ve updated the list with some great options in the Northwest suburbs this year.

6. Watch Fireworks on the 4th of July

Fireworks are a big deal in the summer. The change to little ones routine can be also be a big deal, but when your kids are at the right ages, fireworks are absolutely magical. Elyse, a Kidlist reader wrote: “My kids thrive on routine, so I have to hype myself up to be prepared to handle any meltdowns that staying up late to watch fireworks might bring. I’ve learned that it helps to have glow sticks, headphones, and lots of snacks!” I heartily agree with her tips, which can help make the wait for dusk to fall go a bit smoother until it’s time to ooh and aah at the gorgeous display.

7. Fly a Kite

A summer classic! Check out our guide to areas with perfect open spaces for kite flying, as well as some tips. Most of these events happen in May and June before the temperature rises too much.

8. Taste Test Ice Creams

My kids are always up for a cool treat on a hot summer day. Check out our updated list of local ice cream shops (modified this year to include some of our dairy-free favorites). We cannot wait to hear which ones are your family’s favorites!

9. Enjoy an Immersive Experience

This year’s new exhibits include the 3rd year return of Elmhurst’s picture-perfect Umbrella Sky (through mid-September) , as well as the new Vivid Creatures exhibit at the Morton Arboretum, which opens. May 17, 2025.  

10. Visit a Safety Town

Teaching kids about road safety is so important! Immersing them in a town their size to learn the rules, is a great way to do so. Elmhurst’s Safety Town is free and is open to the public daily, from dawn until dusk. Bring a helmet and your child’s preferred method of transportation (bike, scooter, or trike) and explore the miniature town. Naperville offers open bike nights too, so come explore the mini Downtown Naperville by scooter or bike. Check out their summer schedule here and plan a night out.

Kidlist Tip: Many other suburbs also offer Safety Village programs; look into registering for these popular programs.

11. Get Out on the Water

Rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboat and enjoy the outdoors while getting in a workout. My kids love the kayaks at Lisle Community Park.

12. Hike to a Waterfall

Although Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook doesn’t have a waterfall anymore, there are still plenty to enjoy all over the suburbs and beyond! Our guide to finding waterfalls has destinations that are a short walk all the way to true hikes that are a short road trip away.

Kidlist Tip: Bring water shoes if you are planning to hang out around the waterfall for a while as well as a towel, and maybe a change of clothes for the ride home.

13. Head to the Library

No matter the season, a library trip is always a great idea. In addition to outdoor story times, many libraries also have summer reading programs, which offer extra incentives to keep reading, even when school is out! Many also have extra-cool play spaces, such as the Palos Heights Public Library pictured above. Here’s our list of the 10 best local libraries.

14. Make the Most of a Rainy Day

When Mother Nature decides to keep you inside, you can head to some tried-and-true favorite indoor play spots, or try the new Playroom Social in Hoffman Estates. We have plenty of other rainy day activity ideas here, too!

Summer 2025 Half-Day and Full Day Adventures

15. Watch a Drive-In or Outdoor Movie

 Shake up your movie-watching experience by packing up the car and heading to one of the last 4 local drive-in theaters. There are also many local movies in the park that are free!

16. Go to An Interactive Candy Store

Become a Sweet Seeker in Training at Hershey Super Sweet Adventure! One of Katie’s favorite parts about the experience is the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup “Combination Station”, where you’ll take turns stuffing peanut butter balls into air-filled tunnels, launch them at a Peanut Butter Cup shaped wall, and toss them at an interactive splat screen. This whole area even smells like Peanut Butter Cups! At the Share Shop, you can create your own Hershey’s Kisses chocolate foil wrapper and watch it come to life on a huge, digital conveyer belt. There are a lot of areas to explore; check out our full review here.

17. Have an Epic Outdoor Adventure

Push yourself to your limits as you complete obstacles in the trees at Go Ape Chicago in Western Springs, with activities for kids ages 2 and up. Or, challenge yourself at an outdoor adventure park. The Forge: Lemont Quarries has activities geared towards kids ages 3 and up.

18. Take a Hike

There are tons of gorgeous forest preserves in the area, many of which have kid-friendly trails to hike or bike. I’m looking forward to checking out the kid friendly trails at Fullerburg Woods and the Graue Mill Museum.

Kidlist Tip: Hike in the morning or on an overcast day, avoid hot, sunny days. Check out our list of splash pads for those hot, sunny days!

19. Go to the Zoo

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is our favorite zoo to explore in the summer, but there are many other local options, too! Cosley Zoo in Wheaton has lots of farm animals and rescued wildlife, but is much smaller in size, making it great for little legs. The Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora is free, and the Phillips Park complex has splash pads, playgrounds and sand pits. We’re also excited to check out the new Lords Park Zoo in Elgin, which just opened!

20. Explore Cantigny Park in Wheaton

This military has gardens, trails, a playground, museum, and a tank park where kids can climb up on the tanks. Cantigny also hosts concerts in the park on weekends. Check the schedule here, as the price of entry increases for those events. Tip: Parking rates are increasing this summer, but parking is free the first Wednesday of the month when you register online in advance.

Kidlist Tip: Check out our insider guide to Cantigny in Wheaton.

21. Enjoy a Day at a Museum

If you’re looking to beat the heat, check out one of the many museums in the area. These museums and zoos offer free days or discounted admission. DuPage Children’s Museum is one of my kids’ favorite places to go; we hop on the BNSF Metra and take the very short walk from the Naperville stop to the museum.  

22. Take in a Baseball Game

It’s hard to rival the excitement of a Major League Baseball Chicago Cubs or White Sox game, but there are also several Minor League teams nearby with plenty of excitement for the kids. The Kane County Cougars, Windy City Thunderbolts, Joliet Slammers, and Schaumburg Boomers have games throughout the summer season. Check their websites for special promotions.

Kidlist Tip: Get buy one, get one free tickets to Kane County Cougars games by using the code KIDLIST! See their website to order and for more details.

23. Just Keep Swimming

When the heat is too much to handle, why not check out a different local outdoor pool to keep cool? There are dozens of local pools that offer day passes. Many of them have features that appeal to kids of all ages, from tot pools and spray playgrounds to diving boards and water slides.

24. Turn Up the Volume at a Concert

Life doesn’t get much better than listening to live music outside on a summer day. Going to summer concerts with my family is one of my favorite things to do. We pack a big blanket, lots of snacks, and get ready to dance, sing, and enjoy the scene. 

25. Watch a Parade

In addition to Memorial Day and 4th of July parades, some towns host parades throughout the summer. La Grange is known for its Pet Parade, which began in 1947 and will be on May 31 this year.

26. Head to a Festival

Carnivals and festivals always make me feel nostalgic; maybe it’s the smell of funnel cakes or the rides that were there when I was growing up. I love watching the excitement on my own kids’ faces as they go down the Fun Slide on a potato sack or go around and around on a rocketship.  

27. Take in Some Art

Art fairs and festivals are great because not only can you snag some cool art for your home while supporting local artists, but many of them also have activities planned for kids. I am all about helping to spur my kids’ creativity!

28. Marvel at Classic Cars

We love heading to the car shows on a warm summer night. There are many classic car shows planned for this summer too! Some are recurring weekly, while others are scheduled for one day instead.

29. Go Fishing

Going fishing is an awesome way to help your kids have some time outdoors, while practicing some patience too. With fishing derbies for both beginners and experts, as well as many lakes and ponds in the forest preserves, the suburbs are full of opportunities to fish with your family.  

30. Pick Fruit

Make a day out of visiting a farm to pick (and eat!) strawberries or blueberries. Or, check out our new guide to local u-pick farms including fruits and veggies!

31. Smell the Flowers

Sunflower fields are breathtaking, and many local fields allow you to cut flowers to take home. The photo ops alone are worth the trip! Sunflower season begins mid-to-late July.

32. Amuse Yourselves at an Outdoor Amusement Park

We are fortunate to have local outdoor amusement parks near to make a nice daytrip out of. Santa’s Village brings back so many childhood memories for me, and I cannot wait to take my own kids this summer. Six Flags in Gurnee keeps older kids entertained, and Pirate’s Cove in Elk Grove Village appeals to a younger crowd (ages 2-9).

33. Stroll the Naperville Riverwalk

The 1.75-mile riverwalk has something for everyone. Don’t be intimidated by the length of the riverwalk, we rarely make it that far! We like to park down by Centennial Beach and walk along the Riverwalk towards downtown. This way we can enjoy the views, and playgrounds along the way. There are also paddle boat rentals, parks, and plenty of places to eat nearby! 

34. Get Thrills at a Water Park

Waterparks cool you down and provide excitement all day! There are so many different options, from pools with slides and adventure like Paradise Bay pictured above, all the way up to Raging Waves, the biggest waterpark in Illinois. Our guide to water parks has features of each one as well as opening dates and links to hours and pricing so it’s easy to plan your day.

Summer Ideas with Advance Planning Required

35. Pack a Tent and Go Camping

This adventure definitely requires some advanced planning, but there are many tent campsites within a few hours of Chicagoland to bring the family for an outdoor camping experience. If the idea of camping doesn’t appeal to you, set up a tent in your backyard instead!

36. Take a Day Trip to the Renaissance Faire

Check out Elyse’s guide to taking kids to the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, Wisconsin. There’s live music, games, activities, face painting, and great food. After years of saying we should go, my family is definitely making this a priority for Summer 2025.

37. Road Trip!

Pack up your car and head to Michigan… or Indiana… or Wisconsin. We’ve rounded up some destination ideas for you, complete with travel tips to help the car ride go smoothly.

Summer 2025 Fun at Home

These ideas for summer fun at home are a great way to round out your bucket list with some less time- and planning-intensive activities.

38. Have a bonfire and make s’mores.

39. Catch fireflies at night.

40. Create your own nature scavenger hunt.

41. Paint Kindness Rocks to leave around your neighborhood.

42. Have a water balloon or water gun fight.

43. Play in a sprinkler or baby pool.

44. Make your own ice cream or popsicles.

45. Plant your own garden.

46. Get creative with chalk and bubbles.

47. Play with magnetic tiles on your garage door.

48. Create your own al fresco restaurant, complete with menus.

49. Have a lemonade stand.

50. Wash your cars, bikes, or scooters.

Summer Camps for 2025

Camps are happening all over the suburbs! Some may be full, but others have spots available. Click here to check out local summer camps.

Places to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

Our big Map of Things to Do with Kids is an awesome tool if you’d like to view activities and destinations based on their location! You may find other things that your family would like to add to your bucket list from here.

Free Summer Bucket List Printable

Our bucket list below can be cut out to pull from a jar, taped to your calendar, or you could keep it intact and cross out the activities as you complete them! We even included empty squares at the end so you can write in your own bucket list items. Enjoy!

Kidlist Tip: If you’re looking for specific places to go in any of the categories on our bucket list, search up “kidlist ___”. For example, you can type into Google “kidlist splash pads” or “kidlist summer festivals” and our guide will pop up full of ideas and specifics!

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Our Kidlist Summer Guide is full of ideas to help you make this the best summer yet! If you’re looking for specific events, our Events Calendar is a great resource, too.