Kidlist’s 2022 Summer Bucket List Features Fun All Over Chicagoland

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Resources for Families

When our mid-May string of unseasonably hot days hit, I started getting a little nervous about summer showing up so soon! It’s always hard for me to find a balance between planning too much and too little. But as we sweated buckets on the walk to school, my kids started making their own list of things to do over the summer, and we all started to get excited. There’s still room for spontaneity and rest, but now I know that my kids are really excited about the pool, not too keen on the beach, and will lose their minds with glee when I tell them it’s time to head to Pirate’s Cove.

Our Kidlist summer bucket list brings together a huge variety of local outings, outdoor fun, at-home activities, and more. Use this list to create your own personal family bucket list and start conversations with your kids about what plans would get them excited for the summer! Or, check out our printable at the end and fill a jar with ideas to pull out when the dog days of summer stretch on without enough to do.

This article is sponsored by DuPage Children’s Museum.

DuPage Children’s Museum

DuPage Children’s Museum
301 N Washington Street
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 637-8000
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Play All Day at DuPage Children’s Museum

Explore, create, build, wonder, discover, think, play, and more! Every visit to DuPage Children’s Museum is a new adventure. Make a splash in AWEsome Water, build with real tools in the Construction House, explore the forces of gravity in Make it Move, and let imagination soar in Creativity Connections. From pancake arches to paper airplane launchers, make new discoveries with Ada Twist and friends in The Questioneers: Read. Question. Think. PLAY! Don’t miss out, this exhibit is only open through August 31. For the youngest guests, 2 years and under, DCM has special Young Explorers spaces where they can exercise mind and body. There’s no need to pack a lunch, Bean Sprouts Café is open on the Museum’s lower level. Plan your visit today – dupagechildrens.org.

2022 Summer Bucket List

Fun Places to Go Summer 2022

Ideas for Summer Fun Close to Home

Places to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

If you prefer to see a menu of places to go so you can create your own bucket list of destinations you haven’t been or want to go again this summer, head to our Map of Things to Do with Kids or our Map of Outdoor Fun! There are bulleted lists there with links to all of our location profiles so you can make your own list and get tips before go.

Free Summer Bucket List Printable

Cut out these ideas and tape to a calendar to plan your summer day… or put them in a jar to pull out each morning!

Click on the image below for the printable version of the summer bucket list squares, then pick and choose what you would like to do with your kids. We even included six empty squares at the end so you can write in your own bucket list items. Enjoy!

Here’s a tip: If you are 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!

Summer Camps for 2022

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


Our Kidlist Summer Guide has tons more ideas for fun in (and out of) the sun this summer! Bookmark it for inspiration whenever you’re looking for something to do.

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