This fun, old-fashioned summer to-do list inspiration pretty much says it all, but every year, there is a certain list of activities I just HAVE to squeeze in before fall rolls around.
This time of year makes me crave all things old-fashioned and nostalgic. The nostalgia probably comes from the fact that summer was one of my favorite times of the year when I was younger. It was a full on, epic adventure the moment school was out.
Kool-aide stands, popsicles, camping, s’mores, beach trips, fire flies, the sno cone truck, the skating rink (every. single. day)…all of these awesome things every summer.
I also love the old-fashioned summers from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Like the Grease era! (side note: favorite movie of all time!). In fact, Amelia was a 1950s babies for Halloween. I also love doing skincare tips that are old-fashioned and cleaning products from the golden era.
Old-Fashioned Summer To-Do List
Last year’s list was more detailed and exact, but this year, I just wanted to make a general, laid back list for us to do before September! I hope this can spark some summertime inspiration too!
Drive In Movie
We are lucky enough to have a drive in theater in our town, and I love going there in the summer! It reminds me of my husband’s and my first wedding anniversary when we lived in California. We drove to south San Diego to the drive in there and it was the perfect date night!
Make a Berry Pie
This is the perfect time of year for berries! There’s just something about berry pie in the summer! Last year I made this summer crisp which is also good, but I am definitely going to be making a pie soon.
Go to a Summer Carnival
Summer carnivals are the BEST! When we lived in an apartment many years ago, a carnival came to town every summer, and we had the perfect view of the ferris wheel! I loved watching the sunrise come up over the carnival, it was so mysterious and magical!
When we lived in San Diego, one of my favorite memories was the county fair in June. That is definitely an old-fashioned summer to do.
Go to a Skating Rink
This was how I spent 90% of my summer as a kid….going to the skating rink. I haven’t been in probably 15 years or more….but for my friend’s 30th birthday next month, we plan on having an old-fashioned skating party!!! She is the friend from the kool-aid stand. We have been going to the skating rink together since we were about three or four 🙂
Eat a Sno Cone
Sno Cone trucks were my favorite part of summer. The minute I heard that song coming in the distance, I was running to meet him. I don’t see anything around here like that, but I am definitely going to get an awesome one somewhere this summer!
Catch Fireflies
It is obviously evident that I am a kid at heart, but you should see me around the fireflies. We love sitting on our porch swing out back at dusk. We have a woodsy area behind us that the fireflies love. They are so magical to watch. Sometimes I make my husband go catch them for me!
Make Homemade Popcorn
I make homemade popcorn a lot like this kettle corn and this cayenne lime one, but we just bought a popcorn maker and I am so excited to use it! Fresh hot popcorn and a movie marathon sound like the perfect summer night to me!
Make S’mores in Backyard
I love making all things s’mores like this frappuccino and these cookies, but I love doing the original old-fashioned kind by the fire. I look forward to doing that soon!
Spend a Day at the Zoo
We did this last summer for our staycation, and we had such a fun time. The zoo is great for kids, but it is fun for adults too. The Fort Worth Zoo is such a great one, so I am hoping we can make it back there. I love animals and so does my husband, so we love it!
Take a Road Trip
Summer road trips are the BEST! We won’t be able to take a vacation this year due to my husband’s work, but we plan on taking some weekend road trips to some little Texas towns, just to explore! 🙂 Follow me on instagram to see our adventures!
Make a Fun Summer Brunch
We made a super fun summer brunch recently, and it was so fun. Follow me on instgram for some behind the scenes.
Read on the Porch Swing
And if you follow me on social media, you see evidence of this every morning, but it is my favorite summer evening or summer morning activity! Especially in the mornings. Everything is so peaceful and quite, and the day is still cool!!
Other Honorable Mentions
- Have another mini staycation. You can see all the staycation details from last year here -> : elements of a perfect staycation, staycation part I where we went, and staycation part II what we did at home!
- Mini Golf
- Do some backyard projects
And just for fun, here is a little throw back from the late 80s…I guess I have always loved summertime 😉
Have a wonderful Summer!!!
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This list is so much fun! It really reminds me of the amazing summers I had growing up and how I want my daughter to have the same. Great post!
I agree! Growing up, summers were just the best! I hope my children can feel the same way someday too 🙂
Ooooooo! The drive in movies would be awesome! I don’t think I’ve ever done that!
It is so much fun!!! I love that we live so close to one, but it is worth a trip to go also 🙂
This is such a fun list Alexis! I LOVE your beach picture – you’re so adorable! Never been to a drive-in; don’t know of one near me. Haven’t been to the zoo or aquarium in ages… Can’t wait to see what your summer brunch is! And I’m using your popcorn seasoning mix on everything now – roasted potatoes, pasta w/olive oil, rice… have a fab “old-fashioned” summer!!!
I am excited to get everything together for our brunch! We have some fun stuff planned 🙂 I am so glad you love that mix!!! It is so good on so many things!!!
Old-fashioned is the best way to do things. Currently, I’m all about old. I’m watching old movies and listening to old music. I’d definitely love to read on a porch swing by the beach. Those are reading goals.
It is the best!! I adore old movies and old music…I pretty much live in another decade except for technology lol. Seriously the best way to read for sure!!
Great list! I love having seasonal to-do lists. 🙂
And yes, s’mores by a campfire are the best! I like all the other s’more treats too, but nothing compares to the original.
I love them too! They really help me remember the things I love and want to do 🙂
This time of year (and Christmas time) make me super nostalgic too! Drive in movies, carnivals, the beach, and of course mini golf are my favorite past times <3
I am the same way! Christmas makes me crave alllll things nostalgic!! All those summer time traditions are the best 🙂
We see the drive in movie theater when we’re driving into Dallas from Houston and it always looks like so much fun! There’s actually one just outside of Houston, and I think that’d be so much fun to try out this summer as well!
I have never been to the one in Dallas, but I heard it’s fun! We live south of Fort Worth and our little town has one too. I can’t wait to go again soon!
That photo of you taken on the beach in Corpus Christie. Tx. You were close to 3. So darn cute!!!!! Love mom
I figured it was around that time in the 1980s…I always loved our trips to Corpus 🙂
You were/are adorable! I love this list so much and it’s so nostalgic! All the perfect things to do for summer!
Thanks girl!! These really are the best things to do for summer…full of so many good memories too 🙂
Aw I love this post and that pic! You look so much like Westin too! How cute!! ?
I do look like him in this picture!!! And it’s funny how I still look the exact same lol Thanks Megan!!! 🙂
Brings me back to my childhood too as I did many of these. My favorite was waiting for the ice cream truck to dig through the neighborhood so I could get ice cream from it. Field days we you to call them instead of carnivals were the highlight of the summer too. Cute picture of you as a little girl. Love it.
Those were the best summers!! Thanks Michelle!
This is a fun list! I think making a list likes this helps us to not let the days just tick away without honoring the season. 🙂
Happy Thoughts of Home. ♥
I agree! List do such a good job of that!! Thanks Stacey!
Good Morning Alexis!
Now, this is the Summertime I am dreaming of too!
Thanks for sharing this with us at TOHOT!
Jemma
It’s the best kind of summer!!
Love this list!
It is so fun!
We were just talking about drive in movies the other day!!! Love this list so many fun things to do.
I love that we live so close to one!!! They are so fun!
I would love to have a swing porch or even rocking chairs on my front porch. This is a great list for some summer time fun.
It is so fun to swing on! It is probably my favorite thing to do 🙂 Thanks Sonya!
I love summer bucket lists! Summer is my favorite time of year, also. There’s so much potential and everyone is so happy! I wish I had chairs for my front porch. If I did I would definitely read out there all of the time. It really is so calming.
I agree! Everyone is so happy and everything is carefree in the summer!! Reading on the porch is so calming, one of my favorites!!
Fun list! I’m sure we get all nostalgic not only because of sweet memories and a yearning for a season with a slower pace. I know I do! Linda
I agree!! That is so true, I miss those slow, easy summer days 🙂 Thanks Linda!
Loved this post. One of my favorite things about summer: eating watermelon. Sweet memories of being a little girl waiting for the icecream truck to come by and shelling peas with my Granny on the front porch! Thanks for the memories!
That sounds like such a fun memory! Oh watermelon is the best! I remember eating so much of it as a kid, all my clothes were stained pink lol 🙂
Such a wonderful list! You captured all of the best summer activities. 🙂
Thanks Mistie! They really are so wonderful memories 🙂
I can’t wait to start checking some of these off the list! I went strawberry picking yesterday and will be making a strawberry rhubarb crisp tonight 🙂
That sounds amazing!! I miss strawberry picking when we lived in California. It was so fun to make a crisp with fresh picked fruits 🙂
I bet they had great u-pick farms in California!
They did! We lived next to a huge one that always had the prettiest, sweetest strawberries!
We are lucky enough to have drive-in theaters by us, too – sooooo fun, old-school style! We just saw “Independence Day”/”X-Men” over the weekend.
That is so awesome!! We plan on going this coming weekend if they are showing something good 🙂 They really are old-fashioned fun!
These are Really great ideas! I’m sure we’ll be pulling out some of them as we travel through our summer! I love old fashioned fun so much better anyway! 🙂
Oh me too! It always seem to be more enjoyable 🙂 I hope you have a fun summer!