The flowers are starting to bloom, temperatures are getting warmer, and the smell of spring is in the air. Which can only mean that summer is just around the corner. So it’s time to start working on your summer bucket list ideas! Lucky for you I’ve created the ultimate summer adventure for 2022- the adventure edition! I hope you find inspiration for things to do this summer as you read through the list!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Ultimate Summer Bucket List 2022
See the Midnight Sun in Iceland
Summer already has longer days than winter. But Iceland takes that to a whole new level. As in – the sun doesn’t set. In May – this photo was taken after midnight – and as you can see, it’s still very light out. It was hard to sleep without it getting dark, but it gave us so much extra time to see more.
When is the best time to visit Iceland?
The Best Places to Stay in Reykjavik, Iceland
Swim in a Great Lake
Did you know the Great Lakes are the largest body of fresh water on the planet? The five Great Lakes – Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario – have a total surface area of 94,600 sq miles all connected by lakes and rivers.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in located Empire Michigan. Add this gorgeous area to your bucket list.
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The Perfect Weekend Camping Michigan’s West Coast
Another Perfect Weekend spent exploring Michigan’s incredible west coast. Camping and lighthouse hunting along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Keep ReadingGo Rock Climbing
I first went rock climbing in Jasper National Park in Canada. It was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I highly recommend adding this adventurous activity to your list this summer.
4 Day Jasper National Park Adventure Guide
4 Day Jasper National Park Adventure Guide- Alberta Canada | Camping – Hiking – White Water Rafting – Rock Climbing – Wildlife Tours
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Must See Historic Cranbrook Botanical Gardens
Cranbrook Botanical Gardens are located in Birmingham, Michigan as a registered Historic National Landmark filled with amazing history.
Read MorePlant a Garden
I planted my first garden about 3 summers ago and it’s become quite an obsession. As you nurture the tiny seeds and watch them grow into fully bloomed beautifulness it’s so humbling and satisfying. When we bought our house there was NOTHING. One bush on our entire property.
Since then I’ve planted raspberry bushes on one side of the house, hostas and rhododendrons on the other side, and beautiful perennials in the front such as lillies, phlox, and bee balm, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, black-eyed Susans, and tons more. Working with my hands in the dirt has also done wonders for my mental health.
Raise Butterflies and Release Them
The honey bee population decreased 40% in the winter of 2018 to 2019 alone, and the annual rate loss for the 2019 to 2020 winter was also 40%, declines that experts described as “unsustainable.”
ABC News
Make S’mores over a Campfire
There’s something about summer and s’more that just go together. For those that don’t know – s’mores are made by spearing a marshmallow with a stick long enough to roast the mallow over the fire. They catch fire fast so don’t put them directly in the flames rather slowly rotate them close to the coals of the fire.
Once you’ve cooked it to perfection add it to a piece of graham cracker with some Hershey’s chocolate slices and cover it with another graham to make a sandwich. Voila! You’ve got yourself a s’more. If you want to level up, add some peanut butter to the sandwich to become an expert.
Go Camping in the Woods This Summer
There are so many different ways to go camping. Tents (small, large, medium), hammocks, campers, motor homes, or just sleep under the stars. Then you choose where. You can hike into a site to have the area all to yourself, you can reserve a site in a campground, or you can find an area that allows pull off camping (open wilderness where you can pull up to any “spot” you find) like Grace and I did above.
Camping Guide: What to Pack + Free Packing Checklist
My favorite gear, and a packing guide of everything you need for your next camping trip!
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Meet the Badlands National Park
I was totally blown away by how colorful this national park is. We stopped at the park for a day along our cross-country moving trip. One day was definitely not enough time to explore all this park has to offer. Short on time, we weren’t able to do much hiking, but this park needs to be on your summer bucket list for sure.
One Day in Badlands National Park Itinerary
One Day Badlands National Park Itinerary This one-day Badlands National Park itinerary will provide you with all the details you need to know for…
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Drive A Cool Car at Woodward’s Dream Cruise
Growing up in Michigan where the “Big 3″(Ford, General Motors, Chrysler) dominate the state, everyone knows about cars to some extent. Then there are the ones that can tell you the year, model, and make of any car they see. I can hear the engines roaring and racing across Woodward from my backyard in the summer months even though we live miles from it. I don’t mind the sounds though.
Every year in August the Woodward Dream Cruise event brings thousands of people from all over the country to hang out off the side of the road to watch the cars go by. You’ll see cars from the early 1900s to racecars, flashy new cars, and some crazy-looking vehicles cruising down the road. People will park their cars in large parking lots, pop the engine hood, and wait for admirers to come back and talk car stuff. If you’re a car lover, then this is an event you won’t want to miss.
Go Kayaking
Ahhh kayaking. a summer favorite. I grew up living on a lake, so I spent my summers boating, paddle boating, swimming, and not going to lie – a lot of day drinking on the boats and nighttime booze cruises. But it wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I finally kayaked. So if you’re on vacation that offers it, do it!! You’ll love it.
Hike the Canadian Rockies
My favorite hiking trails have been in the Canadian Rockies. Between crystal blue lakes, emerald-colored lakes, gorgeous mountain views, and just incredibly beautiful nature this is an area you can’t miss.
Beautiful Lakes in Canada’s National Parks
Inspirational photos from the most beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies. The journey will take you through Alberta into Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, & Yoho National Park of British Colombia.
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Photoshoot of Sunset Shadows
My sister and I took a weeklong trip out to California to drive the highway 1 coastline and explore San Francisco. We stopped at Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, and some local state parks along the way. One night we were watching the sunset on the beach of Carmel which turned into a fun silly photo shoot, my sister doesn’t travel so this was a great part of our trip. She looked so alive and happy I couldn’t help but capture that energy.
Go Skydiving This Summer
Skydiving was INSANE. My stomach was nauseous with anxiety the entire time. Including the drive there! 😂 My friend Mary and I both had this on our bucket list and we had both just gotten out of serious relationships. So what did we have to lose right? 😂 I’m grateful my fly guide was such a natural.
Road Trip California’s National Parks
Joshua Tree, Yosemite, Death Valley, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and more. California has tons of national parks to fill your summer road trip itinerary.
Rent a Class C RV for your next camping adventure!
One Day in Joshua Tree National Park Guide
This one day in Joshua Tree National Park guide will help you plan your day in one of America’s most beauituful parks.
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The Perfect Weekend in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park holds the title for driest, hottest, lowest, and LARGEST National Park outside of Alaska. The perfect weekend filled with hiking, beautiful landscapes, and camping awaits you.
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Go for a Picnic in the Mountains
There is nothing more peaceful than the mountains. Pack a picnic lunch and head into nature to find a good spot to eat!
Scuba or Snorkel in a Sea
I don’t care for scuba diving but I’m all about the snorkeling (ps watch out for coral, that sh*t is SHARP). Logan scuba dives so while he’s at the bottom I’m at the surface haha
Pick Your Own Berries
When I was younger, every summer my mom would pack up all the kids to go berry picking early in the morning (to avoid the afternoon heat). We would meet my aunt, cousins, and grandma at the orchard and have donuts before the picking began. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, apples, and more.
Go on a Wine Tasting Tour
Summer and wine go together nicely don’t you think? Take a trip out to Napa with your besties and do some wine tasting tours for a weekend!
Do an Overnight Biking Trip This summer
Check out these routes around the Great Lakes and plan an overnight biking trip this summer! Pack an overnight bag and hit the trails. You can stop and pull off in different towns for food, entertainment, and lodging.
The Best Great Lakes Biking & Hiking Trails for Adventures
These 6 routes are the best Great Lakes biking & hiking trails for adventures. The paths around the Great Lakes run throughout Michigan, Illinois, and New York.
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Splash Around at Hawaii’s Green Sand Beach
On the Big Island of Hawaii lies Papakolea Beach. The beach is one of only four green sand beaches in the world! The sand’s green hue comes from the mineral olivine, a common component of Hawaiian lava.
Glamp in a Treehouse or Hobbit Hole or Tipi
Hobbit House in Oastbrook Vineyard
Forest House on Orcas……Enchantment & Wonder
Hobbit house in Charlevoix Michigan
Historic, Restored Caboose at the Base of the Sleeping Bear Dunes
Make a Scrapbook of All Your Summer Memories
I hope you were able to find some some good ideas for your bucket list this summer. Drop a comment if you have a “must do” bucket list idea and share it with me! Be creative this summer! If you like the activity but not the location, find somewhere you’re comfortable going to and see if you can do it there instead. Thanks for reading, enjoy your summer!
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24 comments
We did Badlands National Park, smores and gardening last year. I wonder where our adventures will take us this year. Great list!!
Ooh I haven’t gone berry-picking or made s’mores in I don’t know how long. Thanks for the reminder of some of life’s simple pleasures!
Such awesome ideas! I definitely want to pick my own berries and go on a fun road trip this summer! Making a scrapbook of summer memories is also such a fun idea!
Great idea to make a short term bucket list! I’m definitely going to do this for the summer. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Lots of great ideas here! I need to try the Hobbit House
Wow, you have so much useful information on your blog, I can’t stop reading 🙂 Well done.. and I will certainly add some of these things to my summer bucket list!
Your post gave me so many great ideas. I would love to visit the Canadian National Parks. The water looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
This is an epic bucket list with so many fun things to do this summer! I am so ready for the summer season to check these all off!
Lots of great ideas! I know I’ll be making s’mores and picking berries, but thanks for the reminder to MAKE THAT SCRAPBOOK!
This is a great bucket list! I also have skydiving on my bucket list 🙂
These are some really great recommendations to ensure an exciting summer! I would so so love to experience the midnight sun in Iceland!
What a great list! I second the garden idea and the raising butterflies – both are activities that work well if you can’t travel as much as you want to.
You have created such a fun and diverse bucket list for 2022. Adding a few of the items to my list…may not get to them in 2022, but for future travel inspiration
So many lovely ideas and I especially loved the idea of raising butterflies and releasing them! A really wonderful thing to do
This is a great list you’ve put together! I’ve actually always wanted to try berry picking so thank you for reminding me to do that this summer.
What’s your favorite type of berries? I’m obsessed with raspberries.
Love your bucket list for 2022! I definitely would want to join you on most of these. Iceland has been on my radar for a while, and would love to go there this year. I already have a garden started, so I could help you there. 🙂
I’m so in love with my garden haha Also YES, go to Iceland. The midnight sun is something to experience, on top of all the other AMAZING things to do there.
I was just thinking last night that I should plant a garden! I’ll take this as a sign 🙂 Love it!
YESSS! 100% you should. It does wonders for your mental health and it’s good for pollinators which is good for the earth 💜🤗
Definitely a few of these that I will be doing this spring/summer. Camping in the woods is a must and of course smores! I love some of the lesser known locations on your list as well. Not sure I will get to it in 2022, but Badlands is defintely somewhere I would love to explore soon. – Aireona
I would like to go back o Badlands and spend some more time there. Also I already have like 3 camping trips planned for the summer 🤩