End-of-Summer Bucket List: Activities For Seniors and Their Loved Ones

Ah, summer! Whether you’re nine or ninety, the season’s long days and warm nights hold a little bit of magic for everyone. The seemingly endless sunshine makes it a perfect time of year to venture into the great outdoors or curl up with a cold drink in front of the AC unit. With more opportunities to take time off from work and gather with loved ones, it’s also a great season to visit older family members and enjoy a “bucket list” activity together.

Many people create a bucket list at some point in their lives, but if you haven’t yet created one for the summer season, don’t worry! It’s not too late. First, let’s cover what a bucket list is: a list of things that you would like to do within a certain time frame. That’s it. From there, you can make it as simple or as complex as you want, adding anything from reading a new book to visiting a tourist site halfway across the world.

Taking the time to write down and cross off a seasonal bucket list is a fantastic way to carve out intentional time for bonding experiences with your loved ones, especially those in the younger generations. In this article, we’ll explore a few summer events and activities that are sure to appeal to all ages, including those offered by senior living communities.

Keep an eye on the sky

While winter holds the crown for dazzling skies according to scientists, nothing truly beats waking up early for a summer sunrise or staying up late to view the star-filled night. Summer sunsets’ hazy hues of red, orange, and gold seem to linger forever before dusk finally sets in. And once it does, the stars and distant planets twinkle like diamonds among the songs of crickets and frogs.

People of all ages have found beauty in the skies for millennia. Scope out a nearby area with minimal light pollution and plan to go with your loved ones on a clear morning or night. If you can, try to wake up extra early to watch the sunrise over a scenic location, like a beach or a mountain. If you prefer the evening hours, challenge yourself to try to identify and find as many constellations as you can. Suppose you want to up the “wow” factor of this bucket list activity. In that case, summer also boasts several meteor showers, with some featuring as many as 50 meteors per hour depending on your luck and viewing location.

Take a trip together

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, everyone has a memory of that one family trip that will be talked about for generations. Whether you invite your whole family or it’s just you and one of the grandkids, taking a trip together with your loved ones is a great bucket list choice for any senior, especially those enjoying the independence of retirement and senior living.

Popular trips include fishing trips, beach trips, and road trips but any trip has the potential to foster and deepen your connection to your loved ones — even a trip to the mall. Plan the trip with care and intentionality and remember that it’s about the journey more than about the destination. For a special touch, try taking a trip to a place that holds meaning for you and share your stories and memories with your loved one.

If mobility challenges make it difficult to travel, even for short trips, consider checking out the virtual tours offered by many landmarks, museums, national parks, planetariums, natural attractions, and other places of interest. Look for accessible stadiums, parks and gardens with paved walkways or tram rides, boat or trolley tours, or train rides. Many state parks have accessible accommodations that make it easier for individuals using assistive walking devices or wheelchairs. For example, some beaches have specialty wheelchairs with large tires, designed to travel easily across the sandy shore. Scope out accommodations ahead of time and plan accordingly.

Celebrate with summer classics

When thinking about summer, certain activities naturally pair with the season, much like peanut butter and jelly. When asked about what summer reminds you of, what comes to mind? For many of us, the long days of summer make us think of the beach, pool parties, making s’mores, going for a picnic, or gathering around a crackling campfire.

If you’ve missed out recently on enjoying a classic summer activity, there’s no time like the present. Invite your neighbors to a traditional barbeque, ask your kids to help you set up a s’mores station for the family, have a croquet match, attend a summer concert, visit a dairy bar, or host a miniature golf excursion with your friends. Whatever activity screams “summer” to you, add it to your bucket list and enjoy!

Explore an intellectual endeavor

No matter your age, you are never too old to learn something new. People who are lifelong learners enjoy the benefits of keeping their brain and body healthy and their curiosity and creativity flowing. Take advantage of the educational and cultural events offered by local organizations, like your local library, nearby universities, and senior living communities. Many offer opportunities that are free or low-cost for the public, especially during the summer months.

If you and your loved ones share an interest, consider signing up for a class together. If you don’t want to commit to a whole course, research any public talks or webinars about your topic of choice. From history discussions to extreme weather lectures to senior nutrition sessions, there’s something for everyone if you know where to look. You can even finish off your summer reading by challenging your loved ones to a friendly competition and offering a prize to the winner(s).

Enjoy summer’s finest fresh food

From berry picking to farmers’ markets, summer is the season of farm- and garden-fresh everything! Take advantage of the harvest season; the summer months are the best time to seek out some delicious, locally grown fruits and vegetables.

There are few things sweeter than a field-warmed berry, or more delightful than a juicy stone fruit you picked yourself. The peak time for berry picking across much of the country is often June and July, but don’t worry if you’ve missed this window. There are numerous opportunities to pick your own produce throughout the summer months, particularly in August and September. Try raspberries, blueberries, peaches, squash, pears, early-season apples, or other options.

If walking in the late summer sun isn’t your style, check out a shaded or indoor farmers’ market. Many areas have set locations each week for local farmers to bring their crops. Besides fresh produce, farmers’ markets may also offer a variety of items, including eggs, dairy products, meat, herbs, breads, and honey.

If you’re passionate about knowing where your food comes from and enjoy getting dirt under your fingernails, consider setting up a garden of your own or tending to a plot in a community garden. This is a perfect activity for seniors to enjoy with their loved ones of any age, as gardening can be as easy or difficult as you’d like it to be. Grab an inexpensive pack of seeds and some soil and watch your loved ones’ eyes light up as they watch the seedlings grow. In late summer, look for opportunities to help with the harvest by picking tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, eggplant, or other produce at a community co-op or a family member’s garden.

Take advantage of senior living community offerings

If your senior loved one resides in an independent living, assisted living, or memory care community, check out the community calendar for exciting events, summer outings, interesting programs, and family gatherings. Whether it’s a summer luau, a weekend picnic, a visit from the ice cream truck, family bingo, or a community cornhole tournament, family members and friends are often welcome to join their loved ones for any of these fun-filled gatherings.

Can’t make it to the community? Consider meeting your loved one at a place of interest during a community outing or lunch trip. An unexpected meet-up with a family member or a few grandchildren at a different location can be the highlight of your loved one’s week! Stay up to date with what's happening in the community and ensure you receive current communication from the life enrichment director or staff team, so you never miss fun opportunities to connect with your loved one.

Learn more about how senior living communities can enrich your summer experience by providing opportunities to connect with family members and friends of all ages. Connect with a Cardinal Bay senior care expert today! Check out our valuable free resources by subscribing to our blog or scheduling a tour at any of our independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities in Central Texas and Oklahoma.