2013 Summer Bucket List

In early June, my kids and I create a list of what we want to do every summer. It becomes our Summer Bucket List and we hang it on the refrigerator and it stays there until school starts in September. I’ve found having it in plain view works wonder for those rainy summer days when everyone in the house whines “I’m bored…there’s nothing to do”. Our brains seem to turn to mush and the creativity drains out on those muggy and dark days. It also works well in the dog days of August when we think we’ve done everything there is to do.

Little Rhody is big when it comes to summer fun! For this summer’s edition, I am emphasizing activities and places we’ve never been to before. It’s time to take advantage of all our state has to offer.

Not all bucket list items are for the kids; I have a few of my personal summer goals. Most of mine involve running and eating!

I also include a few special items for just my husband and me. Last summer it was celebrating our anniversary at the Spiced Pear Restaurant in The Chandler.  I went all out with a new dress and having my hair done; it felt a little bit like my actual wedding day. This year I’d love to

Here’s our 2013 Summer Bucket List. What’s on yours?

Family List

Blueberry picking at Shartner’s Farm or Delvecchio’s in North Kingstown

Mackerel Cove Beach in Jamestown. Beautiful crescent beach, $15 a day to park. Followed by ice cream at town dock

Use our ice cream maker and have a Family Ice Cream Recipe contest

Visit American Girl store at Natick Mall – a ‘given’ with 2 girls

See Despicable Me 2 and Smurfs 2 – another obvious item with kids

Visit Davis Farmland

Go to as many Farmers Markets as we can. Follow it on Twitter at @FarmFreshRI

Pack Thursday night picnic dinner for Academy Field concerts

Attend Summers End event

See a polo match in Newport

Participate in East Greenwich Track Club Summer series

Boston weekend- be a tourist

South County Museum

Gilbert Staurt birthplace

Eat ice cream at Hilltop, Ice Cream Factory, Searle’s, Brickely’s and Inside Scoop

Go to at least 1 free Bookworm movie at Showcase cinemas on Wednesday mornings at 10am

Visit Watson Farm in Jamestown

Do at least some of the kids crafts I’ve pinned on Pinterest

Visit Frosty Drew Observatory Public Stargazing Night! Every Friday night (weather permitting) they open their dome, sky theatre and telescopes to the skies and offer free public viewing to anybody interested in observing with us.

You can follow them on Twitter  at @FrostyDrewOBSY receive status updates about our public stargazing program.

Visit Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown

Mommy List

Run the Blessing of the Fleet 10 miler

Run at least 1 Weekly Wednesday 5 mile run at  Mackal Field House at URI

Run the inaugural Summer’s End 5k

Got to Tiverton Four Corners and not get lost driving there

Eat at Aunt Carrie’s in Narragansett

Eat at Food Trucks at Narragansett Town beach on Wednesday nights

Redecorate upstairs living room

Backyard Date Night with Hubby in front of the fire pit

Take a Crossfit class

Daddy & Mommy List

Date night at Castle Hill

Date night at  Nauset Beach Club, East Orleans, Massachusetts– one of the first places we ate at on our honeymoon