Summer 2025 Bucket List

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Summer is here, and our family of five is more than ready to trade in homework and hustle for sunshine and sweet memories. With one big goal—more quality time together—we’ve created our ultimate summer bucket list full of adventures, big and small, that we can enjoy as a family.

Whether you're a fellow Tri-Cities local or just looking for summer inspiration, here are our top picks for unforgettable fun—both at home and within a 4-hour drive.

🌻 At-Home & Local Summer Fun Ideas

Sometimes, the best memories are made right in your own backyard. Here are some simple, joy-filled activities we're excited to do around town or at home:

  • Backyard Campout: Pitch a tent, roast marshmallows, and tell stories under the stars. - There is something so fun about camping at home, we have even done this indoors several times. Is it a lot of work to move furniture and later to take down the tent, yeah, but you could do a blanket fort instead (still lots of work, but maybe more fun to put up than a tent) but it feels like one of those things that will be remembered and cherished as a childhood tradition and to me, that makes all the chaos and work worth it. 

  • DIY Waterpark Day: Slip 'n slide, water balloons, and a sprinkler obstacle course = instant kid heaven. Make sure you are well stocked on popsicles and clean towels. 

  • Weekly Family Movie Nights (Outdoors if possible): Bonus points for popcorn and blankets on the lawn. - We rotate who gets to pick the movie and there are no repeat movies allowed unless everyone agrees. 

  • Explore Local Parks & Trails: Chamna Natural Preserve and Candy Mountain are on our list!

  • Visit the Farmer’s Market: Let each kid pick out one new fruit or veggie to try.

  • Library Summer Reading Program: Great for those hot afternoons indoors.

  • Stargazing Night at the LIGO Observatory (Hanford): A fun way to sneak in science!

🚗 Weekend Getaways & Day Trips (Within 4 Hours of Tri-Cities)

We're lucky to live in an area with incredible destinations just a short drive away. These are on our summer road trip list:

1. Walla Walla (1 hour drive)

  • Ride bikes through wine country 

  • Stop by Pioneer Park Aviary and Fort Walla Walla Museum

2. Palouse Falls State Park (1.5 hours)

  • Hike, picnic, and snap family photos in front of the stunning waterfall

  • Best visited early or late in the day to beat the heat!

3. Leavenworth (3.5 hours)

  • Stroll through the charming Bavarian village, try all the treats!

  • Tubing on the Wenatchee River and hiking nearby Icicle Gorge Trail

4. Silverwood Theme Park (3.5 hours to Athol, ID)

  • Roller coasters + a full water park = family vacation win!

  • Make it a weekend and camp nearby or stay in Coeur d’Alene

5. Mount Rainier National Park (about 4 hours)

  • Hike short family-friendly trails like Grove of the Patriarchs

  • Pack a picnic and play in the snow at Paradise—yes, even in summer!

6. Lake Chelan (3.5 hours)

  • Rent paddleboards or take a boat cruise

  • Hit up Slidewaters water park and enjoy lakeside ice cream

7. Portland, Oregon (about 3.5 hours)

  • Oregon Zoo, OMSI science museum, and Voodoo Doughnuts.

  • Walk the Columbia River Gorge or visit Multnomah Falls on the way.

8. Tillamook, Oregon (5 hours)

  • Okay this one is a bit over 4 hours, but I had to add it to the list, there is so much to do and see in Tillamook. It would definitely be a weekend trip full of tours, hikes, and yummy food. 
   

🍉 Bonus Summer Traditions We Love

  • Make homemade ice cream or popsicles every Sunday.

  • Have a “yes” day where the kids pick the activities. - We have done many different degrees of "yes" days with our kids, most of them are planned and earned but a few are random. They are always fun and even though as parents it can be hard to let go of that level of control sometimes it is so rewarding, and I think it allows kids the ability to learn and grow so much. It is something that I have felt has taught me a lot as well as my kids, sometimes instead of a "yes" day, we let the kids pretend to just be the parent in certain situations... however I wouldn't advise this while grocery shopping without having set some limits prior, learned that the hard way. 😂

  • Make a summer scrapbook or video recap to remember all the fun! - This is something I want to get better at doing. I am such a in the moment person which can be great most of the time but then I wish I had more photos/videos to help remember the fun.

☀️ Let’s Make This a Summer to Remember

With school out and the sunshine calling, we’re setting out to make this summer full of laughter, little road trips, and screen-free connection. Whether it's exploring a new corner of the Northwest or chasing fireflies in the backyard, it’s all about soaking up the season together.

📸 I’ll be sharing updates on our bucket list progress and photos along the way—follow along and let me know what’s on your summer list!

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