To help you get summer started, we've come up with the ultimate summer bucket list of 100 (mostly) FREE ways you can pack more play into your day with (mostly) outdoor games and activities for kids. These summer bucket list ideas aren't just for kids—they're fun and engaging activities for the whole family. After all, grown-ups need time to play, too.

Check out our roundup of outdoor games for kids, crafts, experiments, and other activities below. If you make your way through all of these, try our list of childhood outdoor games, our 25 water games for kids, our favorite bounce houses and kiddie pools, and 15 backyard science experiments for messy outdoor fun. Not to boast, but summer really is our forte.

Now, set aside school, work, and stress; it's time to focus on this summer bucket list of 100+ ways to play with kids this summer. For even more ideas, check out our Ultimate Kids Summer Vacation Guide!

LAUSD just released school calendars for the 2023-2024 school year, and already there's a change! A parent could get whiplash following along with when school will start, stop, and take breaks for the holidays. After a huge change that would shorten the winter vacation to two weeks, the three-week winter break will return for the next two school years. Changes in other school districts include Hermosa Beach moving its start date from a September 6 to August 24, and Norwalk opting to start August 17, a week later than in previous years.

Whew. Stay tuned, as we will update this if (when?) further changes occur!

School calendars for the largest school districts in Los Angeles County for the 2023-2024 school year are below, and you'll want to bookmark the page now for reference—especially when planning family vacations and booking summer camps. Follow the links for each district below for details on school holidays and semester breaks, and to stay up-to-date on any last-minute changes from your local district.

There's nothing better than lazy, relaxing summer days at the beaches of the Jersey Shore. Of course, at some point, the kids are going to want to get up and do something, right?

If you're looking for ways to keep the kids entertained during a vacation at the Shore this summer, this list of 70 family-friendly activities all up and down the New Jersey coast should hit the spot. We've even included a number of FREE things to do.

For more fun down the shore, check out our Jersey Shore Guide, which includes information on amusement parks and water parks, top beaches, best boardwalks, and more. And for even more ideas, see our itinerary for 3 days on the Jersey Shore with Kids.

Texas swimming lakes and summertime go together like toddlers and trucks — it's a sure-bet combo. While we love a day out at a fun water park, there is just something special about relaxing on the banks of your favorite man-made lakes - if you aren't a native Texan, don't judge us for this; we live in a mostly flat state - or riding the waves on a jet ski or tube. As a native Houstonian, I've spent at least one summer at these spots around the Lone Star State because they are beautiful and full of things for kids and adults to do.

For more water fun with extra sand, check out our Best Beaches in Texas.

Families who pine for old neighborhood joints take note: NYC is still home to a collection of old-fashioned soda fountains, where hopping on a barstool is akin to climbing aboard a time travel machine. These classic New York City soda fountains serve up plenty of fun alongside soda fountain treats like towering ice cream sundaes, creamy milkshakes and malts, and even a classic egg cream.

The next time you want to give your kids a sweet treat with a side of nostalgia, consider visiting one of these soda fountains in NYC, which range from Carroll Gardens' Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain to the Lexington Candy Shop on the Upper East Side. No matter where you are from Brooklyn to Queens, Manhattan to Brooklyn, and even on Staten Island, we've found a soda fountain in NYC near you.

Find more kid-friendly eats and treats in our NYC Restaurant Guide for Families.

NOTE: Axe & Smash has closed. The Mattituck Cinemas are open.

To catch a movie, toss an axe, have an immersive art experience, and see a live wrestling match, you'd usually have to visit separate venues on different days. However, at Axe & Smash in Mattituck–a new smash painting and axe-throwing attraction nestled within Mattituck Cinemas building complex–you could conceivably do all those things during one visit. 

Whether it's a family outing, a birthday gathering, or a date night, Axe & Smash caters to all.

Find more fun places for the family to play together, including the best bowling alleys on Long Island, in our Guide to Sports Centers and Fun Zones for LI Families.

The Museum of Illusions Atlanta confuses the human mind with its never-ending brain twisters, visual oddities, and baffling (yet hysterical) photo opportunities. Up is down, black is white, right is left, and every other mind-altering direction goes at the Museum of Illusions Atlanta. Kids will LOVE the new museum, which opened this weekend at Atlantic Station, for its hands-on approach of upending everything you see in the world.

Fall down the rabbit hole of this topsy-turvy Wonderland to take a whole new look at the world of through the Museum of Illusions Atlanta!

Day trips from the Bay Area are just a quick drive away from so many things to do with kids, with attractions that bring tourists from all over the country to see. Lucky for us, they are all in our backyard, without the need to book a flight. 

We’ve got the best day trips from San Francisco with kids, all within driving distance, for a day out of the ordinary. From beaches to redwoods, amusement parks to wine country, we’ve got a day trip for every kind of family.

Turn an afternoon of hiking into a day trip with these family-friendly urban hikes in San Francisco. Looking to extend a day trip to a weekend? Get inspired by our Weekend Getaway and Day Trips for San Francisco Guide.