The Ultimate Guide to Unforgettable Summer Fun: Sun, Savings and Safety

Summer! The very word conjures up images of sunshine, warm days and carefree adventures. It’s a time for families to create lasting memories and bond over shared experiences. But with so many options, planning summer activities can feel overwhelming. This guide is here to help. We’ve compiled a list of ideas for families, from adventurous outdoor enthusiasts to indoor creative clans. This guide aims to be your summer symphony, offering a harmonious blend of ideas for every family.

Popular Summer Fun Activities

Summer promises endless sunshine. It’s a season brimming with potential for families to bond, explore and create lasting memories. Let’s uncover some activities that will have your family humming a happy tune.

Summer Fun at Water Parks

Beat the heat by escaping to your local water park. Indoor and outdoor water parks appeal to all ages with thrilling water slides and mellow lazy rivers. Many even offer areas for toddlers to splash in the shallows, while others boast relaxing soak areas for adults.

Discover these seven great water parks for splash-tastic summer fun:

• Noah’s Ark Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
• Build-a-Raft Lazy River in Winter Haven, Florida
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park in Orlando, Florida
• Six Flags White Water in Marietta, Georgia
• Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, North Carolina
• Dollywood’s Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
• Avalanche Bay in Boyne Falls, Michigan

Want event more aquatic fun? Pack a picnic and spend a day at the beach, building sand castles and battling the waves. Public pools offer refreshing relief from the heat, while lakes or rivers provide opportunities for kayaking, canoeing or gentle paddleboarding. Feeling adventurous? Whitewater rafting or stand-up paddleboarding can add a thrill to your watery escapes. AAA Members can save on park tickets and activities. 

Summer Fun for Families With Pets

Summer is a time for fun in the sun, and that includes your furry family members! Nature beckons, and summer is the perfect time to answer its call. You can escape the digital world and reconnect with the magic of nature by going camping. Pitch a tent under a sky ablaze with stars, gather around a crackling campfire and wake up to a symphony of birdsong. National parks offer scenery and educational opportunities, while local campgrounds provide a more rustic experience.

You can also lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails. Explore a variety of terrains, from gentle paths perfect for younger children to challenging hikes for more seasoned hikers. Embrace the beauty of a cascading waterfall; pack a lunch for a scenic picnic; or go on a nature scavenger hunt, identifying different plants and wildlife along the way.

And here are tips on how to keep your pet safe this summer in between trips to the beach and strolls through the neighborhood.

Summer Fun for Families With Kids

Unleash your inner artist, chef or scientist with these engaging indoor activities for those occasional rainy days (or for a refreshing break from the sun!).

Transform your kitchen into a culinary playground. Involve the whole family in meal planning and preparation. Browse kid-friendly cookbooks or find fun recipes online. Let your kids experiment with flavors, decorate their own pizzas or whip up a batch of rainbow cookies. Not only is this a delicious activity, but it also teaches valuable life skills.

Perhaps you’d rather unbox your creativity. Explore a range of arts and crafts projects, from painting vibrant masterpieces to sculpting whimsical creatures out of clay. You can create wearable art with tie-dyed shirts and fabric paints. For more inspiration, grab a children’s craft book brimming with ideas.

Finally, opt to explore the wonders of science with engaging experiments. Build a volcano and watch it erupt, create your own slime concoction or conduct a backyard weather station project. There are endless science experiments you can find online or in children’s science books that are both educational and entertaining.

Summer Fun Community Programs

Most communities offer free or low-cost summer events such as concerts in the park, outdoor movies or themed festivals. Check your local event listings and community pages for exciting events that cater to all ages.

Summer Fun Travel

Pack up the car and embark on a memorable road trip. Explore national parks, visit historical landmarks or simply enjoy the scenery on a day trip. Road trips are a fantastic way to bond as a family and create lasting memories.

AAA is your go-to resource for family travel. From AAA TripTik Travel Planners and digital TourBook guides to hotels and rental car discounts and more—nobody brings you more value and amenities than AAA Travel, with the best summer travel deals and exclusive experiences that will make your next family vacation the most memorable yet.

Budgeting Fun for the Summer

Summer doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of free or low-cost activities to keep your family entertained.

Money-Saving Tips

Remember that summer fun doesn’t have to be expensive. Some of the best memories can be made on rainy days inside. This is a perfect excuse to build a blanket fort in the living room. Gather pillows, sheets and blankets—and let your imagination run wild. Once your fort is complete, you can have a movie marathon, read books or play board games.

Another idea is to transform your backyard into a summer oasis. Set up a sprinkler for a refreshing splash zone, blow up a Slip N’ Slide for some hilarious merriment or pitch a tent in the backyard for camping under the stars. String up fairy lights for an enchanting evening atmosphere, gather around a fire pit to roast marshmallows or tell ghost stories under the vast canvas of the night sky.

Your AAA Membership is the key to unlocking the best summertime savings and discounts for you and your whole family.

Free Summer Fun Activities

Most communities have free public parks and libraries that offer a variety of programs. Libraries often have story time for younger children, book clubs for older kids and even movie nights. Parks are perfect for picnics, throwing a frisbee around or simply relaxing in the sunshine.

Another free summer fun activity is volunteering. It is a great way to give back to your community and spend time together as a family. There are many organizations that need help during the summer months, such as animal shelters, food banks and community gardens.

Invest in Insurance for a Summer of Fun

The best gift you can give this summer is peace of mind. Get the peace of mind that over 59 million AAA Members enjoy, such as the always-reliable roadside assistance. A AAA Membership comes with a host of benefits, including discounts and rewards through the AAA Mobile app and AAA Discounts extension. Discover this month-by-month guide to top AAA Membership benefits.

Whether you have car, life, home, renters, motorcycle, ATV, RV, boat or flood insurance needs, speak to a AAA Insurance agent today to make sure you, your family and your belongings are covered—and that you’re receiving the best rate possible.

Make This Summer Unforgettable With AAA

Splash pads, book swaps, DIY arts and crafts, backyard camping—there’s no shortage of activities to keep everyone in your clan entertained. Check out these 125 family-friendly summer activities and free things to do. The only thing left is to get out there and make some lasting memories—and ensure that you have the best summer ever!