Your Summer Bucket List Guide is Here
A 25-page printable guide with 180+ recommendations from local parents who know what's up. Paid subscribers get it 50% off.
When I was a kid growing up in Pennsylvania, there were few things as exciting as making a list of things to do over the summer break. It was always this magical list of possibilities as small as “catch lightning bugs” and as big as “go on a boat.”
But it was my parents who made it happen. I had the dreams; they made the plans.
They were the ones coordinating ahead of time with neighborhood friends to rent a pontoon boat at Raystown Lake in Hesston, PA.
It was my mom who called The Bar-Ann Drive-In in Portage for the movie schedule and picked a good Friday night to actually go with neighborhood friends.
It was my dad who told us on many lazy summer afternoons to pile in the minivan for some Meadows frozen custard and a round of mini-golf.
While those days may be behind me, the anticipation of summer possibilities still persists. Like many of you, I love a summer bucket list. But now that I’m a parent of elementary-school-aged kids, every time I see one my heart-rate rises and my eyes glaze over. I have trouble executing on anything because I’m not always sure where to go. I’d either have to scroll the Internet and Google Maps, search local Facebook groups, or bug my mom friends.
So for the past few weeks, I’ve been on a mission to solve this problem. I asked every parent I knew to tell me where to go locally for anything that might be on a kid’s summer bucket list.
Things like: go berry picking, go fishing, go stargazing, try a new playground, eat ice cream, spend some time near the water, go on a day trip, go to a water park, go mini-golfing, go to a splash pad, see a movie outside, eat seafood with a water view, see some art, watch fireworks, visit some animals, see an outdoor concert, and much more.
I put a call out on Instagram for ideas. I even reached out to local business owners (like the guys over at KAZ Outdoors in Ridgefield) for recommendations on things I didn’t know much about, like where to take kids fishing.
I was floored by the response I got. Dozens of parents weighed in.
If you and your kids want to play mini golf this summer, I have a local dad with a great recommendation for you.
If you’ve got “eat seafood with a water view” on your bucket list, I’ve got a mom who has made this her mission every summer and has some kid-friendly recs.
Want to try strawberry picking and you’ve never been? Don’t sweat it; I’ve got a few families who are pros by now and can show you the ropes.
Our crowd-sourced summer bucket list is printable (yay!) and comes with a bonus worksheet so you can sit down with your kids and make a list (and a loose plan), together.
BONUS: Everyone who purchases the guide gets access to a private Google My Maps list. I figured you needed an easy way to map out your adventures, right?
But remember: This isn’t a contest. This isn’t meant to be a stress inducer. Think of it as a crowd-sourced catalogue of ideas for when inspiration strikes.
To be honest with you, I think we’ll maybe do 5 things on our own bucket list this summer, which is good enough for me. Strawberry picking? Sure, I’ll give it a whirl. Take a ferry somewhere? Sounds fun. Keep the kids up late to catch a movie outdoors one night? I think we can handle it.
Great! How much is it?
The 3-part bundle that will save your sanity this summer includes:
A 25-page printable Summer Bucket List guide – 180+ parent-tested local spots that’ll help you bring your family’s bucket list to life this summer;
A Summer Bucket List worksheet for kids – Because planning should be a family activity;
Exclusive access to a Google My Maps list – Perfect for planning a last-minute adventure on-the-go.
I’m offering all this for just $19 for the next 72 hours. After that, it’ll be $25 for the rest of the summer.
Click the button to buy it, download it, print it, and start making plans this summer.
Not a premium subscriber yet and want a deal on the Summer Bucket List Guide? Just click here to subscribe on a monthly ($5/month) or annual ($50/year) basis and I’ll send you an exclusive discount code to use at checkout.
Did you contribute a great recommendation?
If you contributed to our crowd-sourced 2025 Summer Bucket List Guide, THANK YOU. This project would not be possible without you. If you see your name here, email me at kaylakaplowitz@substack.com. I’ve got a special thank you gift for you.
The Plan Summer Bucket List 2025 contributors: Augusta Duffey, Veronica McIlraith, Tianli He, Dina Carelli, Danielle Pafundi, Katherine Willis, Shawn Willis, Matt Anderson, Brie Anderson, Marie O'Connor, Kate Poltrack, Kristen Payne, Katie Watkins, Brianna DeLiso, Julia Romeo, Nicole Abramov, Daniela Rapisardi, Jessica Vigliotti, Natasha Ellis, Shantala DuGay, Lauren Mika, Brigid Chamberlain, Cait Cyr, Christina Powell, Margaret Adasko, Chris Vaughan, Evelyn Kaplan, Jess Harman, Jenn Sunderman, Bethany Biller, Jen Klemm, Amanda Hart, Cristina Hochkeppel, Melissa Cullens, Kris and Kory Zulkeski, Barbara Accetta, Rosie Snow Voulgaris, Kristen Turkel, and Kaylin Aarts.
How do I print it?
You could quite literally keep this PDF saved on your phone or laptop and refer to it whenever. But if you prefer an old-school print-out, here are two options:
Get it printed at UPS, the library, or wherever you want. Make sure you select double-sided. If you’re feeling extra, you could have it bound with a coil or comb binding at UPS. I decided to put mine in a clear presentation cover from Staples we had lying around.
You could also print it at home. If you want to do double-sided, just make sure you print “odd” pages first, and then flip and re-insert the stack and print the “even” pages. Then staple it, put it in a 3-ring binder, turn the pages into a wall mural—whatever floats your boat.
Have a nanny or caregiver?
Many summer camps for littles are half days, which for many families, that’s when a trusted caregiver, grandparent or nanny steps in. Like us, they may feel overwhelmed at the possibility of branching out from anything beyond a daily weekday trip to the town pool, playground or library in between nap-time and snack-time.
That’s why I’ve decided to offer every customer the opportunity to add 1 extra family member to the shared Google My Maps list. (A grandparent, a nanny, a part-time babysitter, etc.) These caregivers are our livelihood and you should absolutely be able to share access to this valuable summer resource with them.
After you purchase the guide, just email me at kaylakaplowitz@substack.com with your caregiver’s name and email address, and I’ll add them to the Google Map. Don’t forget to give them a printed copy of the guide to keep in the diaper bag, backpack or stroller.
One last thing
Make sure you tag @heres_theplan in your summer bucket list adventures! Tell us what you liked, what to watch out for, and a good tip for the next parent. Remember, no gate-keeping around here. Share what you know and help us all out.
I hope you all have a great summer with the kids. Happy planning!
xo,
K
PS: Follow The Plan on Instagram!
PPS: If you’d really like to buy this guide but can’t afford to right now, just get in touch. No judgement; we can work something out.
PPPS: Every copy purchased will be stamped with your name, so please don’t share it around with friends. Every purchase helps me keep this thing going.