a summer bucket list
It’s summer! I’ve been traveling and then sick with a summer cold (the worst), and I’ve been working on a Summer Bucket List of things that only happen during this season and I do not want to miss out on. I’ve been hearing from all my kid-friends and friends with kids about the Very Cool summer camps and programs that they get to do in this season - field trips and creek stomping and camping galore - and I am super envious of that kid-summer life. I am a full-blown adult, sure, but I do have more summer time and bandwidth than I’ve had in a long time, so I’ve got high hopes for getting to do ALL these things. And I would love to hear what your favorite, must-do summer activities are.
Dig in the dirt at my garden plot and then immediately eat tacos at the spot across the road. (I did this two weeks ago and it was exactly as perfect as I hoped!) The actual *gardening* is also a big deal, as this is my first ever solo gardening attempt and I have already EATEN SO MANY THINGS I GREW. Last night’s dinner included a ZUCCHINI! And my tomatoes are looking mighty FINE and I have succession planted what will probably be far too many half-runner beans.
Eat as much Dole Whip as I can stomach from the neighborhood ice cream shop. The Dole Whip flavor changes every week, and they also have soft serve, regular scoops, shaved ice that rivals my nostalgia for Sno-To-Go in Williamsburg, VA, hamburgers and hot dogs. All my visitors get a trip over. Come see me.
Test out my inflatable kayak that’s been sitting in a closet for far too long. Preferably on flat water, hopefully with friends. I’ve missed a couple opportunities already; fingers crossed another one comes along.
See a movie at the Grandin. I’m thinking this will happen tomorrow, when the heat index summits the gauge. But I can’t decide between Inside Out 2 and Thelma, both of which I’ve heard great things about.
Eat a hot dog at a baseball game. I actually did this several times in the spring, following my nephew’s high school baseball team to the state tournament, but a) high school concession stand hot dogs are…subpar and b) summer baseball is different than spring baseball. It just is.
Climb some mountains. I’m seriously considering taking on this challenge - hike 13 Roanoke region trails before September 1 and get a PRIZE. But I need new hiking boots AND a few hiking friends to join me.
Spend an entire day reading a big, thick, immersive novel. On my TBR at the moment: A Covenant of Water, Bloodmarked and Chesapeake.
Picnic by some water. I mean, I live on the River, so theoretically I could do this every day. And yet I have not done it.
Go to DOLLYWOOD! Can you believe I’ve never been? And I’ve been on a mission to find a Dollywood companion since Christmas, and turned down for either lack of interest or lack of availability by no fewer than 11 people. WILL YOU GO TO DOLLYWOOD WITH ME?
Make pesto. And peach scones. Eat tomatoes fresh off the vine. Can some of those half-runner beans I’m growing. SAVOR all the summer flavors.
What’s on your summer bucket list?
I'm gonna be a volunteer cabin counselor at Camp Mack for culinary camp for a week with jr high kids. Yep, even at my age I still enjoy going to camp!
Dollywood 2025! ❤️