Last Updated on 29 April 2018 by Colette
As we are a few weeks into the summer holidays now, it seems only right to do a proper catch up on this year’s Summer Bucket List. We made a fairly slow start through June but I think we’ve picked up the pace somewhat over July, our five day holiday in Scarborough was a big help. . .
Summer Bucket List 2016
1. Alfresco dining
We’ve pretty much nailed this one – from big family BBQ’s at my parents’ house to a picnic in the rain with friends at Lyme Park or sandy sandwiches in Scarborough – we have taken (and will continue to take) every possible opportunity to eat our lunch outside in the fresh air.
2. A trip or two to the seaside
After our trip to Scarborough in the hottest week of the year so far we’ve had lots of beach based fun – sandcastles, paddling, ice cream, chips and sunshine (oh and some very pesky seagulls!). Â We can definitely cross this one off the list (though there’s also our annual trip to Lytham on the cards if we get some nice weather).
6. A trip to South Lakes Wild Animal Park
This was organised for last month but was royally rained off and we’re planning on going in September now!
9. Collect seashells
I don’t know how we didn’t do this in Scarborough, I don’t even remember seeing any to be honest! Perhaps I just wasn’t looking!
11. Go paddling
Paddling in swimming costumes or fully clothed, we’ve definitely managed this one!  On our last night in Scarborough, against our better judgement, we let the kids have a last paddling thinking we could trust them to only get their feet wet . . . what were we thinking?! Ben spent the rest of the evening walking around in his pants and hoodie.  I was momentarily crossed and then just had to laugh, it wasn’t the end of the world and it’s all memories made isn’t it!
12. Build a sandcastle
The kids had great fun building sandcastles in Scarborough even though generally the tide was a little far out for filling the moats they like to dig!
13. Have a water fight
We’ve actually managed this a few times now. Â We spent the weekend of Chloe’s birthday in York and the weather was glorious, and Aunty Nic arrived on the Sunday morning with a brand new paddling pool and two enormous water pistols.
15. Go strawberry picking
We had a lovey morning at The Balloon Tree in York – its a really gorgeous place with a huge variety of fruit available with a lovely farm shop, cafe and play area so you can relax with a brew or an ice cream after you’ve finished picking fruit!  We spent an absolute fortune though, I don’t think we really thought about the fact that we needed to buy everything we picked and the kids were having so much fun that we just picked and picked – spending £26!  Whoops.  Never mind, it all got eaten and it was a thoroughly lovely way to pass the time.  I have such fond memories of fruit picking with my Grandparents as a child and really wanted it to be something the my own children were able to experience.
16. Ride a donkey
Another one ticked off the list thanks to our trip to Scarborough!
17. Birthday celebrations for Ben and Chloe
Chloe had an early birthday party at the start of July with her friends, on her actual birthday we went out for dinner with Granny, Grandad and Aunty Nic. Â Ben’s birthday happened to fall on the same day as a big party with our oldest family friends – we think it had been somewhere in the region of about 20 years since we’d all been in the same place! Â Rather than have a birthday party, Ben chose to have a day out with his best friend so we took them to Gulliver’s World yesterday.
As we’re getting up our stride into August, we’ve definitely made some good progress on the list and I know that I’ve got plans in place to tick off a lot of the rest of it should the weather be kind to us! Â Here’s how it looks so far:
Summer Bucket List 2016
1. Alfresco dining – BBQs, picnics, you name it – I want to be eating outside in the sunshine please!
2. A trip or two to the seaside
3. Revisit York Maze
4. That long promised trip to Whitby for Magpie fish and chips
5. My second BML experience
6. A trip to South Lakes Wild Animal Park
7. Chester Zoo
8. Grandma Day
9. Collect seashells
10. Visit Alton Towers
11. Go paddling
12. Build a sandcastle
13. Have a water fight
14. Write a postcard
15. Go strawberry picking
16. Ride a donkey
17. Birthday celebrations for Ben and Chloe
18. Just So Festival
This is such a lovely idea! I actually wish I’d done something like this. It’s great to see your update and you seem to be making some great progress!
Definitely made a dent in our summer bucketlist, good luck to you and hope you’re able to tick them all off.
You have some great things on this list. I wonder what Chester Zoo is like, have you been before?
Yes, we went last summer. It’s massive x
I’ve wanted to go to the beach more this summer as I live next to a beautiful beach but never go. Pokemon Go is helping me to achieve that goal! xxx
What afab bucket list, we are planning to go to south lakes animal park in September aswel x
We haven’t been since Ben was little – I can’t wait to take the girls!
I went to Scarborough too earlier this summer but unfortunately it was raining the whole time! Hopefully I’ll be able to visit it again sometime when the weather is a bit better!
Oh what a shame! We really were very lucky with the weather.
Summer holidays can zoom past if you don’t plan. What a great idea for a checklist… might pinch this idea!
Fantastic bucket list. Well done for ticking so many of them off so far.