Article Updated: June 10, 2020

Our Boston North Shore Summer 2019 Bucket List

What To Do Before Summer Ends

Ahh, summer in Boston. For many of us this is the season that we most look forward to all year long, especially after a long and grueling New England winter and a (more often than not) lackluster spring. And who can blame us for counting down the days until summer?

Summertime near Boston means sunshine, beach days, ice cream, small towns, and especially happiness.

Finally the days are getting longer (and warmer). If you’re a parent, chances are summer also means countless days of little ones saying “I’m bored!” Well, we are here to help you combat your boredom! Mainly, we’ve just been daydreaming about summertime, but we figured we’d put that to good use. So without further ado:

Summer 2019 Bucket List!

• Put your toes in the sand.
• Do a fun art project.
• Get some goodies at a local farmer’s market! Find your local farmer’s market here.
• Go on a picnic.
• Complete a DIY project.
• Make (and then devour) some S’Mores.
• Check out some local kid-friendly events! We love the Stevens Coolidge Estate in nearby North Andover MA.
  • Teddy Bear Picnic June 22
  • Kids Night Out July 10
• See some butterflies at The Butterfly Place in Westford MA
• Eat ALL the ice cream! Check out these local ice cream places:
  • JP Licks Andover MA
  • Mad Maggie’s North Andover MA
  • Richardson’s Middleton MA
  • Benson’s Boxford MA
  • Kimball Farms Westford MA
  • Leavitt’s Atkinson NH
  • Have a favorite? Leave a comment so we can try them!
• Attend an outdoor concert! Many towns near Boston and the North Shore have free outdoor concerts throughout the summer. 
  • Lowell Summer Music series has concerts and shows that are also totally free and fun for kids and families.
• Splish and splash at a water park or splash pad.
  • Bradley Palmer Wading Pool and Splash Pad Topsfield MA
  • Lynch Park Beverly MA
• Have some fun at an amusement park or arcade.
  • Canobie Lake Park Salem NH
  • Salem Willows Arcade Salem MA
• Catch some fireworks.
• Watch the sunset.
• Explore a new town.
• Wish on a star.
• Have a water balloon fight.
• Run through a sprinkler.
• Play hide and seek.
• Have a yard sale so you can get rid of what you don’t need.
• Tie-dye a shirt and then wear it.
• Make a kite and then fly it.
• Explore nature!
  • Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary Topsfield MA
  • Joppa Flats Newburyport MA
  • Walden Pond State Reservation Concord MA
• Have a lemonade stand.
  • You can also give back by supporting Alex’s Lemonade Stand
• Go swimming–pool, lake, or beach!
  • Check out this blog post for some of our favorite beaches in the area.
• Look for fireflies!
  • You can also help scientists with the Mass. Audubon Firefly Watch
• Make up a nature scavenger hunt–or use this one!
• Go to the zoo!
  • Southwick’s Zoo Mendon MA
  • Stone Zoo Stoneham MA
  • Franklin Park Zoo Boston MA
• Go to a baseball game! Summer in Boston means Red Sox, but they’re not the only team you can watch.
  • Lowell Spinners Lowell MA
• Go to a museum!
  • deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum Lincoln MA
  • Boston Children’s Museum Boston MA
  • Discovery Museum Acton MA
• Go mini golfing!
  • Paradise Family Golf Middleton MA
  • Captain’s Cove Adventure Golf Hampton NH
  • Max’s Country Golf Tyngsboro MA
  • Jay Gees Fun Center Methuen MA
• Spread some joy with random acts of kindness.

Check out our Pinterest board for more ideas–and then go have some summer fun!

When you and your family check something off of our bucket list, let us know. First, post your photos on social media, then tag us, and finally use the hashtag #CrabappleSummer so we can see how much fun you’re having this summer!

Crabapple Photography is located in Andover MA and serves clients in surrounding towns including Topsfield, Chelmsford, Reading, and Woburn. Kate McKenna has over ten years experience photographing families and children both in studio and outdoors. Contact Kate today to book a session of your own.