It’s summer! The sun is shining, and there’s maybe no better time to get outside and spend time with your family and friends! Leave your air conditioner and your TV behind. Go LIVE!

Sure, it’s hot. Yes, you’re going to sweat a little. That’s our body’s way of cooling down, and it’s actually ranks among the most efficient cooling systems found in nature. Make sure everyone drinks lots of fluids to prevent over heating.

Swimming & Getting Wet. These are the quintessential summer outdoor activities. I grew up near the coast in Jersey, so we often think of the shore or pools when we think of swimming. But what about lakes, rivers and streams? We took our kids swimming at R.B. Winter state park in central PA one summer, and not only did we have fun, but we caught a tasty treat of snails for our dinner.

Other fun ways to get wet include sprinklers, slip and slides, water balloon fights, water pistol fights, and a good old watering down with the garden hose.

Visit the Zoo. While you’re there, why not become a member? Most zoos offer a great deal for joining, like unlimited visits and admission to the rides. While you’re there, read all the information about each animal, have your kids draw the animals, have a little picnic. Make it a fun and learning event.

A Day at the Park. Why not invite your extended family and friends to join you for a day at the park? Most parks have covered picnic pavilions with tables and grills. You can have a family reunion, a pig roast, a block party or just a good old fashioned BBQ. For best results, have everyone bring a dish or two. Play games. Share stories. Make new memories.

Put on a Show Outside. This is a great project for a stay at home parent. Work with the local kids to put on a parade or a play. It’s great for the kids, something they’ll remember for a lifetime, and it really unlocks the creative juices. Just remember that you’re shooting for fun, not perfection.

Neighborhood Fair. This is a wonderful activity for the whole family or even a neighborhood. Put together games of chance with cool prizes, sell food and drinks, you could even give hayrides and the like. Be creative. Why not give the profits to a local charity or other good cause?

Outdoor Art. Chalk drawings on the sidewalk are a time honored tradition for expressing creativity and having fun outdoors. You could have a little contest with prizes for most original, most artistic, most colorful, best likeness, etc.

Night Time Walk. At night it cools down in the summer. It’s the best time to get some outdoor exercise. Take the family for a walk around the block or through a park, or even a cemetery. (Some neighborhoods might not be suitable for night time walks. Use common sense and be safe.)

Play Outdoor Games. There are a ton of games you can play outside with your kids, from hide and seek to kick ball. There is nothing like an impromptu game to get everyone smiling.

Sitting On the Deck Together. Sometimes it’s just fun to spend some quiet time together on the deck or the patio or even the dock. If it’s a hot night, why not bring out an oscillating fan to keep you cool. Try it once, and you’ll always keep a fan handy for hot days on the deck.

We’d love to hear the fun activities you share with your family and friends. Log in and post them below!

Summertime Outdoor Family Fun Ideas