I love perusing the monthly bucket lists posted on Instagram and other social media platforms. They always give me ideas for something new to try or remind me of something fun that I loved doing but haven’t gotten around to in a while.
The Charlotte Moms Network’s Summer Bucket List took it a step further. We’re giving you the “where” in addition to the “what”! Take a look below to pick and choose what activities you’ll try this summer!
- Visit a splash pad. Pineville Lake Park is fun for all ages, with a large splashing area and a playground nearby for some dry land fun! Check out this and other great splash parks here.
- Try a summery drink. We recommend the Paloma Rosa and the Strawberry Guava Mojito at Burton’s Bar and Grill! There are non-alcoholic options too which are delicious.
- Go on a bike ride. Colonel Francis Beatty Park in Matthews has a paved loop around a lake which is great for beginners and those riding with your kids.
- Visit a local market. Davidson Farmers Market has lots of goodies in addition to live music and other events! There are farmers markets around the Charlotte area pretty much any day of the week, so find one that works for your schedule.
- Stargazing. The Schiele Museum not only hosts outdoor events for stargazing, but they also have the James Lynn Planetarium, where you can stargaze indoors whenever you’d like!
- Attend an outdoor concert. There are live music events all over the Charlotte area this summer, from Sounds of Summer at Blakeney Town Center to Mount Holly Nights.
- Have an outdoor movie night. I highly recommend getting a projector and doing it on your own (it’s so fun, and my kids still talk about when we did this regularly during COVID). If you’re not up to it, there’s lots of great venues hosting outdoor movie nights this summer in Charlotte, as well as Belmont Drive-In, where you can watch movies from the comfort of your vehicle.
- Go fishing. Lake Norman State Park has a great fishing pier, and other towns in the area offer fishing events on a regular basis.
- Read a great book. The Book Rack in Charlotte has 50,000+ used books for sale, all under $10. You can also donate your old books to the store and receive store credit towards your in-store purchase. Now that’s a win-win!
- Visit a pick-your-own farm. We’ve done strawberry picking this spring and we’re looking forward to trying our hand at blueberries and blackberries in the near future. Check out our list of pick-your-own farms in the area; we loved Ivy Place Berry and Flower Farm in Fort Mill.
- Play mini-golf. High Seas Mini Golf in Indian Land, SC is always festively decorated and has a great course for kids and adults of all ages.
- Dine outdoors. North Harbor Club in Davidson is a great spot for dining al fresco on Lake Norman. There’s a bunch of great spots along Lake Norman and Lake Wylie with a variety of cuisines for you to enjoy. And if you’re looking to BYO food…
- Plan a picnic. Squirrel Lake Park in Matthews is a great place to picnic, with a fun playground, shaded picnic tables, trails, and a pond!
- Visit the zoo. The North Carolina Zoo is a great day trip! If you’re looking for something a little closer, there’s many farms in the area which have lots of animals for kids to interact with. The Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville is a drive-thru safari that’s fun for all ages!
- Enjoy ice cream. It’s hard for me to pick my favorite, so I’ll give you a list of ice cream spots that we’ve enjoyed in the area!
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