Make it an All American Summer! Here are 25 Patriotic Things To Do with your family this summer that will get you enjoying some of the amazing things this country has to offer and appreciate all the uniquely cool things we get to experience!! Seriously, have a blast!
Which ones will you do?
Think Big
Historic Road Trip: Route 66 anyone? How about the 101 up the West Coast? We have so many roads that started as trade routes or Native trails or even animal migration trails. Lewis and Clark Trail, Civil Rights Trail, Pony Express Trail… I can go on and on
Explore a National Park: It goes without saying some of the most beautiful and unique places in our country are protected through our National Park system. Did you know fourth graders can go free? Yup! Right HERE. There are also free programs to earn Jr Ranger badges at each park.
Explore a National Historic Landmark: There was a time not too long ago when we were all really proud of this nation and how we came to be. Thankfully, measures were taken to preserve things and places and now there is a giant list of where you can go visit some of them!
State Park: Hey hey…guess what?? The fourth grade freebie works here too! HERE You’re welcome.
Attend a baseball game: It can be Major League Baseball or it can be kids in the local park. It doesn’t get much more ‘Hometown pride’ then this. Cheer. Clap. Do it.
Betcha Haven’t Thought of These…
Check out a Lighthouse: Many of our states still sport lighthouses. They were an integral part of our history. Think it’s just a New England thing? WRONG! 32 states have lighthouses. Not all of them are still in use but they make for great exploring!
Eagle sighting: Bald Eagles can be found in every state! YAY! This means we’re doing a better job then we used to protecting them. Go see them and learn all about our National Bird HERE
Go to a Pow Wow: Experience modern Native America. Watch world class dancers and drummers. Experience FRYBREAD!!!! You won’t regret it! Too many people think Native Americans are gone like the buffalo. Not so… we’re around and we are everywhere! Josh and I met at a pow wow. Click HERE to find out where the pow wows are near you.
Visit a Dude Ranch: One thing that is totally unique to our country is the cowboy culture. There are many mom and pop owned dude ranches, many working ranches since the 1800’s that offer experiences. Yee haw!
Tour a Wild West Ghost Town: We’ve been to many. Some authentic, some contrived. All very cool in their own way and chock full of stories. HERE is a list of ghost towns in all 50 states.
More All American Fun To Be Had!
Experience a Drive In Movie: A 1950’s staple in the All American Summer! Everyone should experience it once in their lives. This website is a wee bit dated but it has a list for every state. HERE
Tour your state Capitol: Every state has one and of course there is The Capitol Building in Washington DC. So much to learn and always air conditioned, a nice place to take a family field trip and learn a little something too!
Hit up a History Reenactment: One of my FAVORITE things to do is go to a living history event! They provide a unique glimpse into our past and are so much more meaningful the reading a book. Better yet!! Get involved with a fabulous Reenactment Society and become part of the action!
Go Horseback Riding: Us Americans have been entwined with the equine world since the Spanish introduced them in the 16th Century. Wild horses can still be found today in California, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Arizona and Texas. Horses were a vital part of our society and economy for Native tribes and early colonists until the industrial revolution. Experience a very special piece of our history and maybe even make a four legged friend.
Geocaching: Get your ADVENTURE on! Like the early explorers of the nation. For an hour, for a day, for a week! Have no idea what I’m talking about? HERE
Scrumptious Ways to be All American
Eat Ice Cream: Did you know Thomas Jefferson was the first American to write down the recipe? Yup! Sure did and it was one of his favorite things!
Pick berries and eat them: Did you know blueberries are indigenous to North America? They’ve been in America since before it was America! Pretty sweet, right?
Visit a Farmer’s Market: Grab your eco friendly tote and buy fresh and direct! SO…MUCH…YUM!!!!
Visit a State Fair: Farm animals, music, rides, and FUNNEL CAKES! Bring it!
Grow a garden: Many of our fore fathers were farmers. Honor their legacy and grow a little garden in your yard, on the porch, in a container, on a windowsill. All American summer you can eat? Yes please!
Get Out There!
Sleep under the stars: Feeling adventurous? Want to stare at the sky and ponder all the history they have seen? Fall asleep surrounded by fireflies? It all sounds perfect! Just don’t forget the mosquito repellant.
Look up Local Monuments: Alabama has the title for most designated historic locations. How many does your state have? Go find them
Hiking: The nation is known for trailblazers! Go be one! Or recreate a historic hike…I recreated The Press Expedition once… there are many ways to Adventure on a hike!
Participate in Fourth of July: It’s Independence Day! There are celebrations large and small in every town and state! Get your patriotic on! Seriously, if celebrating Fourth of July isn’t the quintessential All American Summer moment, I do not know what it.
Watch a Parade or be in a parade: Parades are always looking for families to participate and to show off community. Scouts, Children of the American Revolution, community service. They are fans! And there is nothing like watching a 4th of July parade. It’s a chance to see all the parts of the community and how they work together. And, it’s a chance to connect…with organizations, with friends.
Say ‘Hi’ to your ancestors: Visit a graveyard and learn some of the stories there. Or learn some of your family’s stories and bring flowers to a relative! So many ways to connect.
Go to a Park and Enjoy Your Freedom! So many generations before us fought for the right to have it and so many fought to defend it. Honor them with a smile that only comes from enjoying the outdoors. Because we can.
Your Turn
What will you do this All American Summer? Tell me in the comments below. Let’s celebrate!
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I love these ideas! I may have just spend an hour on finding a Pow Wow in our area this summer, and then looking at all the ghost towns in Pennsylvania! haha Love this list!
hahaha my kind of girl! I can’t wait to see where you go!
Wonderful list of ideas to do over the summer vacation!! I’ve done several, but have sooo many more on my list to complete. How many more days till school starts???? I better get on it!
haha! YAY! I’m glad you are inspired! There’s always another summer. 🙂
Lots of great ideas here! And several I have not done. Summer is the perfect time for adventures.
Lovely! I hope you are inspired to do a few!
This makes me want to do a historical tour of my own city so bad!
Fantastic ideas! I like the idea of visiting the states Capitol buildings. I feel it’s really an impacting visit. Thanks for sharing your list.
OOOOO what city? If I can help, I will!
What an awesome list! Will definitely keep this post near me (AKA Pin it) for reference 🙂
Excellent! Stay tuned for the Autumn edition coming soon!
What great ideas. I love opportunities to show our children pieces of American history.
Me too!!!!! Totally underrated. 🙂
We’ve got some of the same on our list… we are powwow folk, so we have 3 earmarked. All the kids have gardening beds. We just got our trampoline back (it was visiting another family for 2 years) and we LOVE to sleep on it under the starts int he summer! We live between and betwixt mountains (Olympic range and Cascade range and water (Salish Sea and Pacific Ocean), so hikes and beaches are standard outings.
Excellent! I love this!! What pow wows do you attend? Would love to say hi in person!
Love these ideas!! Original and super fun! Thanks for sharing!
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed!
Great post, it brings back wonderful memories of summering in Lake George, NY! My grandparents always took me to Crandall Park for the 4th of July and we’d spend the entire day until fireworks. We always had so much fun 😀 love your ideas too to continue the tradition of an All American Summer!
Oh I’m so glad!! Yes… I think it’s becoming increasingly important as our lives get ‘busier’ to slow down and really live
Such a great list! We do many of these, but we can do more. If you read this list and you’re still bored, I don’t know what to tell you!
HAHA my sentiments exactly!
So many great ideas! I’ve always wanted to do a Route 66 road trip!
me too! I’ve been on both ends of it and a couple places in between but never strung together as a whole…
Fun and well curated list!
Why Thank you 🙂 I try
Nice list – summer is the best enjoy every minute of it with these ideas is perfect.
I’m so glad you think so!
These are great ideas! I especially love the lighthouse idea – we just visited one nearby for Mother’s Day! For a few of our ideas – we’re getting season passes to our local amusement park, planning some trips to the beach, and participating in a summer reading challenge with the local public library. Here’s to a great summer! My kids are so happy that school is wrapping up. 🙂
It sounds like you have a great summer ahead of you!
I want to get to the point where my fiance and I can explore each state! There are so many great places to explore in America, and many people don’t even leave beyond a neighboring state throughout their lifetime!
Love that!!! It’s true. And people think you need to go oversees for history or great adventure when we have SO MUCH right in our own back yard.
What awesome ideas! I don’t think I could fit them all into one summer. I love the pictures and am particularly drawn to “sleeping under the stars.” I haven’t done that in years outside of a tent or camper. Great suggestion!
haha well thankfully summer has a tendency to come around again . 😉 I hope you get to sleep under the stars and wish on every single one of them!
What a great list! In Arizona it’s always been too hot so we don’t do much during the summer. But where I grew up I have fond memories of 4th of July. I did a history tour with my kids at one point but I need to find more time for patriotism for sure.
I’ve been to Arizona many times is summer. You aren’t joking! But I did enjoy the early mornings and evenings there… YES PATRIOTISM! CIVICS! Have you read my article on Children of the American Revolution? Great organization to teach just that!
Awesome list! I like it
Excellent! Stay tuned for the Autumn Edition!
Love all these ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Glad you like it Heather! Hopefully you are inspired to do a few!
This is a great list. I love geocaching with my daughter and grandson.
Isn’t it the BEST?! We LVOE going with grandma and grandpa!
What a fun list! So many great ways to learn and explore our US of A!
YES!!!
Great list of ideas! Brought back memories of camping when I was 12 and we toured the entire coast of Maine…forts & lighthouses to boot! I still love visiting the less traveled small ports of Maine such as Perkins Cove. Thank you for sharing these ideas!
oh fun!!!! I bet you have some great stories!!
Spending a month in Maine which is such a treasured tradition; we love the history, the beauty, and the ocean.
oooooooo on my list!!
What a wonderful list of activities! I will be visiting the Fountain of Youth and Castillo de San Marcos this summer. I LOVE history!
Oh that is going to be a riot!!! You’ll have to tell me all about it!
These are all great ideas! Thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed!
Love this! All of this seems like a wonderful summer break! I will need to do some of these with the kids this summer!
Great! Let me know what you end up doing!
My family, who all live in different states, will be flying in to a delighful destination far away from each of us. We’ll be doing many of the activities you mentioned in this article, and I discovered a few more that would be fun too. Thanks!
FANTASTIC! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Great list!! this reminds me that we need to get to D.C. and play tourist this summer 🙂
Oh yes! DC is it’s own trip for sure! SO much to see and do! We’ve been there ten times and I don’t think we’ve seen it all
I love all these ideas, but I have to laugh at the ‘becha haven’t thought of these,’ because we actually do visit a lighthouse on a regular basis! We can whale watch from the beach, too!
oh that is wonderful! I think lighthouses are more on the brain for those on the Eastern Seaboard. It was surprising to see how many states that have them. Several of them what we consider to be land locked.