Summer Bucket List

With Boston temperatures in the mid-high 90°s over the last few days, I think it’s safe to say that summer has officially arrived. I know the first day of the season isn’t technically until June 21, but if the temperature fits… 😉

I’m not one to love the heat and I wasn’t fond of summer for a few years, mostly during the summer of 2019 when I was commuting and working in NYC. Heat and humidity in the city is just the absolute worst and I was craving a New England summer bad. It does get hot in Boston but I don’t have to commute or escape the AC at all if I really don’t want to! Plus, we’re lucky to have a few options available when we want to escape the city heat — driving distance to the beach, escape to the Cape for a pool day at my dads, take a swim in the pool at my moms — we’re grateful to have plenty of options! 

I love the activities that come with summer and I’m hoping to do a few new, fun things this year. Having this bucket list handy will hopefully help me ensure we get to do everything we want to do… and then some! I plan on revisiting this list a few times each month, or whenever we need ideas.

If you have any recommendations, share them with me! 

Get our groceries from the farmer’s market
Every weekend a farmer’s market is set up just 5 minutes from our apartment and we’ve always said we were going to go, but still haven’t! The street is blocked off and filled with vendors selling produce, fresh fish and meat, eggs, juices, and more. I’d love to visit one weekend with a goal to buy our groceries for the week from the vendors there.

Spend a day on Martha’s Vineyard
Ant still hasn’t been to Martha’s Vineyard, so I’m making it a goal of ours to visit this summer. I’m hoping we’ll be able to go for a weekend but with our busy schedules filling up, a day trip might have to do.

Visit a new-to-me town
There’s a few towns I’d love to plan day-trips to this summer. I haven’t explored Newburyport or Gloucester much, and I’d love to bring Ant to Provincetown for the first time! We’re also hoping to visit and explore Rhode Island and Connecticut a bit more.

Learn to play tennis
I’m in the market for a tennis racket and some tennis balls, because I’ve been dying to try tennis! We live a few minutes away from a couple of public tennis courts so it just seems like a no-brainer to find a sport that’s accessible for us to play and one that Ant and I can do together.

Read 20 books
I’m currently on book 1 of the “summer” (I’m considering it summer already) and I’m hoping that putting this goal online will hold me accountable. Any book suggestions?!

Get back into running
I used to love running but really haven’t continued keeping up with it. As of the last two mornings, I’ve started up again! And I’m hopeful this will become a routine part of my day.

Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Ant and I recently watched the documentary, This Is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist and it was so interesting! Knowing that the museum is local, I’m not sure why we haven’t made our way over yet?! I’m sure this is one of the first places we’ll visit when an overcast summer day arrives.

Play bocce ball at least 1x/week
The North End has an interesting history with bocce ball and there’s quite a few courts just 2 minutes away from where we live! A few months ago we purchased a bocce ball set, so I’m hoping we’ll make our way to the courts after dinner at least 1x/week. It will be such a nice alternative to simply watching television.