Summer is an amazing time of year. The temperatures are warmer, the days are longer, and there’s something invigorating about the summer night air.
Everyone spends more time outdoors enjoying the weather and being active. This is a great season to spend quality time with family, friends, and neighbors. Because of the weather, there are so many more opportunities for activities, day or night.
But what is there to do at night? What kind of nighttime activities are there to get people out of the house and off the couch?
Keep reading for our top 10 suggestions for spending time with your family outdoors on warm summer nights.
1. Camping
Camping is such a fantastic experience for families. For parents, it’s a way to get their kids away from electronics for a little while. For kids, it’s a chance to explore the great outdoors and learn new skills.
Between gathering firewood, fishing, hiking, building a fire, and sleeping in a tent, it’s a whole new way of life.
However, even if you can’t travel or camp in a remote destination, it doesn’t mean you can’t still pitch a tent in your back yard. Though it won’t be quite as adventurous, backyard camping can still be exciting and entertaining. Furthermore, this might be a more appropriate option if you have young children.
2. Moonlit Walks
If there’s one negative aspect about living in the modern world, it’s that most of us don’t get enough exercise. We spend most of our lives working sedentary jobs and most of our downtown on electronics. Even if you’re old-fashioned and enjoy a good book, it still entails sitting and being inactive.
Though it might be too hot during the day, taking long walks on warm summer nights might be the best thing for you and your family. Nighttime activities that encourage movement can help regulate moods, energy levels, and waistlines.
Walking at night with your children is also a good way to help them overcome a fear of the dark.
3. Sitting By the Fire
As a parent, it can sometimes feel like you don’t know your kids as well as you’d like. They grow up too fast and start becoming individuals with in-depth thoughts and opinions.
Create some family bonding time with an outdoor fire pit. Spend time with your kids sitting around the fire, talking about your lives, and eating smores. This is one of the best nighttime activities if you don’t want to leave home or spend any money.
4. Outdoor Movie Night
If you’re looking to get more involved with people outside your family, consider hosting an outdoor movie night. Get a projector or a blow-up screen for your backyard and invite the neighbors over for a family-friendly movie.
Make sure you plan ahead and set up comfortable seating for everyone who’s invited. Additionally, organize snacks and drinks. Plan the event like a potluck where everyone can contribute.
5. Going for a Late Night Swim
If you have a private swimming pool or a community pond nearby, consider going for a late-night swim under the stars. There’s nothing more serene and peaceful than midnight swims with your friends or a romantic partner.
However, remember to make safety a top priority for everyone involved. Avoid running around the pool, which could lead to tripping, slipping, or falling.
If you’re swimming at a natural swimming hole, like a pond or lake, ensure you’re staying in shallow water. Additionally, do a little research about nighttime wildlife that could be dangerous.
6. Stargazing
One of the most relaxing nighttime activities is laying down outside beneath the sky and gazing up at the stars. There are tons of ways you can do this, even from your home.
If it’s safe, consider climbing up to the roof and laying out some blankets. Otherwise, you can lay down in the grass or set up some sleeping bags.
However, if you live too deep inside the city, there’s going to be a lot of light pollution. The city and neighborhood lights blur out the stars, making them less visible.
Instead, drive a few miles outside the city and lay on the hood of your car or in the back of a truck. If your kids have never seen the stars outside the city, they’ll be blown away at what they see.
7. Flashlight Tag
If you like the idea of spending some time at night outdoors with your family, think of some fun games you can play to keep the kids entertained. We recommend playing flashlight tag.
Flashlight tag is a mixture of tag and hide-and-seek. However, you can adjust the rules to fit the needs and capabilities of you and your family.
Make sure you set the physical boundaries to make sure people are going too far away or getting lost.
8. Light Off Fireworks
If you live outside city limits and your county allows it, consider lighting off fireworks to spend a night of family bonding. This is a great way to teach your kids how to handle fireworks and lighters safely.
However, when lighting off fireworks, make sure you’re doing so legally and respectfully. For example, just because it’s legal in your neighborhood, your neighbors may not appreciate the loud noises late at night.
9. Tell Ghost Stories
Sitting around a fire telling stories is one of the most traditional nighttime activities you can do with your whole family. If your kids are old enough, you can make it more fun by having a competition based on who can tell the scariest stories.
Telling stories is a clever way to encourage your kids to break out of their shells and practice their public speaking skills. Making up stories on the spot also bolsters their creativity.
10. Search for Wildlife
Lastly, whether you’re in your backyard or camping in the woods, looking for wildlife is a fun way to spend summer nights. If you have younger children, it may be best to start in your own backyard. And if you’re looking for wildlife in the woods, make sure you’re being safe.
Carry flashlights, stay together, and bring wildlife defense tools (pepper spray). Remember never to compromise your safety and security, especially if you have children with you.
Looking for More Nighttime Activities and Other Lifestyle Advice?
We hope we gave you some good ideas on how to spend some quality time with your family and friends this summer. When engaging in nighttime activities, remember to stay safe and make good choices.
And if you’re looking for more lifestyle or parenting advice, read through some of our other articles before you go. Our blog was designed to be a hub of information for people like you.