The long, lazy days of summer are perfect for establishing (or continuing) family traditions. From small, simple traditions like visiting a local ice cream parlor or splashing in the neighborhood pool to larger, more extravagant traditions like annual trips to the same faraway destination, the time spent with your family is irreplaceable.

These are some of our favorite family summer traditions!

Family Beach Picnic
If you live near the beach (any type of beach will do -- ocean, lake, etc.), spending an entire day in the sun and sand is a great way to spend a family day together. Pack up your chairs, blankets, umbrellas, and coolers full of food and drinks. (Read this blog post for a full beach packing list.) Don’t forget the beach toys and games! A whole day spent splashing in the water, relaxing with your toes in the sand, tossing a frisbee, and maybe even capped off with a sunset celebration and sparklers is one of the best ways to celebrate summer with your family.

Bonfire Cookout
Weenie Roast / Bonfire
The great thing about a weenie roast or a bonfire is that you can do it anywhere -- at the beach, in a backyard, camping, etc. Get some good music going and get the fire burning. Cook up some hot dogs, and if you want to get fancy, add a toppings bar (think chili, onions, relish, pickles, cheese, and more). Although plain old ketchup and mustard work just fine too! And to end the night, don’t forget the delicious s’mores!

Bake Festive / 4th of July Treats
One of the highlights of summer is celebrating Independence Day on July 4th. Why not make it an annual tradition to add some red, white, and blue tasty treats as well. Some great ideas include Firecracker Popcorn (popcorn with white chocolate and pop rocks), "snow cone" cupcakes, and desserts like cakes with white icing, strawberries, and blueberries. Of course, we are always partial to red, white and blue shaved ice!

Back to School Party
They say all good things must come to an end, and while the kids may not look forward to the end of summer and going back to school, one way to keep the fun going with a family tradition is to throw a back to school party. Invite your children’s school friends for a get-together the night (or week) before school starts. Swap stories about all the summer fun you had!

What are your favorite family summer traditions? We love summer, and we would love to hear about how you make special memories with your families!