11 Summer Bucket List Items

Don't hate us for saying it, but summer is almost over. We know you've already had some fun with the kids, but with only a few weeks left to go, why not make some more amazing memories. So with no further ado, here are 11 items to add to your summer bucket list.

Ziplining is all the rage these days. And with the exhilaration, scenic smorgasbord, and novelty factor, we can see why. Treetop Trekking's Barrie site has a course for kids as young as five—and that's in addition to the six other courses for 'big' kids (ahem. Mom.) The kid courses feature bridges, hammock nets, balance logs and more, with more advanced courses that are suitable for ages 9 and up. But if the tykes are really ready for the zipline—well, head over to the Elora skyrider zipline, where kiddos as young as three can take a turn.

Head west to Mount Nemo for a hike on the Niagara Escarpment, where the hiking isn't too strenuous but the views are stupendous. Up on the cliffs you emerge from the wooded area to a breathtaking view, right at the level of the soaring turkey vultures. Bring a camera—and a picnic.

Get the whole fam together and head down to SPiN for some serious ping pong battles, yummy eats—and massive bragging rights.

Have an early dinner at home and then head out to the Sunnybrook Park for a stroll by the horse stables. Take a seat and watch the equines being put through their paces—a must for any fans of the book The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.

Grab a canoe, kayak or paddleboat and head to the Grand River for a paddle and some wildlife viewing. With the meandering curves and the lush forest, you'll forget you're anywhere near a major metropolis.

There's lots of options for taking in the Bard this summer. Better known is Shakespeare in High Park, showing Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew this summer. But you can also pop down to Withrow Park for Shakespeare in the Ruff—a casual, heartfelt, awesome experience portraying Richard III.

We all love the Brick Works on the weekend for the farmers' market. But on Wednesday nights, Pizzeria Libretto takes over the outdoor pizza oven in Chimney Court for Family Pizza Nights and some amazing za to munch on in the dusky hours.

Move over softball—we're grabbing a gaggle of kids and heading to our local park for a thrilling game of Capture the Flag. It's great for getting the kids active, breathing in fresh air, problem solving—oh ya, and it's fun!

'I wish I had built fewer sandcastles'—said no one ever. Head down to Sugar Beach with all the tools you need for some serious sand castle surveying—and get to work. Need some inspiration? Try recreating Hogwarts, Skylands, Ninjago or even the wonderful world of Oz.

From the rides to the food to the shows, there is so much to do at the Ex—those SuperDogs are just too dang cute. And it's the ultimate food cheat day, as we plan on scarfing some spice cream and who knows what else. Let's go to the Ex, indeed.

At the end of it all, pretty much anything done on a summer night at twilight will be awesome. So play some mini golf, go for a swim or grab a shake under the stars.