10 Things to do this Summer with your Rising Senior

Can you believe it? Your teen is on the brink of their senior year in high school!

I know it feels like just yesterday they were starting kindergarten, and now they’re almost ready for their last year of high school – where does time go?!

This summer is your last big chance to make some incredible memories before they dive into college applications and senior year craziness. So, let’s make it count!

Here is your Senior Summer checklist with ten super fun activities to do with your rising Senior this summer that are fun, meaningful, and will help you cherish these last moments together!

1. Take a Weekend Getaway

You don’t need to go far to have a memorable vacation! This could be to one of the nearby big cities or make it more of a “staycation” getaway to a nearby destination that you’ve always wanted to explore.

Finding a cool place in the Austin area like a river-side hotel in New Braunfels, a treehouse dome in Fredericksburg or the infamous pink house in Waco!

Once you pick your location, pick a few things to fill your days like vising a favorite local food spot like Magnolia Table in Waco, doing something together like hat making at Felt Boutique in Fredericksburg or axe throwing at City Lights in Georgetown and then a fun dinner!

Or if staying in for dinner is more your jam, make it a theme night (Gatsby, 60s, 70s, 80s or dressing up as another family member)!

It’s so fun having your family follow the theme and spend some time together – bonus points for adding in some fun games… who can’t have fun playing Uno?

2. Go on a Local Food Tour

Austin is a foodie paradise! Spend a day exploring the city and surrounding areas best eats. From food trucks to upscale dining, there’s something for everyone.

Maybe try a different type of cuisine for each meal – tacos, BBQ, and then finish off with some delectable desserts.

I also love the trend where you trade off on who picks where to eat! If it’s just you and your senior they pick breakfast, you pick lunch, they pick dinner, and you pick dessert.

Who family included? Have each family member pick a meal – yes, dessert counts as a meal. 😉

Here’s some places you can try!

• Unicorniverse Bakery & Café in Round Rock
• The Sweet Cupfe in Leander
• Michelle’s Patesseri in Liberty Hill
• Agape BBQ in Liberty Hill
• Taquero Mucho in Austin
• The Golden Rule in Georgetown
• Sweet Water Oyster Bar in Cedar Park

3. Volunteer Together

Don’t roll your eyes at this one!! I know, you might be thinking… you want me to take my teenager to volunteer with me? YES, YES I do!

Giving back to the community is not only rewarding but also a fantastic way to bond with your teen and continue to show them the value of serving others.

 Find a local charity or cause that you both care about and spend a few hours volunteering.

Whether it’s helping out at an animal shelter, packing snack bags for local children with Operation Liberty Hill, helping with tree clean up at Yesterday’s Gone or serving at a local Serve Saturday, the experience will be both enriching and memorable for both you.

4. Attend a Live Event

Summer is the perfect time for concerts, theater productions, and sports events!

Check out what’s happening in Austin area and get tickets for an event that you both would enjoy.

Whether it’s an outdoor music festival, a Broadway show, or a local sports game, experiencing live entertainment together can be exhilarating and create lasting memories, PLUS a lot of these summer events you can go to for free or for very little cost.

Here are some ideas:

• Long Center Free Thursday Summer Concert Series
• COTA Amphitheater
• Zilker Summer Musical Theatre

5. Book Senior Photos with an Austin Senior Photographer

First things first, let’s capture this milestone! Senior photos are a rite of passage and a wonderful way to commemorate this pivotal moment in your teen’s life.

Whether they’re into natural settings or urban backdrops or want a session tailored to them (FFA animals, fishing, dance, whatever they love!), booking a session with an experienced Austin senior photographer can make all the difference.

Not only will you get beautiful senior portraits, but the experience itself can be a fun bonding moment for you both.

I also recommend finding a senior photographer who gives you more than just digital photos. Digitals photos are great, but that leaves you to do all the work in designing an album, grad cards, wall art and whatever else you want to showcase those beautiful images – find a photographer who does that for you!

Your senior photographer should also provide your senior with ample pre-session preparation resources, including guides on what to wear, how to prepare, make-up and hair.

Plus, they should include a one-on-one styling consultation to help your senior pick the wardrobe that best fits them and sets them up for a perfect senior session.

Here’s a great resource on how you and your senior can find the BEST Senior Photographer for you both!

So, don’t wait – schedule those senior photos before schedules get too crazy!

6. Have a Cooking or Baking Challenge

Channel your inner Bobby Flay and have a cooking or baking challenge at home! You do this a few different ways:

• Pick a few recipes you’ve never tried before and see who can make the best dish with other family and friends as the judges
• Chopped show down! Have your family pick a few items and put them in a basket so you can’t see what they are beforehand, then you both 30 minutes to make a dish out of those items! You can use your friends and family members as the judge here too!
• Nailed It style! Pick a fancy cupcake or dessert and everyone has a set time of 30 minutes to try to recreate that dessert!

This is a deliciously fun way to spend time together and add in a little competition, and you get to enjoy the tasty results (well, hopefully they’re tasty!).

7. Take a Class Together

Learn something new together! Seriously, no matter how silly it may be, doing something NEW together is always fun.

Sign up for a class that interests both of you. It could be a cooking class, pottery, painting, or even dance lessons.

Not only will you gain a new skill, but you’ll also have a blast laughing at each other’s attempts and successes. Plus, supporting local instructors and studios is always a great idea!

Here are some fun local ideas:

• Tufting Rug Workshop at Meraki Tuft Studio in Austin
• Candle Making at Blow Candle Co in Leander
• Soap & Bath Bomb Making at Buff City Soap in Cedar Park
• Paddle Boarding Lesson by Lone Star Kayak Tours in Austin
• Paint Your Own Pottery at the Pottery Parlor in Cedar Park
• Puppy Yoga at Inner Diva Studios in Austin

8. Plan a Lake Day or Pool Day

There’s nothing like a day by the water to celebrate summer! And we are so lucky to be close to so many local lakes and cool local Austin pools! Pack a picnic, grab some beach games, blow up the floaties and head to the nearest pool or lake.

Getting out in the sun (sunscreen on of course!) and being by the water with family is always bound to create some awesome memories!

Spend the day swimming, playing games like Kan Jam, and soaking up the sun. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could also rent paddleboards or kayaks. It’s the perfect mix of relaxation and fun!

In Austin, you can also get a day pass for a beautiful local pool through Pool Pass! This is a great way to get a resort pool experience, but at a fraction on the price!  

9. Game Night

Game night can be done two days, in home or at a local place – but to keep game night extra fun, add to the competition by raising the stakes with some rewards, winner picks dessert, winner gets something fun – whatever it may be, adding a little competition flare can help keep game night fun!

Local places, like Spare Birdie in Cedar Park or Game On! in Austin, offer a variety of games and fun for the family.

Spare Birdie has a putting green, bowling, billiards, bocce ball, parts and a virtual bay for a variety of fun. While Game On! includes your own gaming host where you and your family are on your own game show and get to go head-to-head to see who goes home with bragging rights!

You can also make game night active by having a Pickleball competition! This can be done in your driveway using your own pickleball set up or reserve a court at a local place like the Field House in Cedar Park or Bouldin Acres in North and South Austin.

10. Create a Bucket List for Senior Year

Sit down together and create a bucket list of things your teen wants to do during their senior year, pick one thing to do per month!

Senior year is not only going to go by quickly, but it is going to be packed with events from the very moment school starts back up and without some planning ahead of time, you’ll both blink and they will be walking across the stage to get their diploma!

This bucket list doesn’t have to be a big crazy thing each month (unless that is what you guys want😆), but can be spin off things from this list like going to a pro sporting event together, visiting a restaurant you haven’t been to, their senior photography session with their senior photographer or go big and plan a weekend trip to a city outside of Texas!

Regardless of what things you pick, put them in your calendars NOW, that way these plans give you more exciting adventures throughout their senior year and give you both more memories of their last year!

Make This Summer Matter!

So there you have it – ten fantastic ways to make the most of this special summer with your rising senior! From booking those all-important senior photos with a talented Austin senior photographer to embarking on fun adventures, these activities will help you cherish the time you have before they graduate in less than a year from now!

Remember, the goal is to have fun and create lasting memories! Whether you’re exploring new places, trying out new experiences, or simply spending quality time together at home, these moments are what you’ll both never forget.

What are some of your favorite summer activities to do with your teen? Share your ideas in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you!

Here’s to an EPIC & unforgettable summer!

xoxo,

Jaclyn May, Austin Senior Photographer