French Country Summer Bucket List
We’re sharing our French Country inspired summer bucket list today!
Last year we kicked off the summer season at the cabin and it was so much fun.
We hiked new trails, discovered new waterfalls, ate peaches fresh from the farmstand, spent time journaling on the porch swing, made smores by the campfire, and watched the fireflies dance through the trees.
The minute we pulled out of the driveway we vowed to bring the feeling of the cabin back home with us and in the process created a sleep-away camp kind of nostalgia all summer long.
Truly, it felt like a dream because we were so intentional with our time.
Our Inspiration…
As some of you know, my parents recently returned home from Europe.
It was a trip they had waited three years to take and every morning over breakfast I relished reading my Dad’s travel emails.
They were all so funny!
What I didn’t disclose at the time was that within 24 hours of their return home, my Mom broke out in a horrible rash complete with hives.
While we now know she had an allergic reaction to something she ate, she very convincingly tried to make us believe she was actually allergic to being back home and needed a chocolate croissant and some French country air stat.
I knew my Mom was trying to make light of the situation so we wouldn’t worry or fuss over her too much. But there was a longing in her voice that made me realize she was already missing her time in Europe.
Subsequently, I feel the same way every time we come home from vacation and you likely do as well.
So, the day my Mom recovered from the hives, I decided to create a French Country Inspired Summer Bucket List to help her celebrate her time in Europe a little longer.
While we’ll be spending a good portion of the summer giving my childhood home, Loblolly, a bit of a refresh I’m excited to watch our bucket list plans to come life as we take a deep dive into all things French!
Here’s a look at our French Country Inspired Summer Bucket List…
- Slow Down and Savor the Day
- Eat at a Local Bistro
- Visit Museums
- Paint En Plein Air
- Explore French-Inspired Gardens
- Read Books or Magazines, Listen to Podcasts, or View Movies About French Life
- Take a French Class
- Find a Fun Place to People Watch
- Master the Art of Conversation
- Say No More Often
- Enjoy an Authentic French Meal
- Host a French Apéritif
- Set the Table with Mix and Match Vintage Dishes
- Create a Fromage Platter
- Linger Over Lunch
- Have a Champagne Tasting
- Keep Sundays Sacred
- Practice Self Care
- Plant Lavender or a Flower Cutting Garden
- Grow a Kitchen Herb Garden
- Sleep on Linen Sheets
- Play French Music
- Learn to Bake Croissants, Madeleines, Macarons, or Baguettes
- Carry a Straw Tote to the Market
- Use Trays to Keep Things Simple
- Wear Stripes or Create a French Inspired Capsule Summer Wardrobe
- Try a New Red Lipstick
- Celebrate Bastille Day
- Shop Local Brocantes or Flea Markets
- Create a Cohesive French Country Color Palette in Your Home
- Add French Décor to Your Favorite Spaces
- Spend the Day at the Beach
- Visit a Local Cathedral
- Ride Your Bike
- Buy Fruits and Vegetables from the Farmer’s Market
- Travel to France or Take a Virtual Voyage
French Inspiration: Home Décor, Lifestyle, and Fashion Blogs to Enjoy…
- Everyday Parisian (Rebecca is a wealth of knowledge and I adore her blog and print shop)
- My French Country Home Magazine Blog (Sharon Santoni is magical)
- French Country Cottage (A must-read for all things French Country from tablescapes to decor ideas)
- French Garden House (This blog is filled with French Country living ideas)
- Chez Loulou (An honest resource if you’ve ever thought about moving to France)
- Leonce Chenal (A beautiful guide to French fashion)
- Mode and the City (A blog dedicated to French fashion, design, and lifestyle) (FYI: Translate to English)
French Country Summer Bucket List: Books to Enjoy
(Amazon affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. As an Amazon and Impact Media Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)
Country Brocante Style * French Country Cottage * French Vintage Décor * My French Country Home
Home Sweet Maison * At Home with Madame Chic * French Country * Joie
Life in a French Country House * Timeless Paris * Provence Style * Inspired Gatherings
French Blooms * How to French Country * Parisian By Design * French Chateau Style
French Country Summer Bucket List: Movies That Will Transport You to France
(Amazon affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. As an Amazon and Impact Media Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)
- The Hundred-Foot Journey
- Chocolat
- Two For the Road
- Things to Come (English Subtitled)
- A Good Year
- Cheri
- To Catch a Thief
- Paris Can Wait
- French Kiss
- Marie Antoinette
- Funny Face
- The Da Vinci Code
- The Devil Wears Prada
- Hugo
- How to Steal a Million
- Julie & Julia
- Les Misérables
- Ratatouille
Keep in Mind…
Keep in mind we chose France to highlight this summer, but you can create a seasonal bucket list inspired by any country, event, or theme you like!
If you’ve been to France, I hope this list brings back special memories. Finally, if you haven’t been yet, I hope these suggestions will help give you something to look forward to.
Let us know how you plan to spend this summer!
Other Summer Bucket List Ideas to Enjoy:
Simple Summer Camp Ideas for Adults
Bonne journee!
CoCo
Oh my goodness! This makes me want to go to France more than ever! One day! 😊
ha ha I know what you mean, Susan! Every picture my parents sent me I was thought to myself, “I should have been on this trip!” At least now we can create a little bit of that French magic at home. Big hugs, CoCo
Oh my goodness! What a fun post. I love all things French. Thank you so much for some great ideas, movies, books, blogs and so much more. I’m truly giddy! Have a wonderful day.
You are so welcome, Renae! Once I got started I couldn’t stop finding beautiful things so I’m excited we can all use this post as a resource now. Big hugs, CoCo
So glad your parents finally got to take their trip and had a great time! I would have been like your mom needing a chocolate croissant stat! 😉 I love each idea and love the idea of being intentional with your time. I keep telling myself to do the same and then get sidetracked doing laundry and the floors. Bleh. I do plan to do some things outside even if I have sweaty head, which I will. But making some champagne and lemonade popsicles oughta do the trick! Happy Summer dear friend. XO
I’ve never heard of champagnge and lemonade popsicles Cindy they sound amazing! I love that you’re going ahead with summer outdoor plans despite the risk of a sweaty head. No doubt whatever you have cooked up will be fabulous. Sending you lots of hugs for a summer filled with adventures, CoCo
All wonderful ideas CoCo! I am so happy your parents enjoyed their trip, it was long overdue with the stress of planning and actually getting to go. I follow Sharon Santoni too, love her decor and magazine. I fell in love with paint by number kits recently, they are so relaxing to paint the day away. The best part is when you hang it on the wall, and everyone thinks you actually have artistic skills, or at least that’s the way it is for me. 😉
Sharon Santoni is amazing! I totally think we could be friends. She blows my mind with her style and creativity too, Cara. I love that you have taken up painting and hang them up as well. It’s always so much fun to step back and see all those days of painting come to life. Hope your summer is filled with lots of fun and relaxing activities, CoCo
These are all such fabulous ideas! My boys and I have tried painting en plein air a few times and it is a lot of fun.
Coco,
LOVE the Bucket list and all the movies and everything else you listed!!
Great post!!
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind words!! I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend!!
Hugs,
Deb
You are so welcome, Deb! It was definitely a fun one to put together. I’m so thankful everyone shares their favorite things so we can all learn from each other. Hugs for a happy weekend, CoCo
This list is amazing! I will definitely be taking a virtual trip to France this summer via your links!
That is so exciting, Catherine, I’m glad you find this list helpful! Wishing you a summer season filled with lots of French Country style adventures, CoCo
So glad your family had a fabulous vacation and they figured out what caused your Mom’s hives! What a wonderful idea to come up with a French-country bucket list for summer! You know I love all things French-country, so thank you for all the links you provided! Can’t wait to explore them! Here’s to an amazing summer!
I really appreciate it, Donna! This list was so much fun to put together. I think anytime you can try out a simpler way of life or enjoy another culture (even for a summer season) it’s a fantastic learning opportunity. One that sticks with you for years to come. Big hugs, CoCo
So many things on this bucket list I want to do! Self-care and lingering really sound good. I already sleep on linen sheets and have planted a lavender plant or two lately. You always inspire me. I know I say that all the time, but your blog is one of the few that I read that really does. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing for us and sharing your creativity and talent with all of us. Hugs.
What a fun read! My husband and I were lucky to visit France years ago and we always feel nostalgic for that trip.
So many great ideas! I love how you mixed french elements like “eat at a bistro” with “practice self care”. I hope your Mom is feeling better – allergic reactions are always alarming and scary. (Even if the one affected is making jokes about the situation). It sounds like your parents had a wonderful time in France. Maybe you can incorporate a little of Europe into the Loblolly makeover??? Oh and I have the book French Blooms (someone gave it to me as a gift) and it is absolutely AMAZING! Definitely worth buying.