Recreate A Magical 90’s Summer With These 100 Ideas

Last Updated on July 2, 2025 by Audrey

Relive the nostalgia with these 90’s summer ideas that bring back all the fun, freedom, and flavor of your childhood!

There’s nothing quite like a 90’s summer. It was a time of neon, freedom, scraped knees, and endless outdoor adventures. If you’re a 90’s kid now raising your own little ones, there’s no better time to recreate the magic. From beanie babies and rollerblades to sticky popsicles and backyard fun, here are 100 ways to give your kids the ultimate 90’s summer—no time machine required!

90’s Summer Outdoor Adventures

1. Walk or bike to the local playground
2. Rollerblade around the neighborhood
3. Go swimming at a public pool
4. Play hide-and-seek after dark
5. Run through the sprinkler
6. Swim in a plastic blow-up pool
7. Build a fort with sticks and branches in the woods
8. Climb a tree and just hang out
9. Blow bubbles and chase them around the yard
10. Skip rocks at a pond or lake
11. Make daisy chains or grass crowns
12. Catch fireflies in a jar (poke holes in the lid!)
13. Play tag or freeze tag
14. Camp in the backyard in a tent
15. Stargaze and find constellations
16. Draw murals all over the driveway with sidewalk chalk
17. Organize a neighborhood game of kickball
18. Build ramps for your bikes

1. Have a water balloon fight
2. Set up a slip-and-slide
3. Play four square
4. Jump rope to “Miss Mary Mack” or “Cinderella Dressed in Yellow”
5. Hula hoop contests
6. Catch frogs or bugs (and release them gently)
7. Play Ghost in the Graveyard after dark
8. Have a picnic at the park
9. Create obstacle courses with cones, hula hoops, and jump ropes
10. Climb the jungle gym barefoot (just like the good ol’ days)
11. Walk (or bike) to the convenience store to buy candy or slushies
12. Play flashlight tag
13. Jump on the trampoline
14. Ride bikes around the neighborhood
15. Go swim at the public pool
16. Make mud pies
17. Race your bikes down a hill
18. Decorate your bike with streamers and playing cards in the spokes
19. Play with sparklers
20. Go to a carnival
21. Try skateboarding

90’s Pop Culture Fun

1. Watch 90’s sports movies like The Sandlot, Mighty Ducks, and Space Jam
2. Listen to the Spice Girls, Hanson, Britney Spears, and Backstreet Boys
3. Make mixtapes (or playlists!) with all your favorite 90’s hits
4. Play with Tamagotchis or virtual pets
5. Watch Hey Arnold, Rugrats, Recess, and Doug
6. Do 90’s karaoke in the garage
7. Watch Free Willy and wear an orca t-shirt
8. Try to recreate the dance moves from your favorite 90’s music video
9. Have a dress-up day in 90’s clothes—windbreakers, scrunchies, and overalls
10. Play a game of pick-up basketball and hoop like Jordan
11. Watch parent trap and do summer camp activities

Creative Projects & Crafts

1. Make friendship bracelets
2. Decorate notebooks with Lisa Frank stickers
3. Make popsicle stick picture frames
4. Tie-dye old t-shirts
5. Make shrinky dinks
6. Keep a summer journal with drawings and polaroids
7. Build a cardboard box fort
8. Press flowers in a book
9. Create a treasure map and go on a backyard scavenger hunt
10. Make a zine about your summer adventures
11. Sew patches onto backpacks or jean jackets
12. Make beaded keychains
13. Cut up magazines to make collages
14. Make your own comic book
15. Write notes to friends and deliver them by bikes

90’s Summer Chill & Screen-Free Time

1. Lay on a blanket reading Goosebumps or The Babysitters Club
2. Play cards—like War, Uno, or Slapjack
3. Visit the ice cream truck
4. Eat popsicles on the porch
5. Set up a lemonade stand
6. Visit the local library
7. Play dress up put on a play
8. Keep a journal
9. Read some of the Berenstain Bears or Magic Treehouse books
10. Listen to music on a cassette player
11. Play Mad Libs with a sibling or friend
12. Get a disposable camera and take photos, then take them to a store to get developed
13. Decorate a photo album
14. Walk or bike to get ice cream
15. Trade baseball cards
16. Write letters to pen pals
17. Fold a cootie catcher

Classic 90’s Summer Toys & Games

1. Have a Super Soaker war
2. Play with a Skip-It
3. Pull out the Slip ‘N Slide
4. Play with Lite-Brite
5. Wear a fanny pack to store all your treasures
6. Dig out your old Game Boy (in black & white!)
7. Play Twister on the lawn
8. Toss a frisbee around
9. Build classic lego kits
10. Bake something with an Easy Bake Oven
11. Use sidewalk chalk to draw a hopscotch or four square grid
12. Play toss with velcro toss game
13. Play capture the flag
14. Play with hot wheels and build race tracks
15. Spin around until dizzy and fall on the grass
16. Pretend your walkie-talkies are spy gear
17. Trade beanie babies with friends
18. Have a “no screens” day—just like we used to!

A 90’s summer wasn’t about planning every moment—it was about freedom, imagination, and being outside ‘til the streetlights came on. Whether your kids are climbing trees or blasting Spice Girls while skating in the driveway, you’re giving them a summer they’ll remember forever—and one you’ll be glad you relived.

Looking for more summer activity ideas? Check out our bucket list of the 60 Best Summer Activities for Kids!