50 Things You Need To Eat, Drink And Do This Summer

Summer is the best. The days are warmer, longer and just happier. In addition to beach days and family vacations, summer is also one of the best seasons for eating and drinking. There's ample produce ripe for the picking (and cooking), and it's prime patio season for restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries.

Your Summer Foodie Bucket List Checklist

It can be hard to know where to even start with the summertime culinary fun, but don't worry, we have your summer foodie bucket list of 50 fun and filling activities. Want a cute printable version to hang on the fridge? Click here.

Summer is hot and summer is busy. So forget the oven and make your entire meal out of no-cook dishes for hot days. Think poke, cucumber salad, crudite and more refreshing summertime dishes.

Turning on your oven in the summer is a major drag so cook as many meals as you can outside! It doesn't matter if you want to grill chicken, steak, shrimp or all three on kebabs.

Salads are a great summertime dinner: they're light, easy to make and don't require much cooking. But don't relegate yourself to a grilled chicken salad every night of the week, have some fun with your salad recipes. If you're bored with lettuce, try these creative twists on a "salad."

Guacamole is a go-to party food any time of the year, but there's something especially satisfying about this creamy, cold dip in the summertime. Learn the basics of making a great guac and then play around with the flavors. Mix in tomatoes or jalapenos, or get more creative with roasted garlic, bacon or beans in your avocado dip. 

Salsa is the perfect summertime snack. It's refreshing, it's fresh, and it can be made entirely from fresh seasonal produce. Don't believe us? Try these easy summer salsa and dip recipes.

Lobster rolls are one of the best sandwiches, period, and they're a fitting beachy eat for the summer. Get some crustaceans, make your own lobster roll this summer and recreate the feeling of being at a seafood shack.

We love a good bratwurst as much as the next person, but take this summer to go to a local butcher or an international grocery store to try a new-to-you type of sausage to make on the grill. So whether you get a cherry-stuffed sausage, longaniza, chorizo, or even plant-based, think beyond brats and Italian sausage this summer.

It's never been more exciting to be a plant-based eater than it is right now, so channel Meatless Monday this summer by making some incredible vegan eats. Of course, you can still have all those summery flavors with some grilled vegetable and fruit recipes.

You may think of soups and stews as a hot, hearty meal for winter months, but soups can also be a refreshing, light meal for the hottest days of the year. Gazpacho is a total summer classic, but you can also make black bean soup and vegetable soup for cool meals.

Nothing goes with chargrilled burgers or hot dogs quite like pickled veggies so pickle something yourself this summer using your garden's bounty! Bread and butter pickles are a classic option, but if you aren't feeling cucumbers, you can pickle green beans, jalapenos, onions or cauliflower.

Why buy ice pops at the grocery store when you can make them yourself? You can recreate many favorite frozen treats at home, whether you like a fudge bar, strawberry lemonade pop or cherry popsicle. Making these is fun for the whole family.

Summer's plentiful produce and many holidays combined only mean one thing: it's pie season. Bake some of the best-ever pies this summer, like a strawberry pie, blackberry pie, cherry pie or key lime pie.

Icebox cakes — old-fashioned, no-bake desserts — are the perfect sweet to take to any gathering (or eat alone) during the hottest months of the year. So whip up this retro recipe and enjoy!

Everyone loves ice cream! But did you know you can easily make this summertime dessert at home? You don't need an ice cream maker to do it, either. You can keep it simple with a strawberry soft serve or a kid-friendly cake batter ice cream, or get creative with PB&J-inspired ice cream or a unique goat cheese ice cream.

You've grilled your meats and veggies but there's a certain pleasure in grilling your desserts, too. You can keep it simple and make grilled watermelon or grilled mango, or have a fun night with a grilled s'more skillet.

You may associate picking your own fruit with apples in the fall, but you still can head to an orchard in the summer and get any number of berries straight off the vine. Of course, nothing is better than a sun-kissed strawberry or blueberry you picked yourself.

There's a certain pleasure in shopping and cooking locally so talk to the vendors at your farmers market and buy some new-to-you seasonal ingredients. Then make your dinner completely from regional produce and proteins. You'll be surprised how pronounced and fresh the flavors are.

If you haven't gotten around to it yet, summer is the time to get your garden growing. Beans, cucumbers, peppers, gourds, pumpkins and tomatoes are all classic home-garden plants. Of course, planting herbs like parsley, cilantro, dill and mint can be total game-changers, adding a lot of freshness to your weeknight meals.

Summer is the best season for fruit, and refreshing, sweet and hydrating watermelon is the best kind of summer eat. But before you buy this big ol' fruit, it's important to know how to pick the perfect watermelon.

Few fruits compare to cherries in the summer. They're tart, sweet and bite-sized, making for perfect summertime snacking. Prefer your fruit cooked? Luckily, cherries are the base for some delicious desserts.

Blueberries are a nutritious and delicious summertime fruit, but these little gems shine when incorporated in delicious baked goods. So get your apron on and whip up some blueberry banana bread, blueberry muffins and blueberry scones.

When summer comes around, gardens and farmers markets are practically overflowing with vine-ripened tomatoes. Use them to their fullest by prepping a simple basil and tomato salad or a crisp tomato and cucumber salad. If you want tomatoes to shine as the main course, use them for that viral tomato and feta pasta recipe or in a homemade tomato sauce for pasta.

If there's one dish that's 100% summer, it's grilled corn. Get some fresh corn from a farm stand or farmers market, soak it in saltwater and throw it on the grill for super charred yet super tender kernels. Even better: serve it with some chile butter.

Flowers in your garden aren't just for vases; they can make flavorful and beautiful additions to your dishes and drinks. Explore the world of edible flowers and make violet lemonade, rose petal vodka or candied flowers for cakes.

Whether or not you actually get around to camping this summer, find a friend with a firepit in their yard, grab some roasting sticks or a cast iron pie cooker and get to cooking. You can go old-school and roast some hot dogs over the fire or get fancy and make hand pies or mini pizzas in your cast iron.

Getting out on a boat in the summertime is all fine and good, but you can be productive while boating! Consider learning to fish this summer and heading out on the lake. Then you can turn your catch into a summertime seafood dinner.

Make this the summer of perfect s'mores by building a fire in your yard, sitting around with skewers and toasting your marshmallows to perfection. Then, build a classic treat with a milk chocolate bar and a graham cracker. If you don't have a yard for a fire, don't worry, you can make toasted marshmallow s'mores in your oven.

Head to the local park and spend a day eating and drinking outdoors. Pack some classic picnic foods like pasta salad, ham sandwiches, fruit skewers and hand pies. You can also turn your summertime picnic into a romantic affair with these picnic recipes perfect for a date.

There's a particular pleasure in drinking outside in the summertime. An ice-cold beer or freshly-made cocktail tastes better on a back deck. It's even better if you're drinking something frozen.

While you're indulging in some summertime sips, make sure to add "learn how to make a marvelous margarita" to your summertime to-do list. After you master the basics, you can level up to flavored margaritas and spicy margaritas.

If you're the kind of person who always drinks moscato or pinot noir, it's time to expand your wine palate. Try a new-to-you wine this summer, like Zweigelt, Chianti or Gewurztraminer. You can even dip your toe into the world of sustainable wine for earth-friendly drinking.

There's way more to beer than Bud Light and Guinness. Stroll down your grocery store aisles and pick up a six-pack of a local beer you haven't tried before, like a shandy, IPA or red ale. You may just be surprised by all of the different kinds of beer available.

Sangria and summer are a perfect pair, and the best part of this wine-based cocktail is that it's incredibly customizable. Grab your favorite wine (red or white will work fabulously!), some juice, some brandy and your favorite fruit and get to town mixing it up!

Not every drink needs to have alcohol in it, and you'd be surprised how creative you can get with zero-proof cocktails (also known as mocktails). Perfect for kids, pregnant women or those who prefer not to drink booze, mocktails are refreshing and fun for summer.

Drinking hot coffee during the summer can be a little rough, but you don't necessarily have to go to a cafe to get a refreshing, strong cold brew. Learn how to make cold brew at home, or if you want something simpler, try dalgona coffee.

Nothing says summertime like an ice-cold lemonade, and you can make this classic beverage easily. If you want to shake up your lemonade, consider adding raspberry or other fruit purees to the mix or making it a little boozy with some tequila, bourbon or vodka.

A cup of tea in the afternoon is a simple pleasure, but in the summer, the best tea is iced tea. Make iced tea and keep a pitcher in your fridge or go old-school and brew sun tea in the yard. If you like a lot of sugar in your midday pick-me-up, you can't go wrong with a classic Southern sweet tea.

Everyone loves a dinner party, but few love preparing every last thing themselves. The solution: A good old-fashioned potluck. If you're hosting, supply an entree and an impressive dessert. Let your friends bring the rest.

The only thing better than hosting a potluck is going to one. And the best part of going to a potluck is bringing the dish that everybody raves about. Just make sure you know the best dishes to bring to a party.

Oyster happy hours are a signature summer experience, but you don't have to go to a restaurant for shellfish and a crisp bottle of white wine. Instead, have friends bring over the vino and prep oysters yourself at home for a real good time.

If you're getting back into travel mode, it's hard to beat a good theme park vacation. And sure, riding Space Mountain is fine and good, but you haven't really lived until you've eaten your way around Disney World's Magic Kingdom. If you find yourself on the West Coast, make sure you know the best restaurants at Disneyland Park, too. If you can't make it to Disney, that's OK; you can recreate their famous Dole Whip at home with just a few ingredients.

Sure, you've heard of hosting a dinner party, but hosting brunch is a category all its own — especially when you can get creative with our 50 best brunch recipes.

There's a particular joy in brunch. It combines the best parts of breakfast and the best parts of lunch — and adds a whole bunch of booze. This summer, live it up with the best brunch in your area.

You don't have to travel far to find an amazing new restaurant, nor do you have to spend a ton of money. Instead, explore your area, find a great new eatery with a giant patio, and enjoy a meal outdoors that you didn't have to cook yourself.

There's a special kind of joy in eating at a food truck, especially when they have niche and unusual offerings. Waffle sandwiches, Mexican street corn, and outrageous burgers all make for perfect summer eats.

Local county fairs and carnivals have lots of delights like ferris wheels and sideshow games but we're partial to fair foods. You know the kinds: cotton candy, funnel cakes and lemon ices. Before you head out, make sure to brush up on how one deep-fries butter and the definition of  a hot beef sundae.

There are many breweries to explore around the country, and you may just be surprised by how close one is to you. So grab some friends and grab a pint of something local and delicious.

Barbecue just tastes better in the summer. If you can, smoke some Texas-style brisket at home. But if you'd rather leave it up to the pros, we don't blame you. Just make sure you know your regional BBQ styles before diving into that pulled pork!

If you didn't have ice cream, did your summer even count? We didn't think so. Whether you grab it from a truck or a local ice cream stand, make sure you cool down with something sweet this summer. And if you're not sure what flavor to get — because that decision sure can be overwhelming — consider trying the most popular ice cream flavor in your state.

There's something especially nostalgic about a drive-in restaurant. Milkshakes and burgers in paper wrappers delivered by teens running around a parking lot just taste better. Though drive-ins may feel like a relic of another era, there are plenty of old-school drive-ins you can still pull up to.

More from The Daily Meal:

Our 50 Best Grilling Recipes

No-Cook Side Dishes for Summer Barbecues and Weeknight Dinners

Foods You Should Never Serve at a Cookout

Summer Recipes to Try on the Grill

4-Ingredient Entrees Perfect for Busy Weeknights