Memorial Day marks the start of the summer. And for me, summer means outdoor fun. Sometimes we leave civilization behind and find a camping spot by the lake. Others we may go to a nearby park for an afternoon picnic. Other days, we just go out to the yard, fire up the grill, and invite our friends. Whatever the activity, sunny days are spent outside.
Those days leading up to Memorial Day are the right time to figure out what you will need for the summer. Do you have enough backyard games to keep your friends entertained? Consider ring toss or giant bowling. You may want to add some flavor to your grill or update your hiking accessories. And of course, don’t forget a way to serve cold drinks and snacks outside. Whatever it may be, take a look at these 37 suggestions to make the most of your outdoor time this Memorial Day.
Take Darts to the Grass
There’s nothing like a backyard weekend. We invite friends for the afternoon and set up games in the yard to enjoy in between food and drinks. Take advantage of the beginning of the outdoor party season with this darts game everyone can play.
Take to the Water with This Boat
It’s a long weekend, the perfect time for a getaway to a nearby lake. The kids love taking this boat out in the water. It’s fast, durable, and won a few races when we’ve used it.
Work on the Garden with This Seat
A long weekend is a great time to get out to work on the garden. I like to take a few hours to make sure everything looks great before I invite guests to our yard. This seat makes it easy to work on the yard without pain when sitting or kneeling.
Take Board Games Outside with This Dice Set
You know what’s more fun than playing board games? Making the game pieces giant and taking them outside on holiday weekends. This set of giant dice takes it to a whole new level of fun in the yard. Play the suggested games or just let your imagination run wild and see where the day goes.
Stack This Tower High and Watch It Tumble
This stacking game stacks up to five feet high – that’s taller than grandma! Have your friends take turns pulling out bricks and you won’t know if the beads of sweat are because of summer or because of their fear of watching the tower crumble.
Play a Life-Sized Four in a Row
Circles just lend themselves well to the summer. Maybe they remind us of the sun, or we can use them to block the sun from our eyes. In this case, we can use them to challenge and beat our friends in the yard.
Let the Kids BBQ with You
My kids are obsessed with watching me grill. They want to help but as much fun as it would be, we’re still talking about real fire. Instead, I picked up this toy set and set it up close but at a safe distance from the real thing. Now they can grill along with me.
Table Tennis, Anyone?
We like going away for long weekends. We try to pack light but still bring plenty of games. Thanks to this ping pong set, we don’t need to bring a table to play. The retractable net turns any table into a game table ready to take on all challengers.
Grab These Paddles and Learn Pickleball
Pickleball is taking outdoor sports by storm! Grab this pickleball paddle set and set up a net in the yard. Trust me when I say you’ll be surprised at how much fun you have. I’m guessing you’ll be back at it every weekend.
Take These Ladders to the Park
The family convinced me to grab this ladder toss game over the last long weekend. It was so much fun I’ve been waiting for our next one just to take these out again. This Memorial Day weekend, join me in throwing some bolo balls around the park.
Toss These Rings at the Wall
I haven’t had this much fun playing hooky in years. And these days, we don’t have to worry about getting caught. I invite everyone over to the backyard for some burgers and toss the rings around for bragging rights. Fun is had by all.
The Frisbee Is Back with This Game
We’ve come a long way from leisurely tossing the frisbee around. For my friends, it’s a competition. This game adds a level of accuracy to test your throwing skills in the park. Long weekends are meant for heated battles.
Play the Best Memorial Day Game with This Set
I knew cornhole had reached a fever pitch when a tournament was on national television a few years back. Now you can’t even say you’re having a Memorial Day barbecue if you don’t have cornhole on your lawn.
Bowl Outdoors with This Inflatable Set
Kids may not be able to pick up heavy bowling balls but this inflatable set turns bowling into fun for the whole family. There’s nothing more fun than watching the kids bowl with pins their size.
Watch the Kids Race in These Potato Sacks
Professional sports are cool but there’s nothing more fun than watching my kids compete against the rest of the neighborhood children. We purchased this set just to watch the potato sack and three-legged race this Memorial Day.
Swing Under This Tarp
Relaxing under a hammock is great but during the summer, I have to sometimes make my own shade. I can put up this tarp right above my hammock and doze off for an afternoon nap. Try it this Memorial Day.
Play All the Games with This Set
Memorial Day is meant to be spent outdoors. Grab this set of rings, cones, and bean bags to give your guests plenty to do while they wait for the burgers and dogs to be ready.
Roast Mallows with These Sticks
Whether you’re going camping this Memorial Day weekend or hanging out by the fire pit in your backyard, these sticks make s’mores easier than ever. Thanks to the telescoping feature, I can even let our kids use them safely.
Jump for Joy with This Trampoline
Kids have endless energy and no amount of playtime seems to tire them out. That is, until we found this trampoline. Now the kids go jump on it and tire themselves out while standing in one spot. I wish I had known sooner.
Swing Around All Weekend
I like to get away from home on Memorial Day so I can force the kids to stop staring at the screens in the house. Once we set up the tent, I set up this swing from a nearby tree for the kids to play around. They forget about screens pretty quickly once that happens.
Play Into the Night with These Lights
The frisbee was made for the summertime but that doesn’t mean it can only be played in the sun. These lights give each disc golf basket a magnificent glow so that you can play into the night.
Explore at Night with This Headlamp
Exploring at night is one of the best parts of a weekend getaway. I strap on this headlamp and head out to see what I can spot. It’s also good to pack it on a hike just in case it goes longer than originally expected.
Pack It Up for the Long Weekend
Memorial Day is made for exploring nature. I like to grab one of these packs for each of us and head out early in the morning. We hike all day, enjoy trail mix and beef jerky, and get home in time for roasting marshmallows at home.
Let Your Kids Go Off-Road with This Car
My kids love camping weekends because it means they get to play with their own toys. We take this remote control 4×4 everywhere and put it to the test. Best of all, if this car flips while off-roading, we still have a ride home.
Take These Poles for a Long Weekend of Hiking
A morning hike is enough on normal weekends. I don’t really have enough time to forget about work before Sunday evening rolls around. Memorial Day weekend gives me the opportunity to grab lots of water and jerky along with these poles for longer, more demanding hikes. Hope to see you at the summit.
This Basketball Means the Weekend Can Last a Bit Longer
Once it starts to get dark Sunday evening, I know it’s back to the daily grind. I do my best to fight it and this basketball is the latest weapon for that fight. As long as we can see the ball, we can keep playing and as long as we can keep playing, the weekend hasn’t ended.
Get a Light Show with These Color Packets
Leaving the city for a long weekend means enjoying the stars by a warm fire. Thanks to these color packets, the fire itself can become part of the show. It’s an exciting way to put an end to each night of a long weekend.
Go Riding with This Bike Seat
I love riding bikes but I have to admit those seats are brutal. I don’t have to deal with it anymore, thanks to this padded gel seat. I cruise down the beach in comfort and style now.
Add New Flavor to Your BBQ with These Chips
I don’t pass up an opportunity to grill. And there’s no better opportunity than a three-day weekend. Grilling weekends doesn’t mean the tastes are always the same. This variety pack includes eight different types of chips to add fresh, smokey flavors to everything you grill.
Doze Outdoors with This Sleeping Bag
The sleeping bag is the center of every camping trip. I started with a bag for one, me. Now with a family, this XL sleeping bag keeps everyone warm and cozy in the tent. After all, camping trips are meant for bonding.
Keep on Swinging with This Hammock
Nothing takes relaxation to the next level like a hammock. It’s the simple feeling of knowing life is passing by as I swing carelessly between two trees. Take it for a swing this Memorial Day and you’ll see what I mean.
Bike Down the Trail with This Phone Mount
Take it from me, just because you can ride with no hands, doesn’t mean you should have them on your phone. I added this phone mount to my bike a while ago so I could keep my hands on the handlebars while cutting through the trail.
Grill Like a Pro with This Set
Grilling is not new to you. Let the world know you can be trusted at the grill by stepping up your grilling set. My guests know I know what I’m doing when I set these up.
Camp All Long Weekend with This Tent
By this time, we’ve had so many long weekend getaways as a family that we know how to do it right. The key is to leave earlier than all other campers, of course. But the next thing you gotta do is pitch a tent quickly before the best spots are taken. This portable tent is a breeze to set up.
Serve Outdoor Meats and Cheeses with This Tray
While the main course is on the fire, I usually offer up some cured meats and cheeses out on the yard. This tray looks great and holds everything you need to make a good presentation.
Keep Drinks and Food Cold with This Ice Pack
We’re going away for this long weekend. Thanks to these ice packs, we can keep all our snacks and drinks chilled until we get there. All we have to do is lay out a blanket close to the water and set up a picnic.
Enjoy Cool Drinks Outside with This Dispenser Set
Hot weather means cold drinks. I take this dispenser set and set it up outside for everyone to serve themselves. It makes for a spot to socialize while quenching your thirst. Memorial Day weekend is the right time to pick it up.