Summer brings sunshine and warm, pleasant days, which is why we all love the season so much. On the other hand, with that sunshine often comes a lot of heat and humidity. The good news is that, when the summer temps start rising, you can always cool off with fun water activities! Whether you live near an ocean or lake, have a pool, or just a garden hose, water-filled activities are perfect!

If you’re not sure which summer activity is the best choice for you and your family, read on. We’ve got a list of the best water activities for summer, brought to you by NSA Storage! Dive in, cool down, and discover the best water activities for fantastic summer fun, below! 

Which Water Activities are Right for Your Family?

There are quite a few summer activities that involve water. Figuring out which one is best for you and your family isn’t difficult but depends on several factors. If you’re not sure, consider the tips below when making your choice;

• For Families with Toddlers– Splash pads and small pools are the best. At the beach or lake, stick to shallow areas.
• For Families with Children– Group-friendly water activities like tubing and snorkeling are a great choice.
• For Thrill Seekers– Water parks and boat activities like skiing are great for thrill seekers.
• For Fitness Minded Folks– Swimming in a pool, surfing and kayaking are all great water workouts.
• For Pure Relaxation– Choose a pool float, fishing, or building sandcastles at the beach.

Best Summer Water Activities for Little Kids

Small children love water activities but they need to be safe and secure while enjoying them. Some of the best water activities for small children include:

1. Playing in a Sprinkler

• Running through a sprinkler is easy but oh-so-much fun!
• It’s a cheap and easy way to cool off quickly.
• For toddlers and kids under six years old.

2. Water Balloons

• Water balloons are easy and cheap summer fun.
• You can play several different games with water balloons including racing, tossing, and catching them.
• If possible, purchase biodegradable balloons to protect the environment.

3. A Mini Pool

• Tiny pools are great for supervised summer fun in the water.
• Easy to set up, take down, or move.
• Be sure to stay close while your little ones are swimming.

4. Water Blasters

• Easy and fun to use.
• Everyone loves water blasters!
• It’s a great way to get the kids running around and using up all their excess energy!

Fun Water Activities for the Pool

If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, there are all sorts of water activities you can enjoy in summer! Below are some of the best:

• Swimming Races– Fun for kids and adults.
• Treasure Hunting– Toss things into the pool, let them sink, and then try to recover them first!
• Pool Volleyball– Playing in a pool makes volleyball even more challenging.
• Marco Polo– The classic summer pool game!
• Water Aerobics– For older folks and those who like staying in shape, water aerobics in your pool are a great choice.

Top Beach and Lake Water Activities

If you don’t have a pool, living near a lake or beach is the next best thing! There’s definitely no shortage of water activities to choose from, including the following:

• Surfing– Surfing is perfect for teens and adults. It does require a surfboard, of course, and a good bit of patience. Once you learn, however, surfing is one of the all-time great summer water activities!
• Kayaking– Kayaking, whether in the lake or the ocean, is not only fun but also a great workout! Kayaking is also an activity you can enjoy alone or with a group.
• Snorkeling– Clear, blue water is the perfect spot for snorkeling. If you have access, the sight of sea life underwater can be spectacular.
• Body surfing– No surfboard? No problem! Just keep your body stiff and ride a big wave onto the beach! (Strong swimmers only!)
• Swimming or Floating– Just swimming or floating in a lake or pool is enough fun for some people.

Best Water Activities for Summer with a Boat

If you own your own boat, consider yourself lucky! Boats take water activities in summer to a new, more exciting level! For example, if you own a boat you can:

• Go water skiing, wakeboarding, or knee boarding. These activities are for more experienced swimmers and require a well fitting life jacket. (A powerful boat engine is also a must.)
• Pulling a tube or other inflatable. What fun to bounce your family and friends all over the place! Plus, there’s no experience or skill needed.
• Fish to your heart’s delight. Not only is fishing relaxing and fun, you might just catch some dinner!
• Have a picnic on the boat. Food just seems to taste better when you’re out on the water.
• Go crabbing, clamming, or lobstering. Crabbing, especially, is a real thrill, especially when you catch a big one! 
• Take a relaxing boat ride. The sun in your face, sea air in your nostrils, and wind whipping your hair is truly enjoyable.

Safety Tips for Water-Filled Fun

Summer water activities are fun, no doubt, but many also come with a high risk level. For that reason, no matter where you’re enjoying some summer splashing, follow these important safety tips:

• Always use life jackets in or around deep water. This is especially true for children who don’t swim or aren’t strong swimmers yet.
• Stay hydrated. You’d be surprised to learn how much you sweat (and thus lose water) even when playing in the water.
• Always check the depth of the water before diving or jumping in.
• Bring plenty of sunscreen and reapply it regularly.
• No matter the water’s depth, always keep a close watch on your kids.

Store Your Water Activity Gear with NSA Storage

Summer and water activities go together like apple pie and vanilla ice cream. Once summer ends, though, you’ll need a space to store all your summer gear and sports equipment. That’s where NSA Storage can help! Our clean, safe, and secure storage units are perfect for storing your summer stuff!

You can reserve a storage unit online or in person at your nearest NSA Storage location. Until then, have a fantastic summer and enjoy yourself out on the water!