Wondering how to spend your free time this summer? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered.

We’ve compiled our very own “Thrive Summer Bucket List,” featuring 100 things you can do, eat, explore and have fun with this summer. 

The list includes a variety of activities that support one’s health and wellness in alignment with thrive’s health-focused mission. 

We hope in seeing the wide array of activities that are listed you’ll feel encouraged and excited to take advantage of what this area has to offer and perhaps try something new. As an incentive, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a prize by posting a picture of yourself doing any summer bucket list activity.

Post the photo to your Facebook or Instagram page using #thriveinthe419. Make sure your Facebook post is public and your Instagram account is public. Each post counts as an entry into our weekly drawing and grand prize drawing. Winners will be selected at random. Contest rules apply.

So what are you waiting for? Go have some fun this summer.

Download the full list here and check off items over the summer

*Note: Activities without a specified location must be completed locally (in Richland or Ashland counties) in order to be eligible for the giveaways. 

Explore the Great Outdoors 

1. Watch the sunset at Mt. Jeez

2. Take in the view atop the lookout tower at Gorman Nature Center

3. Visit Malabar Farm(example activities: hiking, foraging) 

4. Explore the Shelby Black Fork Wetlands

5. Go to Clear Fork Reservoir(example activities: fishing, boating, camping, picnicking)

6. Go to Mohican Adventures(example activities: canoeing, go-karting, Aerial Adventure Park) 

7. Go to Pleasant Hill Lake Park(example activities: boating, fishing, hiking)

8. See the Big and Little Lyons Falls at Mohican State Park

9. Visit Charles Mill Lake Park (example activities: fishing, boating, swimming)

10. Go to Loudonville Canoe Livery(example activities: canoeing, kayaking, rafting, tubing)

11. Visit Hemlock Falls

Mt. Jeez

Fun with the Fam

12. Entertain youngsters at Little Buckeye Children’s Museum

13. Ride the carrousel at Richland Carrousel Park

14. Take the kids to Storytime for Kids! at Main Street Books (takes place every third Saturday at 11:30 a.m.)

15. Have a picnic and play day at a park (examples: Seltzer Park or Brookside Park) 

16. Attend Mansfield Airport Day on July 6 

17. Jump around at Altitude Trampoline Park

18. Check out the birds at Ohio Bird Sanctuary

19. Go to a kids/family class or workshop at the Mansfield Art Center

20. Go horseback riding at Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center

21. Attend the Mansfield Children’s Festival on July 27

Mansfield Children's Festival (8).JPG

Have Some Yum

22. Pack a healthy picnic with items from a local grocer (examples: Wayne’s Country Market or Stoodt’s Market)

23. Try a local restaurant you’ve never visited 

24. Pick berries at the Blueberry Patch

25. Eat lunch at a local deli/market (examples: Doc’s Deli or Village Point Market)

26. Get a smoothie from a local business (examples: Arrow Nutrition or Blends Nutritional Studio)

27. Get some apples at Apple Hill Orchards

28. Eat a roast beef sandwich at the Shiloh Ox Roast, held July 26-27

29. Grab lunch from a local food truck (examples: Panchos Tacos or Simple Fire)

IMG_9888.JPG

Let’s Get Physical

30. Visit the Richland B&O Trail

31. Play disc golf (example locations: Marshall Park or Clear Fork Reservoir)

32. Practice yoga outside (example: Yoga at Gorman Nature Center, hosted by Evolve)

33. Go kayaking (example locations: Clear Fork Reservoir or Charles Mill Lake Park)

34. Take a dance class (example location: Richland Academy)

35. Run a race (examples below)

36. Go to a parkrun at North Lake Park (takes place every Saturday at 8 a.m.)

37. Go on a slow roll with Slow Roll Mansfield or Slow Roll South (Lexington)

38. Walk your (or a friend’s) dog at Maize Memorial Dog Park  

39. Compete in the Black Fork River Canoe and Kayak Race at Charles Mill on June 29

40. Go golfing (example locations: Oak Tree Golf CluborAshland Golf Club)

41. Compete in the Shelby Triathlon/Duathlon on July 27

42. Play sand volleyball (example locations: Lexington Community Park or Marshall Park)

43. Schedule your annual physical exam with OhioHealth

44. Test your endurance by participating in the Mohican 100 Trail Run (or 50 Mile and Marathon Run) June 15-16

Hustle

Local Events 

45. Attend a concert (examples: Final Friday Concert at the Brickyard in downtown Mansfield or concerts at the Guy C. Myers Band Shell in Ashland)

46. Go to a festival (examples below)

47. Attend a car show (examples below)

48. Go to a parade (examples below)

49. Watch fireworks (examples below)

50. Go to a fair (examples below)

51. Shop during a First Friday Shop Hop in downtown Mansfield

52. Go to a barn dance at Malabar Farm (July 6, Aug. 3, Sept. 28 and Oct. 26)

53. Go to a race at Mansfield Motor Speedway or Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

54. Get a tattoo (or attend) Inkcarceration, held July 12-14 

55. Attend any of the Miss Ohio festivities: June 8-15 

56. Go to the Ohio Lincoln Buy-Way Yard Sale, held Aug. 8-10 

57. Shop Under the Stars in downtown Ashland (June 14, July 12, Aug. 9) 

58. Check out Ashland Chautauqua, July 16-20

59. Celebrate Shawshank’s 25th Anniversary: Aug. 16-18 

60. Go to a cooking class (example: A Day on the Farm & Cooking Class on June 10)

61. Strutt your mutt at the Strutt Your Mutt Festival on Aug. 17

Brickyard excitement

Just for Fun

62. Go to or host a murder mystery dinner

63. Go go-karting (example location: The Infield) 

64. Go bowling (example locations: Lex Lanes or Luray Lanes)

65. Spend the day being a tourist in your city

66. Take a tour of the Ohio State Reformatory

67. Successfully complete an escape room at Exithis

68. Go geocaching

69. Do karaoke at a local venue

70. Rent a cabin (example locations: Blackfork Cabins, Mohican Adventures Cabins) 

71. Check out a book or attend an event at your local library

72. Watch a local production (example locations: Mansfield Playhouse or Renaissance Theatre) 

73. Go paintballing (example location: Battle Zone Paintball Park III)

74. Practice mindfulness meditation (example locations: Mind Body Align or Kingwood Center Gardens)

75. Have some fun at Ohio Dreams

76. Go to a wine and paint party 

77. Attend a religious service outside of your tradition

78. Go thrifting (example location: What Goes ‘Round Thrift Shoppe)

79. Look at the night sky at the Warren Rupp Observatory

80. Rent a houseboat on Charles Mill Lake

81. Befriend an alpaca (example locations: Alpaca Meadows or Shady Lane Farm)

Slip N fly

Treat Yourself

82. Get a makeover (example location: Hello Gorgeous)

83. Have a spa day (example locations: Studio 19, Bankz Salon)

84. Have a weekend getaway at Landoll’s Mohican Castle

85. Get some ice cream (example locations: The Chill or The Warrior Drive In)

86. Enjoy bed and breakfast at the Wishmaker House

Mohican Castle

Summer Must-Do’s

87. Go to a drive-in movie at Springmill Drive-In Theater

88. Play mini golf (example location: Kelly’s Dairy Bar and Miniature Golf)

89. Ride in a hot air ballon at the Ashland Balloonfest 

90. Go to a farmers market

91. Go swimming (example locations: Liberty Pool in Mansfield or Brookside Pool in Ashland)

92. Go to the Mansfield YMCA Splash Pad Park or RJ’s Spray Park

93. Take time to smell the roses at Kingwood Center Gardens

Crowds

Give Back

94. Volunteer with your favorite nonprofit

95. Chip in (or grow your own produce) at a local community garden

96. Serve at a community meal

97. Visit a nursing home

98. Donate blood

NECIC opens community garden

Get It Done

99. Meet with a financial advisor

100. Complete or revisit your will