25 Must-Try Summer Journal Page Ideas
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Hi! I’m Janice—artist, journaling junkie, and the awkward turtle behind Hamletta Studios, where I make playful art with a sassy heart. If you’re new here, welcome!
Here at Hamletta Studios, I create playful stickers, journal prompts, affirmations, and cute things to sprinkle a little more joy and creativity into your everyday life.
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Scroll on down to continue on to the summer journal page ideas!☀️
Whether you’re journaling from the beach or sitting inside hiding from the heat, I’ve got some fun ideas to help you capture the memories from this season.
To help you get inspired, here are 25 fun and creative summer journal page ideas.
But first, let’s remind ourselves with a positive self affirmation that it’s okay to let go of perfection, especially during the summer time!
I know empty pages can feel like the biggest disappointment at the end of year when we look back through our books, but rest assured, that even blank pages tell a story.
Let’s just relax and go with the flow of summer.
| My journal doesn't judge me for skipping pages, and neither do I. |
1. Seasonal Bucket List
Create a list of all the fun summer activities you want to do this year— from swimming and hiking to trying new recipes or visiting local festivals.
2. Summer Mood Board
Gather some inspiration from magazines, pinterest, social media or google!
Look for scenery that calms or excites you, pictures of activities you want to do, or places you want to explore.
Either cut them out of magazines or print them out from the internet, then arrange them on a journal page to create a visual mood board that excudes the vibes you’re hoping to chase this summer.
Next, open up Spotify and find an ultimate summer anthem to pair with your summer mood board!
Write the lyrics across the page and sing to your heart’s content!
3. Travel Journal Spread
Maybe you’ve got an exciting trip coming up. It can be daunting to think about making time to journal on your trip especially if you’ll be using all your energy to walk around town exploring a new city or climbing mountains to catch the next breathtaking vista.
No worries! Try gathering little trinkets here and there from your travels. A business card of your hotel or the restaurant of your favorite meal.
Save the map you used that you opened and closed hundreds of times during the trip.
Save your ticket stubs to favorite museums or amusement parks.
Collect brochures and use the images to decorate your travel spread.
Easy way to remember your summer trip without any pressure to document it all.
4. Summer Playlist
You’ve got all summer to soak in the sun but what will you be listening to while you’re enjoying the sunshine?
Might I suggest this fun summer playlist?
Pick your favorite songs then print out the cover of the album or single.
Use these cute little album covers to make a fun spread showing off your summer playlist.
5. Nature Watch Log
Do you have a garden you can access?
It could be your backyard or simply a potted plant from your local grocery store.
It can also be a garden at your local park. Pick a section of the garden.
Maybe it’s a particular flower in bloom or a graceful tree that’s caught your eye.
Track it. Take pictures, write down observations and do it every day or every week or whenever you get a chance to check on it.
This can be a relaxing way to connect with the outdoors.
6. Picnic Planning Page
What’s better than having a nice picnic outside on a beautiful summer day?
Let’s plan the perfect picnic!
Where would you love to spread out your blanket?
A sunny meadow, a shady forest, your own backyard, or a quiet beach at golden hour?
Describe the scenery or paste in photos of places that inspire you.
What’s in your dream picnic basket?
Maybe fresh fruits, sparkling lemonade, little sandwiches, pastries, or anything that feels like a yummy treat.
Don’t forget the cute cutlery or themed napkins!
Who’s coming with you?
Friends, family, your journal or maybe it’s a fantasy picnic date with your celebrity crush.
What’s stopping you from imagining yourself picnicking with your favorite celebrity crush or the world’s most charming heartthrob by your side? Absolutely nothing… except maybe your own modesty. 😉 Go ahead, let your imagination run wild.
7. Ice Cream Flavor Rating
Make your journal deliciously fun with a taste-testing adventure featuring your favorite frozen goodies!
Track the variety of ice creams, popsicles, frozen yogurt, mochi, slushies or even homemade creations you taste this summer!
Maybe you’ll try new flavors you've never had before or revisit nostalgic classics.
Give each treat a rating for:
Flavor 🌈
Texture 🍧
Presentation ✨
Would I Eat Again? ✅
Draw little doodles of each treat or print photos to paste into your journal.
Write a mini-review of the winning treat. Pretend you’re a world-renowned food critic and the whole world is waiting desperately to hear what you’ve gotta say about these sweet treats.
8. Summer Reading List
Make space in your journal for all the books you want to read or have finished this summer!
Perhaps you’d like to print out the book covers and arrange them on your spread.
Write down titles you want to read. Check them off as you go.
Make your reading log. Track book titles, authors, start/finish dates.
What did you think of the read? Was it the perfect fit for the summer you’re envisioning?
Jot down your thoughts, favorite quotes, and whether you'd recommend it.
9. Beach or Pool Day Memories
If you’re the type to hit the beach or pool for summer, I’m sure you have a memory that will need to be captured.
Write about a particular beach day you remember. What made it stand out?
Maybe you had good company. Maybe someone made a good joke. Maybe the weather was just right and you felt so relaxed and at peace.
Maybe you had an awful day. Maybe you got a sunburn. Maybe you were stung by a jellyfish. Maybe a seagull stole your lunch. Either way, still memorable!
10. Summer Affirmations
Create a page of positive affirmations inspired by summer’s warmth and energy, to keep your mindset sunny. Here are some warm, sunny affirmations to keep your mindset positive.
I soak up summer like it’s my full-time job and I never call in sick.
I’m saying yes to spontaneous adventures and weird little detours.
I shine so bright, sunglasses are basically a public service.
Rest is productive. Catch me recharging like a phone on 1%.
I’m fully here for the iced drinks, bare feet, and slow moments.
I soak up the warmth and joy of summer every day.
I am open to new adventures and experiences this season.
I radiate so much positivity, even the laws of physics can’t explain this energy field.
I welcome sunshine and happiness into my life.
I am grateful for the simple pleasures summer brings.
11. Sunsets and Sunrises Log
Jot down the time you catch a sunrise or sunset each day. Write what colors you notice—like pink, orange, or purple and how the sky changes.
Note how watching it makes you feel. Relaxed? Energized? Just enjoying the moment?
Feel free to doodle the scene or add any quick thoughts or lines that come to mind.
It’s an easy way to slow down and soak up the moment.
12. Garden Tracker
If you’re playing plant parent, your journal is the perfect place to spill the tea on your growing family.
Track when you planted seeds, how often you’ve watered (or forgot), and any frustrating moments like any drama with pests.
Jot down all the little victories (new leaves!) and the “what the heck?” moments (wilting again?).
Weather updates and your best garden hacks are fair game too.
Use your journal to collect garden inspiration too. Sketch your favorite flowers, paste pictures of dream gardens, or brainstorm ideas for your next planting.
Maybe you’re dreaming of a wild jungle or just a cute little line of pots full of herbs waiting for you to pluck when it’s time to make dinner.
Tracking your garden not only helps your plants grow but turns your journal into a beautiful record of your green-thumb journey.
13. Summer Self-Care Checklist
Create a checklist of self-care ideas perfect for summer. Some ideas:
Take a walk at sunset and actually notice the sky. Don’t take a picture. Just enjoy the moment and watch as the colors change.
Meditate outside for a few minutes and just listen to the sounds of the outdoors.
Eat fresh fruit and gobble it up like you need to wait a whole year before it’s stone fruit season again.
Dip your toes in water somewhere—pool, river, lake or just a foot bath at home.
Give your phone a break. Don’t look at it for an hour.
Try an iced tea or cold drink that feels a little fancy.
Read something for fun (or just flip through a magazine). Check out your local library while you’re at it.
Unclutter your thoughts by jotting them down in your journal.
14. Outdoor Workout Log
Use a page in your journal to keep track of your summer movement however that looks for you.
If you went for a walk, did yoga in the park, chased your dog around the yard, or biked to get snacks… it counts.
Log things like:
What you did (and how long you lasted before getting tired)
Where you went (trail, park, sidewalk, backyard)
How you felt afterward (energized, sweaty, proud, mildly annoyed?)
Whether you're training for a 5k or just trying to touch your toes without groaning, be proud that you moved at all!
15. Favorite Summer Recipes
Use your journal to keep track of your go-to summer recipes.
Write down what you’ve been loving lately, like:
Salads that feel fancy but take five minutes
Smoothies you’ve perfected through painful trial and error
Sandwich combos that deserve awards
Cold pasta dishes that magically taste better the next day
Anything that involves a grill and minimal effort
Feeling creative? Make up your own recipe!
It doesn’t have to be perfect but maybe just delicious enough.
Give it a name like “Lazy Girl Lemonade” or “Basically a Snack Plate but Fancier.”
Add rating systems like “10/10 would eat again.”
16. Festival or Event Planner
Got your eye on a summer fair, concert, or festival? Keep track of all the things in your journal. Here’s what you can include:
Event Details
Write down what’s happening, when it is, and where it’s located.
Add ticket info, parking details, and whether it’s a cash-only situation.
Outfit Planning
Sketch or list your dream festival look.
You might even flip through magazines to find inspiration.
Packing List
Think about what you’ll actually need.
Water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, bandaids, phone charger, wet wipes, sunglasses, and maybe a backup snack.
Must-See or Must-Eat List
Make a list of bands you don’t want to miss or food you’re excited to try.
Fried things on sticks? Yes.
Cotton candy the size of your head? Absolutely.
Even if you only make it to one event, it’s worth getting excited about.
17. Water Fun Tracker
Use a page or section in your journal to document all your splashy summer adventures.
Things to include:
Where you went (pool, beach, lake, backyard hose party)
Who was there (friends, kids, random seagulls)
What you did (floated? cannonballed? accidentally swallowed half the lake?)
How it felt (cool and amazing, slightly chaotic, 10/10 would splash again)
Basically, if you got wet and smiled (or screamed a little), it belongs on this page.
18. Summer Journaling Prompts
Set aside some journal pages just for summer-themed writing prompts.
Here are a few ideas to get things started:
Describe your perfect summer day. Go wild. Include oddly specific details, like the ideal temperature or the exact number of ice cubes in your drink.
Write a letter to your future summer self. Tell them what you're up to, what you're loving, and what you hope they remember to pack next year.
Make up a fake summer memory and write it like it actually happened. Who says you didn’t ride a dolphin or discover the world’s best lemonade stand run by squirrels?
Write about a summer day entirely from the perspective of your pet, houseplant, or beach towel. Yes, I said it. Try it out!
19. Summer Goals
Use a page in your journal to set some personal goals just for the summer.
Your goals can be anything:
Creative stuff like finishing a sketchbook, trying a new craft, or finally organizing your art supplies.
Health-related things like going for walks, drinking more water than coffee, or flossng every night.
Maybe goals like reading three books, taking naps outside, or saying no to things without explaining yourself.
Just scribble down what sounds fun, interesting, or vaguely like self-improvement.
20. Summer Gratitude Log
Every day (or any day you can manage), jot down one small thing you’re grateful for.
Doesn’t need to be a life-changing epiphany. Maybe something like good thing I didn’t spill my coffee on my shirt today. Instead, I got to drink it and it was delicious.
Doesn’t also need to be a deep reflection. Just catch those little blips of joy.
Maybe a favorite song of yours came on that you haven’t heard in a long time and you belted it out in your car like a goofy idiot and it felt so good.
Maybe you went strawberry picking and you picked the sweetest, most delicious strawberries and you get a few pounds of them.
Over time, these little joys become a little time capsule of good stuff you might’ve missed if you weren’t paying attention.
21. Sun Protection Reminder Page
Create a fun reminder page about staying sun safe with sunscreen, hats, and hydration.
22. Summer Dreams and Wishes
Use several pages to map out what you’re hoping for this summer.
Think of it as a casual brainstorm for your ideal life.
Some ideas to get you started:
Stuff you want to try (even if it’s slightly ridiculous)
Places you’ve been meaning to go
Things you want more of (peace and quiet? chaos and tacos?)
Random wishes like “finally learn to roller skate” or “nap in a hammock without falling out”
23. Fruit and Veggie Tracker
Keep a running list of the fruits and veggies you’re eating this summer whether they’re from the farmer’s market, your garden, or just whatever looked good at the store.
You can jot down:
What you tried
How you ate it (raw, grilled, tossed in a salad, etc.)
If you liked it
Any fun facts or random trivia (like “did you know cucumbers are technically fruit?”)
Simple recipes or ideas to try next time
It’s a fun way to stay a little more in tune with the season and maybe discover a new favorite snack while you’re at it.
24. Stargazing Notes
Use your journal to jot down what you notice during late-night sky watching. Whether you’re out camping, lying in your backyard, or just catching a glimpse through your window, take a few minutes to record what you see.
Write down:
Which constellations or planets you spot
Moon phases and how bright the moon looks
Meteor showers or shooting stars (make a wish!)
What the sky looks like—clear, cloudy, deep blue, or pitch black
How it made you feel in the moment (calm, amazed, sleepy, etc.)
You can even sketch the sky layout or note the time and location. It’s a peaceful way to wind down and feel a little more connected to the universe.
25. Summer Reflection Page
As summer starts to fade out, take a few minutes to look back on everything that happened.
What felt good? What was weird? What surprised you?
Jot down:
Your favorite memories
Stuff you learned (about yourself, life, or even random things)
Ways you’ve grown or changed, even if it’s just a little
Things you didn’t expect
Moments you’re proud of
Anything you want to bring with you into fall
You can write a quick list, a journal entry, or just a few scattered thoughts. A little reflection goes a long way.
Summer is kind of chaotic.
So why not turn some of that energy into journal pages?
These 25 ideas are here to help you ease back into it.
And if you want a little boost, I made a free Summer Journal Prompts printable that summarizes all 25 ideas from this post, so you can keep it handy and refer to it all summer long.
You can grab it below!
Just something cute and helpful for whenever the journaling mood hits this season.
