To help you make the most of Boston’s sunniest season, we’ve put together the ultimate summer bucket list.

Get on the water

There are so many ways to get on the water during a Boston summer. Rent a kayak and paddle down the Charles, take a sailing lesson on Jamaica Pond or pedal around Fort Point Channel in the charming animal-themed boats by the Boston Children’s Museum. Hop on a ferry to one of the Boston Harbor Islands (free tickets available on Aug. 25) or combine boating with a little culture by taking the water taxi from the main Institute of Contemporary Art museum campus in Seaport to the Watershed in East Boston.

Get cultured, outdoors

Boston’s robust culture scene moves outward during the summer. Listen to a free concert at the Boston Public Library courtyard, attend a dance party like the Donna Summer Disco Party at City Hall Plaza on Aug. 28 or watch a performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company as part of their free Shakespeare on the Common program.

Picnic in a scenic park

Skip the expensive restaurants and pack a lunch or dinner for a scenic outdoor picnic. The Esplanade overlooking the Charles River is a classic spot but Piers Park in East Boston and the Back Bay Fens are equally desirable locations. The Shattuck Picnic Grove in Franklin Park was literally built for the occasion, and while you’re there you can check out the Franklin Park Zoo or roam the acres of parkland curated by Frederick Law Olmsted, the first landscape architect in the United States.

Attend a festival

The season is celebrated thoroughly in Boston with festivals and parties devoted to everything from jerk seasoning to disco legends. Attend the Chinatown August Moon Festival for cultural performances and hands-on activities like calligraphy; eat all the cannoli your heart desires during the North End Feasts; indulge in music, food and live performances at the Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts; and dance like nobody’s watching at the Donna Summer Disco Party that comes complete with a roller rink.

Have a beach day

Many beaches are accessible by public transit. There’s the famous Revere Beach, which has programming like the International Sand Sculpting Festival and free weekend yoga all summer. Malibu Beach in Dorchester showcases sandy beaches, walking trails and scenic views of downtown Boston. South Boston offers M and L street beaches, perfect for sunbathing, and Castle Island, where you can learn about Boston history and lie out all in one spot.