**This post contains affiliate links**
“Hot Fun in the Summertime!!”
Hello, my beautiful friends!! Are you excited that summer is finally upon us?
With the coming of summer comes many opportunities to get together with family and friends to play outside. Whether it’s a holiday weekend, birthday parties, camping, or getting together at the park. There will be many times to get out and have fun.
Recently I purchased a few outdoor games to play with family and friends this summer and I wanted to share them with you. Some are more challenging than others but they have all been fun learning to play.
Let’s find out what they are!!
Spikeball
Oh my goodness! Spikeball…wow!! So, while on vacation a few weeks ago at the beach, I saw several families with this game called Spikeball set up. And while watching them play, I thought it looked like it would be fun but did not know the concept.
Spikeball also comes with a carrying bag. 
Super easy to set up too.
I then did what everyone does…I googled it. And found out that it is a play on volleyball. So, when my cousins were here one day, they explained it even more to me and we then set out to play. Again, wow! It is very easy to set up but you do want to make sure that the net is tight enough and that the balls have enough air that they will bounce when spiked onto the net.
How to Play
Teams are two on two and the game starts with one team spiking the ball on the net. Then the opposing team has three alternating touches to return the ball to the net. You can move and hit the ball in any direction. Points are then scored when a team cannot return the ball. Whichever team gets to 21 wins.
I can easily say that this is the most athletic of all the games that we have but a lot of fun too. What’s funny is that as I am sitting here writing this post, my cousin just texted that Spikeball is a college sport…who knew?!?
Bocce Ball
This is a classic that has been around for a while but a good one. Bocce Ball is a little more laid back than Spikeball, but just as fun. And to me, if you can find enough room on the beach, it is a perfect game to play there.
Bocce Ball is played in two teams two. And the object of the game is to get your team’s balls close to the little white ball, also called the Pallino ball or jack ball. The team that gets to whatever score you pick before starting, wins. For example, if you decide to go to 15 or 21 before starting.
Once deciding which team goes first, that team tosses the Pallino ball, which has now become the target. Taking alternate turns each player will then throw a Bocce ball to try to get close to the Pallino ball. Kind of a spin on Horseshoes. Whichever team is the closest to the Pallino ball gets the points. And the points are how many balls you have closer to the Pallino ball than your opponents.
Below is a link for the rules of Bocce Ball.
https://www.thorntonco.gov/recreation/facilities/Documents/Bocce.pdf
Battle Bags Game
This one was really new to me, but it is a really cool spin on corn hole. And in my honest opinion, a good game for smaller children to play. In my family, we have a lot of little ones now and they don’t understand why they can’t play corn hole, so when I came across this one I thought how perfect it would be for them to play. And at our last family get-together, they loved it. And when I say little ones, I mean 3 and 4 yr olds.
It is very easy to put together and easy to store. It has six baskets and each basket has a number on the bottom. If you can get your bean bag in the basket, at the end of the turn you tally up the points. And the first one that gets to the pre-determined score wins. Much like cornhole, you can try to knock your opponent’s bean bags out.
Get out there and Happy Battle Bags!!
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/wild-sports-battle-bags-game?searchTerm=battle%20bags
CornHole
Last but not least is corn hole. This isn’t a new game to many, but it is a perfect game for the summertime.
We had a set made by a local crafter and it is perfect. You can now get them in an assortment of styles from wood to a lightweight material, that is easy to travel with.
You can play in teams of two or four players. And the object of the game is to get your bean bags into the hole. If your bag goes in the hole it is three points and if it lands on the surface it is one point. The players that get to 21 first win.
You never when you will find yourself this summer with a few friends/family to enjoy a good outdoor game. And I hope that I have given you some ideas of ones to try.
So get out there and make memories, have fun and relax with loved ones!!
Happy Summer and Happy Playing!! Amanda
