You don’t need a plane ticket or fancy resort to live your best summer life. Sometimes, all it takes is a sprinkler in the front yard, popsicles that melt faster than you can eat them, and a backyard that transforms into a wonderland of forts, hammocks, and late-night laughter.

Let’s tell those stories: the staycation sweetness of summer lived right where you are. Summer Cottage brings that laid-back, staycation-meets-nostalgia vibe. It’s less “Instagram-perfect lake house” and more “sprinklers, card games, and grilled cheese on the porch.” The kit is packed with retro charm and full of those low-key, high-joy moments that define the season: water balloon battles that end in soaked giggles, clotheslines snapping in the breeze, s’mores over a fire pit, and the hum of box fans in screen doors. Think mismatched lawn chairs, a cooler full of lemonade, citronella candles, and the smell of something good on the grill.

Capture the spontaneous backyard dance parties, kids in swimsuits long after the pool is put away, chalk art masterpieces, and lazy afternoons with nothing on the agenda except soaking it all in. Scrap the stay-home summers that turned into your favorite memories, the simple traditions you go back to every year, and the moments that felt like a vacation, even if you never left the zip code.

Photo Prompts + Story Sparks

The Backyard Retreat
Forget the fancy getaway — scrap the “homegrown” version of summer rest. Kiddie pools in the driveway, popsicles on folding chairs, sprinkler runs in pajamas. These everyday moments are gold. Capture the full scene: toys, towels, chairs, chaos. Add journaling that starts with: “This is what slow looked like…”

Porch-Side Traditions
Was there a favorite spot to sit and do nothing? A porch swing, patio chair, or even a shady curb? Snap the setting and who claimed it most. Use the journaling to reflect on why that spot mattered — or what always seemed to happen there (card games, mosquito bites, stolen snacks).

The Cottage Kitchen
Document the “taste” of summer: grilled meals, kid-made PB&Js, melted marshmallows, sticky countertops. Take a flat-lay of the food, or a mid-mess shot of the process. Bonus: list your “cottage menu” for the week — even if it’s cereal and s’mores.

Unplugged Moments
Capture the lack of screens — board games, books, fire pits, bug hunts, naps with fans humming. Pair photos of those quiet or analog moments with journaling about what it felt like to slow down… or what was said around the table while the power was out.

Make-Your-Own Fun
When there’s no itinerary, creativity kicks in. Scrap the blanket forts, nature scavenger hunts, DIY crafts, or “let’s turn this bucket into a boat” kind of play. Highlight the weird inventions and summer rituals your people came up with on their own.

Sunset Snapshots
Not every day ends in fireworks — some just fade into warm light, sticky skin, and tired feet. Document those in-between endings: tired faces, packed-up towels, bug spray fog. Prompt idea: “At the end of the day, this is what stayed with me…”

This isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence. About documenting the stories that don’t always make the highlight reel but stay with you the longest: the burnt marshmallows, the barefoot races, the lemonade stands, and the sound of the screen door slamming shut as someone yells, “Come back before the streetlights turn on!”

Summer Cottage gives you the tools to scrapbook the freedom and fun of simple summer days — and reminds you that sometimes, the most unforgettable adventures are the ones that happen in your own backyard.