Bucket List before autumn

Luke Whitcomb and Liz Waldy, both on a vacation from England, paddle toward shore on the Russian River at Memorial Beach. (Christopher Chung/PD)

After a long winter’s wait for summer, it now seems like the season is speeding by. Catch it, as there’s still so much to do.

“Bucket List,” a phrase popularized half a dozen years ago by the hit movie of the same name, is in common usage now, for a checklist of things you want to do before you kick the bucket.  There are iconic summer experiences, and ones that are particular to the Sonoma area, that resonate with everyone and evoke childhood memories. Here’s a list to provide inspiration and jog your memory.  This isn’t about skydiving or climbing Mt. Everest, just an easy day floating down the river or wiggling your bare toes in the surf.  You won’t spend much money on most of these suggestions, and it won’t take a lot of planning.

1. On a lazy summer day, there’s nothing better than drifting down the Russian River in a kayak or canoe. Just watching an osprey dive for dinner or paddling through the heart of the redwoods and marveling at the skyward canopy from the seat of a boat can be awe-inspiring.

2. For a taste of the national pastime, without the major-league ticket prices, try attending a local youth baseball game this summer. The ambience is nostalgic. One site that evokes warm memories is Santa Rosa’s Doyle Park diamond, complete with old-fashioned bleachers and a concession stand.

Jeri Langham, left, and Laurie Dann birdwatch on Bodega Head. (Christopher Chung/PD)

3. For open sky, brisk wind, a vast view of the sea, plus lots of sand and seagulls, its hard to top Bodega Head. To spice up the trip, stop for the zesty clam chowder at Spud Point Crab Company in Bodega Bay. It’s a small stand with a big following, just across the road from the water.

4. Not every trip to the beach needs to be about the endless sky overhead or the waves washing in. Take pleasure in watching the crabs and other critters, busy in their perpetual endeavor to survive, in the tidepools at Doran Beach.

5. From atop Taylor Mountain, appreciate the vista of Bennett Valley, still dotted with old farmhouses and barns on green farmland. The trip up the mountain on Crane Canyon Road and Grange Road, by either bike or car, takes you past the historic Bennett Valley Grange, still in use.

6. Some say the best to way to watch a live stage show is outdoors, with the stars above you and a picnic spread out before you. Venues include Ives Park in Sebastopol (mainstagewest.com ) and Jack London State Park (BroadwayJackLondon.com.)

7. Pull up a chair on your front porch during that balmy bridge between afternoon and night. Open a bottle of chilled white wine or pop a cold beer, bring out a couple of extra glasses and invite a neighbor walking her dog or watering his garden to join you. No porch? No worries. A stoop or patch of lawn will do.

8. Forage your nearest farmers market for the complete fixings to make a fresh summertime supper, from salad and bread to dessert. Take the locavore challenge and seek out vendors as close to your own address as possible. Don’t forget to grab some fresh flowers for the table.