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"We're out back." —everyone's mom from now until the end of time
This is another game my friends have been playing at the beach since we were in high school — it's always been a big hit. The rules are quite simple: break into two pairs but position yourselves across from one another. Then all you have to do is aim your frisbee toss at the "kan." If your teammate deflects the frisbee to hit the kan, you get one point. If the disc hits the kan on its own, that is two points. If your teammate taps the frisbee into the kan that's three points. If by some lucky chance you throw the disc RIGHT INTO THE SLOT, you win!
Promising review: "This is a ridiculously fun and easy lawn game. It's got the strategy of horseshoes with the fun of a team activity. The rules are simple, the equipment is made to last — if you are looking for a semi-active game to bring to the beach, family barbecue, or even company picnic, this is it!" —J. Caldwell
Get it from Amazon for $38.96+ (available in three styles).
Promising review: "Very simple to put together and look great by our pool. Fairly comfortable. A great price for a good set of chairs." —Angela from FL
Get a set of two from Wayfair for $329.99.
Promising review: "We simply love our new grey set and it’s fits perfectly in our small patio. It is comfortable and a real value. It is easy to assemble it; accomplished in 1 hour and 45 minutes. We looked for a long time and and are thrilled with the set." —Cyndi
Get a four-piece set from Amazon for $439.98.
Promising review: "This grill is great! It has three burners so the things that you are grilling does not cook unevenly. I purchased a 20 lb-to-1lb propane adapter and hooked up my 20lb propane to it. It is easy to assemble. I usually prefer a charcoal grill over propane, but this grill came close to giving me the charcoal grill taste, it did not disappoint me. Awesome product!" —Michael S
Get it from Amazon for $249.99 (available in five colors).
Promising review: "New game for the family! I was not familiar with bocce, but saw this pop up on Amazon and thought it looked like fun to try. Came in a nice little case, and I found as long as I left the cardboard in the case it kept it sturdy. Balls are nice-looking, and have held up after many games. This game reminds me a lot of bowling-miniature bowling. Fun family game!" —D.D.
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available with resin balls or soft rubber ones).
Promising review: "I recently bought a house, and decided to place these in the yard before my girlfriend (who also owns the house) came over after closing. These were awaiting her arrival and she got a laugh out of it. I'm sure the neighbors love us too — now they know exactly the classy type of individuals we are! They have been surviving the Colorado winter pretty well too." —George
Get a set of two from Amazon for $12.99.
Promising review: "This is a really nice set of lights. I used them to run along the inside of the fence around my backyard. Very well packaged, with all the bulbs individually protected with bubble-wrap sleeves in sectioned boxes. As others have noted, the easiest way was to run the cord, and then add the bulbs. All of them worked perfectly. It's the perfect kind of light for this use — a bit of a fairyland feel — not too bright, yet turns a dark yard into something special." —Peter Guither
Get an 100-foot strand from Amazon for $66.98.
Promising review: "These playing cards are a HIT. I take them out with me for social events and when visiting people, even to the beach. We just play and play. So you can get them wet and they won't soggy up and tear it just become a little hard to shuffle. It is so cool that they look like you can see right straight through them but you can't." —Tabitha
Get them from Amazon for $5.97.
Get it from bando for $59.95 (available in five styles).
Promising review: "If you are one of those people who wants to have the best, these are the best. They might cost more. They might burn more fuel, faster. Totally worth it. They light up the back yard and it looks amazing. The only thing I will caution you on is that the metal posts are kind of thin. One bent when I was trying too hard to push it into the ground. Other than that very pleased with these and I know they will last for years. I bought six." —Public name (required)
Get it from Amazon for $14.39.
Note: you will need separate hanging hardware to ensure your swing is safe and secure.
Promising review: "We absolutely love this chair hammock! We had to order hanging hardware separately, but it is hanging in my son's bedroom and he is in it constantly. Reading, napping, playing games. Fantastic purchase!" —Kurt from Pocatello
Get it from Wayfair for $33.99 (available in five styles).
Promising review: "Last weekend I visited some old friends who, 29 years ago, I gave this hammock as a wedding present. Am happy to report the hammock is alive and very well after all these years! Not many products you can say that about after 29 years! Bravo!!" —Pilling
Get it from L.L. Bean for $119.
Promising review: "I am really impressed with the output and clarity of the JBL Charge 3. Big sound out of such a small package and ours sounds really good at 50' outdoors. I'm so impressed I'll be purchasing another to use in stereo for our outdoor speakers rather than mounting traditional 'outdoor speakers.'" —Me
Get it from Amazon for $99.95 (available in six styles).
Get it from Target for $20.49.
The set also comes with instructions on how to make the BIGGEST bubbles possible!
Promising review: "The wand is awesome, but even MORE awesome is that I just used regular Super Miracle Bubbles bubble solution (way cheaper, found anywhere) and it worked just as well. Maybe better. Some people in reviews have said that you must use the packets that come with the wand, but I gave it a shot anyway with regular bubbles (Super Miracle Bubbles) and it worked just fine, with no noticeable difference." —Lauri
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
My dad recently got one of these to test out and has been so excited to take his grilling *and* backyard game to the next level. Not only does this fire pit look awesome and provide a cozy place for your family to hangout, but because it's made with a specific COR-TEN material you'll be able to cook all kinds of things right along the edges. Pretty freakin' cool. If you'd rather *not* place your steak directly on the pit, you can go for their grill grate and cook it above the flames.
Get it from Breeo for $399.
The kit comes with 9 full-size Hershey bars, 1 bag of marshmallows, and 2 packs of graham crackers. If you're not great at math (ahem, me) that makes 18 s'mores! You might also want to grab these reusable roasting skewers for the full experience.
Get it from Amazon for $18.
Promising review: "I love my new squirrel picnic table!! Just put it out last evening and they already enjoyed the corn :) It was also shipped fast and free; overall great shopping experience." —Cristina Ungureanu
Get it from DelgadoHCTreasures on Etsy for $27.
My friends are OBSESSED with Spikeball. While I'm not super coordinated and prefer to be a cheerleader (I'm accident-prone, OK!), this game is one of the most fun beach activities I've seen in a minute. It has been described as "if volleyball and foursquare had a baby" and can be played in a variety of ways.
Promising review: "This is a great beach game. Its simplicity as a spin on volleyball will have you and your friends be the envy of the beach. On multiple occasions I was asked where I bought this game. Great fun, and a great product. Assembly was simple enough. It's just plastic clips and then finding a way to get the net tight enough onto the hoop. You might think it isn't springy enough but it will be. Remember... This isn't a trampoline!" —Btschultz
Get it from Amazon for $59.99.
Promising review: "Easy to set up and tear down, and I like that it comes with a storage bag. I also love that it can be configured different ways and you can just use pieces and not the whole thing if you want. The addition of stakes for using outside is also handy. Overall a great product and my kids love it. They got it for Christmas and two months later it is still holding up well after regular use. Even the cat loves it!" —Azure
Get it from Amazon for $64.99.
Get them from West Elm for $4.99 each (available in two styles).
Promising review: "I have a young golden retriever who would retrieve balls and Frisbees all day long if my arm could take it. Bought this and love it! I can throw the ball a lot farther and for more throws, so he gets more exercise. Love that I no longer need to bend over to pick up the ball or have to touch a slimy, sandy, filthy ball! It's quite intuitive to use and within about three throws you'll have it down perfectly. You can also use regular tennis balls with it." —J.Essie
Get it from Amazon for $6.27.
Not to mention it'll look so *cool* on your back patio.
Promising review: "I love this snow cone maker. Very easy to make a lot of snow cones in a short time. The kids at my daughters birthday party loved this. Well worth the money. Am now going to put this on my deck for days I'm out swimming and playing with my 3-year-old. " —elizabeth givens
Get it from Amazon for $197.99.
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.