5 Fun Summer Activities To Savor Before Fall

Make the most of summer before pumpkin spice season takes over! Here are five fun summer activities to savor the sunshine and create sweet memories. Just as summer activities kick off, back-to-school ads and heating-cost chatter roll in. Seasons are fleeting, so I try to enjoy my favorite activities while I can, making sure I do what I love most before the next season sneaks up.Two years ago, as NFL games were underway and Halloween skeletons appeared, I realized I’d only swum in the ocean once that summer. Determined not to miss out, I planned a technically autumn beach day and landed in Connecticut on October 2nd for my second saltwater adventure.

My seasonal “bucket lists” are small and achievable, and yours can be, too. It’s not too late to squeeze in some of your favorite summer activities before fall officially takes over.

Here in the Northeast, blessed with four distinct seasons, summers are typically hot even before the summer solstice. There are more heat waves than I recall from my youth (meaning consecutive days of 90 degree plus temperatures) and there’s considerable variation in moisture. Yearly crops reflect those differences. Think of yourself as a seasonal crop. What makes you thrive — are you a hotter-the-better eggplant or a wait-for-the-frost root vegetable?

Summer Activity #1. Get to the Beach

Your perfect beach day and mine may look very different, and that’s okay. I’m not that picky — give me salty air, sand under my toes, and at least one good swim, and I’m happy.
When I beach with my partner, we’re early risers: swim, tan, and enjoy snacks from our carefully packed stash. My daughter, however, prefers a late start. As others pack up, we arrive — sunscreen first for my “young vampire,” who has yet to embrace her Sicilian heritage. Either adventure is a summertime highlight!

If you’re within three hours of the ocean, don’t squander that gift. If you live further inland, a lake, pond, or river beach can still deliver the magic. Pack a bag, grab a towel, and go. You may enjoy the treasure hunt but not the swim, or love a cooler-packed picnic over the convenience of concessions. Do your homework, plan, or don’t! Some of the most memorable beach adventures happen on a moment’s notice.

Summer Activity #2. Starry, Starry Night

Summer skies hold a special kind of magic — full moons, meteor showers, shimmering constellations, and even the occasional planetary alignment. My favorite event, the Perseid Meteor Showers, peaks each August, often paired with a dramatic full moon.

Even when moonlight dims the meteors, the show above never disappoints. My “alien friends” always find a way to remind me they’re out there with dazzling displays of motion.

For a full list of astronomical events extending beyond summer, visit Astronomical Events 2025 or explore Space.com. Designate an area with low light pollution for viewing to maximize these mesmerizing nighttime displays.

Summer Activity #3. Outdoor Dining

Whether it’s a backyard cookout, fresh seafood at a local shack, or fine dining with sunset views, summer meals taste better under open skies. There’s something magical about combining good food and drink, gentle breezes along with sweet company.

If you’re local to the Northeast, one charming recommendation worth the trip is Paul’s Pasta Shop in Groton, CT — simple, unpretentious, and delicious.

Summer Activity #4. Seasonal Baking and Cooking

Sometime ago, I wrote about My Secret Sugar Addiction and the unconscious ways I learned to self-soothe. Slowing down to mindfully cook while making the best use of seasonal fruits and vegetables has been a way to rewire faulty eating patterns. I make a few intentional recipes each season. In summer, highlights include eggplant parmigiana, squash casserole, and of course, peach pie.

Yesterday’s peach pie was its own creative journey: blasting ACDC while peeling peaches, slowing down to binaural beats while baking, and savoring the process as much as the pie itself. The pace of eating it… well, I’m still working on that part.

Summer Activity #5. Drive-in, Retro Movie Showing or Summer Box Office Hit

Retro vibes, popcorn, and big-screen magic — nothing says summer like a good movie under the stars or a theater showing that transports you back in time.

While my partner and I often enjoy “living-room piracy” (don’t judge), there’s usually one movie each summer worth seeing on the big screen. I especially love catching retro re-releases in 3D — this year’s highlight for me is the original Jaws. Any movie with good cinematography viewed out enhances the experience. When the plot turns corny, the visuals still delight!

My pocketbook packed with drugstore candy and bottled water, a small buttered popcorn dripping with saturated fats, all soon to be consumed in the comfort of AC… what more could I want? I know I’ll be replaying these moments during my final salty plunge of the season! (That swim will not be on Cape Cod, but at a beach with no reports of shark attacks!)

Savor Summertime While You Can

I’ve prioritized my top five fun summer activities, and I feel content knowing I’ve spent time doing what I love most. There’s still time to add your own:

I Just Want to Lie on The Beach and Eat Hot Dogs. That’s All I Ever Wanted.

The Office

• Which summer activities bring you the experiences you crave — relaxation, adventure, connection, or all three? Listen to your inner promptings, not just the weather forecast.
• Are you open to trying something new? Maybe salsa dancing, whitewater rafting, or finally mastering the grill?
• Who are your partners-in-crime? Whether you bring a buddy along or are part of a group, remember that the strength of connection is always what brings value to the experiences.

Which Summer Activities Make Good Seasonal Self-Care for Mind, Body, and Soul?

Summertime is an ideal time to commune with nature, enjoy healthy eating and movement, and incorporate these activities into your daily routine. Doing this is naturally reinforcing because taking care of these basic needs is a form of self-love. You’ll feel uplifted knowing you didn’t miss the opportunity.

Simple Appreciation and Consistent Uplifting Practices Vs Summer Activities Lists

What you do every day to enjoy the moments of the season is far more impactful than any once or twice seasonal event. It’s been said that life is a collection of moments, so which will you choose to be fully present in? The sun sets each day, and the stars twinkle most nights. Enjoying the sacred pauses wherever you are turns the mundane into magic.

For me, it’s been as simple as committing to 15 minutes a day walking in the woods or swimming in the lake. At first, it took effort. But each time I returned, I felt lighter, happier, and more grounded. Over weeks, it’s become a habit, a ritual of reconnection, I intend to carry into the Fall.

Even yesterday, on my way back from composting, a sunny patch of grass called my name. I sat, face tilted toward the sun, as my cat flopped next to me — a feline mirror of pure contentment. With squinted eyes and an audible purr, she communicated a deep sense of gratitude. For those few moments, nothing else mattered.

Summer doesn’t need to be elaborate to be meaningful. Sometimes, lying in the grass or savoring an ice cream cone offers as much magic as any road trip or event. Remember that simple, quiet peace is a worthwhile venture.

And if you’d like support in living more intentionally — aligning your energy, creating space for what matters, and learning spiritual tools, explore my Coaching Services and Metaphysical Services.

Go for the swim. Watch the stars. Savor the peach pie. Pumpkin spice season will find you soon enough.