A Very New England Summer Fun Checklist

How is it already the middle of July!? We are home for the next month and looking forward to enjoying our hometown and hosting lots of friends and family over the next few weeks. I’ve been jotting down a few summer “must-dos” to make sure we find time for all our favorite summer activities before this season slips away. Below you’ll find a list of my must-do activities along with local recommendations if you’re in New England, or use it as inspiration for summer fun wherever you are!

• Beach days with a good book – We’ve finally got a great beach setup that includes these chairs (on sale!) and these towels (cute, affordable and fantastic quality – I got them in several colors)!
• Day trip to Brimfield Flea Market – Coming up this week I’m so excited to peruse the stalls at Brimfield Antique Flea Market again this year!
• Find the best lobster roll in New England – Local favorites currently include the Buoy Shack in Kittery, ME and take-away from Sanders Fish Market in Portsmouth, NH, but the hot roll at Straight Wharf Fish Market on Nantucket is my New England fav!
• Bike rides to ice cream – After riding beach cruisers on Nantucket I finally decided to buy my own bike. (I got this one in white which is so chic and a great price!) and plan to bike to our local ice cream spot – a total summer treat! Adding this adorable bike basket to hold my wallet.
• A beach bonfire with s’mores – Rye, NH residents can host beach bonfires on Jenness Beach – I’m waiting for my invite G!
• Newport Polo – It’s been a favorite tradition to attend a polo match in Newport each summer. Get your friends together, bring a picnic dinner and get ready to stomp some divots. Lawn tickets are only $20 and well behaved dogs are welcome too!
• An afternoon on the water – We’ve been taking our boat out a couple times a week, but I’ve also been meaning to take our canoe out on an afternoon adventure, and plan to pack a picnic so we can eat on the water. (Renting kayaks or paddle boards would also be fun!)
• Pick blueberries for homemade muffins – This site has a great list of organic berry farms in Maine, I think we’re going to try to visit Winslow Farm when they open up their fields for berry picking in a few weeks. (If you know of a NH resource let me know!) Extra points for baking them in a cute muffin tin!
• Apply for lobster pot permits – NH residents can apply for up to 5 recreational lobster pots. We went out with a neighbor to check for lobster and it was the most fun ever!
• Beach yoga – Common Roots yoga studio takes their practice out to the beach in the summer time. I missed it last summer and need to make sure I get out at least once this year. It’s an early start time but invigorating!
• Go fishing – We went saltwater fishing once last summer and all we caught were crabs! Fingers crossed we get to Vermont this year for some fly fishing.
• Host a clambake – We’re thinking the works: lobster, clams, corn and potatoes!
• Catch an outdoor movie – I’m thinking Dirty Dancing or Casablanca at Prescott Park but there are lots of drive in theaters around New England as well!
• Visit the farmers market – And load up on fresh fruits and veggies for al fresco dinners at home.
• Nap in a hammock – There’s nothing like snoozing in a classic hammock under the shade of a tree.
• Sample local oysters – We love buying a couple dozen oysters from our local seafood shack and bringing a bottle of wine to a local park. Spinney Creek Oysters from Elliot, ME are a current favorite. Make sure you have ice to keep them cold!