Summer doesn’t disappear all at once around here.
It fades a little earlier each evening. Beach parking lots get quieter. The humidity finally lets up. Before school buses replace paddleboards and everyone starts talking about foliage, here are 25 ways to squeeze every last drop out of the season.
- Walk the length of Greenwich Point at golden hour.
- Peruse Rowayton Market for artisan picnic goods.
- Spend an afternoon at Grace Farms before the landscape starts changing colors. Wander the River Building, explore the walking trails and let yourself linger a little longer than you planned.
- Browse the shelves at Elm Street Books in New Canaan and leave with something you’ll actually read.
- Wander Bedford Street in Stamford without an agenda. Pop into a boutique you’ve never noticed, grab a coffee and pretend you’re seeing the city for the first time.
- Catch a polo match at Greenwich Polo Club while the season is still underway.
- Order oysters overlooking the water in Cos Cob.
- Walk the trails at Waveny Park just before sunset.
- Take the long route through Rowayton on your way home. Roll the windows down, pass the harbor and remind yourself why these little shoreline detours are worth making.
- Grab a brew and watch the boats from the Beer Garden down Stamford’s Harbor Point.
- Spend an hour at The Glass House in New Canaan. Even if you’ve been before, the landscape feels different every season.
- Spend a weekend at Hey Stamford! Food Festival on August 1 and 2 at Mill River Park. More than 40 food vendors, live music, carnival rides, craft beer, local artisans and family activities make it one of the city’s biggest summer traditions. Come hungry and plan to stay awhile.
- Visit your local farmer’s market.
- Walk the boardwalk at Jennings Beach after dinner.
- Visit the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield on a rainy afternoon. The rotating exhibitions mean no two visits feel exactly the same, making it an easy excuse to spend a few unhurried hours indoors.
- Watch the sunset from Compo Beach one more time.
- Browse the boutiques along Greenwich Avenue with nowhere to be.
- Stop at Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens while everything is still green. The gardens are at their fullest this time of year, and the shaded trails make even the hottest afternoons feel manageable.
- Head to Sand Jam Movie Night at Jennings Beach in Fairfield on Friday, August 7. The evening kicks off with a family-friendly DJ dance party at 6:30 p.m., followed by a screening of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants after sunset. Bring a beach chair, a blanket and settle in for one of Fairfield’s favorite summer traditions.
- Take the whole family to the End of Summer Beach Luau in Darien on August 21. Featuring DJ entertainment, tropical games, and contests at scenic Weed Beach.
- Wander the galleries at The Bruce Museum before heading to dinner.
- Take the kids to Summer Fun Thursdays at Stamford Town Center. On August 6, an interactive puppet show brings music, storytelling and laughs for younger children. On August 13, a world record-holding basketball trick artist takes over with unbelievable skills and audience participation. While you’re there, stop into Hey Stamford! The Store to browse locally inspired gifts and Stamford merchandise before grabbing a snack.
- Pack a blanket and stay until the stars come out.
- Call the friend you’ve been trying to make plans with all summer.
- Promise yourself you’ll stop saying, “We should do that before summer ends.”
Summer has a habit of making us think there’s always another weekend. Then suddenly it’s September.