5 Things You Must Do on the South Shore Before Summer Ends
The calendar may be inching toward fall, but summer on the South Shore isn’t over yet. Here are five ways to make the most of every last sunny day.
We wait all year for summer on the South Shore—and somehow, it always goes by too fast. But before you start thinking about back-to-school routines, football weekends and pumpkin everything, there’s still time to squeeze a little more out of the season.
From getting out on the water to enjoying dinner with a view, consider this your South Shore summer bucket list. Here are five things you need to do before we officially say goodbye to summer.
1. Get Out on the Water
You can’t fully experience a South Shore summer from the shore. Whether you own a boat, rent a kayak, grab a paddleboard or book a local charter, make time for one more day on the water.
Explore the North River, paddle through one of our coastal harbors, head out for a fishing trip or simply cruise the coastline. And if boating isn’t your thing? Take the ferry from Hingham or Hull into Boston and turn the ride itself into part of the adventure.
Everything Local Tip: Go later in the afternoon and time your return for sunset. Late-summer evenings on the water are tough to beat.
2. Have One More Beach Day
Living on the South Shore means some of Massachusetts' best coastline is practically in our backyard. Yet it’s easy to let an entire summer pass without taking advantage of it.
Pack the chairs, grab lunch from a local sandwich shop and spend a few uninterrupted hours at the beach. From Nantasket and Duxbury to Humarock, Rexhame, Scituate and Plymouth, there’s no shortage of places to put your toes in the sand.
Better yet, head over after work. August and early September can deliver some of the best beach evenings of the entire season—smaller crowds, warm water and beautiful sunsets.
3. Eat Outside—with a View
There’s something about dinner outside that makes an ordinary weeknight feel like vacation.
Before patio season winds down, make a reservation at one of the South Shore’s waterfront restaurants, seafood spots or hidden neighborhood patios. Order the lobster roll, fried clams or whatever says summer to you, and linger a little longer than usual.
Scituate Harbor, Hingham Shipyard, Marina Bay, Plymouth Waterfront and the restaurants overlooking our rivers and marinas give you plenty of options.
Bonus points: Skip the chain and try someplace locally owned that you haven’t visited before. Stay tuned for our Top 5 recs for outdoor dining.
4. Play Tourist in Your Own Backyard
People travel from all over New England to visit places we can reach in less than an hour. Take advantage of it.
Spend an afternoon walking Scituate Harbor, explore the shops and restaurants of downtown Plymouth, bike or stroll World's End in Hingham, visit a local farm, catch a concert or outdoor event, or head somewhere on the South Shore you’ve driven past 100 times but never actually stopped to explore.
Make a day of it: coffee somewhere local, an activity, a little shopping and dinner before heading home.
Sometimes the best summer day trip doesn't require packing a suitcase—or even leaving the South Shore.
5. Chase One More South Shore Sunset
This one costs absolutely nothing.
Grab an ice cream, bring a blanket or beach chair and find a spot to watch the sun go down. Head to the beach, harbor, marina, river or your favorite local overlook and put the phone away—after taking the obligatory sunset photo, of course.
Summer schedules can get packed with places to go and things to do. Sometimes one of the best ways to finish the season is simply to slow down and appreciate where we live.
Summer Isn't Over Yet
Labor Day may be approaching, but don't rush the season.
Take the boat out. Order the ice cream. Stay at the beach until sunset. Eat outside on a Tuesday night. Visit that local spot you've been meaning to try.
We have plenty of time for fall. For now, there’s still some South Shore summer left to enjoy.
What’s the one thing you have to do before summer ends? Share your South Shore summer must-do with Everything Local South Shore—and tag us while you’re out making the most of the final weeks of the season.