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Summer is in full swing and it’s a beauty. We had a cold, rainy spring which makes these gorgeous sunny days all the more wonderful. With July 4th behind us, we’re hitting our summer stride. Below is a list of eight summer activities you don’t want to miss.

1. Hit the Beach. With more shoreline than California, see my post #atozchallenge | T is for Trivia and Fun Maine Facts, finding a beach is easy to do in Maine. Finding a sandy beach, may be slightly more difficult. I’m lucky in that my family has a home at Ferry Beach in Saco with easy access to the water. I love the beach, and this location is special because it’s full of great memories including wonderful days spent with my grandparents. I blogged about our clam digging expeditions along the shore in my post #atozchallenge | Q is for Clam Digging for Quahogs. It’s a special place. But, I also like exploring new locations. This summer I’m really hoping to get to Seawall Beach in Phippsburg, Maine. It’s close to Popham Beach State Park. It’s not readily accessible as you have to hike in to get to the beach but another friend went recently have raved about it. It’s on my list!
2. Go for a Hike. Hiking is a year round activity for me, but each season brings different hiking opportunities and new areas to explore. My Aunt sent me a great article The 7 Best Trail-to-Pub Pairings in Maine’s Mid-Coast and Islands. Since we’re working our way through the Maine Beer Trail, this seemed like the perfect double outing. We tried the first one, Hidden Valley Nature Center and Oxbow Brewery in Newcastle. It was not my favorite hike especially since we were not prepared enough for the mosquito invasion. We did the Bowl Loop Trail but I didn’t find it especially pretty although I can see where it must be a fun cross country trail in winter. While I didn’t enjoy the hiking location, the beer stop was excellent. Oxbow has beautiful outside spaces to sit while enjoying a tasting flight. We’ll be trying a few more of the recommended hike and pub combinations, but we’ll do a little more planning before the next attempt.
3. Eat Lobster. I’ve already jumped into this summer favorite activity with a recent stop to the Lobster Shack for a delicious lobster role. I loved the lobster roll and the location is spectacular with amazing ocean views. Even so, I never feel like I’ve hit my summer stride until I’ve headed up to Boothbay Harbor and eaten a freshly steamed lobster while sitting at a picnic table outside enjoying the ocean air. If I’m being honest, this is a year round activity for me but the views tend to be better in the summer.
4. Have a Kayaking Adventure. This was on my Bucket List for the year too. My friend recently rented a nearby cottage that even had kayaks available but it was a little too hectic on my end to sneak away so I’m still looking for my kayaking adventure. We are planning to go on the Sunset Kayak Tour offered by Portland Paddle as we won a gift card at the Portland Buy Local Indie Biz Awards for the trip. I probably should make that reservation soon.
5. Check out a Summer Festival. I missed the Old Port Festival this year. Did I mention it’s been a busy summer? Fortunately, it’s still early and there are plenty of other festivals scheduled for the summer.  Maine Today put together a great list in their post 2017 Can’t Miss Summer Events & Festivals in Maine. There are so many events happening that we might even have to go to more than one this year.
6. Take a Boat Ride. We live on a lake, so this one happens organically for us. Just last week we also were able to go on a beautiful sunset boat ride on Sebago Lake with generous boat owning friends. If you don’t have a boat of your own, no problem. There are plenty of boat rides and ferry trips that you can take. One of my personal favorites is Lucky Catch Cruises. I took this one years ago when my girls were younger and it was amazing. You can also buy the lobster when you’re done the cruise. I was in Portland this week and saw quite a few people walking back up the wharf holding a lobster or two. My favorite one was a little boy, showing no fear as he carried his newly caught live lobster through the crowded side walk.
7. Dine Al Fresco. My favorite way to eat a meal during the summer is sitting outside enjoying a great view. I’d say that this activity is actually a weekly event during the summer months. It can be something as simple as hanging out on a deck, sitting on a front porch or heading to one of the many restaurants along the coast with stunning views. There are some fantastic spots inland too. You can’t go wrong if you’re eating outside although you might need to find a shady spot. The sun can be brutal at times.
8. Watch a Movie Under the Stars. The drive-in is a singularly unique experience and, in my opinion, the best way to watch a movie. I love going to the drive-in and blogged about our trip last year in my post The joy of spending a summer evening at the drive-in. Many towns also offer free, outside movies during the summer months. Check out those options in my post Looking for free stuff? Here’s a list of free monthly activities to do in Maine for 2017.

Drive-In

It’s no mistake that all my activities take place outside. Our summer is short so you want to take full advantage of being outside in the sunshine. There are so many more activities to do in Maine and this little list of eight is just a quick highlight of some of my favorites.

I’m sure I’ll be adding to this list as we work our way through the rest of the warm summer months. There’s always something fun to do in Maine.

Do you have a favorite summer activity?