21 things to do in New England before the end of summer

Don’t look now, but the unofficial end to summer is on the horizon, which means there’s little time remaining to accomplish all those things you meant to do this summer. But with just a few weeks left until Labor Day Weekend, time is fading fast. So, get out and enjoy the fleeting season with these 21 suggestions on how to best utilize the joy of summer in New England.

1. Do the hole thing

Sharks seem to be taking all the fun out of heading to the beach these days. No worries. New England offers plenty of options to cool down aside from a dip in the ocean. Explore ponds and lakes in Rhode Island, swimming holes on Cape Cod, and elsewhere in Mass.

2. Soak up a water park

If you don’t mind paying a little for the privilege of getting wet, the kids – and let’s face it, you too – will get a kick out of spending a heat wave at a water park, where adventure awaits with slides, wave pools, and other thrilling attractions aimed at keeping cool. Here are some of the best to explore in New England.

3. Have a shack attack

Since many will shutter their doors in the coming weeks as the season comes to a close, there’s limited time to hit up your local clam shack and enjoy some classic, fried goodness on the docks. Here are some of the best on the New England coast, from Maine to Connecticut.

4. Take a hike

Whether it’s an overnight trip or a half-day excursion through nature, the sights and sounds of a New England summer come together in a walk through nature. Explore the beauty of Camel’s Hump and the majesty of Mount Washington. Or choose from one of hundreds of other hikes in the New England area, many of which won’t even involve a day-pack.

5. Enjoy a free flick along the Charles River

There are a couple weeks left in this summer tradition, presented by WBZ NewsRadio 1030. On Aug. 16, catch “Jack the Giant Slayer.’’ The series closes with “Oz The Great & Powerful’’ on Aug. 23.

6. Check out Providence’s Waterfire

Head to Providence, R.I. for an annual display of art and renaissance. Created by award-winning sculptor Barnaby Evans, the display is a series of about 100 bonfires that blaze just above the surface of the three rivers that pass through the middle of downtown Providence in Waterplace Park. As visitors enjoy the artwork, specially selected music consisting of recorded natural sounds related to the ritual, religious and symbolic sources of the sculpture plays in the background. The Waterfire seasons runs from the end of May through November.

7. Paddle around New England

Hop in a kayak or canoe and give your arms a workout this summer as you paddle along some of the best rivers or waterways the area has to offer. Head to Hingham, Magnolia on the North Shore, or row around Thompson Island, one of the Boston Harbor National Park’s lesser known islands. Check out our picks for 10 of the best places to kayak in New England.

8. Scream for ice cream

While some popular ice cream destinations remain open year-round, many of our favorite, local places will shut their doors in a matter of weeks, forcing you to wait until the spring for some of the best creamy flavors that New England has to offer. So, pack up the kids and grab a sunset cone while you have the chance. Not sure where to go in your neck of the woods? Here’s our list of some of the best places in the region to visit for ice cream.

9. Visit a lighthouse

Take a weekend to explore some of the historic lighthouses along coastal Maine, including the West Quoddy Head Light, which is the eastern most point of the contiguous United States. (On Sept. 13., Maine invites you to enjoy its annual Open Lighthouse Day). For a complete guide to lighthouses in Maine and all of New England, click here.

10. Sail away in Mystic, Conn.

At the Mystic Seaport, home to the nation’s leading maritime museum, take your kids on a cruise of the port’s rare and historic boats. Or, even better, pilot one yourself. The harbor is full of tall ships, and the re-created 19th-century seafaring village provides the quintessential New England experience no matter what the age.

11. Explore the Boston Harbor Islands

Take some time to explore the 30 islands that make up the Boston Harbor Islands, just off the mainland. Hop on the ferry and take a scenic cruise to George’s Island, where you can explore historic Fort Warren, or take a boat to the oldest staffed lighthouse site, Boston Light, and learn the history behind the last light station in the country to be staffed by a US Coast Guard light keeper.

12. Go fishing

With all the lakes in Maine and Vermont, and five of the six states with sprawling seacoasts, there is no excuse for not casting a line this summer. Enjoy the art of fly-fishing, the thrill of deep-sea fishing, or a lazy day on a lake. Charter a boat, fish from the shore, or off a bridge. For ideas of where to go, check out our helpful Outdoors Guide.

13. Find a food festival

There are a handful of summer food festivals remaining on the schedule, including the Wilton Blueberry Festival , Charlestown Seafood Festival, the Milford Oyster Festival, and the Bourne Scallop Fest. Here’s a roundup.

14. Tour a boardwalk

Tacky T-shirts and fried dough litter the boardwalks of New England, a decidedly honky-tonk way to spend a day at the beach, and certainly one that reminds of days gone past. In New Hampshire, Hampton Beach is the most recognizable boardwalk, but be sure to also consider Salisbury Beach. Enjoy some arcade fun, cotton candy sweetness, or peruse one of the many surf shops along the walk.

15. Park it

Visiting America’s National Parks gets even better on Aug. 25, one of the several times throughout the year that over 100 national parks will be free of charge. Take the opportunity to explore the Acadia National Park in Maine, or the Cape Cod National Seashore.

16. Take a stroll down Comm. Ave.

The Globe asked architect William Rawn to sum up one of the most beautiful streets in America. “It is a matter of proportion, a quality of space often difficult to define in words, but you know it when you see it. The combination of the central mall, the rows of trees, the continuity of five- and six-story buildings. Take a walk. Your sense of the space is always changing – different times of day, different seasons, a sunny day, or a cloudy day.’’

17. Visit the Cape on the cheap

We can’t do anything about the traffic, but we can suggest some ways to enjoy the area without busting out your wallet at every turn. Here are 25 free things to do during the summer on Cape Cod.

18. Go white water rafting or kayaking in Maine

There’s nothing like the splash of water in your face as you rush through intense rapids. Throw on your helmet, hop in the raft, and soar down the Class 5 Penobscot River, Class 5 or 3 and 4 Dead River, or Class 5 or 3 and 4 Kennebec. If you’re in the mood to make a weekend of your trip, many rafting companies have cabins with reasonable camping deals.

19. Enjoy the ripe berries of the season

Even though strawberry season has come to an end, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, and blueberries are just juicing up. Spend a day at a local farm and bake up pies, tarts, muffins, or pick up your own basket and cook up treats right at home. Make preserves, fruit salad, or freeze them for a taste of summer in the winter.

20. Listen to the soothing waterfalls of New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s White Mountains house some of the most soothing and thundering waterfalls in New England. Try to spot a rainbow as you picnic along the water’s edge or dangle your feet into the flowing water at Sabbaday Falls, Rocky Gorge, Lower Falls, Arethusa Falls, or Silver Cascade.

21. Catch a sunset

There’s no simpler – or cheaper – way to experience the beauty of the season than by catching a sunset. New England has some of the best seaside spots to catch a picturesque moment. Pack a picnic, grab a blanket, and sit back as you remember that the summer is a time to relax and enjoy the view. Check out some of these photos of sensational sunsets from across the region.