15 Ways to Embrace the End of Summer in New Brunswick

With August more than half over, I know I’m not alone when I say that I’m planning my free time to embrace the end of summer in New Brunswick before it’s gone for another year.

I’m not a “Fall” kind of person. I hate pumpkin spiced lattes. My heart doesn’t skip a beat when the first leaves turn yellow.

I’m a summer girl. Who prefers to live in flipflops and cut-off shorts, while sipping seafood caesars on the wharf and feasting on lobster rolls after a day at the beach.

But with all of the mermaid magic in my possession, I have yet to find a secret to make summer endless, so this time of year is always a little bittersweet. The days are getting shorter, the air a little cooler, and I’m just trying to soak in every last drop of sunshine and saltwater that I can.

Whatever your motto—carpe diem, YOLO, seas the day, or as I like to say: ‘dip ta clam!’—it’s time to soak in every summer moment.

Here are 15 ways that you can embrace the end of summer in New Brunswick before it’s out to sea!

✓ Get an ice cream.

It may seem simple and pretty easy, but it was the second week of August when I realized Dan and I hadn’t gotten a summer ice cream on the wharf yet together. Treat yo self!

✓ Catch a flick at the drive-in.

All summer long, I have been saying it feels like an old-school summer and I can’t think of anything more old school than a visit to the drive-in. Find a drive-in near you, pack some snacks and make a night of it.

✓ Feast on fried clams and lobster rolls.

I am a little biased, but I think New Brunswick has some of the best friend clams in the world. Catch my guide on some of the best in our province here. And don’t even get me started on our lobster rolls—they are THE best!

✓ Explore New Brunswick’s Fundy Trail.

This is easily one of my favourite day trip activities in New Brunswick. Easily accessible for everyone, you can spend the whole day exploring scenic outlooks and otherworldly beaches. Plan your trip using this East Coast Mermaid guide here.

✓ Take a free ferry ride.

Have you ever been to Deer Island? If your answer is no, did you know that it’s a FREE ferry to the island that leaves every thirty minutes from L’Étete, NB? That’s less than an hour from Saint John!

Deer Island has plenty to explore, including lighthouses, excellent seafood and the largest whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere. Learn more about the island and plan your trip here.

✓ Plan a weekend getaway.

It might feel like time is running out to plan a summer escape, but it’s not! Why not plan a getaway to one of our magical Fundy Isles like Grand Manan or Campobello Island. Want to stay on the mainland? St. Andrews by the Sea is absolutely lovely this time of year, as is Saint John!

✓ Book a walking tour.

Have you heard of Viva Shediac? They offer fun walking and driving tours out of Shediac, including a Bar Hop and a Sea Discoveries tour that includes a visit to Homerus Eco-Centre at the Pointe du Chêne Wharf! Check out our experience here.

✓ Get zen with a little beach yoga.

Nearly every week this summer, you can catch me doing beach yoga at Parlee Beach with Inspire by Anne yoga. To me, there’s no better way to embrace a beautiful summer evening than a little sunset and yoga on the beach.

✓ Take a hike.

In my totally biased opinion, New Brunswick has some of the most beautiful provincial and national parks in the Maritimes. Why not plan a park visit? I know I can’t wait to visit Fundy National Park before the leaves start turning red!

✓ Try paddle boarding.

This summer, I bought a paddleboard and it’s been a highlight of my summer. While it may seem late in the season to invest in a new toy, you can rent paddleboards or take in a class at Shediac Paddle Shack!

✓ Go whale watching!

August is easily my favourite time of year to go whale watching. If you’ve never experienced whales from up close, what are you waiting for? And yup—we have a guide for that!

✓ Book a kayaking trip.

We are so incredibly lucky to have a handful of amazing kayak operators here in New Brunswick to choose from for an epic adventure. Why not make a splash and kayak the Hopewell Rocks or the world-famous St. Martin’s sea caves with Red Rock Adventure.

✓ Look for seaglass.

So many of you have told me that you’ve never actually purposefully looked for seaglass. Why not change the tides and give it a try? Here’s the East Coast Mermaid Guide to Seaglass Hunting in New Brunswick to get you started!

✓ Have a New Brunswick lobster boil.

Did you know that it’s lobster season in many parts of New Brunswick right now? It’s the perfect time to pick up some fresh-caught lobster and host a lobster boil. Grab some delicious local corn to make it a party!

✓ Drop everything to catch a beach sunset.

This month, we have been taking every chance we get to head to the beach for sunset. Even during the week when things get busy or it’s tempting to just stay home and finish the neverending list of chores.

Summer is short, especially in New Brunswick. Drop some responsibilities and treat yourself to a sunset!

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And there you have it! These 15 suggestions just so happen to be summer activities in New Brunswick that are near and dear to my mermaid’s heart. So I hope that you give them a try and enjoy the last of your summer days to the fullest!

I’d love to hear what your end of summer musts are this year! Leave a comment or DM me on my shell phone!