A Boston-area guide of where to soak up the fleeting days of summer

It’s the markdown aisles at stores that kill me this time of year.

Stroll into any pharmacy, grocery store, or clothing shop in August, and there it is — a brutal retail reminder that summer is over. Citronella candles are 50 percent off, as are pool noodles, shorts, rash guards, and lawn games. By mid-August, stores are trying to dump merchandise that was full of promise at the start of spring. These patio lights, badminton sets, and beach towels once hinted that a sparkling summer was on the horizon.

immediately, the same products that heralded the start of canicular days and gooey s’mores over a campfire are saying, “Sorry, loser. Summer is over. Head over to aisle six for all of your Halloween candy needs.” Side note: Who is buying Halloween candy in August?

For someone whose cat once diagnosed him as “clinically maudlin,” the premature change of retail seasons feels like a painful kick in the beach balls. Traditionally, summer arrives with fanfare and expectations aplenty. By July 4, I’m thinking that I should be planning al fresco candlelight dinner parties and languid beach strolls. They never happen.

When I saw all of these plans fading yet again, and then the sadness of the retail summer sales began, I thought, “Oh no, you don’t, summer. You’re not leaving before I’ve ticked off all the items on my sand bucket list.” So it began. I started scrambling to cram summer into the end of August.

If you find yourself in the same sinking inflatable raft, I invite you to join me on the quest for fun as the sun sets on the summer of 2025. Before you start questioning my omission of the Public Garden or Trillium on the Greenway, please know that I wanted to create a list that was more unique than the typically unimaginative suggestions that are found elsewhere. I suspect you’ll have your own suggestions, which I eagerly welcome you to share. I’ll happily greet them with a citronella-scented hug.

This is the activity that sent my summertime sadness into motion. On a balmy August night, I brought my friend Dan to a clambake on Spectacle Island. Because of the wildfires in Canada, the sun cast an eerily gorgeous burnt sienna haze in the sky. This was part of the Boston Harbor Islands After Dark, a series of events that include prosecco picnics, clam bakes, and jazz nights. Depending on when you’re reading this story, several of the programs have wrapped for the season. Blame my delay in conveying the information on the denial that summer will end soon. But there are still multiple opportunities and special programs that enable you to explore the Harbor Islands through the remainder of the summer and fall. Enjoy the views! Go to an island beach! You have several weeks to get to the harbor.

My favorite time of year to go to the beach is early September. The kids are back in school, the water is still warm, or as warm as the ocean in New England can be, and there are still plenty of balmy, sunny days (thanks, climate change!). Amtrak’s Downeaster runs year-round from Boston to Brunswick, Maine. I usually hop off to enjoy the honky tonk fun of Old Orchard, the dining in Portland, and the shopping in Freeport. Who am I kidding? I usually just get a deep-fried Snickers bar in Old Orchard and waddle to the beach. While the Downeaster runs all year, time is ticking on your chance to take the Cape Cod Flyer, which ends its season on Labor Day. The Flyer only runs on weekends; however, additional trains are added to accommodate holiday weekends. The train runs from South Station to Hyannis, and despite the special schedule, it is a stress-free way to get to the Cape.

I admit that there is nothing particularly inventive about dining on a roof deck during the summer, but what you may not know is that restaurants try to keep these options going as long as the weather cooperates. Some go even later than they should, but I’m not complaining. You may think you know everything there is to know about roof-deck dining, but let me share a secret with you: In Boston, the restaurant with the best view of the sunset is the Essex atop the Cambria Hotel Boston Downtown – Seaport in South Boston. The vantage point allows patrons to movie the sunset behind the Hancock and other downtown towers. While there, you can nibble on snacks created by chef Kristin Jenkins and enjoy eclectic cocktails. Pro tip: order the summery St. Tropez Spritz. If you want more of a frou-frou deck experience with a broader menu, head over to the Long Bar at Raffles.

I have developed a very strong aversion to chrysanthemums and ornamental cabbage. Nothing personal, but because of their hardy nature, nurseries trot them out at the onset of fall as if they’re the only flowers left on earth. Much like the sale aisle at stores unloading their summer merchandise, these plants depress the living daylights out of me. My alternative is to sidestep the mums and take in the seasonal blooms at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s Garden at Elm Bank in Wellesley. Calling Elm Bank a single garden does it a grave disservice. There are 20 gardens and attractions here, many of them planted so they bloom throughout the year. You can come in the spring for daffodils, visit in the summer for more than 100 varieties of daylilies, and swing by any time of the year for the Temple and Asian Garden. This is a nice place to escape from the world, or bring your kids to a playground.

One of my most memorable nights last summer was when I rented a boat from Boston Electric Boats and cruised around Boston Harbor with a group of friends, watching the sunset and eating an elaborate picnic dinner we brought along. Boston Electric Boats rents out boats starting at $439 for two hours, with a limit of six passengers. There are larger boats available at a higher rate. You can also opt to hire someone else to captain your boat, but what’s the point of that? The novelty is to get behind the wheel yourself and have (careful) fun. Owner Patrick Rourke gave me a quick lesson on how to navigate the easy-to-use boat, and we headed out on a sparkling evening. The only downside was that because I was playing captain, I wasn’t able to imbibe the champagne that my friends enjoyed. You can go at your own pace and book the boat in a block that’s convenient for you. immediately here’s the best part: Rourke rents the boats out until the end of Oct. 26. You can partake of a summer adventure as sweater weather begins. Or just pick a nice September evening and create your own endless summer evening.

One of the good things to come out of South Boston’s condo boom and invasion of Gen Z and Millennials is the growth of businesses to accommodate them. Some of these places are meh, others offer a convenient excuse to get outside. Truthfully, my preferred outdoor dining experience is at Petit Robert in the South End, where sitting outside on a warm night is like sitting at a Paris cafe. But man cannot live on steak frites alone, unless the man in question is looking for heart disease. That’s where Southie comes into play. After the pickleball courts were opened at Lawn on D, I bade it adieu. Nothing says “Ugh, no thanks,” like pickleball courts. Enter the replacement, Park City, an expanse of outdoor space with picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, and a stage for live beat. Because there are Millennials in the vicinity, there’s also cornhole. This is a place for small snacks or bites to go with drinks; however, I did fall for the chicken gyros. But the beauty of Park City is that you can hang out here for an hour or for the night. And when you’re trying to grab the last days of summer, every outdoor minute counts.

Christopher Muther can be reached at christopher.muther@globe.com. Follow him @Chris_Muther and Instagram @chris_muther.