Summer’s End in Maine: Sentimental Moments and Vintage Traditions

Summer’s end in Maine always carries a tender kind of nostalgia. On my final beach walk before heading back to our Vermont home for fall, I found myself reflecting on the many gifts my parents gave me—especially a childhood rooted in this beautiful coastal place.

From cherished family traditions to the rediscovery of my mother’s vintage charm bracelet, this time of year holds stories I’ll never stop telling.

Rediscovering My Mother’s Vintage Charm Bracelet at Summer’s End

One of the most meaningful moments from this summer in coastal Maine was rediscovering a long-lost treasure—my mother’s vintage sterling silver charm bracelet. She hadn’t seen it in decades, and I never knew it still existed. I found it tucked away safely, and now I wear it often—especially on beach walks that remind me of her.

On my final stroll down the shore this summer, the bracelet jingled softly with every step, bringing back a flood of memories: childhood days under the sun, the scent of suntan lotion, tennis games, lobster dinners, open-air convertibles, and summers filled with laughter, friends, and salty sea air. The charm bracelet somehow holds it all. Do you have a vintage piece like that—one that captures an entire season of your life?

If you’re just beginning your own vintage journey, you might enjoy my beginner’s guide to collecting vintage home decor.

What’s on the Charm Bracelet: Sterling Silver Coastal Memories

Start Your Own Charm Bracelet Tradition

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As the final days of summer unfold here in coastal Maine, I find myself savoring the little rituals that help me say goodbye to the season. Beyond the bracelet and beach walks, there are a few things I always try to take in before heading back to our Vermont home for fall.

These simple, end-of-summer moments have become traditions in their own right—quiet, grounding, and filled with meaning.

Saying Goodbye to Summer at the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound

There’s something special about stopping by the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound at the end of each Maine summer—a tradition that goes back generations in our family. My mother used to visit this very spot back in the 1940s, and it’s still our favorite casual dining place today.

Nestled right on the river where it spills out into the ocean, it offers the best lobster, beautiful sunsets, and warm, familiar faces. We adore the staff, the view, and the laid-back charm that makes it feel like summer in every bite.

As the season winds down, we always make a point to stop in one last time—often with a bouquet of flowers in hand—to thank the team for another summer of smiles.

Under new ownership in recent years, the Lobster Pound is thriving, and if you’re ever in Cape Neddick, I highly recommend a visit. It’s one of those places that holds a little piece of the Maine coast—and a lot of memories.

An Ogunquit Playhouse Matinee and the Magic of September’s Harvest Moon

One of my favorite ways to mark the end of summer in coastal Maine is with a trip to the Ogunquit Playhouse, a historic local treasure that has been entertaining guests since 1933. This year, I caught a matinee of Mystic Pizza with a girlfriend—just the kind of lighthearted, feel-good show that pairs perfectly with dinner in town and a beach walk afterward. As we wrapped up the evening, the sky opened to reveal one of the most breathtaking seasonal sights: September’s Harvest Moon.

September’s Harvest Moon

This moon, the last full moon of summer, always feels like a gentle nudge toward autumn. In 2021, it reached its peak just after our visit, and I snapped a photo of it rising over the ocean the night before it was officially full.

The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, and its warm glow over the water is one of the most beautiful ways to say goodbye to summer. These are the little rituals that stay with me long after we leave Maine—and they make returning even sweeter.

Freshly Cut Grass and Saying Goodbye to Summer

There’s something simple and satisfying about mowing the lawn one last time before heading back to Vermont—it’s become one of my personal end-of-summer rituals. I love the scent of freshly cut grass, the way the lawn looks just-so with crisp lines, and the quiet knowing that this is the last time I’ll touch it before the seasons change. We use a little electric mower, and it might sound silly, but it brings me a real sense of peace.

The next time we return to Maine, the leaves will be falling, the air will be crisp, and the fire pit will be calling. But for now, this final mow is my way of tucking the yard in for the season—just one more way of saying goodbye to summer.

Prepping for Winter: Firewood Stacks and Cozy Snow Day Dreams

As summer winds down, one of our final to-do’s before leaving Maine is getting the firewood delivered and stacked for the colder months ahead. It may still be warm out, but knowing that a fresh pile of wood is waiting for us when we return for winter is such a comfort. There’s nothing like a snowy day with a fire crackling in the fireplace—it’s one of the little luxuries we cherish most during our cozy stays here.

We stock up now so we can fully enjoy the magic of those fireplace moments later on. If you love a snowy fireplace day as much as I do, you might enjoy this post: How To Spend a Cozy Snow Day at Home.

Washing Bedding and Hanging Sheets on the Clothesline Before Fall

Before we leave Maine at the end of summer, I love taking advantage of the warm, dry days to wash all our bedding and hang it outside on the clothesline. There’s nothing quite like climbing into freshly laundered sheets in the winter and catching that unmistakable scent of sun-dried linens—it’s like a little breeze of summer, even in the snowiest months.

This year, I hung my favorite blue and white floral sheets from the Vermont Country Store, which always feel extra special at season’s end.

Meanwhile, Ella, our Bernese Mountain Dog, made herself right at home, napping on the unmade beds like she knows what’s coming next. It’s these little rituals that quietly wrap up the season and help us welcome the next.

Cutting Winterberry Branches Before Leaving Coastal Maine

Before we head back to Vermont each fall, I like to take a quiet moment to cut a few sprigs of winterberry from the backyard here in Maine. These vibrant red branches have always been a favorite—mine, and my parents’. They used to decorate with them, bundle them up with bows, and even ship them to their siblings so they could enjoy a little piece of Maine from afar.

Now, I carry on the tradition by gathering winterberry to leave at the cemetery, a small seasonal tribute to my loved ones as I say goodbye to summer. I sometimes bring a few stems home to Vermont too—because decorating with winterberry always brings a sense of connection and continuity between the seasons.

Looking Ahead to Fall in Vermont

As much as I love our coastal summers in Maine, there’s something truly magical about returning to Vermont as the seasons begin to shift. The air turns crisper, the leaves start to blush, and our home in the mountains takes on that cozy, golden glow I adore. It’s a completely different kind of beauty—and one I look forward to all year long.

A Quick Stop at the Vermont Country Store

One of my favorite early fall rituals in Vermont is visiting the Vermont Country Store, a charming general store that’s been “selling the practical and hard-to-find since 1946.” It’s not thrifting, but it’s just as quaint—with everything from heirloom candy and cozy wool socks to nostalgic household staples and vintage-style linens.

You can read more about why I love visiting in this post: The Vermont Country Store: A Live Fall Visit.

As we pack up and head for the mountains, I’d love to invite you to join me for a season of vintage decorating, fall traditions, and everyday moments in Vermont.

How do you say goodbye to summer? I’d love to hear about your end-of-season traditions in the comments.

Thanks so much for coming along with me here in coastal Maine—and I’ll see you back in Vermont soon.

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