August is the Sunday of summer. The sun sets a little sooner and the school year looms on the horizon. It’s one of my favorite months of the year and it’s the perfect time to soak up all the sun and warm weather fun. Fireflies twinkle in the night. A late thunder storm rolls in and makes for a moody, cozy evening. Corn on the cob comes by the barrel full.
Tomatoes are finally ripe, backyard gardens are overflowing with zucchini, and the evenings invite one more walk after dinner. It's the season of saying "we should do this before summer ends" and actually making the time to do it. Whether you're looking for an afternoon adventure or simply a slower evening close to home, there are still plenty of ways to make the most of the season in the Lehigh Valley.
Between now and Labor Day, relish the last weeks of summer with some ideas and activities to do in our area.
Out in Nature
One of the greatest gifts of living in the Lehigh Valley is that nature is never far away. Rivers, lakes, parks, and gardens make it easy to escape the rush of everyday life without traveling very far. Late summer is especially beautiful as golden evenings replace the intense heat of July. This is your chance to plan one final beach trip with your friends and family! Plan a weekend to go tubing down the Delaware River.
Try paddleboard yoga at the Route 33 Boat Launch on Lehigh River or Haycock Boat Launch at Lake Nockamixon. Nothing like a sun salutation on the water! There is also a paddleboard Full Moon Sound Bath on August 1 and August 28 at Lake Nockamixon.
Spend an evening at Louise W. Moore Park or walk the trails at Trexler Nature Preserve as the golden hour light filters through the trees. You may even spot deer wandering through the fields or hear cicadas humming in the distance.
A little closer to home, don’t forget to check out the Live in the Garden Concert Series at the Bethlehem Rose Garden band shell every Sunday in August from 7:00–8:30pm.
Al Fresco Dining
Nothing says summer quite like eating outside. Maybe it's the warm breeze, the clink of glasses, or conversations that linger long after the plates have been cleared. August is the perfect excuse to move every meal outdoors.
This is your chance to host a weekly dinner party outside. Fire up the grill and eat on your patio, deck, lawn, porch, or right on the sidewalk! Pack a picnic for Monocacy Park or Sand Island, or bring takeout to enjoy while watching the sunset along the Lehigh River.
If you like to go out, The Tavern at the Sun Inn has such a charming outdoor patio. With string lights across the cobbles, get some colonial inspired food and pair with your favorite draft beer.
Along the train tracks near the river, The Wooden Match has great pub food and often has live music. The large patio at Edge Restaurant is tucked between buildings and offers a great menu.
For riverside dining, grab a table outside at River Grille in Easton and watch cyclists, runners, and kayakers pass along the Delaware. In Allentown, Union and Finch offers a welcoming patio that's perfect for brunch or dinner, while The Shelby serves creative cocktails in a stylish outdoor setting.
Before dinner, stop by one of the Lehigh Valley's farmers markets for peaches, sweet corn, tomatoes, and fresh herbs. Even a simple meal feels special when the ingredients were picked just hours before.
Exhibits and Learning
Sometimes escaping the afternoon heat is the perfect excuse to spend a few hours wandering through a museum. Late summer brings several special exhibits worth the drive, and many museums offer free or discounted admission on select days.
Pay what you wish at the Philadelphia Art Museum Friday evenings and on the last Sunday of each month. See two of Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings side-by-side now until October 11. A little closer to the Lehigh Valley, the Michener Museum in Doylestown offers the second Sunday free.
Explore America quilting traditions from the Civil War era to the present at the Pearl S. Buck House until October 18. This national historic landmark in Bucks County invites you to continue celebrating America 250 with this exhibit “Pieced Together: American Quilts Across Generations.”
Savor the Season
As the record setting temperatures break, it’s time to open all the windows. Let in some fresh air and bring a little summer inside. Get some fresh flowers (maybe from your own garden!) for your kitchen table. Late summer also reminds us that some of the best memories are made on ordinary evenings. Read a book on the porch, walk to get ice cream, and make homemade lemonade.
It’s also one of my favorite times to reflect on the year so far. Labor Day marks a transition, making it the perfect opportunity to journal about everything you've experienced over the past few months. Print out your favorite photos from the summer and create a memory book. Get some prints of your friends and mail it to them! What a treasure to capture the summer moments and put them on your fridge to remind you all year long.
Finally, take an awe walk around your neighborhood. Activate all your senses and notice the little details that often go overlooked—the sound of the ice cream truck around the corner, the smell of freshly cut grass, the warmth of the evening sun on your shoulders, or the first hints of autumn beginning to creep into the trees.
Before calendars fill with school schedules and autumn festivals, give yourself permission to stretch summer just a little longer. Watch one more sunset, eat dinner outside, visit a museum you've been meaning to see, or simply take an awe walk through your neighborhood. August may be the Sunday of summer, but there's still time to make it count.