TRIPS AND TIPS

Finally, the sun is out and those of us North of Boston folks can claim our handsome reward for surviving such a long, arduous winter. So begins the long, lazy days of summer. Looking for the perfect beach day right in your own home state? Here are a few local destinations that Andersen Group Realty can recommend for your summer sun fix:

TRIPS

Singing Beach, Manchester by-the-Sea, 119 Beach Street, Manchester MA

Named for the sound made as wind passes over sand dunes, this Manchester beach runs over ½ mile long. It offers a privately owned bath house with concessions, restrooms and baby changing station. Parking costs $25 for the day, though you could opt for the nearby commuter rail service.

Crane Beach, Argilla Road, Ipswich MA

Enjoy a beautiful beach day and the opportunity to tour both Castle Hill and Crane Wildlife Refuge all in one location. You’ll find lifeguards, bathhouses, picnic tables and bike racks. Five miles of trails await your exploration, showcasing coastal dunes, a pitch pine forest and fenced bird nesting areas.

Good Harbor and Wingaersheek Beaches, Thatcher Road/Atlantic Ave, Gloucester MA

Gloucester actually boasts 8 separate beaches, but we think Good Harbor and Wingaersheek are two of the best. Good Harbor offers a large white sand beach facing the Atlantic. Boogie boards are permitted so you can ride the waves. And during low tide, you can walk out all the way to Salt Island. Wingaersheek is our top pick for young children. Their low tide extends out for hundreds of yards and encompasses an oversized sand bar. If you catch it at the right time, your kids will fill buckets with sand dollars and other fun underwater finds.

Revere Beach, Revere Beach Boulevard, Revere MA

You can’t beat Revere Beach’s location–just six miles from downtown Boston. Public transportation can easily transport you to the nation’s oldest beach and, once you arrive, you’l find a bathhouse, shade shelters and a long stretch of beach. There’s a bandstand on site for summer concerts and, each July, they hold their famous National Sand Sculpting Contest.

Feeling Adventurous? To get an even bigger beach vacation feel, you’ll need to travel a little further outside the city. However, Boston offers ferry service to some of best beaches on the East Coast, such as:

Provincetown

Just a 90 minute ride from Boston and you’ll arrive at the very tip of Cape Cod. Bay State Cruise company offers a full schedule of round-trip ferry rides down to Providencetown and it’s beautiful coastline.

Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket

There are several ferry companies that offer round-trip transportation to the islands. Most leave from the base of Cape Cod, Falmouth or Hyannis, though New Bedford is another option. Most ferries can get to the islands in under 3 hours, though high-speed options have recently been introduced that promise to get you from Cape to Island in about an hour:

www.steamshipauthority.com Wood’s Hole to Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket

www.islandqueen.com Hyannis to Martha’s Vineyard

www.hylinecruises.com Falmouth to Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket

www.seastreak.com New Bedford to Martha’s Vineyard

If you really want to jet directly from the city, there’s always the option of flying; www.capeair.com and www.fly.linearair.com are two carriers out of Logan.

TIPS

Before you hit the waves, take a moment to make sure you have a fully stocked beach bag. Sure, sunscreen and towels are important…but it’s the little things that make the biggest difference when you’re facing a full day in the sun and sand. Here are some beach essentials that we suggest you throw in the car alongside your buckets and sand chairs:

Baby Powder. Keep a small container in your beach bag and your car will thank you. Just before the drive back at the end of the beach day, shake some baby powder onto your sandy feet and watch how it easily brushes right off your body! It’s a best-kept secret to a sand-free car.

Fitted sheet. Wind can be your enemy at the beach. Bring a large, fitted sheet and it’s easy to weigh down the pocket ends with sand or heavy beach items.

Trash bag AND storage bags. On a crowded day, you may find that you’ve set up camp far from a beach’s trash receptacles. Save yourself the long back-and-forth trip by bringing your own trash bag for lunch & snack clean up. Also, if you’re going to use the outdoor showers and bathhouse to change before the ride home, have a storage bag handy for those wet bathing suits.

Beach Cart. We think it’s worth the one-time cost to get a durable beach cart to load all your gear for travel. As much as your children promise to carry their share out to the beach, we know that doesn’t always happen. We’ve seen too many parents lugging bags on every shoulder and arm, only to return for a second trip back to the car for more!

Collapsible Cooler. Speaking of lugging items onto the beach, those hard coolers will feel really heavy and hard to maneuver with all your other items. Get a good quality collapsible cooler–it will be easier to fit onto your beach cart and, of course, when it empties out, it’s a whole lot easier to carry back! Did you get your Andersen Group Realty cooler yet?!?

Garden Shovels. Sure, the tiny plastic shovels are cute but do they really sustain your children’s attention? Less is more when it comes to sand toys. Get them a child-sized metal shovel and watch them spend the day really digging into that sand. Maybe you’ll be able to relax and enjoy some seaside reading as your children build elaborate castles and moats around you!

Sun Tent. Umbrellas are nice but they don’t get much coverage. If you’re really planning to make a day of it, invest in a sun tent. They may take a little longer to set up, but it’s really like a private cabana at the beach. www.sport-brella.com makes a large model with wind vents, side flaps and UPF 50+ protection. You can enjoy a sand-free lunch or take a long nap in the shade!

Finally, don’t forget the tiniest items for the bottom of your beach bag…wet wipes, pony tail holders, bandages, lip balm and aloe vera. We hear a small spray bottle filled with vinegar will take the sting out of a jelly fish bite. When it comes to the beach, planning is everything. Pack your essentials and you’re guaranteed a long, full-filled summer day in the sun!