Community Corner
Summer Is Here, Let's Head to the Beach
A rundown of nearby beaches that make a great escape on a hot summer day.
With the end of our VERY rainy month of May, the arrival of Memorial Day weekend, and the return of the warm sun to the sky, all my kids could talk about last week was going to the beach. So on a whim, last Saturday afternoon, I tossed bathing suits in their direction and some beach towels and sand pails in the car, and we set off on our first visit of the year to Revere Beach.
I've lived here in Medford for nearly 13 years, and in the Boston area for nearly 17, and most of that time, my only beach excursions were on the south shore. (My in-laws are south shore people.) But in recent years, I've really enjoyed exploring beaches closer to MY home. Here are a few of my favorites.
- Revere Beach. Yes, it makes my list of favorites. When the traffic on Route 16 is moving, it's super easy to get to and there's usually plenty of parking. The stretches of sand are perfect for the kids to dig in and build on. There are bathrooms, a bathhouse, and plenty of shaded picnic tables available for public use. And let's not forget -- the original Kelly's Roast Beef and Kell's Kreme.
- Crane Beach. I've never actually been swimming here, as we always seem to visit Crane Beach "off-season." But it's one of my favorite beaches for exploring. We always seem to find interesting pieces of driftwood, and have sometimes enjoyed adding to the stacks of rocks ("cairns") that unnamed others have created. The practice is a fun way to say, "we were here" without causing harm to the environment.
- Humarock Beach. This one is south of Boston, but much closer than most southern beaches. It is officially part of Marshfield, next door to Scituate, less than an hour from Medford. We have rented a vacation home here in the past, but we waited too long to make plans this year and will have to settle for day trips this summer. The beach is a combination of sand and rocks, so my kids and I usually divide our time between building castles and searching for special stones. And we'll end our visits with a trip to Sands End Cafe for ice cream!
