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What’s more life-affirming than running headlong down a sun-drenched shore and flinging yourself into deliriously bone-numbing surf? Here’s where to do it.
A broad, open sweep that fills up with families and frisbee-tossing teens. There’s parking just beyond the sand, lifeguards, even a public bathhouse with changing rooms.
A 3 1/2 mile expanse of dunes and beach grass that’s the prettiest stretch of sand on the entire Maine coast. Its southern end, reached from downtown Ogunquit via a bridge, is often crowded; walk north for a dune to yourself. The warm, sand-rimmed Ogunquit River, which runs alongside the beach, is ideal for the water-wing set.
Where locals try their Laird Hamilton maneuvers in some moderately impressive waves. To the south is tranquil Crescent Beach, with tide pools that are tops for starfish-spotting. Bring binoculars to watch the seals basking just offshore on Bucklin Rock.
Celebrated for its pillowy sand, gentle surf, and backdrop of Newport-style mansions. Though finding a lovely beach in the Kennebunks is easy, finding a parking place is not. Borrow your hotel’s parking pass, buy one from the town hall, or, instead of driving, hop on one of the trolleys (see intowntrolley.com) that run along the coast.
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