Beach and fair; good financial news; back to submissions

[lisefrac]

Every summer I say I want to do two things:

1) I want to go to the beach.
2) I want to go to a fair.

Necessary caveats: an ocean beach (I can go to a lake-beach any time), and an agricultural fair (I'm not interested in like the state fair, or any other really big, commercial fairs).Every summer for at least the past five? ten? years, I've

Comments

[cristovau]

Opinions? sure!

Fairs: I have only been to the Topsfield fair & that is a bit of a madhouse-busy. Lots to do and see, but it is pretty big and it is easy to get peopled-out.

Beaches: I am no beach expert. Most beaches will be a real drive.

One of the better, simple beach trips I took was to Singing Beach in Manchester by the sea. This is mysteriously Commuter Rail Accessible, and delightful. Not a super surf beach, but really pleasant.

Hampton Beach, NH, is actually a lot of different beach experiences. There is the town beach by the boardwalk - which is the beautiful, ugly-American gem. There is the state beach, which is a simple set of dunes and sand and great waves. There are also a number of smaller, rockier North beaches which are largely used by renters and townies. All have good waves with State->Town->North being preferable.

Going further afield might be fun - Provincetown and Newport have good beaches nearby. But those are destinations in and of themselves. I grew up on the South Coast, near Westport, so I have a personal fondness for Horseneck Beach... but that, too is a trip. I am somewhat dubious about the joys of the beaches just North & South of Boston as the harbor seems to limit wave size, which is a great personal preference of mine where beaches are concerned. If you don't seek big waves, some beaches closer to the city might be good.

[lisefrac]

I think I would prefer waves, myself. One of my favorite activities when I used to go swimming on Lake Champlain was jumping into/over the incoming waves.

Where is Horseneck Beach? I mean, I've driven down to Plymouth to see Alison before, so I am not adverse to taking a drive.

[cristovau]

That is down in Westport, Mass. It is probably just as easy to go to Newport? (or PortPort - so may ~ports)

For the best waves (IMHO), you need to get outside the Boston Harbor effect that is created by Cape Cod.