Thursday, July 23, 1998

A day at the beach

By Mary K. Pratt

We have it easy here on the North Shore. A day at the beach is just a few minutes away. Too often, though, we don't take advantage of this convenience. Weekdays are too busy with work and day-to-day tasks; Saturdays and Sundays are spent running errands and catching up on family matters. There's just not enough time to make it to the beach, we tell ourselves.

Stop making excuses and head to the beach for one, full relaxing day. Head out early to beat the out-of-towners to the parking lots. The roads heading to the ocean can get clogged with traffic jams on hot, humid weekend days. Better still, take a day off from work to avoid the weekend crowds altogether.

Some local favorites include Salisbury State Park, Crane Beach in Ipswich, Plum Island in Newburyport, and Good Harbor and Wingaersheek beaches in Gloucester.

Other hot sandy spots are Lynch Park in Beverly, Rockport's downtown beach, and Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea.

Parking can cost up to $15 on weekends, so bring cash. And if you're heading to Manchester, take the commuter train; there's very limited parking for Singing Beach.

Along with money to pay for parking, carry enough to treat yourself to summertime snacks. Although it's smart to drink plenty of water and juice when you're out in the sun all day, it's emotionally healthy to indulge in ice cream, too.

Don't forgot other essentials: a plush towel, a chair or blanket, and plenty of sunscreen. Also, take along some good reading. Nothing too heavy or serious. Magazines, paperback romances and mystery novels are just the ticket.

And be sure to leave all your work at home. Summer in New England is too short to spend worrying about what needs to get done.