Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/532845
190 | AUGUST 2015 nshoremag.com PLAY BEACH CRANE BEACH When it comes to choosing an idyllic spot to perch on a hot summer's day, Crane Beach is it. The Trustees of Reservations property is characterized by miles of shoreline, dunes, Bay Circuit trails, boardwalks, and Castle Neck peninsula—the site of the North Shore's largest pitch pine forest. Ipswich Bay and Essex River Estuary are also part of the experience. Recreation and conservation go hand in hand at Crane: Lifeguards and rangers, bike racks, and bathhouses are all present, as are outside showers, picnic tables, a store, water fountains, an information kiosk, and transportation for mobility-impaired visitors. Beyond its amenities, Crane Beach is also ap- preciated as one of the world's most important nesting sites for the threatened piping plovers. In fact, its shorebird protection program is nationally recognized as one of the country's best. Argilla Rd., Ipswich, 978-356-4354, thetrustees.org R E A D E R S' C H O I C E C R A N E B E A C H