[an error occurred while processing this directive] Bikes, Hikes and Meanders: Human-Powered Adventures on the Coast

Summary: Huge stretches of the ENHA coast belong to you. Choose your hobby - boating, hiking, cycling, running or walking, and there is a coastal adventure waiting for you.

Nearly five thousand acres are yours to explore at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newbury, including miles of sandy beach and rare unspoiled dunes. Cyclists love the level roadway that winds through the Plum Island dunes for over six miles, and hikers can follow foot trails that meander through sandy grasses and thickets and freshwater marshes. Observation towers, boardwalks and way-stations along the road bring you right into the heart of the Refuge. Sea-kayakers enjoy the active surf and the frequent gusty breezes lift kites to amazing heights and send sail-boards skipping across the water. Bring a towel and your binoculars, and keep your eyes peeled for the resident herd of deer.

The brilliant white sand and old growth forests of Crane Beach in Ipswich make it one of New England's most picturesque spots. You may catch a glimpse the magnificent Crane Estate, a Stuart-style mansion built in 1927 that crowns the hill high above the beach as you walk along the four miles of beach or mountain bike through the dunes. Trails are set aside for horseback riding, and you can bring Rover along (on a leash, of course) for most of the year. Peek behind the occasional barriers on the beach and you will see the nests of some of America's most rare shorebirds, including the small but noisy piping plover. The shallow waters between Crane Beach and the tip of Plum Island are perfect for snorkeling and fishing for flounder. Crane Beach is also connected to the Bay Circuit Trail, a path that runs down the length of Massachusetts from the North Shore to the South Shore.

Looking toward the sea from Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, you can see all the way to Maine and the Isles of Shoals, but the view is only one of this park's many charms. Well into the twentieth century, massive granite quarries covered this land, and granite-cutting demonstrations are a part of every tour. Follow a guide through the old Babson Farm Quarry or walk through the park's 56 acres on your own, savoring the sweeping views from the granite headland. Tidal pools harbor crustaceans and attract birds, and rich, shallow soil nurtures scrub berries, but you will probably never see a halibut. The Point got its name because sailing ships would tack or "haul-about" as they rounded the Point.

There are hundreds of miles of beaches, harbors and coastlines along the Essex County shore. Most seaside towns have a special place to bike or hike, and many offer bike and kayak rental. Whether you stroll down wide paths or lose yourself in the secret world of dunes and tide pools, the coast will charm and refresh you.

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