Beach Treasures and Treasure Beaches

The idea of grabbing cross country skis and heading to the seashore has never actually crossed my mind, until today! Yet, Mainers and visitors to the Pine Tree State can do just that.  Cross country skiing on the beach sounds like an awesome day to me.  Break out the sunscreen and hand me those poles!  I have something new to add to my bucket list!

The State of Maine has about 3,478 miles of coastal shoreline — shore that is influenced by the tides, that is. Granted, an awful lot of Maine’s coast is rockbound.  But Crescent Beach State Park, on the southern Atlantic coast of Maine, is just right for winter walks, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

Sunrise, Cape Elizabeth, Maine (Photo by Erin McDaniel/Wikimedia Commons)

Located in Cape Elizabeth, about a 15 to 20 minute drive south of Portland, Crescent Beach State Park is open to vehicles from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. According to the Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands, “The park’s signature feature and namesake is a mile-long, crescent-shaped beach ideal for strolling and sunbathing, where relatively warm waters and light surf make swimming and boating a pleasure. A few feet from the crowded summer sands are trails for walking and nature watching.”

WooHoo!

During the winter months, when the park is closed to vehicles, hikers and cross country skiers can still enter this beautiful beach park, via a pedestrian entrance, to enjoy the serene meadows, woods, trails, and beach.  With amazing views of the Maine coastline, 243 acre Crescent Beach State Park has a lot to discover.

I can hear it now. “Pack your long johns, Honey. We’re going to the beach!”

Here’s a related link if you’d like to read more about cross country skiing at Crescent Beach State Park:  The Maine coast in winter: Beach. Surf. Sand… and skiing.

Have a great day at the beach!  ~ Please pass the hot chocolate. ~