OK, so it seems I found the Mother Beach. Hampton Beach State Park has not only an extremely inviting broad sandy beach reaching out to the Atlantic Ocean, but the main street running the length of the beach has eateries (from seafood to fry dough) as well as myriad entertainment arcades and centers. A paved boardwalk as well offers views of the beach without getting sand between your toes. Sea Shell Stage on the boardwalk offers live entertainment, nightly shows and various daytime events as well.

At the south end of the beach are dunes where, in the spring, piping plovers build their nests. The habitat is monitored through the Endangered Wildlife Project. Fencing and signage warn passersby of the area. The north end of the beach is a bit rockier, and the middle is all sand.

On another day, my plan was to go to Seabrook, its beach and see what the town is like. Somehow I ended up in Salisbury, Massachusetts which borders New Hampshire, being Massachusetts' most northern town. Am certainly not complaining. Took my chair and book and sat on the broad sandy beach for a while.

As for Seabrook, I did happen upon Cross Beach Road which dead ends at Blackwater River. What I found on this road were stilted bird houses, dozens of them, out in the marsh. After doing some research, I found there is a blog on which birders list their daily sightings. I didn't see many birds other than gulls, but the colorful houses were a real treat.