Newburyport Beach Trip

Newburyport has always been a haven for me. It’s a place I can escape to at any time of the year. It’s a place of local adventures, a place for respite, a place to take a deep breath and to enjoy the natural world for a moment. Recently, Alex and I took a trip to the shore to get some fresh air, browse our favorite shops, and sip strong coffee from a newly discovered cafe.

We began our morning at Changing Tides Café. It’s a new spot that neither of us had been to before. Their gluten-free selection was incredible, with a whole menu devoted to gluten-free goodies. I got myself a couple of apple-cider donuts to go with my cortado. The coffee was strong and flavorful and paired nicely with the donuts. Not bad fuel for the day we had ahead.

Following our coffee, we drove out over the long finger of land towards the ocean and Plum Island. The drive is always a beautiful one, with expanses of seagrass on either side and the shells of old houses that are slowly being reclaimed by the earth. In the summer, you can roll down the windows and smell the sea air. Nowadays, we settled for watching it all pass us by, feeling at peace as we rolled up to the little beach shack—closed now for the season but still allowing visitors.

The island is named after the wild beach plums that you can find in the summer. It’s home to my favorite public beach in the area. If you drive all the way along the reservation land, you’ll make it to Sandy Point, a haven for the piping plover. In the winter it is a spectacular stretch of sand, mostly empty except for a few brave winter wanderers.  

Climbing out of the car, I felt the pull of the sea and the salty air. We laced up our hiking boots and got walking.

And what a beautiful walk it was! Like a moonscape all our own, the beach was filled with the smooth, white skeletons of trees, knots of fisher’s rope and lobster cages, and golden feathery stalks of seagrass rising up over the sand dunes.

I always find it amazing what good a walk can do for you. The fresh air really does put you in a different headspace. If you have the time, get out, find a place to take a quick stroll, even if it’s just around the block. If nothing else you’ll get the blood flowing, and likely find you can improve your mental health as well. A walk can do wonders for your body and soul.

I like to find opportunities to make it to the beach in the winter. There is something about the light and the water, the expanse of lonely sand dunes, that make me feel more alive in this dark and quiet season. Even if I’m in my puffiest coat, wrapped up like a snow mummy, it always feels worth it.

We eventually ventured back towards the car, along a mostly unused trail beyond the dunes. We warmed up and came back along the dusty road, enjoying the quietude and the grey sky, peace-meal between the scraggy branches.

Our next stop was Newburyport center– a quick lunch and then off to my favorite store. I mentioned Greenhouse Goods in my previous post about sustainability. This little store is truly making a difference in the world. Its mission is to provide everyday sustainable swaps: dish-soap, reusable cutlery and straws, sustainably made toothpastes and floss.

At the heart of the store is their refill station: a place where you can fill up your own containers with shampoo, conditioner, dishwasher liquid…you name it! The single use plastic is completely eliminated since you bring your own container and can keep filling it indefinitely. If you don’t have your own, no worries! They also sell the prettiest glass bottles that you can purchase in store to fill up again and again.

I could spend hours in this store. I always feel overwhelmed trying to pick just one or two things to buy. On this trip, I made the decision to switch to a refillable dental floss container. I bought this one, by Dental Lace and also got a bottle of conditioner. I’ve been using bar conditioner for a few months, but decided to switch back to liquid now that I can do so sustainably. If you’re interested in hearing more about my sustainable decisions, comment below to let me know!

It’s such a beautiful shop. There’s a warmth inside that makes the place feel homey and peaceful. If you happen to step in, be sure to take a moment to appreciate the window display. I find that it’s always set up so beautifully that I have to stop and check it out. The natural sunlight through the window makes the perfect spotlight for these beautiful vases!

Of course, we couldn’t stay in there forever. Finally, after a fare amount of browsing, we were back towards home, satisfied with our little Newburyport beach trip. Being stuck at home during COVID has certainly been a challenge. I always think that getting the chance to vary things a little really improves my mental health. Of course, it’s always important to stay safe and remain conscious of the virus. If you can, find out if there’s a local trail near you or a shop that you could safely browse. I find that these little outings can always make big difference.