25 Ways To Soak Up Summer

There's nothing wrong with plopping down on your favorite beach. But change is good for the soul (and, if you're smart, not bad for the skin). In New England, a world of water is calling. The ocean, yes, but also lakes, rivers, ponds, even water parks. En

May 20, 2007

1 Take a Magical Dip
DIANA'S BATH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

If the famed illustrator Maxfield Parrish ever needed a watery locale to inspire one of his neoclassical fantasies, he didn't have to drive far from his home in Cornish, New Hampshire. Shaded by a stand of lofty cedars and white pines, the boulder-strewn pools of Diana's Bath in North Conway would make a suitable backdrop for Parrish's sprites and fairies. But you don't have to be an artist to enjoy this natural spa, which was once known as Oonahgemessuk Weegeet, or "home of the water fairies," by Native Americans. It's particularly popular with families who make the half-mile trek up a wide gravel path from West Side Road. As you approach the site, you'll hear it before you see it: The murmur of water tumbling over moss-draped granite slabs and eddying in shallows creates a sylvan sonata. A picnic table and bench overlook a choice view of the Bath, which is an appropriate description of the succession of scenic shallow pools, a soothing antidote for a hot day. "I wouldn't call it swimming," said a beefy bather who was frolicking in the waters at the end of last season. "I'd call it splashing." - Tom Long

* Route 16 north to North Conway, left onto River Street, right onto West Side Road; well-marked parking lot is on the left.

2 Spend a Night on a River
SAMUEL SLATER CANAL BOAT, RHODE ISLAND

By day, the Samuel Slater, an authentic British-built canal boat, carries tourists along the Blackstone River in northern Rhode Island, showing how the former mill area is being returned to the wild. By night, it's a floating bed-and-breakfast. Like a miniature houseboat, it has a bedroom, bath with shower, full kitchen, and room to read or watch television. It can sleep four, with one private bedroom and two benches in the main compartment that convert to beds. A pleasant add-on is an afternoon cruise, where you might see a great blue heron or osprey nesting. After the tour, the captain tethers the boat to the dock at Central Falls and hands you the key. You can grab dinner at one of the city's many ethnic restaurants or cook in. After dark, it's just you and the river, quiet and peaceful. Although the dock is well lighted, the boat can still feel a world away. In the morning, the hearty breakfast you ordered in advance will arrive right on time and piping hot. No time for an overnight? Take a British tea tour - nature and pastries to boot. - Ellen Albanese

* The Samuel Slater departs from Central Falls Landing. I-95 south to exit 11, to Route 114 south, turn right onto Dexter Street (Route 123), left on Broad Street, then right onto Madeira Avenue; overnight, $179 double; one-hour cruise with overnight, $90 additional; British tea tour, $19.95; 401-724-2200, 800-454-2882; bedandbreakfastblackstone.com.