Salt Marsh

EASTHAM - Those who know the outer Cape know that its subtle charms and salt-sprayed majesty are nestled nearly everywhere. An exit from Route 6 can quickly turn up perfect terrain for soft adventure or idle hours outdoors. So the outer Cape is a good place, particularly outside the high months July and August, for two travelers to spend two days for under $200 (not counting gas). Here is one way to do that. DAY ONE Morning: First Encounter Beach, Eastham In the tides of time, this stretch of sand backed by salt marsh on the bay side of the Cape looms large: It is the site, on a...

(Photo provided by Union Park Press) "Under Cape Cod Waters," by Ethan Daniels, explores ecosystems beneath the cold waters around Cape Cod. By Sara Brown, Town Correspondent Ethan Daniels, a marine biologist and under-water photographer, will speak about his book of Cape Cod photography Wednesday at the main branch of the Boston Public Library. The talk will include images from Daniels' book, "Under Cape Cod Waters" , features the underwater world around the Cape through photography.

Of all the projects of the environmental movement, one of the most valuable — and most challenging — is wetlands restoration. Turning a suburban dump or an abandoned strip mall into a revived natural area has huge benefits, from creating new habitats for wildlife to providing crucial flood protection for the people who live nearby. In difficulty and expense, but also in potential payoff, wetlands restorations are impressive endeavors. They also seem quintessentially modern, requiring not only technological know-how but also the ability to navigate a maze of conflicting interests — city councils,...

Of all the projects of the environmental movement, one of the most valuable — and most challenging — is wetlands restoration. Turning a suburban dump or an abandoned strip mall into a revived natural area has huge benefits, from creating new habitats for wildlife to providing crucial flood protection for the people who live nearby. In difficulty and expense, but also in potential payoff, wetlands restorations are impressive endeavors. They also seem quintessentially modern, requiring not only technological know-how but also the ability to navigate a maze of conflicting interests — city councils,...

(Photo provided by Union Park Press) "Under Cape Cod Waters," by Ethan Daniels, explores ecosystems beneath the cold waters around Cape Cod. By Sara Brown, Town Correspondent Ethan Daniels, a marine biologist and under-water photographer, will speak about his book of Cape Cod photography Wednesday at the main branch of the Boston Public Library. The talk will include images from Daniels' book, "Under Cape Cod Waters" , features the underwater world around the Cape through photography.

IPSWICH -- There are many things that would come as no surprise to those who know the salt marsh rhythms of the Ipswich River . When spring rain splatters cold and thick on swollen high-tide creeks, matted muskrats hustle from bank burrows, and plovers -- or are they sanderlings ? -- flit in the brown grass. At low tide, rain or shine, blue herons and white egrets gather for a muddy-footed feast. Tears of water drip, drip, drip from black-chunked earth into whatever narrow river channel is left.

Pin it on the economy, or the cost of flying the whole family to an exotic locale. Perhaps you're feeling environmentally conscious these days and want to travel green. They're all valid reasons for sticking closer to home this summer. And more of us are doing just that, according to a recent survey from the US Travel Association, which found more Americans are planning daytrips and long weekends, rather than the traditional weeklong getaway. Of course, when you consider the abundance of destinations that are, oh, just about an hour's drive (or less)

SHELLMAN BLUFF - If there’s a place where “Keep this a secret’’ comes to mind, it’s the Georgia coast, strung with barrier islands as big as Bermuda, and back islands - 1,600 of them - as large as hundreds of acres to the size of a pickup truck. To find so many wildly beautiful islands in one state is remarkable enough, but it’s the fishing that draws anglers here. Around and between the islands, a mighty 8-foot tide flushes 378,000 acres of salt marsh with brackish, food-rich water: the chemistry of a great fishery.

Warren is a waterfront village in the state's smallest county, tucked between Newport and Providence, and sometimes overlooked because of its proximity to those more recognizable tourist destinations. But with more than 16 miles of shoreline, abundant recreational opportunities, and a downtown bursting with restaurants, boutiques, antique shops, historic buildings, and a thriving arts scene, it's a tiny town with a lot going on and well worth a visit by couples, singles, and families.

In an acute case of one person's trash being another's treasure, three old barns have inspired preservationists in Canton, Hanover, and Marshfield who hope to resurrect the antique buildings. "These barns are a record of our [country's] craftsmanship - monumental efforts of energy and careful thought," said Steven O'Shaughnessy, who is involved in trying to save the structures as head of the preservation carpentry program at the North Bennet Street School in Boston's North End. "We were an agrarian society, a bunch of farmers, and we've become so disconnected here in New England from that tradition," he...

Pin it on the economy, or the cost of flying the whole family to an exotic locale. Perhaps you're feeling environmentally conscious these days and want to travel green. They're all valid reasons for sticking closer to home this summer. And more of us are doing just that, according to a recent survey from the US Travel Association, which found more Americans are planning daytrips and long weekends, rather than the traditional weeklong getaway. Of course, when you consider the abundance of destinations that are, oh, just about an hour's drive (or less)

EASTHAM - Those who know the outer Cape know that its subtle charms and salt-sprayed majesty are nestled nearly everywhere. An exit from Route 6 can quickly turn up perfect terrain for soft adventure or idle hours outdoors. So the outer Cape is a good place, particularly outside the high months July and August, for two travelers to spend two days for under $200 (not counting gas). Here is one way to do that. DAY ONE Morning: First Encounter Beach, Eastham In the tides of time, this stretch of sand backed by salt marsh on the bay side of the Cape looms...

IPSWICH -- There are many things that would come as no surprise to those who know the salt marsh rhythms of the Ipswich River . When spring rain splatters cold and thick on swollen high-tide creeks, matted muskrats hustle from bank burrows, and plovers -- or are they sanderlings ? -- flit in the brown grass. At low tide, rain or shine, blue herons and white egrets gather for a muddy-footed feast. Tears of water drip, drip, drip from black-chunked earth into whatever narrow river channel is left.

A thick, morning fog hung over the Oyster River as we paddled our way to the mouth of Great Bay. A pair of white swans was feeding in the nutrient-rich marshes; a whitetail buck nibbled on bushes at the top of a leafy hill overlooking the river. Black comorants sat on hunks of driftwood, spreading their wings to dry. Our double-ended paddles churned a path through the brackish waters, passing Wagon Hill Farm, its small sandy beach giving way to lush lawn and woodsy hills. We kayaked past scenic coves and inlets before the river opened up, dumping us into Little Bay...

Mass Audubon is nearing its goal of raising $3 million to protect 75 acres of salt marsh and forest in Rowley that the environmental organization calls some of the most significant coastal open space remaining in the Northeast. Located between Route 1A and Plum Island Sound, the property is part of the Great Marsh, a 20,000-acre expanse of salt marsh, tidal creeks, and sand flats stretching from Rockport to the New Hampshire seacoast. Mass Audubon officials say conservation of the land would close a gap in a mosaic of 8,000 acres already protected by various public and private entities.