Time to withdraw that application for the modern wonders of the world: The New York Times fawned over the German island of Usedom and its harmonious beaches without ever making the (comparatively short) trip to the singing beach in its backyard—er, in Massachusetts.
The classily-named town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, about an hour out of Boston's North Station, boasts a singing beach of its own not half a mile from the commuter rail stop. The low price of $5 gets you a full day of soft white sand which, if you strain your ears, appears to make a slight squeaking noise when you step on it. It's BYO spa gear, but you have very little chance of running into a dude with gray chest hair boasting of how the mineral waters aid his digestive tract, so it's a split decision.
Manchester's an easy day trip from Boston, especially when compared to the further enticements of the Cape, Newport or Block Island. There are a few things the American singing beach lacks, notably Roman Polanski and nudity, but why not leave those to the Europeans anyway, since both are potentially hazardous?
Related Stories:
· The NYT Visits Germany's "Singing" Sand Nude Beaches [Jaunted]
· Welcome to the Singing Beach [Manchester.MA.US]
[Photo: conbon]]]>