Rye, New Hampshire

Rye is the earliest American settlement in New Hampshire and in its history has been variously known as Pannaway and Sandy Beach. 

About 2/3 of the town is actually water, so there are boats aplenty.

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of this town is to visit Odiorne Point State Park.

The trails along the ocean are picturesque and memorable. 

Along the way, you may discover some marvelous houses situated near the salt marshes.

and a golf course with a view to please no matter what the score.

When the fog rolls in, the landscape takes on an entirely new character.

The mist adds drama wherever you look.

As does the setting sun.

The colors are rich at sunset...

...particularly when reflected in the water.

Another memorable spot to visit is Rye Harborside.

It's a very active harbor.

With lobster boats and sailboats and luxury craft...

....and sea kayaks.

Rye is home to various wildlife - this swan certainly seemed to enjoy an evening swim among the lily pads!

From the benches at Rye Harbor State Park, you can see the Isles of Shoals - a perfect place to both gaze and ponder while you bask in the glowing sun.

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler.

Salisbury Beach, Salisbury, Massachusetts

(This is Part Three of a three-part series on Salisbury, Massachusetts.)

Salisbury Beach has become a major attraction ever since a road to the beach was first built in the mid-1800's. From expansive ocean views to the various seaside amusements, relaxing here in the summertime is near-ritual for many repeat visitors. For those who desire to stay awhile, there is a campground with nearly 500 sites that is operated by the state of Massachusetts - making Salisbury Beach a popular vacation spot as well as a shorter day trip destination. 

The road to the beach itself is a real treat, with scenic views of the salt marsh...

and the many beach houses belonging to those who stay here throughout the summer months and even longer.

Watching the tide come in and the waves splash is really all that's needed to enjoy a lazy summer afternoon.

With nearly four miles of beach, there's plenty of space for some scenic walks to be had here.

Nothing beats the "golden hour" before the sun sets and the landscape is bathed in some of the softest light of the day. 

There is a boat launching area at the Salisbury State Reservation, your starting point to experience the ocean from an entirely different perspective. 

What could be more relaxing than a carefree motorcycle ride to the beach in Salisbury?

And talk about a great place to go fishing - even if you don't catch anything, you sure can't beat this view! Across the way is Plum Island in Newburyport, Massachusetts, where the "other side" of this precise location was featured in a previous blog post. 

As evening approaches, you'll probably be ready to take a break from the beach itself and head on over to the beach amusement area.

There are many places to park, including along some of the side streets.

If you get a chance, be sure to take some time to explore some of these interesting side streets - especially for an early morning or early evening walk when it's not too crowded.

At the beach amusement area, there is plenty to do for the kids - and kids-at-heart. From go-karts to the arcade, you'll easily spend awhile here. 

This is also the place to go when you crave those three simple staples of beach food - fried dough, hot dogs, and lemonade.

The nearby Blue Ocean Music Hall at the Pavilion on Salisbury Beach has more than 100 concerts each year - most seats are within 50 feet of the stage. 

If you haven't been to Salisbury Beach in awhile - maybe not even since you were a kid - your memories of it may have faded and dulled quite a bit. Why not visit again, and better yet, bring someone new with you who hasn't been here before?

You might even see it in a whole new perspective yourself...

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

(This is Part Three of a three-part series on Salisbury, Massachusetts. Part One introduced the town and Salisbury Square while Part Two featured a visit to Ring's Island.)

Rings Island, Salisbury, Massachusetts

(This is Part Two of a three-part blog series on Salisbury, Massachusetts)

Ring's Island is easily accessible near the Newburyport and Salisbury town line on Bridge Rd. If you're coming from Newburyport towards Salisbury, just cross the bridge and take your next right onto 1st street. 

Perhaps you'll be lucky as I was and see the drawbridge open up for a tall masted ship to slip through!

The town pier on Ring's Island is the perfect spot to visit in the early evening after a restaurant meal in town. There are long benches on the pier for sitting awhile and taking in some refreshing sea air.

This is a prime spot to gaze at the boats on the Merrimack River, both active and stationary.

Lobster boats can come in a variety of colors, and this one especially caught my eye. What color and shade would you use to describe this one?

On the evening when I arrived, the Salisbury Harbormaster had just come in to tie up at dock.

Marinas are an especially fun place to take pictures. 

There are usually lots of interesting shapes and colors to be found.

The views of the town of Newburyport from this side of the Merrimack alone are worth the visit... 

...especially as dusk settles and the lights begin to come on.

Some thunderclouds were building up as I was getting ready to leave, which made for a dramatic sky.

As an historic old fishing village, Ring's Island in Salisbury, Massachusetts has no doubt been both the starting and ending point of many a great adventure with a tale to tell afterwards. One can only imagine today what those stories were.

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

(This is Part Two of a three-part blog series on Salisbury, Massachusetts. Part One introduced the town with a focus on Salisbury Square. Part Three will explore Salisbury Beach and the nearby amusement area.)

Salisbury, Massachusetts

(This is Part One of a three-part series on Salisbury, Massachusetts.)

Like the names of many New England towns, the name of Salisbury is inspired from a similarly named  location in England. Less known is the previous name of the town, which was Colchester. There are "four distinctly different areas" of Salisbury according to the town's website: Salisbury Square, Salisbury Plains, Rings Island, and Salisbury Beach.

When you're passing through Salisbury Square, the most distinctive architectural element is the steeple of East Parish United Methodist, with its huge clock face that can be seen pretty far down the road as you come up on Bridge Street. 

There's definitely a nostalgic feel to Salisbury Square. From the red-white stripes of a barber pole...

...to the Richdale convenience store sign, you get the feeling that time marches on here just a little more slowly than other places. And that's a good thing!

If you're looking for breakfast or lunch, there are a couple of diners in this downtown area including Pat's Diner.  According to Wikipedia, Pat's Diner used to be known as Ann's Diner and was built in 1950 by the Worcester Lunch Car company. It is included on the United States government's National Register of Historic Places.

Whether it's browsing through an antique store...

...or racing your best friend on a go-kart, there's sure to be an activity to appeal in Salisbury.

How about dining on some New England fried clams?

Of course, the beach is a huge attraction for many visitors.

Salisbury Beach State Reservation offers several miles of sand and waves to play in.

But there's no need to stay on land, and many a pleasant evening has been spent boating and fishing here.

 There's definitely a reward in staying around town to watch a sunset!

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

This is Part One of a three-part series about Salisbury, Massachusetts. Part Two will cover Rings Island and Part Three will be a visit to the Salisbury Beach State Reservation as well as the beach amusement area.