Get to Crane's Beach AND Plum Island Car-Free!!! (Newburyport, Ipswich: buses, authority)

[goyguy]

For the longest time, the only way to reach two of the best beaches on the North Shore was to wait until you could get a group together and then prevail upon one of the vehicle owners to make the drive and sit in traffic. Then the Cape Ann Transit Authority launched the Ipswich-Essex Explorer, which goes right from the Ipswich commuter-rail station to and from Crane's as well as along separate routes into Essex and to a state park where canoeing and hiking can be enjoyed. There was unfortunately only funding for weekend and holiday service again this year, but that still allows for taking advantage of it at those times. The Web address:
Ipswich Essex Explorer, Seasonal Bus Service to Ipswich and Essex MA, USA
Making its debut this year is a shuttle service from the Newburyport commuter-rail terminal into downtown, thence to PLUM ISLAND. The fact that most of Plum Island is conservation land makes it a beautiful spot, but it also makes for a near-impossible parking situation. Because of that, I hadn't gone in "eons," but that could change in '09. These buses also run only on weekends but that's a start.
The Official Web Site of Newburyport Massachusetts - Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Surf's up - and the car's at home!

[capecodcathy]

Thanks for the info! I love Crane's!

[charolastra00]

I used the service 2 years ago to go to Crane's- awesome! The only problem is that trains don't roll through Ipswitch all too often on weekends so when we got to the station coming back (after quickly deciding we were overheated and needed to get out of the sun) we had to wait well over an hour.