Items for your Manchester-by-the-Sea itinerary.
Singing Beach Manchester is lucky to have one of the North Shore’s most accessible beaches, complete with a bath house and snack bar. On weekdays, you can park in the non-resident spaces for a fee. For other parking strategies, go to the Parks and Recreation website for the latest details or follow advice on Yelp.com. 119 Beach St., 978-526-7276.
Healing Baskets Founder Caroline Cheshire knows firsthand how friends and family can be at a loss for words at difficult life transitions. A healing basket filled with soothing sayings and sachets helps. Baskets bear different sentiments, including sympathy, get well, and feeling blue, among others. 13 Moses Hill Rd., 888-960-4325.
The Stock Exchange The owners are constantly redecorating the displays at this posh second-hand store, because everything-from tiger maple tables and designer fabric to schooner paintings and entire plate servings-usually zooms out the door. 3 Beach St., 978-526-7569.
Manchester by the Book Pick up new, used, rare, scholarly, or local books for beach reading. When we stopped by, Owner Mark Stolle had just acquired a library of 3,000 books. 27 Union St., 978-525-2929.
Cala’s Fresh ingredients and seafood are this chic, casual restaurant’s specialty, open for lunch and dinner. 7 Beach St., 978-525-3304.
Captain Dusty’s “Hello, my favorite ice cream place!” a youngster crows as he walks into the canary-yellow shack directly across from Masconomo Park. It serves nearly 30 ice cream flavors, plus frozen yogurt, soft serve, smoothies, and frappes. The ice cream is homemade in five-gallon batches, with most ingredients stirred in by hand so they don’t crumble. 60 Beach St., 978-526-1663.
Beach Street Cafe Late risers can order breakfast all day Sunday. The harborside back porch is airy and sunny, and the friendly waitresses are often Manchester youth in their first jobs. 35 Beach St, 978-526-8049.
Manchester Athletic Club Personal training is the word at MAC, with more than 650 sessions offered every month. TRX suspension training is a hit, and the tennis instructors are tops. Check out the summer membership special through Labor Day. 8 Atwater Ave., 978- 526-8900.
Seaside Cycle Owner Scott Bumpus serves Italian espresso to customers before setting them off in the right direction-on scenic Route 127 or the Manchester Woods-from his shop. Bike fitting is a specialty. 23 Elm St., 978-526-1200.
Gladstone Antique and Contemporary Jewelry Owners, designers, and husband and wife Charles Gladstone and Elaine Souza like to blur the lines between modern and antique jewelry. The result is eclectic and distinctive. 36 1/2 Union St., 978-704-9410.