“I could easily leave Manchester [Mass.}, go through the Annisquam Canal and go up the Castle Neck River to enjoy the marvelous seawater that comes in over the hot stones when the tide turns and provides a most wonderful swim because the water is clean and fresh and warm there. The view of the white sand dunes at Ipswich is beautiful to watch while swimming. I believe there is nothing more beautiful in North America.’’

-- The late Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., who served as a U.S. senator, Richard Nixon’s vice-presidential running mate in 1960 and a senior diplomat. He was a Boston Brahmin who was based on the North Shore. This quote is from Arthur Griffin’s New England: The Four Seasons.