The Real Plum Island

People all over have heard of Plum Island, but not everyone knows about the real deal. This isn't the Plum Island Animal Disease Center located (PIADC) off the coast of Long Island, New York. It's also not the Plum Island in the famous suspense novel by author Nelson DeMille as pointed out on the plum isand website.

The Plum Island I'm writing about is a beautiful island off of the Northeast coast of Massachusetts. The four area towns it belongs to are Newburyport, Newbury, Rowley, and Ipswich. The Island is named after its countless beach-plum bushes. These little plums are rather tart. They are commonly used for baking, making jams and jellies.

Plum Island is a perfect spot for many kinds of outdoor recreation and relaxation. The majority of the island's beautiful beaches are open to the public. Be careful and use common sense while swimming, because the undertow is very unpredictable. The sea gulls are known for eating unattended picnic lunches, so come prepared. The gorgeous views, hot sandy beaches and awesome breezes will win you over in no time.

A large section of Plum Island is the Parker River Wildlife Refuge. According to the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce website, there are over 880 species of birds, plants and animals and the refuge covers 4662 acres. There is a charge of $5.00 per car, $2.00 per biker or walker to enter the refuge. You can also purchase an annual pass for $20.00. There are parking lots, restrooms and boardwalks that lead from the parking lots to the sand, which make your visit more comfortable.

When you reach the end of the Refuge and you can't drive any further, you are at the Point . This is where the Merrimack River meets the ocean. Some people like to fish in the river while others prefer the ocean. The island also has many charter boats available for those who enjoy deep sea fishing.

If fishing isn't your thing, don't worry there are many other things do. The refuge has observation towers, look-out points and special trails for birdwatchers. You can bring a pair of binoculars and spend a lovely day walking around and looking for birds among the marshes and dunes. On plum-island.com, they list some of the birds that are frequent visitors like: plovers, red wing, egrets, gulls, heron, owls and osprey. I am not a birdwatcher, but I did enjoy spending the day on the island with some people who are, and it was a great time.

Plum Island Is also a favorite for all the usual beach activities like: swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, sun bathing, collecting shells, reading a book or even picking beach-plums. Over the years it has become one of our favorite spots to enjoy a beautiful day and relax. I hope you get to enjoy it too. You can rent a cottage or stay at the Inn for a vacation or just spend the day in the surf and the sun.

Sources:
newburyportchamber.org
newburyportchamber.org/plum_island.shtml
plum-island.com
plum-island.com/description.htm