I have always loved the beach, and how could I not? I grew up on it, and spent my summers in the water. As I've gotten older, I have appreciated the serenity of the beach more than I ever did when I was younger. In the summer though, the beaches are almost non-traversable. They become filled with tourists, carrying their umbrellas and screaming kids. And that is definitely not my idea of serene. As a result of this, I have fallen in love with the beach in the fall. There is something extraordinarily special about the crisp air blowing through your hair and wearing a sweatshirt while you walk along the shore.

Spending time at the beach in the fall is different. While there won't be any swimming, it's not so cold that you're shivering the whole time. It is the perfect weather for a sweatshirt and a hot chocolate to keep your hands warm. You may see a few other people there, people who are doing the same things as you: trying to find quiet, to find peace along the shore. And that is something that can't be found on a beach during the summer. The cold sand beneath your feet feels oddly different, but maybe in a good way.

You go to the beach in the summer to get a tan, and to spend time in the sun. You go to the beach in the fall with a totally different goal in mind.

You go to the beach in the fall because it is your happy place, the place where you feel safe, the place where you can think. That is a totally different mindset than the one you have in the summer. Neither is better than the other, just different.

For me, the beach has become an escape. It has become a place where I can walk with my dog, and see a few other people along the way, talk for a little, or not. A place to be alone, and to gather my thoughts. A place where the world doesn't seem quite so loud. And that is something that you just can't get at the beach during the summertime.