You're not here yet, but there's not far to go...
Just step out the cottage door, cross the road, and enter the wooded, private path to the beach.
Soon, you're enveloped in a canopy of green trees.
The wooden staircase is new, with thick railings for safety. Rest on the bench and listen to the roar of the water.
Our private beach in this section of Union Pier is unusually wide and boasts a bluff, which kids love to run down on their way to the water.
Look closely among the dune grasses for rare, wild orchids and butterfly-feeding milkweed plants.
At the bottom of the stairs you'll find beach chairs. Leave your shoes here, and treat your feet to a natural pedicure as you drag your heels through the sand.
Do what comes naturally...
...until the sun goes down.