Captain Dusty's Ice Cream in Manchester-by-the-Sea is your traditional New England small-town ice cream stand, and it's less than half a mile from Singing Beach. Walk in through the screen door, order from the 25 to 30 flavors on the board, then sit on a bench outside and watch the world flip-flop by. (There are also locations in Beverly, Beverly Farms, and Salem.)

WHAT TO GET: Wildcat. It's wildly good: butterscotch ice cream with chunks of Oreo cookie.
WHEN TO GO: Wind and rain are the only things that keep customers away; otherwise expect a line. Summer hours are from noon to 9 p.m. (sometimes 10) seven days a week (the other shops have different hours).

60 Beach Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, 978-526-1663; 55 Ober Street, Lynch Park in the Cove, Beverly, 978-921-4708; 642 Hale Street (Route 127), Beverly Farms, 978-921-5311; and 143 Derby Street, Salem, 978-744-0777; www.captaindustys.com