In late afternoon, the sun shoots a laser beam across Cape Cod Bay, accentuating the silky sand moguls of Corn Hill Beach. Hunched against dunes topped with willowy grass, it feels far removed from its spacious paved parking lot and the weathered-shingle cottages across the street. The water is hardly tropical, but it’s a good deal warmer than the ocean just across this sliver of the Cape. A gradual drop-off and typically calm waters make this a good choice for families. Corn Hill Road, Truro.

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