By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

Sunshine dancing on the water. Sand to run your toes through. A walk in the ocean surf. That crisp breeze off the Atlantic. Ahh, the beach beckons.

You’ve probably enjoyed some of Maine’s top beaches – Popham, Reid, Old Orchard and Ogunquit. We asked Hilary Nangle of Waldoboro, who wrote the just-out “Moon Handbooks: Coastal Maine” travel book, to share some of her favorite, lesser-known beaches.

Pemaquid Beach, Bristol

This beach is often overlooked. Even some Mainers don’t even realize it’s there. But Nangle recommends a summer trip there. “It’s one of my favorite places to go. I like it because it’s quiet. It’s really a pretty spot, and it has facilities.”

The beach is small and town owned, offering a crescent of sand, Nangle says. Since the beach is a little cover inlet, it has a small surf. Pine trees dot the landscape, framing the beach and giving it that hardy Maine look.

Facilities: snack bar, cold-water showers, changing rooms, toilets, parking lot, no lifeguards. No dogs allowed.

Hilary’s hints: If you arrive and the beach looks crowded, just walk to the left or right and you’ll find plenty of space. Nearby attractions include historic Pemaquid Lighthouse. Where to eat: Nearby Shaw’s Wharf in New Harbor, a harbor restaurant that serves hot dogs and lobsters while fishermen haul in catches. More “dueling lobster wharfs” 15 minutes away up Route 32 in Round Pond, where competition lowers lobster prices.

Entrance fee: $2 per person, free for kids under 12.

Hours: Gates close at sunset, restrooms close at 6.

Directions: Take Route 1 to Damariscotta, Route 130 south to New Harbor and follow signs. For more information, call beach at 677- 2754.

Birch Point Beach State Park, Owls Head

Nangle says she had no idea this beach existed until she researched her book. “It’s a local secret. It’s not a big beach, but it’s lovely.” It has tidal pools and spruce-lined sand. Nangle says she likes the way the picnic tables are placed – some overlook the water. “It’s really quiet, and pretty. But you’ve got to work to find it. You have to follow the signs on backroads. It’s in the DeLorme map.” (The beach also is called “Lucia Beach.”)

Facilities: Not many. It does offer a few outhouses, that’s about it. Small parking lot, bring-your-own food, no snackbar. Dogs are allowed on a leash; must clean up after dogs.

Hilary’s hints: Go early to get one of the picnic tables overlooking the water. Nearby attractions: Owls Head Transportation Museum, Owls Head Lighthouse. The water is quite chilly. Not a lot of eateries near the beach, but plenty of restaurants and things to do in nearby Rockland-Camden.

Entrance fee: None.

Hours: 9 a.m.-sunset.

Directions: From downtown Rockland, take Route 1 to Route 73, follow the signs. For more information, call Camden State Park: 236-3109.

Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunk

Just up Route 9 from the Bush compound, Nangle says this beach “is not the easiest one to get to,” but if you do you’ll be rewarded. “It’s a beautiful sand beach,” natural and uncommercialized, with shallow water and practically no surf. “It’s lovely,” Nangle says. “It’s away from a lot of things.”

The beach features tidal pools, silky sand, abundant sea roses and pine trees, views of Goose Rocks and Timber Island. It is three miles long and provides an excellent setting to swim, walk and hunt for shells. A few miles away are the resort villages of Kennebunkport and Kennebunk, which are “crowded in a nice way” with shops, restaurants and sea captains’ homes.

Facilities: None. No bathrooms, no lifeguard, no snack bar. Bring your lunch. Dogs not allowed during the day; leashed dogs allowed before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.

Hilary’s hints: Parking is scarce. You must get a $5 parking permit sticker for the day from the Kennebunkport Police Station (Route 9 between Cape Porpoise and Kennebunkport Village) or Kennebunkport Town Hall (Elm Street). Go early to get a parking spot, especially on weekends.

Entrance fee: None.

Hours: No set hours.

Directions: Beach is on King’s Highway off Route 9, north of Kennebunkport Village.

Scarborough Beach, Scarborough

This beach is well known to Portland area residents, but less known to others, Nangle says. A large beach but one with fewer crowds than nearby Old Orchard Beach or Pine Point, Scarborough Beach offers views of Prouts Neck to the south. Locals, especially teenagers, like the beach for its big waves. “And it has a nice, long stretch of sand,” she says, making it a great beach to take a long walk without crowds. This beach was where Nangle hung out and swam when she was younger.

Facilities: Outhouses, concession stand, life guards. No dogs allowed. Local eatery: White Caps Variety, right next to the beach.

Hilary’s hints: Walk down Black Neck Road and visit Prouts Neck. You’ll pass “Massacre Pond,” named for a 1703 skirmish between resident Indians and resident wannabees. (The Indians won.)

Entrance fee: Adults $4, children $1.50.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 hour before sunset.

Directions: From Route 1 in Scarborough at Oak Hill, turn onto Route 207/Black Point Road going south; the beach is about 4 miles down on the left. For more information, call beach at 883-2416.

Crescent Beach, Cape Elizabeth

A state park, Crescent offers a mile of sand. “It’s not as well known as some beaches, but it’s a great family beach. It’s a really great place to take the kids,” Nangle says. “The surf is not rough, it’s gentle. And it has nice facilities. You’ll see a lot of families there.” Crescent is large enough to offer shell hunters a good walk, and there are rocks to climb and explore.

Facilities: Toilets, changing rooms, cold-water showers, lifeguards, picnic tables, snack bar. There’s an unpaved, shallow boat launch at the east end. No dogs allowed.

Hilary’s hints: The beach has a large parking lot, no need to get there early. Kettle Cove is to the north, nearby is popular Kettle Cove Take-Out & Dairy Bar. Beach has views of Richmond Island. Another popular nearby eatery: Lobster Shack at Two Lights.

Entrance fee: $3.50 for adults, $1 for children between 5-12.

Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Directions: From Cape Elizabeth, take Route 77 south and watch for signs. More information call: 799-5871.