The 2009 Nantucket Beach Guide is here

INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO Beach Guide starts on page 12. The weather be damned, it is summer, at least from a glance at the calendar and the number of people on island, it cannot be denied. And neither will anyone's plans for the beach. On the scant four or five days during "Jun-uary" when the sun actually came out, those on Nantucket who could, went to their favorite beach.

While islanders know exactly which beach we want to be on when there's time to actually squeeze in a few free hours during busy summer schedules, you, our visitors, may not be so beach-savvy. True, it is part of your Nantucket adventure to make beach discoveries on your own, but for those seeking a bit of guidance to lengthen their time on the sand and in the surf, The Nantucket Independent offers our 2009

Summer Beach Guide to streamline your experience.

In it, you will find 23 public and conservation organization owned beaches to suit the needs of beachcombers, sunbathers, body surfers, fishermen, waders, swimming students, sunset worshippers, skinny dippers, surfers, bird watchers and children. I