PHOTO: The Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick in York, Maine, is said to be one of the most photographed lighthouses in the U.S. (photo by David Cogswell)

Just across the New Hampshire border into Maine is a small beach town called York Beach. In the cold, dark winters of Maine, it’s practically deserted. Most of the shops and restaurants are closed and no one can be seen on the streets.

But in the summer, when days are long and the water gets warm enough to swim if you’re hardy enough, York Beach becomes a lively beach town. Much of it barely changes from year to year. It looks as though it might be a set from the Twilight Zone with quirky little stores that may have fit into the 1950s, but seem impossible now.

The heart of York Beach is the beach. There are two main sections of beach, Long Sands and Short Sands, named for the obvious reason that Long Sands is about two miles long and Short Sands is maybe a third of a mile. In between the two beaches is Cape Neddick, a thumb of land protruding into the Atlantic. At the eastern tip is the Nubble Light House, one of the most photographed lighthouses in America.

All around Long Sands and Short Sands beaches are many odd and quirky shops, restaurants, amusements, hotels, motels and trailer parks. It’s a fascinating assortment of people and things.

So please join me for a stroll around York Beach.

Welcome to York, Maine! pic.twitter.com/J8IQ2FGb5O

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Looking out across Long Sands beach you can see Cape Neddick and the Nubble Light House at the end. pic.twitter.com/LtG474u641

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Sun & Surf restaurant is right on the rocky beach and has a $6.99 breakfast special. pic.twitter.com/AViY6DJIyS

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Long Sands is, as its name implies, a long stretch of sand, maybe two miles long. pic.twitter.com/E4m6hMA8AH

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

The oft-photographed Nubble Lighthouse on the tip of Cape Neddick at York. pic.twitter.com/hejGrxeZT6

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Short Sands is a much smaller beach surrounded by nutty amusements like Funorama, with great vintage pinball machines pic.twitter.com/pqpXoVCsnU

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Goldenrod, a great vintage resaturant with a menu from the '50s and prices from the '80s. Taffy making machines. pic.twitter.com/HSAERo1o53

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

From trailer parks and motels with letters missing on their signs to high end hotels like the Union Bluff. pic.twitter.com/ivTzCmtp12

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

York's Wild Kingdom, great vintage amusement park, like everything in York it's like something from the Twilight Zone pic.twitter.com/kZnLRPuK71

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Long Sands beach in York, Maine.. pic.twitter.com/arWdhDCmm3

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Ocean Avenue, along the beach, is full of quirky restaurants, motels and hotels, trailer parks, nostalgically scenic. pic.twitter.com/c8ZWyFbWnV

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Odd restaurants along Ocean Avenue in York. pic.twitter.com/LXYQpXEzr2

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

This old ivy covered house has survived generations of development on Ocean Avenue in York pic.twitter.com/jm6TgcBVfe

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Main Street, York Beach, Maine. pic.twitter.com/1XeB5Q804K

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Shops along Railroad Avenue in York Beach, Maine. pic.twitter.com/rxxAds10xP

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014

Short Sands beach in York, Maine. pic.twitter.com/Bc3pcHO0X7

— CogswellTravelPulse (@CogswellTravelP) June 4, 2014