The last days of summer look different on Duxbury Beach than they do in July. The pace slows, the air cools, and the sand stretches out quiet and wide. On one of those evenings, I headed there with my wife and our dog to walk the shoreline and catch the fading light.

Duxbury Beach is more than six miles long, a barrier beach that protects the bay and the town behind it. On the bay side stands Powder Point Bridge, one of the world’s longest wooden bridges at over 2,200 feet. First built in 1892 and rebuilt after a fire in 1985, it links the town to the beach and provides a striking backdrop for sunsets.

We walked the beach until the sky turned orange, pausing near the bridge as the sun dropped perfectly between its pilings. It was a perfect farewell to the season, with fall just around the corner.