Happy Monday, friends! With a beautiful day on Saturday, it had me dreaming of the days we’ll spend at the beach this year. Last year, we spent nearly one weekend day on the beach with Sophia! It was amazing because we’d get there early before people really started to show up and leave right before lunch time. The only downside is that Boston proper is not necessarily known for its sandy beaches – in fact the beach in South Boston is quite rocky, but being only 15 minutes from our house, we really couldn’t beat it. We did make it to the Cape for a week last summer and to Connecticut for a weekend and were reintroduced to sandy beaches which has us craving that for this year.
Since Sophia will be a bit older this year, we can spend longer periods of time at the beach and make them true beach days! We’ll also be closer to the beaches that we wouldn’t normalIy visit with our upcoming move. If you find yourself planning a summer vacation to Boston, I wanted to share a few of the beaches that would be worth the trip!
- Crane Beach || Located in one of the most beautiful areas of Massachusetts, Ipswitch, Crane Beach is part of the Crane Estate and sprawls over 1200 acres! There are plenty of bathrooms and even a little snack shack if you need something a little extra while you’re there. There is a small admission fee, but worth it for this incredible beach. Really important to get there early because the lot gets filled fast and then you’re going to schelp all your stuff from a little bit away.
- Singing Beach || Manchester-by-the-Sea is one of the most picturesque coastal towns in New England and to have a beach to visit while there is just a bonus. Unfortunately if you aren’t a resident, you’ll either have to walk a half-mile from the lot to the beach or get there early enough and pay $25 to pay at the beach lot. There’s also a walk on fee for the beach, so you have to make this a worthwhile trip. Since it’s only about a half mile of beach, there are other beaches nearby that you could also visit.
- Salisbury Beach State Reserve || Almost 4 miles of sandy ocean with plenty to do other than just enjoy the beach. You could go camping, there’s a playground and a pavilion. Best news is plenty of parking and a fun boardwalk to get over the dunes.
- Plum Island Beach || I’m a huge fan of Newburyport and that’s exactly where Plum Island Beach is located. Even though it’s an island, you can actually get there by car. Plenty of parking and non-resident friendly! The best bonus is when you’re ready for lunch, you have your pick of some of the best lobster rolls around!
- Duxbury Beach || I though I’d at least add one beach in the South Shore. I have a few friends that live in Duxbury and always rave about the beaches! There’s both a bay and ocean side and it’s incredibly family friendly.
Growing up in Florida, we lived super close to the beach and I remember weekends spent with my parents and then as I got older with my friends at the beach. The oddest thing is how many of the beaches in New England you have to pay to either park or even “walk” on, but I think it’s one of the ways the towns make money in the summer.
Are you a beach person?
I love that you have beaches close and I hope you make it to them all. We are lucky to live close to Lake Michigan so that’s where we go. Sophia is going to have a ball!
Any beach. I would be happy at any beach this summer! LOL. These all sound wonderful though! I hope you get to cross them all off your list.
A beach bucket list! Love it!! I hope y’all are able to make it to all of them and I’m excited to follow along!
Love your New England beach list! It makes me miss the east coast and the ocean so much. Lake Michigan is definitely not the ocean but sometimes it looks like it haha. Sophia will have the best time at all of these beaches too! xo
The beach is so fun with littles! I’ll have to keep this in mind next time we are up that way!
<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
I love going to the beach and having a bucket list for beaches is totally my sort of thing. I can’t wait to see the ones you go to!
We are planning a trip to Maine later this year. I noticed while I was planning that Boston is within driving distance of Portland, but we’re going to do a Maine coastal road trip, so I think we’re just going to stick within Maine this trip. But I do hope to check out some of the beaches in Maine although it might be too cold by the time we go!
I’m so jealous that you’re able to spend weekends at the beach! We have a beach on Lake Michigan that we love to go to, but nothing beats being by the ocean.
Karly
https://www.whatkarlysaid.com
I love this list. Enjoy.
http://www.rsrue.blogspot.com
I cannot wait for a beach trip!
Briana
https://b-wear.org/
I’ve heard of Plum Island beach and it sounds like the perfect place to spend the day!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Beach days are the best days! Sophia is going to have a blast this summer <3
Green Fashionista
Manchester-by-the-Sea has been on my list for awhile. I tried to convince Tom to spend our anniversary there in 2015, but we ended up going to Hanover instead. Maybe soon though. 🙂
All these are wonderful options! The pictures are beautiful! Have fun!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com