Five Beaches To. Get. Away. To.
Sometimes you just have to walk away from the asphalt and seek out the calming effects of sand, sun and ocean. Luckily, such escapes are a short ride away from downtown, and well worth the effort to schlep yourself and your beach cart for some old fashioned natural detoxing. Here are five beaches all offering something unique – bring your SPF!
Good Harbor Beach
- Gloucester’s Good Harbor Beach features a unique walk out to Salt Island at lowtide, where hunting for hermit crabs is a local pastime! If you’re the beachgoer who wants to park it in their chair and move only to scratch an itch, we promise you’ll be just fine gazing at the half-mile of gorgeous white sand.
Parking is limited, so plan to arrive early! $20 on weekdays and $25 on weekends per car.
Crane Beach
- Calm waters and warm tidal pools make Crane Beach in Ipswich a top pick by National Geographic. Pack light for this sandy heaven as this place is known for its snack bar offering fresh salads and scrumptious homemade sandwiches.
Parking costs between $10 and $25 per car.
Horseneck Beach
- Are you an active beach-goer? Look no further than Horseneck Beach State Reservation in Westport where a constant breeze makes it the perfect locale for sailing and wind surfing. Extend your stay here with a plan to camp in their 100 site campground, or just plan a long, long day frolicking on their 600 acres of beach, dunes, and marshland.
Parking is $13 per car.
Revere Beach
- Beachin’ it old school means a hop skip and a jump five miles north of Boston to America’s first public beach – Revere Beach. Don’t bother packing a picnic here either as grabbing some grub at Kelly’s is a must – obviously there are only two choices – the roast beef or the lobstah roll!
Parking is free.
Hampton Beach
- If you’re looking to leave the state for a beachy tryst, then you must head to Hampton Beach in Hampton, New Hampshire. Its Boardwalk alone is reason to go – a place the 80s never forgot with air brushed, fringed, half shirts on every third person – people watching is first rate here.
Parking costs just $2 an hour – now maybe that’s reason to go!