Summer Pleasures
Massachusetts is swimming in ocean and freshwater beaches. So why do you go to the same one every summer?
Get out of your beach rut with our summer pleasures guide to some great spots for sun and sand. You don’t have to give up your favorites – just resolve to dip your toes in some new waters, at least once this season.
BE ALONE:
** Walden Pond: 915 Walden St. (Route 126), Concord. Parking, as well as the kiddie beach, crowd up quick, but you can walk away – into the trail rings of Walden Woods’ 2,280 acres. You’ll be far from the masses, with only the spirit of Thoreau reading over your shoulder. Open 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Parking: $5. 978-369-3254; www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/wldn.htm.
SURF:
** Nantasket Beach, Route 3A, Hull: Great waves make Nantasket a popular site for surfingcompetitions. Open year-round, dawn to dusk. Parking: free. 617-727-5290; www.nantasketbeach.com.
** Coast Guard Beach, off Route 6, Eastham: One of the Cape’s most popular surfing destinations. Parking: $15. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 508-349-3785; www.nps.gov/caco/places/coastguardbeach.html.
SWIMMING HOLES:
** Houghton’s Pond Recreational Area: 695 Hillside St., Milton. Picturesque pond with lifeguards, picnic tables, restrooms and concessions. Wheelchair accessible. Parking: free. Open daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 617-698-9510; www.mass.gov/dcr.
** Crystal Lake: 16 Rogers St., Newton Highlands (opens June 11). Swim, fish, or hike the nearby trails. The bathhouse – with restrooms, lockers and showers – is slated for a makeover. Open weekdays, 3 p.m.-dusk through June 22, then 9:30 a.m.-dusk; weekends 1 p.m.-dusk. Daily swim permit: $10 for non-Newton residents. 617- 796-1500; www.newtonconservators.org/11crystal.htm.
GET NAKED:
** Sandy Terraces Family Nudist Playground: Marston Mills, Cape Cod. Nudist campground on 10 forested acres by a spring-fed lake. Swimming, canoeing, hiking, sunbathing. Cottage, trailer and RV- site rentals available. Daily rates from $30. 508-428-9209; www.sandyterraces.com.
TAKE THE KIDS:
** Wingaersheek Beach: Atlantic Street, Gloucester. Beautiful beach with extended shallow expanse along the Annisquam River and Ipswich Bay. Restrooms, concession stand and showers. Parking: $20 weekdays, $25 weekends and holidays. 978-281-9785; www.gloucester- ma.gov.
** Devereaux Beach: Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead (at the causeway to Marblehead Neck). Nice sandy beach with lifeguards. Restrooms, concession stand, even a small playground. Open 8 a.m.-dusk. Parking: $6. 781-631-3661.
** Walden Pond: 915 Walden St. (Route 126), Concord. Sandy beach and shallow, warm water make this beach great for tots. Get there early, before the parking lot fills up. Open 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Parking: $5. 978-369-3254; www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/ wldn.htm.
** Nantasket Beach: Route 3A, Hull. Great family beach with sandbar at low tide, no rocks, lots of restaurants and the historic Paragon Park carousel nearby. Lifeguards June-Sept. Open year- round, dawn to dusk. Parking: free. 617-727-5290; www.nantasketbeach.com.
NO CAR NECESSARY:
** Town Beach: Provincetown (accessible all along Commercial Street, but especially at MacMillan Wharf). Better for working on your tan than swimming, but thisclose to the street scene. Several ferry services can get you from Boston to beach in 90 minutes for about $70. www.provincetowntourismoffice.org.
** Castle Island: Day Boulevard, South Boston. Superclose beach/ urban park, with picnic area, restrooms, concessions. Open dawn to dusk. Take the No. 9 or No. 11 City Point bus to final stop, then walk across Marine Park to beach. 617-727-7676; www.mass.gov/dcr/ parks/metroboston/castle.htm.
** Singing Beach: 293 Beach St., Manchester-by-the-Sea. Beautiful beach with cliff at one end and fine sand that “sings” when you kick it. Take commuter rail (Rockport line) to Manchester-by-the-Sea, then walk 1/2-mile to the beach. 978-526-2040; www.seecapeann.com/ see(underscore)manchester.html.
BRING YOUR DOG:
** Plymouth City Beach: Route 3A (Warren Avenue), Plymouth. Dogs on a leash have more than three miles of sandy beach to explore. Rest areas for humans; owners must clean up after dogs. Parking: free weekdays, $15 weekends; Plymouth residents can park throughout the year with a $15 sticker. 508-830-4045; www.dogfriendly.com.
MEET PEOPLE:
** Revere Beach: Revere Beach Boulevard, Revere. Miles of shoreline, a bandstand, bathhouse, boardwalk, playgrounds, concession stands, restaurants and public restrooms. Open daily, dawn to dusk. Accessible to Blue Line (Revere Beach or Wonderland station). 718-438-1388; www.mass.gov/dcr.
** Horseneck Beach, Westport: Route 88, Westport Point. Two miles of breezy beach with restrooms, campground, fishing, lifeguards and concessions. Parking: $7. 508-636-8816; www.mass.gov/dcr.
** South Beach: At end of Katama Road, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard. The Vineyard’s largest beach is alive with families and college kids. Lifeguards in some sections, scattered restrooms. Open dawn to dusk; get there by shuttle bus from the center of Edgartown. 508-693-0085.
COLLECT SOME SEASHELLS:
** Eel Point Beach: Nantucket Island. Bring a big bucket to this very remote beach, located on the west end of the island’s north shore. No lifeguards, restrooms or concessions. 508-228-7213
Compiled by: Lauren Beckham Falcone, Jill Radsken, Michael Marotta, Sandra Kent, Linda Kincaid
GRAPHIC BY GUSTAVO LEON
(c) 2007 Boston Herald. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.