Massachusetts Beaches (Boston, Plymouth, Revere: amusement park, live, moving to)

[td1026]

I am visiting family in Massachusetts this summer and really want to go to the beach! I would love a beach that has an amusement style pier/boardwalk type atmosphere. Any beaches like that in Massachusetts?Also, what are the nicest beaches overwall, nicest sand and water? Thanks.

[MINIcoopKJG]

You might like Salisbury Beach or Hampton Beach. Hampton is just over the border in NH. I personally like Misquamicut Beach in RI because the water is a little warmer, but I don't know id there is a boardwalk or amusement park along the beach area.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

Originally Posted by MINIcoopKJG

You might like Salisbury Beach or Hampton Beach. Hampton is just over the border in NH. I personally like Misquamicut Beach in RI because the water is a little warmer, but I don't know id there is a boardwalk or amusement park along the beach area.

Hampton Beach is the only beach I can think of that has a boardwalk-type atmosphere. Nantasket Beach, which is maybe 20 or so miles outside of Boston, used to have that atmosphere back when Paragon Park was around. The carousel is still there, but I believe all the honky-tonk game arcades are gone now.

Many Massachusetts beaches are on either state or federal land and therefore have little to no development within their boundaries except for maybe a snack bar and restrooms.

[lrfox]

Hampton Beach is probably your best bet. Revere Beach could work, but it's in a much more urban area and not as nice as Hampton (as far as the beach goes). Old Orchard Beach in Maine would also fit the bill and there's actually rail service from Boston directly to the beach (Amtrak Downeaster)

[Verseau]

One thing to bear in mind is that Hampton and Old Orchard have fairly cold water in the summertime, averaging around 60 degrees. The warmest temps are usually in early August (63 in Hampton, 62 in OOB on average). Old Orchard has an amusement park, but Hampton doesn't.

The most pristine, beautiful beaches are on the Outer Cape along the Cape Cod National Seashore, but these beaches have no amenities to speak of. And the water here isn't a whole lot warmer than up north.

The warmest water is on the southern side of Cape Cod, the South Coast, or in Rhode Island, averaging around 70 degrees. I'm not sure about a beach that matches your requirement for a boardwalk, though.

[Beachcomber4]

This article rates the best boardwalks in the USA. The only one in New England that makes it is the Sandwich Boardwalk which is NOT what you are looking for. It's literally a boardwalk- a walkway over a marsh made out of boards. :-) It's a fun place to catch crabs....just not the Jersey Shore kind.

Agree Hampton would be your best bet. Enjoy!

[tamiznluv]

I would suggest Old Orchard Beach up in Maine. They have the carnival and white, sandy, rock free beaches that go on for miles. I live on White Horse Beach in Plymouth and I love going to Old Orchard. No comparison.

[in_newengland]

Yes, you're looking for Old Orchard Beach in Maine.

[heather3]

Thanks for posting this as we are looking to take a beach vacation up in New England after moving to Mass this summer. Does anyone know if any of these beaches accept dogs? The ones here in MD let you have them b/t Labor Day and Memorial Day but not during the summer tourist season.
Also, how long of a drive is Old Orchard Beach in Maine from the Boston area?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

There's a beach that I love but I don't want to mention or else everyone will go there.