The Best Massachusetts Beach Towns You May Not Know
These sandy shores will make you want to pack your bags ASAP!
The coastline of Massachusetts is blessed with seemingly endless miles of beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Cod includes even more stunning bay beaches as options to visit, all just a short drive from Boston. It’s no wonder Massachusetts is a top beach destination in the country for tourists, artists, and wildlife alike. Outside of Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket lie many lesser-known beach towns that bring the same historical New England charm. From sand that sings, to the most painted building in America, to a popular destination for Snowy Owls, we’ve compiled a list of the top 9 lesser known beach towns in Massachusetts.
Rockport
Forty miles north of Boston sits charming Rockport, MA, a scenic beach town with a vibrant artist community. The town is home to the famed fishing shack known as “Motif No. 1,” which is the most frequently painted building in the United States.
Wellfleet
Wellfleet is a small coastal town located on Cape Cod that features both bayside and ocean beaches. Along with the gorgeous beaches, it also offers crystal clear freshwater kettle ponds and famous oysters known for a particularly briny flavor.
Marblehead
Located 18 miles from Boston, Marblehead is a seaside town with narrow streets lined with shops and restaurants and a coastline peppered with church steeples. Visitors can take a self-guided walking tour of Marblehead’s historic downtown and, of course, enjoy its many parks and beaches.
Eastham
Catch a spectacular sunset from one of Eastham’s many bayside, ocean, or freshwater beaches. Located on the Outer Cape of Cape Cod, Eastham is a hotspot for hiking, biking, or swimming, as well as just relaxing and enjoying its rich historic sites.
Hull
Founded in 1644, Hull is a small peninsula town on the Boston Harbor. A trip to Hull wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Nantasket Beach or the Hull Lifesaving Museum, which pays homage to the town’s maritime heritage through exhibits on famous Boston shipwrecks, boat designs and various lifesaving traditions used throughout history.
Newburyport
Newburyport’s Plumb Island Beach offers tourists the opportunity to enjoy spectacular water sports as well as plenty of bird watching. Newburyport has a thriving arts and cultural scene with an annual ArtWalk, Documentary Film Festival, and Oktoberfest, among countless other community events.
Duxbury
Founded in 1673, Duxbury Beach is regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in Massachusetts, winning the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association’s National Best Restored Beach award in 2022. Duxbury Beach is also a favorite visiting spot of the elegant and beautiful Snowy Owl which can be spotted there during the winter months.
Sandwich
With four ocean beaches and three freshwater beaches, Sandwich offers many spectacular ways to enjoy your beach trip. The oldest town on Cape Cod, Sandwich is best taken in on foot to appreciate the historical village. Keep an eye out for the white oval plaques on buildings that serve as historical markers to highlight buildings over 100 years old.
Manchester by the Sea
Located in the picturesque town of Manchester By the Sea on Cape Ann, Singing Beach is one of the few beaches in North America that contains “singing sand,” a particular type of sand that, when dry, makes a unique singing or whistling sound when walked upon.
Nina Derwin is a Brooklyn-based writer with a passion for the art of storytelling. In addition to writing articles for various clients and publications, Nina has written several episodes of scripted television for networks including Starz and Fox.
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