Massachusetts beaches include some of the best known seashores in the world Most well know are those of Cape Cod and the Cape Cod National Seashore. The beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket Island, and Cape Cod are well known for their beautiful beaches and provide all the outdoor amenities that can be desired for a vacation.

Cape Cod and Cape Cod National Seashore

The entire Cape Cod region, technically an island rather than a cape is 560 miles of beaches.  Some of the beaches are protected by the land formations, while others face the open Atlantic Ocean with vistas that have no end except the horizon.  Busy harbors, sand dunes, rocky bluffs, lighthouses and wildlife sanctuaries are situated in close conjunction to each other.  The location of many famous historical sites in the history of the United States are located along Massachusetts portion of the East Coast Beaches.

The Atlantic face of the Cape is almost entirely set aside as The Cape Cod National Seashore with about 40 miles of almost deserted beaches backed up by miles of nature trails through dunes, forests and kettle ponds providing a marshy home for waterfowl and other birds.

Near to Cape Cod is the Island of Martha’s Vineyard with its beautiful beaches.  Martha’s Vineyard and nearby Chappaquiddick Island lie off the southern coast of Cape Cod and are accessible only by boat or air. The entire southern rim of Martha’s Vineyard is a beach, thirty miles of it, known as South Beach.

The Coskata-Coatue National Wildlife Refuge on Nantucket Island is a wonderful opportunity, to visit a working lighthouse, miles of beaches and yet, at the name implies this is a working lighthouse.  In addition, the hundreds of acres set aside for the enjoyment of both the visitors and the locals alike, with miles of nature trails where visitors can walk to observe the wildlife in the area. Here, you can still ride horses during off season at the beach.      

Gloucester
The beaches in and around this northern Massachusetts city are generally small and rocky, but still attract thousands of visitors each year.  Cressey’s and Half Moon Beaches, tucked away within the confines of Stage Fork Park and used mostly by locals are known for gentle surfs.  The beaches are known for hiking, swimming and picnicking. Half Moon Beach is small and sandy and well known for its swimming.  The water is cold, but still enjoyable in the summer heat.

Ipswich

This area on the northern coast of Massachusetts is famous for its more secluded beach regions.  Crane’s Beach is a prime example.  Miles of white sand beaches line the shores.  Inland, miles of nature trails and the nesting place of the piping plovers, an endangered bird species.  Ipswich is well known for its clam festival each year with thousands of visitors arriving for the festival.

Numerous other small beaches dot the coast of Massachusetts.  Residents of the state and visitors as well are always able to find comfortable lodging and outstanding food at the various places along the ocean.