OT: Best Northeast Beaches

[Goat]

Scarborough Beach in ME with younger kids, RI with teens, now Nantucket. It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend it.

 

[Kitaman]

In RI, I like Scarborough the best. It's not as crazy, busy as Misquam with good facilities and parking. The water is warmer than the Cape with better waves than the sound.

Going on Saturday with wife, getting there before noon. First timer and will be there for about 5 hours. Hope to be snoozing/lounging and picnicking.

I know its going to be crowded but where's a generally good location to 'claim'?

Also when's the best time to arrive to claim?

If it exists, looking for a spot away from the waves (so if high tide I don't have to move) and typically away from the foot traffic.

 

[8893]

Going on Saturday with wife, getting there before noon. First timer and will be there for about 5 hours. Hope to be snoozing/lounging and picnicking.

I know its going to be crowded but where's a generally good location to 'claim'?

Also when's the best time to arrive to claim?

If it exists, looking for a spot away from the waves (so if high tide I don't have to move) and typically away from the foot traffic.

Can't speak to Scarborough, but if I or someone else hasn't mentioned it already, you should check out Blue Shutters Beach in RI. $20 to park, but 25-30 minutes closer than Scarborough, less crowded and very nice beach and facilities.

 

[CL82]

Try Ocean City, Md.

I've been thinking about heading down there for years. Any more details, thoughts?

 

[Kitaman]

Can't speak to Scarborough, but if I or someone else hasn't mentioned it already, you should check out Blue Shutters Beach in RI. $20 to park, but 25-30 minutes closer than Scarborough, less crowded and very nice beach and facilities.

Thanks we're spending Saturday night in Charlestown, so this may be the go to spot.

 

[mauconnfan]

Thanks we're spending Saturday night in Charlestown, so this may be the go to spot.

Not too far from Charlestown, RI off the East Matunuk exit on Rt 1 go to the Matunuk Oyster Bar restaurant the best in the area, maybe the best in RI. I am also right down the road may be there with my wife or if we dont feel like driving we all to The Ocean Mist at Matunuk/South Kingston Beach - enjoy your weekend. This is not at all far from Narragansett.

 

[8893]

Thanks we're spending Saturday night in Charlestown, so this may be the go to spot.

Make sure you hit The Bakery on Sunday morning then. And get there early; the most popular selections are sold out by mid-morning on busy days.

 

[Excalibur]

I've been thinking about heading down there for years. Any more details, thoughts?

Dirty, commercial, hot . . .

If you're going to that area, try Bethany Beach instead.

 

[8893]

Not too far from Charlestown, RI off the East Matunuk exit on Rt 1 go to the Matunuk Oyster Bar restaurant the best in the area, maybe the best in RI. I am also right down the road may be there with my wife or if we dont feel like driving we all to The Ocean Mist at Matunuk/South Kingston Beach - enjoy your weekend. This is not at all far from Narragansett.

Love Matunuk Oyster Bar, but the place gets crazy crowded at peak times. I heard they expanded recently and I haven't been there since then, but in years past we've increasingly had to time our visits there to avoid brutal waits--even for parking. TwoTen Oyster Bar is newer and nearby, and also very good. In our experience it has been more accommodating, but I like them both.

Love the Crabby Benny breakfast and Bloodies at the Ocean Mist.

Other great breakfast spots in the area are the Bluebird Cafe and Crazy Burger, which is also excellent for lunch.

Oh, and Brickley's for great ice cream.

 

[Excalibur]

Make sure you hit The Bakery on Sunday morning then. And get there early; the most popular selections are sold out by mid-morning on busy days.

And if you run into a certain former UConn football coach who happens to be a frequent customer, try not to berate him too much . . .

 

[mauconnfan]

I've been thinking about heading down there for years. Any more details, thoughts?

OC is a great place for the ocean and the family. I go down with the guys for golf off summer months, but as far as family it's a great time. Plenty to do for the kids up and down the strip and around it. Kids boat ridea on a pirate ship to Assateague Island to dig up buried treasure while watching the wild horses or just drive to the island and walk around - so much more but it's also really crowded and traffic is tough mid summer. Younger single people also could have a blast with all the bars, (Seacrets is the best bar on the east coast bar none) and restaurants - parasailing, boat rides, nature hikes just a ton to do.

 

[mauconnfan]

Love Matunuk Oyster Bar, but the place gets crazy crowded at peak times. I heard they expanded recently and I haven't been there since then, but in years past we've increasingly had to time our visits there to avoid brutal waits--even for parking. TwoTen Oyster Bar is newer and nearby, and also very good. In our experience it has been more accommodating, but I like them both.

Love the Crabby Benny breakfast and Bloodies at the Ocean Mist.

Other great breakfast spots in the area are the Bluebird Cafe and Crazy Burger, which is also excellent for lunch.

Oh, and Brickley's for great ice cream.

Two Ten Oyster may be better as it's food is damn close and it's less crowded. But yes, The Matunuk Oyster is jam packed by 5-6 need to go really early to beat that police parking pointing to you for parking. Breakfast is really good at the Mist, amazingly enough. Will try Brickley's at some point.

 

[Stinger92860]

Vail beach , Block Island

If you want more people around you, then Mansion beach

 

[Edward Sargent]

Cape Cod National Seashore is the best beach in the northeast.

Napatree is not far behind especially when driving time comes into play.

Agreed about the Cape Cod ocean beaches as I live in Truro, however you would be travelling a long way only to potentially find your beach closed for a few hours due to shark sighting which has been happening with greater frequency as our seal population takes off.

 

[sledog]

Oh man there's one I didn't expect to see. Spent many a summer there, it could be the hottest week of the entire year in the dead of July yet the water will still be bone chilling cold. It's a great beach and the water is super clean and clear, but it's like standing in a tub of ice water.

Maine beaches are the best places to be in 90+ weather. The beer does not need an ice cooler. Neither do you.

 

[upstater]

Some of the beaches I visited this summer that I liked:

1. Misquamicut during the week (it wasn't crowded, the sand was beautiful), water was warm, and the waves were rolling in.
1A. Watch Hill: went to beach by the Carousel, got bored and headed to Misquamicut.
2. Second Beach, Newport: day after Misq, smaller more frequent waves, really fine sand that was a pain in the butt (just gets everywhere), but really nice beach overall.
3. Horseneck Beach, Westport, MA on a weekend: beautiful beach and scenery, coarse sand and fine pebbles, I liked it, but regulars said it gets typically windy on that point (not much wind that day).
4. Old Silver Beach, Falmouth: we were on a private beach, empty of people, but the sand was beautiful, but the water really calm.
5. Plum Island Beaches: giant beaches with huge dunes and nice sand, good walking beaches. Water isn't as cold as the cape around Provincetown, etc. Up near the canal, the beach is spectacular and so is the swimming, but you get a whiff of gas from the boats too often. Lower down near all the homes and the national preserve, the water gets deep quickly and loses its charm for children.
6. Hammonasset Beach in Madison: it is just fine, water is murky though. Went on a weekday. Nice waves.

 

[sledog]

I was going to say stay away from Narragansett... and that was before today. We went there 2-3 years ago forba family vacation. $20/person/day just to get on the beach. Pass. Parking would have cost more but we were within walking distance. Brown,packed sand, no surf and not much room. Eye candy was average.

r u all talking about Wheeler Beach??

 

[UConnDad]

Just returned from the Cape. Been to OCMD, MV also this summer. All have great beaches. My favorite drive destination beach is still Cahoon Hollow in Wellfleet home of the Beachcomber. It is an active crowd. Paddleball, volleyball, can jam, and just about every other outdoor activity you can think of. It was about as crowded Saturday as I've ever seen it. It was great. Sunday saw one fourth that crowd. If you haven't been there the bar sits atop the second highest dune on the east coast. Outdoor bar, raw bar and tables along with indoor tables. The ocean is cold but the rest makes up for it.

 

[Waquoit]

And if you run into a certain former UConn football coach who happens to be a frequent customer, try not to berate him too much . . .

Walt Nadzak?

 

[FriarJ]

^This, I have probably been to every beach in New England and these are my favorite. More importantly they are my daughter's favorite.

Best time to go to Narragansett is in June, the URI coeds lease on their apartments usually last to the end of the month and school is out. They don't call it Tit Beach for nothing. If you like that kind of thing.

 

[Deepster]

Best time to go to Narragansett is in June, the URI coeds lease on their apartments usually last to the end of the month and school is out. They don't call it Tit Beach for nothing. If you like that kind of thing.

And a bag of Iggy's doughboys for the ride home.

 

[FriarJ]

I actually made authentic clam cakes for a party at my house recently using Cherrystones I bought at the Pike Place Market. I handed them out in paper bags and everybody thought they were the best thing they had ever eaten. Southern Rhode Island and Southeastern CT, certainly have some unique foods that you simply can't get anywhere else.

 

[UConnStats]

Dirty, commercial, hot . . .

If you're going to that area, try Bethany Beach instead.

@CL82 agreed. If you're going to do Ocean City you may as well stay in Fenwick Island, DE which is on Ocean Highway (just the less trashy end).

Id also recommend Bethany, DE which is more like the Cape (much nicer and quieter than OC). I love Bethany, personally.

Both are close enough to go into Ocean City whenever you want if there's something particular you want to do there.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Especially because seals are a lot faster in the water than a human is.

Seals also maybe smarter than human in the water, too. While not dealing with sharks as it took place in the Pacific, this little guy had the right idea with a Orca or two chasing him. Now, the idiots taking pictures of the Orca's planned dinner on the egde of the boat, less so. Orcas can jump out of the water and could have also bumped the boat hard enough to knock the guy over. Then, the Orcas get a much larger, slower meal.

 

[Waquoit]

Tit Beach?

 

[8893]

I actually made authentic clam cakes for a party at my house recently using Cherrystones I bought at the Pike Place Market. I handed them out in paper bags and everybody thought they were the best thing they had ever eaten. Southern Rhode Island and Southeastern CT, certainly have some unique foods that you simply can't get anywhere else.

It's possibly the worst food oasis in the country.

Clam cakes/fritters are crimes against humanity: "Hey, let's fill doughnut holes with rubber bands and erasers! Yum!"

And don't get me started on "sheet pizza" or "party pizza." Pizza should sue Rhode Island for defamation just for abusing its name and image in such a vile and damaging manner.

 

[chris06052]

Not too far from Charlestown, RI off the East Matunuk exit on Rt 1 go to the Matunuk Oyster Bar restaurant the best in the area, maybe the best in RI. I am also right down the road may be there with my wife or if we dont feel like driving we all to The Ocean Mist at Matunuk/South Kingston Beach - enjoy your weekend. This is not at all far from Narragansett.[/QUOT


godparents had cottage right on matunuck beach road .i remember going there back when it was called carpenters and there was an actual beach to play volleyball on

 

[chris06052]

headed to york maine after labor day ,staying right on long sands beach. im guessing ill just be dipping my toes in the water cause of the coldness but it looks like a nice place

 

[FriarJ]

It's possibly the worst food oasis in the country.

Clam cakes/fritters are crimes against humanity: "Hey, let's fill doughnut holes with rubber bands and erasers! Yum!"

And don't get me started on "sheet pizza" or "party pizza." Pizza should sue Rhode Island for defamation just for abusing its name and image in such a vile and damaging manner.

boo

 

[HuskyHawk]

Some of the beaches I visited this summer that I liked:

1. Misquamicut during the week (it wasn't crowded, the sand was beautiful), water was warm, and the waves were rolling in.
1A. Watch Hill: went to beach by the Carousel, got bored and headed to Misquamicut.
2. Second Beach, Newport: day after Misq, smaller more frequent waves, really fine sand that was a pain in the butt (just gets everywhere), but really nice beach overall.
3. Horseneck Beach, Westport, MA on a weekend: beautiful beach and scenery, coarse sand and fine pebbles, I liked it, but regulars said it gets typically windy on that point (not much wind that day).
4. Old Silver Beach, Falmouth: we were on a private beach, empty of people, but the sand was beautiful, but the water really calm.
5. Plum Island Beaches: giant beaches with huge dunes and nice sand, good walking beaches. Water isn't as cold as the cape around Provincetown, etc. Up near the canal, the beach is spectacular and so is the swimming, but you get a whiff of gas from the boats too often. Lower down near all the homes and the national preserve, the water gets deep quickly and loses its charm for children.
6. Hammonasset Beach in Madison: it is just fine, water is murky though. Went on a weekday. Nice waves.

I'm a fan of Old Silver. If you stay at the Seacrest they set our your chair and umbrella and can bring you drinks from the bar, or food. Live music most afternoons at the outdoor bar by the saltwater pool. Warm water in Buzzards Bay. Some days there is a little surf. The private beaches are north of the Seacrest. The public one south gets crowded on weekends.

I also give a thumbs up to Bayview/Mayflower in Dennis. Great beaches.

The Cape Cod National seashore beaches are (a) beautiful (b) a little tough to get to and (c) cold as hell (water), often with rough surf breaking straight on the beach, which has a steep drop off in most cases. Then there are the sharks. Make sure you have the Sharktivity App on your phone.