Quantcast
 
 

Boston and Cambridge beaches offer excellent sand, swimming and water sports

Massachusetts > Boston > On the Water > Beaches
Boston brings the beach to you, and nearby waterfront lodging and family friendly lodging get you on the sand and into the water pronto. Tiny Nickerson beach sits in a scenic coastal area, great for bird watching. Revere Beach has miles of shoreline, a bandstand for summer concerts, and bathhouse. Carson Beach Recreation Area is one of the best swimming beaches in the area, with great views of Boston Harbor. Take the ferry out to the Boston Harbor Islands National Park for great swimming, hiking, and picnicking. Stay and swim - what a concept.

Follow these links for : Lighthouses - Fishing Spots - Seaside Parks
Wollaston Beach - Discover Quincy - Quincy, MA
Discover Quincy

City of Quincy Welcome Center - 1259 Hancock Street Quincy, MA, 02169 Phone: 617-471-1700

Beach-goers will not be disappointed, with a vast variety of ocean and river locations

With its 27 miles of picturesque shoreline, Quincy visitors are bound to find a beach that suits their recreational needs. Over 11 municipal beach areas, beach-goers will find places with tidal pools, near playgrounds and picnic tables and with spectacular water, island and skyline views. The popular Quincy Shores Reservation, in addition to its sandy beach, features a jogging and biking trail, lookout tower and play area. Nickerson Beach offers grand views of Boston Harbor and Marina Bay. A ferry ride out to Spectacle Island gets you to a lovely sandy beach. The Quincy RiverWalk includes a natural beach to launch and land your canoe or kayak. Or launch your boat from Quincy out to the Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park to explore its shoreline and tide pools.
Learn More
Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area - Boston, MA
Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area

191w Atlantic Avenue Boston, MA, 02109 Phone: 617-223-8666

Islands in Boston Harbor, and easy ferry ride from downtown. Swimming, hiking, picnicking. A fun day trip

Swim on Spectacle and Lovell Islands within the Boston Harbor Island area. The sandy beach on Spectacle Island is lifeguard-supervised during the summer months. The side of Lovell Island that faces the big blue Atlantic is without a lifeguard, but offers majestic views of waters that hide some large old shipwrecks. For ferry schedule and ticket information, click the ticket icon below this listing.
Season & Hours: Mid-May to mid-October; see ferry schedule
Nickerson Beach - Quincy, MA - Photo Credit Vanessa via Boston Local
Nickerson Beach

120 Dorchester St. Quincy, MA, 02205 Phone: 617-376-1251

Nickerson Beach is a very small beach which primarily serves the adjacent Squantum residential neighborhood of Quincy. This scenic coastal area, with its extensive salt marsh and mudflats, is attractive to birds and for bird watching. Owned by the City of Quincy. Access: Most access is by foot or bicycle, although limited curbside parking is available. The area is also accessible via public transportation. Take the Squantum #211 bus to the Bellevue Road & Dorchester Street stop from the MBTA Red Line's North Quincy station.
Carson Beach - Boston, MA - Photo Credit Andie Smidler via Google Maps
Castle Island, Pleasure Bay, M Street Beach & Carson Beach

2010 William J. Day Blvd. South Boston, MA, 02127 Phone: 617-727-5290

Bayside string of parks and beaches easily accessible to Boston; walking, swimming, fishing

Carson Beach, which is well-maintained by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, is one of the best swimming beaches in the area with nearby public amenities and great views of the harbor. The park has walkways, benches, lighting, shade shelters and award winning landscaping which have helped to make it a popular destination. "Mother's Rest" and its fishing pier have also been rehabilitated, making for a beautiful picnic area with a fantastic view of the Harbor. Life guards on duty.
Mass Transit Access: Take the MBTA Subway's Red Line to JFK/UMass station. Or use MBTA Bus routes 5, 8, 11, 16, or 41. Parking available.

Fort Independence has two main hiking trails; 1.8-mile Pleasure Bay Loop, overlooking scenic Pleasure and Dorchester Bays, and .79-mile-long Castle Island Loop, which leads you in a ring around the Fort. You'll find a telephone located halfway 'round the Bay trail at Sugarbowl Shelter. - Park Mark (PDF)
Revere Beach - Revere, MA - Photo Credit Himanshu Gupta
Revere Beach

Revere Beach Blvd. Revere, MA Phone: 781-289-3020

Revere Beach was chosen to be the home of America’s first public beach in 1896 and provides one of the best oceanfront strolls in New England. The beach includes dozens of fine dining and casual restaurants, as well as public bathrooms, plenty of free parking, and a hotel that has direct access to the MBTA’s Blue Line. The nearby Shirley Avenue Commercial District features delicious food from around the world and the neighborhood is also home to an important if unassuming cultural hub for the region’s Cambodian and Buddhist population. Open year round, dawn to dusk.
Quincy Shores Reservation - walking and hiking
Quincy Shores Reservation

Quincy Shore Drive Quincy, MA, 02169 Phone: 617-727-5290

Quincy Shore Drive on this Reservation runs from Wollaston Beach to Caddy Memorial Park to Moswetuset Hummock. The 2.3 mile beach is popular for swimming. Caddy Park has a play area for kids and many acres of fields and marsh, as well as picnic sites. Hummock, on the beach's northern end, is a mixture of woodland trails and open marshland. The site has views of Quincy Bay and 144-acre Squantum Marsh. The Reservation may be reached by Boston MBTA trains. Open year round, dawn to dusk. Bathhouse open July to September.