So it's potentially my all time favorite beach on the Cape that you don't have to be a member to attend. The sand is gorgeous and white, the water is a bit warmer, and there are sandbars. I know they can be dangerous, but who doesn't love a good sandbar?
Old silver is pricey in terms of parking. Last year it cost $20 per day, so I am assuming it's the same or more. When I was a kid it was a steep $10, so my Gigi would cram all of us grandchildren into her Dodge Omni hatchback and we would go in that-to avoid paying for multiple cars!
Here is my fantastic solution: evening swim and a picnic dinner. Who says you have to spend all day at the beach? If you go at five pm it is free. Not only is it free, there are hardly any people there. It's great because the water is warm, the sun is setting, and you can get some peace at the beach!
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Shell Point Beach, Onset
Ok, so this is one of my regular haunts-the Shell Point Beach on Onset Bay. It's nice because if you get there early, you can park for free all day long. If you get there late, you are probably going to find yourself crawling up and down the sidestreets to find a parking spot.
There are many reasons why I love this spot. For one, the beach is kept very clean and well-maintained. The only problem I had with it until this year was its lack of lifeguards at the shellpoint end. However, problem has been remedied as of now. They have a lifeguard by that end of the bay!
There is plenty of room, this end of the beach rarely gets crowded, as it seems it is mostly frequented by locals who know about this hidden gem. As for the tourists, they tend to park down by the pier...where I believe you have to pay.
There are no bathrooms at this end, so go before you show up! If you are adventurous there are some woods...but the nearest bathroom is a hike.
Also, depending on the tide, there is a bit of a dropoff. There are warning signs posted. My kids know the "up to your waist" rule, but if you are with small children who tend to venture off fearlessly...or can't read...watch them closely because it gets deep all of a sudden. Now don't get me wrong, it's shallow for a ways out, but once it gets deep you will soon find yourself in over your head.
My directions go something like this: From Cranberry Highway head towards Onset Beach, go past the pier, keep going until you see a little statue of a chef and take a left...follow that to the end and take a left. Parking lot is on your right.
Ok, so my directions are lacking in clarity but it's one of those things you know how to get to...but can't explain. Look up Atlantic Ave, in Onset, MA. That will get you there.
Ashton's favorite thing to do there: Hunt for hermit crabs. He is the ultimate shell-point crabber. Once he found a hermit crab I proclaimed to be a grain of sand, until it proved me wrong by sticking its legs out and scurrying across his hand!!
My favorite thing...Mellina's Sandwiches. Look for the girl carrying the sign. It is bright yellow, you can't miss it. She will give you a menu to order a delicious sandwich or panini from...and voila it is delivered to your beach spot in no time. She walks up and down the beach, so keep an eye out for her if your picnic is lacking something. Then stop at Nana's ice cream and candy for a cone on the way home. It makes for the perfect day.
So, if you want a nice day in the sun for free, check this spot out. Bring the sunscreen, as it is very sunny and bright. Bring a couple of quarters because there are about 10 ice cream trucks that frequent there. I mean, I would say that they were the same one coming back again and again, but one is blue and some are white-so I know there are many.
There are many reasons why I love this spot. For one, the beach is kept very clean and well-maintained. The only problem I had with it until this year was its lack of lifeguards at the shellpoint end. However, problem has been remedied as of now. They have a lifeguard by that end of the bay!
There is plenty of room, this end of the beach rarely gets crowded, as it seems it is mostly frequented by locals who know about this hidden gem. As for the tourists, they tend to park down by the pier...where I believe you have to pay.
There are no bathrooms at this end, so go before you show up! If you are adventurous there are some woods...but the nearest bathroom is a hike.
Also, depending on the tide, there is a bit of a dropoff. There are warning signs posted. My kids know the "up to your waist" rule, but if you are with small children who tend to venture off fearlessly...or can't read...watch them closely because it gets deep all of a sudden. Now don't get me wrong, it's shallow for a ways out, but once it gets deep you will soon find yourself in over your head.
My directions go something like this: From Cranberry Highway head towards Onset Beach, go past the pier, keep going until you see a little statue of a chef and take a left...follow that to the end and take a left. Parking lot is on your right.
Ok, so my directions are lacking in clarity but it's one of those things you know how to get to...but can't explain. Look up Atlantic Ave, in Onset, MA. That will get you there.
Ashton's favorite thing to do there: Hunt for hermit crabs. He is the ultimate shell-point crabber. Once he found a hermit crab I proclaimed to be a grain of sand, until it proved me wrong by sticking its legs out and scurrying across his hand!!
My favorite thing...Mellina's Sandwiches. Look for the girl carrying the sign. It is bright yellow, you can't miss it. She will give you a menu to order a delicious sandwich or panini from...and voila it is delivered to your beach spot in no time. She walks up and down the beach, so keep an eye out for her if your picnic is lacking something. Then stop at Nana's ice cream and candy for a cone on the way home. It makes for the perfect day.
So, if you want a nice day in the sun for free, check this spot out. Bring the sunscreen, as it is very sunny and bright. Bring a couple of quarters because there are about 10 ice cream trucks that frequent there. I mean, I would say that they were the same one coming back again and again, but one is blue and some are white-so I know there are many.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Is Nantasket that Fantastic?
People from all over the south shore flock there to get their beach fix. Adults hold fond memories of their childhood there. It is the famous Nantasket beach in Hull, MA.
Located in Hull, as far as I'm concerned Nantasket is not convenient or near anything. Although we have gone there in the past to take pictures of the kids in the winter, I had never been to Nantasket to swim.
We did not go out of our way to go there, we had to be in Hingham for something in the afternoon so I suggested that we try that beach for a couple of hours. The parking is $7 for the day, and there is 2 hour parking on the street. Just be careful to NOT park on a yellow curb. Apparently yellow curb=$20 parking ticket.
We arrive at the beach, find parking, and unload the car. There are many parking lots yet many of them were at capacity at noontime. The beach itself was also at capacity. Here's the thing about Nantasket-there's not much sand. Not that the sand isn't nice or thick and cushy. It's that the beach front is only maybe 10-45 feet depending on the tide. At high tide there is no beach front.
Arriving late in terms of a beach day, we had to carefully pick our way through the crowd, making sure not to knock anybody out with the beach bag or lawn chair. I found a square of space not yet claimed, yet I still felt like I was somehow invading somebody's personal space...but oh well. Kids ran into the water and the only thing left was the chairs and the bag. Those aren't too noisy.
The kids ran into the water and proclaimed "It's so cold!!" I tested the waters and agreed. Nantasket's water is very cold. Not Maine water cold, but very cold for Massachusetts. After a little splashing around we decided to check out the main drag. We put the chairs in the car and headed into "The Dream Machine" to give the kids a few minutes at the arcade.
Here's the reason people love Nantasket: Nostalgia. It is like a mini Hampton beach. There are arcades and souvenir shops. You can lick an ice cream or munch on french fries as you walk down the road while looking at tourist trap souvenirs. There is even a playground that looks exactly like the one at Hampton beach. (The bathrooms are quite nice too;)
It is definitely an experience everybody should have, and right now there is a carnival set up right by the ocean. That's a very nostalgic experience. As far as the beach's stand-alone quality, I would give it a 3/10. If you add in all there is to do around the area-it goes up to about a 7.
Located in Hull, as far as I'm concerned Nantasket is not convenient or near anything. Although we have gone there in the past to take pictures of the kids in the winter, I had never been to Nantasket to swim.
We did not go out of our way to go there, we had to be in Hingham for something in the afternoon so I suggested that we try that beach for a couple of hours. The parking is $7 for the day, and there is 2 hour parking on the street. Just be careful to NOT park on a yellow curb. Apparently yellow curb=$20 parking ticket.
We arrive at the beach, find parking, and unload the car. There are many parking lots yet many of them were at capacity at noontime. The beach itself was also at capacity. Here's the thing about Nantasket-there's not much sand. Not that the sand isn't nice or thick and cushy. It's that the beach front is only maybe 10-45 feet depending on the tide. At high tide there is no beach front.
Arriving late in terms of a beach day, we had to carefully pick our way through the crowd, making sure not to knock anybody out with the beach bag or lawn chair. I found a square of space not yet claimed, yet I still felt like I was somehow invading somebody's personal space...but oh well. Kids ran into the water and the only thing left was the chairs and the bag. Those aren't too noisy.
The kids ran into the water and proclaimed "It's so cold!!" I tested the waters and agreed. Nantasket's water is very cold. Not Maine water cold, but very cold for Massachusetts. After a little splashing around we decided to check out the main drag. We put the chairs in the car and headed into "The Dream Machine" to give the kids a few minutes at the arcade.
Here's the reason people love Nantasket: Nostalgia. It is like a mini Hampton beach. There are arcades and souvenir shops. You can lick an ice cream or munch on french fries as you walk down the road while looking at tourist trap souvenirs. There is even a playground that looks exactly like the one at Hampton beach. (The bathrooms are quite nice too;)
It is definitely an experience everybody should have, and right now there is a carnival set up right by the ocean. That's a very nostalgic experience. As far as the beach's stand-alone quality, I would give it a 3/10. If you add in all there is to do around the area-it goes up to about a 7.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Best Beach for only $7....Horseneck
Drive down Route 88 in Westport for what feels like an eternity, and hit the beach. Not just any beach, but Horseneck Beach in Westport, MA.
I woke up on the first day of my kids' summer vacation feeling adventurous. I was content going to Onset beach for the millionth time, but I felt we should do something special. I said to my husband "It's kinda far, but let's go to Horseneck." He said, "Sure!"
So while he got directions and I loaded the car, we contacted my best friend to see if she wanted to come along. In our two-car caravan loaded with a total of 6 kids between the ages of 8-11 and three adults, we made our way to Westport. After we got on Route 88 I thought for sure we were lost. Finally we pulled into "The Back Eddy" and asked a fisherman if we had missed something. Nope. It was about 1/2 mile further.
First things first, you aren't lost. If you drive down 88 you will eventually hit the beach, you have no other choice it is pretty much the end of the road. You are greeted by teens who collect your $7 parking fee and you head to the ample parking lot. (You can check out a free day pass at your local library). The bathroom facilities appear gorgeous. They advertise showers, but only the little foot-wash spigots were in working order. The bathroom is an environmentally friendly, water-free facility. The toilet material goes down into a composting tank underground. So, basically, it's a giant, fancy port-a-potty. It's cleaner than a port-a-potty...much cleaner.
My all-time fave beach until this point in time WAS Old-Silver. Don't get me wrong, Old-Silver will be mentioned in a future blog as soon as I make it there. It still is nostalgically my favorite beach in childhood memory. However, it is very crowded and pricey to park. Horseneck has two miles of beachfront. It only costs $7 to park. It is gorgeous.
After I doused the kids with sunscreen, they were off and running. The waves were huge, but not overpowering. The water was warmer. The scenery was gorgeous. The sand is soft and fine like Old Silver but this beach is immaculate. A man drives down with a tractor and picks up trash with one of those grabbers. There are dumpsters to throw your trash away. Cops are on patrol throughout the day, driving a cruiser around on the paved walkway. You feel safe and sound.
The only complaints my kids had were that:
a)no floatation devices including boogie boards, state regulations for safety (fine with me)
b) they frown on catching crabs, as it is part of the state park...granted Ashton treats each crab with love and care, but some little boys prefer to rip their legs off
I highly recommend this little bit of heaven at the end of Route 88. It is well worth the drive and makes for a great day at the beach!!
I woke up on the first day of my kids' summer vacation feeling adventurous. I was content going to Onset beach for the millionth time, but I felt we should do something special. I said to my husband "It's kinda far, but let's go to Horseneck." He said, "Sure!"
So while he got directions and I loaded the car, we contacted my best friend to see if she wanted to come along. In our two-car caravan loaded with a total of 6 kids between the ages of 8-11 and three adults, we made our way to Westport. After we got on Route 88 I thought for sure we were lost. Finally we pulled into "The Back Eddy" and asked a fisherman if we had missed something. Nope. It was about 1/2 mile further.
First things first, you aren't lost. If you drive down 88 you will eventually hit the beach, you have no other choice it is pretty much the end of the road. You are greeted by teens who collect your $7 parking fee and you head to the ample parking lot. (You can check out a free day pass at your local library). The bathroom facilities appear gorgeous. They advertise showers, but only the little foot-wash spigots were in working order. The bathroom is an environmentally friendly, water-free facility. The toilet material goes down into a composting tank underground. So, basically, it's a giant, fancy port-a-potty. It's cleaner than a port-a-potty...much cleaner.
My all-time fave beach until this point in time WAS Old-Silver. Don't get me wrong, Old-Silver will be mentioned in a future blog as soon as I make it there. It still is nostalgically my favorite beach in childhood memory. However, it is very crowded and pricey to park. Horseneck has two miles of beachfront. It only costs $7 to park. It is gorgeous.
After I doused the kids with sunscreen, they were off and running. The waves were huge, but not overpowering. The water was warmer. The scenery was gorgeous. The sand is soft and fine like Old Silver but this beach is immaculate. A man drives down with a tractor and picks up trash with one of those grabbers. There are dumpsters to throw your trash away. Cops are on patrol throughout the day, driving a cruiser around on the paved walkway. You feel safe and sound.
The only complaints my kids had were that:
a)no floatation devices including boogie boards, state regulations for safety (fine with me)
b) they frown on catching crabs, as it is part of the state park...granted Ashton treats each crab with love and care, but some little boys prefer to rip their legs off
I highly recommend this little bit of heaven at the end of Route 88. It is well worth the drive and makes for a great day at the beach!!
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