7 Beaches Your Kids Will LOVE

It’s 80 degrees and the kids are running around looking for ways to entertain themselves. Time for the beach.

But which one, and are you going to have to drive a long way?

Don’t get salty, we’ve got a few ideas. What you need are calm waters, easy access to parking and enough space to really relax (while your kids safely roam). Here are seven such beaches for the whole family to enjoy.

1) Sandy Neck Beach, Barnstable

One of the most revered beaches on Cape Cod, Sandy Neck is a six-mile long barrier beach. Its sheer size is enough to virtually guarantee you’ll find a spot, and if you have the right sticker, you can even drive your 4×4 until you find something a bit more remote.

If you’re going for a swim, be prepared for water that is chillier than the waters on the south side of the Cape. There are also some quite pebbly areas, but these minor tradeoffs do not overwhelm the gorgeous views and ability to make a family day out of this ubiquitous beach.

Though the access road to the beach starts in the Town of Sandwich, the beach is located in the Town of Barnstable. Residents of both towns get special rates on seasonal ORV beach stickers. Beach stickers from the towns of Barnstable and Sandwich can be used for this beach. Everybody else pays a day rate.

2) Corporation and Mayflower Beaches, Dennis

These ones belong together, since many visitors and residents in Dennis make a double-hitter out of these two, depending on how crowded they are at different points in the day.

The curve of Corporation Beach along Cape Cod Bay allows tidal pools and flats to form at low tide – something to keep the kids busy – while high tide provides prime swimming opportunities. This beach also has a swing set that children can occupy themselves with – just don’t walk in front of them, as a good deal of sand tends to get kicked up.

Mayflower is not only one of the most well-known beaches in the town of Dennis, but also one of the most beloved across the Cape. This beach is the definition of “family-friendly” with its small waves, yet large area to spread out along the beach, an attendant on duty, and pools at low tide. Mayflower Beach has a boardwalk that stretches from the parking lot over the dunes to the beach.

3) Craigville Beach, Osterville

A Cape Cod quintessential: Craigville Beach is one of the most well-known and tourist-heavy beaches in the area. It’s guaranteed to be packed on those hot days, but people wouldn’t go if it wasn’t worth it. The shoreline stretches along the warm waters of Nantucket Sound to its next door neighbor, Covell’s Beach. You’ll find a couple food shacks right across the street that offer seafood classics like fried clams and fish & chips, but also sandwiches, ice cream, and other summertime classics. The beach is equipped with a lifeguard on duty and an area for showers and public restrooms.

4) Skaket Beach, Orleans

Skaket Beach has the calm waters, tidal pools and long tidal flats at low tide like other beaches on Cape Cod Bay. Parents enjoy watching boats that launch out of Rock Harbor in Orleans as they sunbathe on Skaket. There’s a food shack which offers typical beach food such as burgers, fries, and ice cream, which makes it very popular with young people, too.

5) Falmouth Heights Beach, Falmouth

This is not a public beach, but there are a few metered parking spaces nearby on Grand Avenue. Most folks make this a destination for multiple days, staying at one of the many inns and B&B’s within walking distance. All the standard kid-friendly plusses are here, like on-duty lifeguards, food, restrooms and even swimming lessons. Parents and older siblings will love the extra space for frisbee and volleyball.

6) Bass River (Smuggler’s) Beach, South Yarmouth

Featuring a simple pay-to-park lot with enough spaces to accommodate even the busier days, this is a no-brainer for those looking for an easy option with amenities. There’s a fishing pier which places a safe boundary between the Bass River Channel and swimming area. A snack shack will keep children occupied; that is, when they’re not diving into cool waters and bounding around the ample stretch of sand.

7) Seagull Beach, West Yarmouth

A well-manicured beach with an equally clean outdoor shower and bathhouse area, Seagull Beach is another mid-Cape must. A great option for when the Smuggler’s lot is full.