With New England vacations in full swing, and the hot humid weather here, people are heading for New England beaches to keep cool, have some fun, and find their own space and memories this summer.

Here’s a quick scan around the region on the most popular and best beaches in the region…

Hammonasset Beach, Connecticut:

A visit to Hammonasset Beach State Park, is more than just another day at the beach. Connecticut’s largest shoreline park offers over 2 miles of beach to enjoy swimming, strolling along the boardwalk, or just relaxing in the sun and surf. The beach can be found off Route 95 in the Madison area.

Ocean Beach Park, Connecticut:

Maybe not the prettiest or most secluded beach in New England, it can certainly merit as one of the most popular. A long favorite for families, it not only has a ½ mile sugar-sand beach, but a swimming pool, miniature golf, carousel rides, and a popular boardwalk. The beach park is located in New London off Route 95 exit 83.

Hampton Beach, New Hampshire:

Hampton Beach certainly rates as one of the most popular in New England. A short ride up Route 95 from Boston will get you to a beach and town with as much activity during the evening as the day. This is a beach where high energy takes over!

Ogunquit Beach, Maine:

Ogunquit Beach is one of the area’s most stunning white sandy beaches. A little further up Route One is the Footbridge Beach, where you can park and walk over a footbridge that crosses the Ogunquit River, climb the boardwalk over the sand dunes and you’re in a more secluded area.

Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts:

The cape has some of the best beaches on the eastern seaboard, with beautiful white sand and miles of open beach for walking and close by nature trails. Nauset Beach in Orleans remains one of my favorites – the beach is sign-posted from the town center on Route 6A.

But also stunning are Head of the Meadow beach in Truro and Race Point in Province lands. And there’s a whole bunch of beaches in between along Route 6 and easy to spot.

Crane Beach, Massachusetts:

Crane Beach is also a managed area for wildlife and the dunes, and a superb white sand beach with over 5 miles or trails. Crane Beach is on Argilla Road in Ipswich, on the North Shore of Boston.

Easton’s Beach/First Beach, Rhode Island:

This beach is adjacent to the Cliff Walk in Newport. A wonderful family beach with changing facilities, playground, showers, and a snack bar and beach store. If you’re wondering if there’s a second and a third beach – there is – located next town over in Middletown.

Misquamicut State Beach, Rhode Island:

About as far west as you can go on Route 1 to Westerly before you hit Connecticut, lies Misquamicut Beach. Marvelous white sand beach with restrooms, new pavilion, and picnic facilities. Fits the tag of one of the best beaches of New England.

To find more things to do in these regions visit my web site here and follow the information on the state and region you’ll be staying visiting:

Have a great weekend at the beach, and I’ll be here next week with more summer ideas for your New England vacations.

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
New England Vacations Guide