Summary
New England is a geographical region located in the northeastern United States, comprising six states: Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The region is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and southeast, while Long Island Sound lies to the south.
Boston, the largest city in the area, serves as the capital of Massachusetts. The northern and western portions of New England are characterized by rolling hills and the eroded peaks of the Appalachian Mountains, whereas the southeastern area is delineated by a coastal plain.
New England is renowned for its captivating landscapes, including picturesque beaches, stunning sunsets, iconic lighthouses, a myriad of beach activities, diverse coastal flora and fauna, as well as numerous wildlife and nature preserves.
Having introduced its beautiful beaches, let us now explore some of the finest beaches in New England.
1. Goosewing Beach Preserve
Recognized as one of the most significant landmarks in Rhode Island, Goosewing Beach Preserve is a unique coastal reserve featuring a combination of barriers, dunes, and ponds that represent the main attractions of the region.
The preserve attracts local and international visitors year-round.
In addition to its striking landscape, the Beach Preserve serves as a nesting area for two critically endangered bird species, the least tern and the piping plover.
Managed by The Nature Conservancy of Partners, the area restricts any loud activities that might disturb the local ecosystem; however, visitors enjoy walking and observing the coastal wildlife, making it popular among nature enthusiasts.
2. Narragansett Town Beach
As one of the most frequented beaches in Rhode Island, Narragansett Town Beach attracts around 10,000 visitors daily during the summer months.
The Town Beach is also recognized as the premier surfing destination in New England. The Pettaquamscutt River lies at the northern end of the beach, easily accessible on foot.
Narragansett features two modern gazebos, snack bars, public restrooms, and changing facilities. Numerous boutiques are located nearby at the Pier marketplace.
The beachside area also hosts several restaurants with outdoor decks, providing patrons with stunning views of the surrounding ocean and breathtaking sunsets.
Lifeguards and first-aid services are readily available for the safety of visitors.
3. Ogunquit Beach
Ranked among the ‘Top 25 beaches in the United States’ by TripAdvisor, Ogunquit features a three-mile stretch of sandy beach complemented by grassy dunes, creating a natural barrier between the Ogunquit River and the Atlantic Ocean.
Visitors can engage in activities such as swimming, bodysurfing, and beachcombing for shells and driftwood.
Lifeguards are present along the beach to ensure visitor safety.
Parking is available at the southern end, requiring a fee for vehicle access.
Common amenities at Ogunquit Beach include outdoor showers, restrooms, and picnic tables.
The central part of the beach, known as Footbridge Beach, can be reached by crossing a footbridge over the Ogunquit River. This area provides ample parking space, lifeguards (seasonal), restrooms, and boat ramps for smaller vessels.
4. Chatham Lighthouse Beach
Overshadowed by the impressive Chatham Lighthouse, Chatham Beach is situated beneath the active lighthouse which continues to navigate traffic along the shore. Located in Chatham, Massachusetts, this beach is known for its dynamic landscape and is the largest beach within the town.
The lighthouse is generally closed to the public for most of the year, opening only on select summer days.
Chatham Lighthouse Beach is located just half a mile from the downtown area, offering beautiful walking trails that lead to southern Monomoy Island and provide stunning views of local fishing boats and seals.
The waters at the beach can be treacherous due to weather and wind conditions, and while swimming is permitted in most areas, there are no lifeguards present. Swimming is prohibited at the southern tip of the beach.
Chatham is also home to some of the finest seafood dining establishments within the town.
5. Hampton Beach
Located in New Hampshire, Hampton Beach is a well-known tourist destination that ranks among the top three cleanest beaches in the United States. Furthermore, the Beach Boardwalk is listed as one of the top 10 nationally.
Hampton Beach was designated as one of four ‘superstar’ beaches in the country, attributed to its exceptional water quality.
Additionally, a key attraction in the area is the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, which serves as a central entertainment hub and has been operating for over a century.
Since 2001, the region has hosted the Hampton Beach Sand Sculpture Competition, attracting sculptors from across the nation to participate in this event every June.
6. Sachuest Beach
Popularly recognized as ‘Second Beach’, Sachuest is among the most-favored beaches in Rhode Island. It is especially known for its swells and consistent surf, featuring a crescent-shaped shoreline that extends 1.25 miles.
The beach boasts fine, powdery sand and offers some of the most picturesque sunsets. Visitors can spend their time relaxing in the sun or trying their hand at surfing.
Rhody Surf provides surfing and paddle boarding lessons year-round.
Adjacent to the beach is the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, which is a splendid locale for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. Notable species that inhabit the park include the New England Cottontail, Harlequin Duck, and Saltmarsh Sparrow. The refuge features diverse shrublands and salt marshes.
7. Crane Beach
Located in Ipswich, Massachusetts, Crane Beach spans four miles within a conservation and recreation facility that features a naval pitch pine forest and multiple dunes.
This destination is ideal for hikers, as it offers a five-mile hiking trail that meanders through the dunes and forest.
The beach is open year-round; however, non-residents are required to pay an entrance fee, while residents must obtain a yearly parking permit for access to the beach.
Facilities at the beach include concessions, refreshment stands (open during summer), showers, restrooms, and changing areas for visitor convenience.
During low tide, it is possible to paddle out to nearby sandbars, and Plum Island is visible across the water.
8. Pleasure Beach
Pleasure Beach is part of Long Beach (Stratford) and is within the Bridgeport section of a two-and-a-half-mile Connecticut Barrier Beach. The beach was closed for many years following a massive fire in the 1990s that destroyed the bridge connecting it to the mainland, but it was reopened in 2014.
Surrounded by water on three sides—Lewis Gut to the north, Bridgeport Harbor to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south—Pleasure Beach has a historical background as an amusement park.
The beach remains accessible year-round via a complimentary water taxi.
Public amenities in the area include picnic tables, restrooms, showers, a pavilion, and a limited concession stand.
Pleasure Beach serves as a preservation area for endangered bird species like the osprey and piping plover, as well as plants such as prickly pear cactus and southern sea lavender. Various wildlife species, including foxes, deer, raccoons, and cotton-tailed rabbits, also inhabit the area.
9. Old Orchard Beach
A highly sought-after summer destination, Old Orchard Beach is a beach town located in York County, Maine.
Situated on the shores of Saco Bay along the Atlantic Ocean, both the downtown area and the beach pier are populated with numerous tourist-oriented establishments, including t-shirt shops, souvenir shops, clam shacks, motels, and bed and breakfasts.
One of the most notable attractions in Old Orchard Beach is The Ocean House Hotel and Motel, established in 1895, making it the oldest hotel of its kind in the area.
Another famous feature of the beach is Palace Playland, a seaside amusement park founded in 1902 and home to the first carousel in the United States, known as Noah’s Ark, as well as a newly constructed Ferris wheel.
During the summer months, Old Orchard Beach hosts a weekly firework display right on the beach.
10. Humarock Beach
Humarock Beach, also known as Humarock and Humarock Island, is a charming coastal village situated on Cape Cod Bay and is surrounded by water. This beach town can be reached by boat from Scituate or by crossing a bridge from Marshfield.
Despite its designation as an island, Humarock is actually a long peninsula that is accessible by walking across a large dune or the nearby Rexhame Beach.
The shoreline features an abundance of smooth, flat stones.
Over the years, the beach has become a favored location for teenagers and young visitors.
The long stretch of shoreline is dotted with a small restaurant, an ice-cream shop, and a souvenir store. There are beach houses available for sale and for long-term rental. While there is a small parking lot, it requires a beach parking permit, which is limited for non-residents.
11. Joseph Sylvia State Beach
Commonly referred to as ‘State Beach’, Joseph Sylvia State Beach is a well-regarded location, particularly favored by families due to its gradual slope into deeper waters and mild wave conditions. On typical summer days, the nearby parking area fills up as early as 10 AM.
The two-mile-long State Beach is home to diverse nesting birds, including the American oystercatcher and the piping plover. Fishing is a popular activity in this area, with the large bridge serving as the prime spot for bait fishing. The shorelines of Sengekontacket Pond and Nantucket Sound are also favored for nighttime fishing activities.
Swimming, walking, kiteboarding, and windsurfing are additional popular recreational activities in the vicinity.
The Edgartown section of the beach is patrolled by lifeguards, and the entire beach area boasts numerous public amenities such as food stands and restrooms.
12. Roger Wheeler State Beach
Formerly known as Sand Hill Cove, Roger Wheeler State Beach was established in August 1970 as a state-operated recreation area in Rhode Island.
Visitors enjoy swimming and picnicking, and there is a playground available for children. Lifeguards are on duty to ensure safety.
Facilities at the beach include a pavilion, over 60 picnic tables, a concession building, coin-operated hot showers, a watchtower for lifeguards, ample parking, and an environmental education area.
The beach is named after Captain Roger W. Wheeler, founder of the Rhode Island State Life-Saving System, attracting a diverse range of visitors, particularly families.
13. Short Sands Beach
Another gem among New England’s family-friendly beaches, Short Sands Beach entices visitors to return to its beautiful coastline year after year.
The beach is open to the public year-round and throughout the day, making it accessible at any time. Certain areas along the coastline offer shade, while others are ideal for sunbathing.
The moderately warm water temperature offers great opportunities for swimming, making the beach a popular destination for surfers during high tide.
Throughout the summer months, Short Sands Beach hosts various concerts and events in the gazebo.
Numerous upscale restaurants are situated around the beach area, and various public amenities, including restrooms and showers, are available for visitors’ use.
14. Easton’s Beach
Referred to as First Beach by many, Easton’s Beach ranks among the most popular beaches in Newport, Rhode Island. The beach stretches three-quarters of a mile and is well-known for its boardwalk along with its vibrant surfing scene.
The beautiful sandy shoreline is a favored location for weddings, while the Save the Bay Exploration Centre and Aquarium, as well as a charming 1950s carousel, enhance the beach’s allure.
Rental facilities are available near the beach, offering lounge chairs, umbrellas, and boogie boards, along with retail stores for basic beach necessities such as buckets, pails, towels, and sunscreen.
Though some amenities are seasonal, restrooms, shaded pavilions, picnic areas, grilling stations, snack bars, and both indoor and outdoor showers, along with a few parking lots, are accessible around Easton’s Beach.
15. Clay Head Preserve
Located in the scenic 190-acre Clay Head Preserve, the beach here offers striking views and is often considered a photographer’s haven due to its breathtaking scenery.
This privately-owned preserve is particularly popular during the fall for its variety of migratory songbirds, including the barn owl, yellow-crowned night heron, and northern harrier.
A 1/3-mile nature trail extends east towards the sea, with the delightful Littlefield Farm in the background. To the right, visitors will find the Clay Head Swamp. As you walk along the trail, you will encounter an intersection that leads to the beach if you turn right, or higher clay bluffs if you turn left. Dubbed ‘the maze’, random trails veer off towards the left, perfect for hours of leisurely exploration.
