Public beaches in Cape Cod - any good ones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The national seashore beaches are wonderful. They run from eastham (Coast Guard) to Ptown. I love Nauset Beach in Orleans but it does get crowded. Those are all ocean beaches, sounds like you were on the bay side?

Yes, my friend was freaked out by shark sightings (and maybe an attack a few years ago?) so we didn't swim on the ocean side. We can ditch them for a day for clear water. Did we need a special car tag to drive there though?

It's public land. You just need to pay for parking. And go early. There have been sharks in the bay this year too but the chance of a shark attack is super low.

What is public land? You think "National Seashore" means public land? LOL!

You don't know what the Cape Cod National Seashore is? LOL! It's part of the National Park Service.

https://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm

Yeah, no. Still not going to spell it out for you. Enjoy your trip!

[Anonymous]

I'm the one with the family home and private beach. Nothing stops people from walking on our beach and we only have someone "patrol" it on busy holiday weekends. Otherwise we don't have a problem with occasional "visitors". But yes it truly is owned by us.

[Anonymous]

You are all ridiculous. Who cares if you own a beach. I was there last week for the first time. We were all over and visited beaches on both sides. I thought most of the beaches were beautiful. Unlike OP, I Iiked Corporation Beach. I think it is great for kids. It wasn't crowded the day we went and the water is shallow for a pretty extended distance. I also really enjoyed Race Point Beach (I think that was the name.) We went after four and it was free plus not crowded. We got to see seals swimming off shore.

I did see many private beaches. I am not sure why this is a point of contention with people. I did not detract from my experience. There are so many fantastic public beaches for all to enjoy.

My family really loved visiting the entire area. There is so much to see and do. I plan to visit again. For those of you fortunate enough to live there I envy you. It is truly beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Growing up our next door neighbors always let us use their beach. Now that they rent their house out most the summer we go to public beaches. Depending where on Cape you are going there are lots of options. I like Craigville Beach and Dowses Beach. Here's some info that might help you locate public beaches:

http://capecodonline.com/beaches/cape-cod-beach-sticker-information/

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for all of the great suggestions. I saved them and will try some new places on our next trip. Glad to know there are better public beach options!

[Anonymous]

Pp here who suggested Dowses. I forgot...Sandy neck beach is beautiful too. But I've only gone there after 4 with kids to run around in recent years, so I can't remember how the water is. Generally, if the Cape is an arm, water is warmest on the under arm from the "armpit" to the "elbow".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coast Guard beach is awesome. Also Cahoon's Hollow, which has great waves and the Beachcomber.

If you like Nauset, explore Orleans - there are tons of little inlets and coves between Nauset and Rock Harbor. Some have spaces for a few cars. I don't know if there's a map to any of this but regulars tend to figure it out.

On the bay side is Skaket - great for little kids or taking a walk in the tidal pools. If you hit it at high tide, it's a good relatively safe surf (and much warmer than Nauset.)

Also there are tons of lakes and ponds around mid-Cape. My kids actually enjoy these more than the ocean. Don't ask me why but it may be water temperature.

BTW I've spent most summers of my life at the Cape and I don't know anyone who has a "private beach." I'm sure they exist but it's not a MA thing.

NP here -- thanks for the above, PP. I married into a New England family and have grown to love the Cape -- we'll be there in two weeks and I'm counting the days. When I saw the question about private beaches, I just scratched my head. BTW, we love Coast Guard beach too.

[Anonymous]

Sandy Neck is kind of amazing (bayside beach near Barnstable). You can get a permit to drive on the beach and really get away from the crowds....the beach is a few miles long, drive out to the sandy point at the end of the peninsula. If you have AWD/4WD and experience with OBX beaches, you'll be fine driving here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Growing up our next door neighbors always let us use their beach. Now that they rent their house out most the summer we go to public beaches. Depending where on Cape you are going there are lots of options. I like Craigville Beach and Dowses Beach. Here's some info that might help you locate public beaches:

http://capecodonline.com/beaches/cape-cod-beach-sticker-information/

Craigville beach is awesome, and there's a great burger shack across the street. Only problem is there are often jellyfish there. My daughter was stung badly a few years ago and doesn't want to go back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The national seashore beaches are wonderful. They run from eastham (Coast Guard) to Ptown. I love Nauset Beach in Orleans but it does get crowded. Those are all ocean beaches, sounds like you were on the bay side?

Yes, my friend was freaked out by shark sightings (and maybe an attack a few years ago?) so we didn't swim on the ocean side. We can ditch them for a day for clear water. Did we need a special car tag to drive there though?

It's public land. You just need to pay for parking. And go early. There have been sharks in the bay this year too but the chance of a shark attack is super low.

What is public land? You think "National Seashore" means public land? LOL!

You don't know what the Cape Cod National Seashore is? LOL! It's part of the National Park Service.

https://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm

Seriously, the creation of the National Seashore is one of the reasons that Bostonians love JFK so much. But-for that stroke of genius, the Massachusetts coastline would probably look like the Jersey Shore. There are some privately-owned homes located within the National Seashore, but they preexisted the formation of the park and thus were grandfathered in. Most of these homes are modest, and the law makes it very difficult to expand them in a way that would encroach upon public use and enjoyment of the park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The national seashore beaches are wonderful. They run from eastham (Coast Guard) to Ptown. I love Nauset Beach in Orleans but it does get crowded. Those are all ocean beaches, sounds like you were on the bay side?

Yes, my friend was freaked out by shark sightings (and maybe an attack a few years ago?) so we didn't swim on the ocean side. We can ditch them for a day for clear water. Did we need a special car tag to drive there though?

It's public land. You just need to pay for parking. And go early. There have been sharks in the bay this year too but the chance of a shark attack is super low.

What is public land? You think "National Seashore" means public land? LOL!

You don't know what the Cape Cod National Seashore is? LOL! It's part of the National Park Service.

https://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm

Seriously, the creation of the National Seashore is one of the reasons that Bostonians love JFK so much. But-for that stroke of genius, the Massachusetts coastline would probably look like the Jersey Shore. There are some privately-owned homes located within the National Seashore, but they preexisted the formation of the park and thus were grandfathered in. Most of these homes are modest, and the law makes it very difficult to expand them in a way that would encroach upon public use and enjoyment of the park.

Not exactly.

And there is nothing wrong with Jersey beaches. You sound like you have not been to either, so do yourself a favor, and stop running your mouth.

[Anonymous]

OP the Cape Cod Times runs a daily piece in the summer on beaches across the Cape. And they have an online beach guide which you can probably access without a subscription that includes info on passes, parking, etc.

[Anonymous]

I practically grew up on Mayo Beach in Wellfleet. It's free (no parking sticker required) and right next to the harbor.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you weee there on a bad day- I agree Coorperation is not the best but love Mayflower. The key is to get there when the tide is going out so you can spread out on the flats. It does get very crowded at high tide. My favorite of the Dennis beaches is Cold Storage but it is residents only so you'd have to go with someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The national seashore beaches are wonderful. They run from eastham (Coast Guard) to Ptown. I love Nauset Beach in Orleans but it does get crowded. Those are all ocean beaches, sounds like you were on the bay side?

Yes, my friend was freaked out by shark sightings (and maybe an attack a few years ago?) so we didn't swim on the ocean side. We can ditch them for a day for clear water. Did we need a special car tag to drive there though?

It's public land. You just need to pay for parking. And go early. There have been sharks in the bay this year too but the chance of a shark attack is super low.

What is public land? You think "National Seashore" means public land? LOL!

You don't know what the Cape Cod National Seashore is? LOL! It's part of the National Park Service.

https://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm

Seriously, the creation of the National Seashore is one of the reasons that Bostonians love JFK so much. But-for that stroke of genius, the Massachusetts coastline would probably look like the Jersey Shore. There are some privately-owned homes located within the National Seashore, but they preexisted the formation of the park and thus were grandfathered in. Most of these homes are modest, and the law makes it very difficult to expand them in a way that would encroach upon public use and enjoyment of the park.

Not exactly.

And there is nothing wrong with Jersey beaches. You sound like you have not been to either, so do yourself a favor, and stop running your mouth.

Not PP but they are very different. It depends what you are looking for. The National Seashore does indeed have very little development. Some of us like that.