National Seashore Beaches

Hi all,

We are looking at devoting an entire day spent on the beaches of Cape Cod (national park service beaches in particular). We are more interested in spending 1-3 hours at a beach and then moving on to another, versus spending a whole entire day at one particular beach. Windshield time is not a problem.

I am looking for 2 or 3 beaches that will highlight the best of what the cape has to offer. The kids (9yo %26amp; 5yo) enjoy short hiking trails, tide pools, shelling, etc. Swimming is not as important for us.

We will be staying in West Yarmouth. Also looking for ideas as to stops along the route for lunch and dinner.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and time.

National Seashore Beaches

I%26#39;d suggest you limit yourself to one National Seashore beach a day. The driving between beaches will be bad enough, but the real issue (other than the hassle of packing up your gear and moving it all) will be parking availability and parking fees.

All the National Seashore beaches are stunning...consider getting there early in the a.m. and enjoying your day.

If you want to just visit a beach, parking is free after 4:00.

National Seashore Beaches

In addition to the National Seashore Beaches, since you%26#39;re in Yarmouth, you could head over to the next town, Dennis. At low tide, the North Side beaches have big tidal flats with all sorts of tidal pools. In addition, in Yarmouth on the North Side is Bass Hole....a marshy area with a boardwalk and some areas to explore for kids. It%26#39;s not a real good swimming beach.

Last season I called the National Seashore and among other things learned that you just need to keep your receipt from the first location and then you do not pay again for entry to their other beaches. Maybe you should start off with Coast Guard and end up at Race Point. Please take a look at the activities offered and see if you can plan in advance since they have evening events with the rangers in the Provincetown dunes like night time bonfires and storytelling.

I%26#39;m glad you mention that swimming is not of most importance since the water on the Atlantic side is very cold but the dramatic beaches are not to be missed.

You might not have too much trouble getting a parking space if you go early to the first stop and make the second one around noon to one when folks begin to leave for lunch and to take the little kids home. Just check which beach has the most parking and try to make that one your second stop. This mid-day stop will be your more difficult for parking if you don%26#39;t plan ahead.

One place you can count on is Cahoon Hollow. There you park in the restaurant lot which is large and pay the parking fee. Then they give you a voucher for the same amount which you can spend on lunch right there at the top of the dune. The dunes are dramatic there but it is not a National Seashore beach. The restaurant is there though because it is a former lifesaving station. www.thebeachcomber.com

You mention tide pools and you can experience the amazing tidal flats many places on the Cape Cod bay side. From Yarmouth I recommend my favorite and that%26#39;s Mayflower however the parking fills up in the morning in season. AND you need to be sure to be there when the tide is coming in, going out, anything but when it is in. You can stop at Dennis Market on 6A right across from the turn off to the bay beaches and get great deli sandwiches and snacks in this grocery stop. (Have a map or good directions as this turn off is not all that well marked.) Or there%26#39;s a snack shack at Mayflower beach with the usual burgers, fish sandwiches and ice cream.

BTW, since you are staying in West Yarmouth may I suggest one of my favorite restaurants in Hyannis? It%26#39;s Baxter%26#39;s Boat House on Pleasant at the harbor. The food is good, my favorite is their fried scallops, but what I really like is the location since you are on a dock right ON the water. Folks arrive at Baxters by car and by boat. You can dine in the %26#39;fancy%26#39; dining room (shirts with a collar and boat shoes) or in the self serve picnic areas, one enclosed and one right outside on the harbor. This second is the %26#39;casual%26#39; side - anything including tee shirts and flip flops. Open for lunch and dinner.

Are you staying for a week? I%26#39;ll send you a private message with reference to other activities you might enjoy.

It sounds like you are getting ready for a great Cape Cod vacation. Have fun.

Yep, save your receipt from one National Seashore Beach and it%26#39;s good for another on the same day. (my mistake)

If you%26#39;re not interested in swimming, you really might want to consider visiting these beaches during the off hours to enjoy the best time of day there. (no crowds, no wait, no fees and no shuttle!)

OK, sounds like you know what you want. Here%26#39;s what I would do. Pay to get into one beach, save the receipt and use it for all other National Seashore beaches. You have your choice of Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light in Eastham, Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro and Herring Cove or Race Point i Provincetown. (Note that Cahoon Hollow and LeCount Hollow beaches in Wellfleet are not National Seashore beaches so you will not be able to use your admission ticket at those beaches.)

Pick a day with low tide in the morning and get to Coast Guard Beach in Eastham 2 hours +/_ low tide. If you are going during the summer you may need to park at Little Creek Staging Area and take the very convenient shuttle to the beach. If you go before mid-June you can park at the Coast Guard Station which is reserved for handicapped parking during the busy summer season. This is a fantastic barrier beach with the the Great Nauset Marsh to its west and nothing but sand and ocean. We like to walk to the south, toward the ';break'; since there are often seals in this area. Walk at the water%26#39;s edge at low tide where the sand is packed and hard. Walking in soft sand is no fun and a lot of work! If you really like to walk you can go all the way to the break where the Atlantic waters come in and out of Town Cove. (take a look at a map to see what I mean.)

Next head up the coast to Marconi Beach. The beach in this section is backed by tall dunes and should be experienced.

You can take a detour from the beach to Marconi site and learn about the first wireless trans-Atlantic transmission from this location.

Finally, go to Race Point where you will truly be at the end of the earth. This is the fist of the Cape, where Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic meet. There is always a lot of energy at this beach....and then you can spend some time in Provincetown. Or if you are lucky, you may see some whales from shore (bring your binnoculars!)

All in all a great day at the great outer beach!

If you plan your visit for after hours and end up in Provincetown, you will be treated to a tremendous sunset over Cape Cod Bay.