The Beaches of Cape Ann
 


Gloucester - Stage Fort | Pavillion | Wingaersheek | Good Harbor

Rockport - Long | Cape Hedge | Pebble | Old Garden | Front | Back

Ratings (1-5) are based on details noted such as parking/rate, kid-friendly, car-to-sand walk, facilities, over-all experience, water quality, etc. Ratings performed by 40 years of experience, having visited each location. NOTE: NO DOGS allowed on beaches from May 15 through September.

GLOUCESTER

Half Moon and Cressy's  at Stage Fort Park (Visitors Center), Route 127, Gloucester -- Rating: 2.5

  • Large picnic area with many picnic tables.
  • Parking fee: $10.00
  • Beach surface: One sandy (Half Moon), one mixed sand & stones.
  • Play area: Lots of playground equipment, places to run around, historical Fort and secret paths on giant rocks for hours of exploring.
  • Take-out restaurant: "The Cupboard" on site at far end of park
  • Lifeguards are on duty in season.
  • Visitors Center with bathrooms.

Pavillion Beach - Stacy Boulevard, Route 127, Gloucester -- Rating: 2.0

  • This is a good alternative beach, never crowded.
  • Parking only along street.
  • Beach surface: Mostly gritty sand, nice views of the harbor, clean water.
  • No services or facilities

Wingaersheek Beach, Atlantic Rd., West Gloucester  -- Rating: 5.0
(Off-island off Rt.128 Exit 13/Concord St.)

  • About 1/2 mile long
  • Carry in, carry out trash policy strictly enforced
  • No picnic tables or picnic area
  • Parking fee: $15 week, $25 w/e
  • Beach surface: Sandy and flat
  • No designated play or sports area
  • Snack bar, lifeguards in season, bathrooms.

Good Harbor Beach, Route 127A, Gloucester, MA -- Rating: 5.0

  • About 3/8 mile long
  • Carry in, carry out trash policy strictly enforced
  • Picnic tables at the rear, near the concession stand
  • Parking (limited) fee for non-residents: $20 week, $25 W/E
  • Beach surface: raked clean sand
  • No designated play area for volleyball, etc. but allowed at west end.
  • Located on Rte. 127A, Thatcher Road
  • Snack bar, outside rinse showers, bathrooms, lifeguards in season.

ROCKPORT

Long Beach, Thacher Rd./127A, Rockport -- Rating: 4.0

  • About 3/4 mile long (10% is in Gloucester)
  • Carry in, carry out trash policy strictly enforced
  • No picnic tables
  • No real parking but private parking lots available for a fee
  • Beach surface: sandy but minimal at high tide
  • No designated play area for volleyball, etc. but often allowed at low tide on wet sand
  • Located on Rte. 127A, Thacher Road
  • No food services or public facilities

Cape Hedge Beach, Rockport, MA -- Rating: 1.5

  • About 100 yards long
  • Minimal sand at high tide
  • Parking: Resident sticker parking only
  • No facilities

Pebble Beach, Penzance Rd., Rockport, MA -- Rating: 2.0

  • About 120 yards long
  • Mostly round popples (granite stones) instead of sand, which is minimal at high tide
  • Parking: Resident sticker parking only
  • Not a kid-friendly beach except at dead low tide when pool/rock exploring is prime
  • No facilities

Old Garden Beach, Old Garden Rd., Rockport -- Rating: 3.5

  • Small beach, about 50 yards
  • Park benches, no picnic tables
  • Resident sticker parking lot, free parking about 100 yards away
  • Beach surface is minimal where sandy — good swimming.
  • Play area: There is a small grassy field. 
  • This is a very popular beach for out of town divers and the free parking is challenging.
  • No facilities.

Front Beach, Beach St., Downtown Rockport, MA -- Rating: 4.5

  • About 150 yards long
  • Park benches, no picnic tables
  • Metered parking, aggressive ticketing
  • Beach surface: Sandy — good swimming and beach glass hunting
  • Play area: Millbrook Meadow across the street with swings. 
  • Snack Bar: "Bistro" take-out across street.
  • New restrooms 

Back Beach, Beach St., Rockport -- Rating: 2.0

  • About 150 yards long
  • Park benches, no picnic tables
  • Metered parking, aggressive ticketing
  • Beach surface is minimal where sandy — good swimming
  • Play area: Not on the beach, but there is Millbrook Park near Front Beach 300 yards away. 
  • Snack Bar: "Bistro" at nearby Front Beach. Soda machine at Legion.
  • New restrooms at nearby Front Beach

Singing Beach, Manchester, MA -- Rating: 0

  • The sign to Singing Beach says: "WELCOME! No fires, no flotation devices, no diving, no jumping from rocks, no alcohol, no surfing, no windsurfing, no kayaking, no canoeing, no fishing, no pets, no nudity."

We were unable to properly evaluate this beach as there is a fee of $5.00 just to walk on it. And judging by the sign, that's all you CAN do on it.
 


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