Demarest Lloyd State Park

July 26, 2020 Sunny

This state park in Darmouth has a beach on Buzzard’s Bay as well as a section of marshland bordering the Slocum River. Apparently it’s a great area for birdwatching.

But we came for the beach and there was plenty of parking when we arrived in the afternoon around 3 pm on a hot day, although the lot still had a good number of cars and many families grilling in the shade of trees.

There was a very basic restroom and family bathroom in which you could change clothes.

Crossing a path over the dunes, the first impression was a scenic location but with a beach that’s narrow and pretty pebbly.

It was hard to find a good place to sit and we wished that we had chairs and not just towels. Most people were better equipped and took a spot higher up the beach near the sand dunes.

As the reviews said, the water was shallow and warm, but it was also full of smooth pebbles and some kelp nearer the shore. It definitely helps to wear flip-flops or water shoes as you wade out.

Here’s a view showing a mix of sand and kelp near the shore.

After you pass this section, it turns sandy and continues that way out into the bay.

The water was warm and clear, and it was possible to go out maybe 500 feet or more with water only up to my shoulders. We headed toward a sandbar where some waves were breaking and a few groups of bathers were playing and splashing each other. It did drop a bit after the sandbar but not suddenly.

Near the sandbar it was actually shallow enough for an adult to just sit in the sand with their head above the water, floating up with each passing wave. In the distance you could see Martha’s Vineyard offshore.

The boys walked all around the bay on their own. I left them out there to play since it was so calm and shallow and felt very safe. Eventually I gave Liam his flip-flops and he carried Miles back over the rocky and kelpy areas to the shore.

This state park is less crowded than some nearby choices like Horseneck Beach State Reservation but for a reason. It’s really best for young kids who need a sheltered area with warm water and minimal waves. Or for children who want to explore for hermit crabs and other wildlife. There are lifeguards (seasonally) but we didn’t see any when we visited.

If you’re in search of a more traditional beach with more amenities, you should definitely go with Horseneck Beach State Reservation, just a few miles to the west of this state park.

Rocky beach and areas near the shore, but warm and shallow water for very young kids. Scenic location to hang out and read.
Very rocky shore and the bottom. Lawn chairs and water shoes are a must. Water is too shallow to swim.
What Ryan and Miles said except I don’t give bad parks 4 stars.
This park was kind of bad because it was rocky and far.
It was super rocky and there was barely any sand. And there was yellow plants in the sea. It was very shallow far out.

For more information: Demarest Lloyd State Park official site.

Quincy Shores Reservation

January 1, 2020 Windy

We took a walk along the largest beach on the Boston Harbor – Wollaston Beach – on a brisk and windy day. We parked near Caddy Park where there’s a playground and a few picnic tables. Caddy Park is actually a marsh across the Quincy Shore Drive from the beach. There are some trails in the marsh, but we didn’t venture in.

The boardwalk along Quincy Shore Drive and the beach was nicely paved. One side has parking and bus stops; the other side has some shops and restaurants. The whole walk was about 2.3 miles one way. In the winter the accesses to the beach were closed. Some people were walking on the beach, while we also saw people feeding the seagulls.

I personally think the beach looked quite rocky. The views were good though. Some of the Boston Harbor Islands as well as the Boston Head Light are visible. Towards the city, the taller buildings of Boston can also be identified.

At the end of this walk, we came upon a little hill called Moswetuset Hummock. This is the site of the first encounter of Myles Standish with the local native sachem, or leader, Chikatawbut, in 1621 and cited as a source for the name of Massachusetts.

This hill was where the Native Americans camped and fished in the summer (in the winter, they retreated to the Blue Hills). From the Hummock there’s a good view of the beach and the harbor.

The Quincy Shores Reservation and Wollaston Beach are close to the city and convenient to visit, but the setting is quite commercial, and there’s not a whole lot to see other than the beach.

The best part of this walk was the small hummock once used by Native Americans. The beach is fairly thin and rocky.
Wollaston Beach is rocky. It’s a pleasant walk, but not much.
Sooo boring. Cold and windy. I now believe in hell.
Walking on the seawall was ok, and the trees were grey.
I liked the path. There was a random signpost right on the path. I liked walking on the wall too.

For more information, Quincy Shores Reservation official site

Houghton’s Pond Recreation Area

December 8, 2019 Cloudy

Houghton’s Pond is part of the Blue Hills Reservation. We used to come here in the summer to swim. The pond has good facilities, life guards, and is very popular with families. This time we chose to experience it in the winter.

Even on a cold day, we were surprised at the number of cars in the parking lot. We started at the visitor’s center where there’s a playground. We even saw some kids playing on the structures in the snow.

We passed by a boardwalk and a lookout area for wetlands wildlife observation.

The trek around the pond was quite slippery, but very level and for the most part close to the water. On one side of the pond was the beach, and a large clearing with picnic benches and grills. The other two sides were more wooded.

There were good views across the pond to Blue Hills in the distance. In the summer, the views are blocked by the trees, and the crowds can be loud. But in the winter it was very peaceful.

The water close to the shore was mostly frozen solid, so the kids had a lot of fun walking and sliding on ice. We found many places that the kids could play safely. They had a blast.

With the right gear and warm coats, walking in the woods in the winter in New England can be peaceful, quiet, and fun.

This is a great swimming spot in the summer and has beautiful scenery in wintertime but the peaceful setting is marred by the highway noise.
The pond has good facilities for swimming. The trail is easy. The views of Blue Hills are beautiful. But you can hear the highways.
Liam never got his foot wet. That’s a fringe conspiracy theory. Instead, Liam had a grand ol’ time playing on the ice with his brothers.
I liked sliding on the ice and the trail was very wide.
I liked sliding on the frozen water. I super-duper laughed when Liam got his foot wet.

For more information: Houghton’s Pond Recreation Area official site.

Castle Island, Pleasure Bay, M Street Beach and Carson Beach

October 6, 2019 Windy

Castle Island is a peninsula in South Boston that’s the site of a fort, and now has a playground and beach adjacent to it.

There’s a loop around the small “bay” (Pleasure Bay), but we took the shorter paved loop around the island instead, which is about 1 mile. The first section goes past a beach.

Although the beach was empty, we did see a few parasailers racing back and forth across the water, carried by the strong winds.

Farther around the island you can see many of the Boston Harbor Islands in the distance as well as Deer Island.

There are also several memorials on the far side of the island.

The Donald McKay memorial is for a shipbuilder who built several famous clipperships nearby

There are free tours of the interior of the fort on Saturday and Sunday (check the schedule before you come), but for our visit we followed the path around the outside.

Castle Island and the surrounding area is great fun on a hot summer day, when you can visit the playground, beach, have a picnic, or enjoy some fried seafood at Sullivan’s. But it’s also worth a visit in the off-season for the changing scenery and laid-back feel.

Great views all around, with history and some good food (in the summer).
Nice views. Good facilities. The kids loved it.
I enjoyed the walk but overall it wasn’t amazing… close to the shore and the ports.
It was windy but me like view. Very cool. and playground. Eppik.
I liked the playground. But it’s not an island.

For more information: Castle Island official site.

Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation

September 22, 2019 Sunny

We visited the park on a hot late summer day. We stayed near the Lynn Shore near the rotary, where we could find parking along the beach pretty easily. We did not go on the island.

We went in late September, so although it was a hot day, the beach wasn’t too busy. There was a bath house, a playground, but the concession stand was closed for the season. There was also no other food or restaurants that we could easily walk to.

The beach was very long and wide. The sand was very fine. We thought it was kind of muddy. At different places a lot of seaweed washed up the beach, and the kids thought it was yucky.

The water was chilly, as can be expected in New England. The tide was gentle. Some swimmers had wet suits on. On the beach people were flying kites, and enjoying the sun. Many families with little children collecting shells.

We saw a lot of big shells, with the clams still alive inside. We saw seagulls picking up and dropping shells, in the hopes of cracking them open. We also saw many, many hermit crabs crawling on the beach with little shells on their backs. The kids really enjoyed building “shelters” for the hermit crabs and clams.

It’s such a fun beach. I can imagine the crowds in the middle of the summer, but a great place to spend a hot fall day.

A wide beach in a pretty setting. Plenty of small crabs and clams make it interesting for the kids.
Really nice beach. Lots of little crabs and shells to keep the kids’ attention.
There were a lot of shells and crabs so that was pretty dope, even though the algae was kind of OP. Still liked it.
There was algae but it was good overall
The hermit crabs were really cute. I like that I made the house for a hermit crab

For more information: Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation official site.

Webb Memorial State Park

September 8, 2019 Sunny

This park rests on a peninsula that extends about 1/2 mile into Hingham Bay with trails around the edge and water views all around. It also has plenty of parking, restrooms, and a picnic area. It is both a state park and the only mainland section of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

We visited on a warm, sunny day and took the loop around the water’s edge.

Reaching the end of the peninsula you can see other Boston Harbor Islands near you and there were plenty of sailboats when we visited.

The views toward Boston are also spectacular, with a clear view of the city skyline. We could also see airplanes on their descent into Logan.

Continuing on the level path we came to a rocky beach where the kids skipped stones for a while. Although the water seemed pretty chilly to us, a woman did go in and take a dip (you can see her in the distance). We also saw the T ferries from Boston to Hull pass by and bring some wake crashing on the shore.

On top of a small hill farther along we found a memorial to a local man named John Cole, who was a big-hearted Christian man in the community who was a selfless and true friend to his neighbors. It was really a lovely and peaceful section of the park.

We enjoyed Webb Memorial very much. The fresh air and great water views make it feel more like a Boston harbor island than a peninsula, and it was easy to visit. A very pleasant way to spend a summer afternoon.

This park had great views of the Harbor Islands and several peaceful memorials. It really felt like an island.
This is really a beautiful park. Compact with great views. Too bad the beach is rocky.
The beach was cool and we skipped stones at the ocean surface, so it was pretty cool (‘v’)
The beach is good and the memorials and the trail, but I got wet.
I like the beach.

For more information: Webb Memorial State Park official site.

Quinsigamond State Park

August 18, 2018 Sunny

This park mainly consists of a narrow lake that separates Worcester and Shrewsbury and in fact flows right under Route 9 and I-290. I had driven past and over it many times over the years but never thought of stopping, but am very glad I did.

We started by pulling into Regatta Point park just off of Route 9, which has a small beach and a good boat rental. The rental offers sailboats, kayaks, paddleboats, and paddle boards. We opted for 2 large kayaks with Diana and Liam together, while I took Ryan and Miles (our 2 younger boys).

This picture is looking south and you can see Route 9 traffic intersecting the lake. The water is actually quite clear and the bright sun shows this well.

We decided to head north on the lake toward the I-290 overpass, which was a little more than 1 mile away. All three of us were able to help paddle, which made it more fun.

The picture below shows Liam, our oldest son, approaching the I-290 overpass toward the north part of the lake, which was our goal.

Although it looked far, the trip north, circling the bridge posts, and returning to the boat rental only took a bit more than 1 hour. But it was a hot day and we were tired, so decided to hit the beach.

The beach, as you can see, is actually quite scenic for a lake and well kept, with plenty of clean sand and 2 lifeguards. The swimming area is quite small, but the water is clear and reasonably warm. It works well a safe area for younger children, but is not great for any kind of swimming, since the maximum depth is just a few feet near the buoys.

On the other hand, it’s surprisingly good for an inland beach, and works well for just lounging in the sun. The beach is backed by a shaded area with grills and picnic tables.

The downside as far as the boat rental and beach is the high volume of motor boat and jet ski traffic on the lake. There were several times our little kayak was rocked pretty hard by the wake. Just a note of caution if you visit.

Overall, it’s quite enjoyable for an urban setting and we definitely would like to come back to explore the southern end of the lake.

This was a great park to kayak on, but there was a lot of lake traffic.
The water was clear and cool. Kayaking was fun, but motorboats nearby were annoying. They offer sailing lessons. Would be fun to learn sailing there.
The beach was rocky and the water was cold, but overall not too bad for a non-ocean beach.
The bridge was nice and the were a lot of big rocks on the beach.
I got a little wet while kayaking. I also liked swimming at the beach.

For more information: Quinsigamond State Park official site

Fort Phoenix State Reservation

August 4, 2019 Sunny

This is a small park in Fairhaven. It was originally built around the Revolutionary War and served as a military installation until just after the Civil War.

The parking to the right is for the Fort, while the recreational areas and beach are to the left. We decided to explore the remains of the fort, and the kids enjoyed scrambling over the smooth rocks.

There are also stone walls to run around and which follow the contour of the land, along with a number of old cannons, one of which is from Revolutionary War times.

The water views here and sea breeze are really pleasant. Off to the side is a channel for boats to pass through, including ferries from New Bedford bound for Nantucket, The Vineyard, and other islands.

The kids enjoyed hopping along the giant rocks seen above down to the water, which looked clear and cool.

After walking a bit, we had to turn back since we couldn’t cross over to the New Bedford bike path on the opposite side.

We head over to check out the beach, which was small, with several bored-looking lifeguards watching just a few kids. It seemed pretty rocky but the kids enjoyed wading into the warm water.

Fort Phoenix is a small but beautiful park that is well-maintained, has plenty of parking, and great water views. It has the beach, space to play or read in the shade, as well as some history to enjoy.

A small park that packs a lot of variety. Come for the water views on a sunny day.
Aside from the beach which is small and rocky, this park is wonderful.
The ocean was good and there was a drawbridge.
The flat path was cool. The beach was fun. Even though we didn’t swim.

For more information: Fort Phoenix State Reservation official site.

Revere Beach Reservation

July 27, 2019 Sunny

Revere Beach is close to Boston and accessible by the MBTA. It was the first public beach in America.

We visited Revere Beach on weekend of the famous annual International Sand Sculpting Festival. The beach was actually quite long, and on low tide it was wide as well.

When we got there, people were making patterns on the beach as part of the festivities. I have never seen it before, and it was really pretty.

We got to see great sand sculptures. This one was a collaborative project by all the participants to commemorate the 50th anniversary of moon landing. They carved all the astronauts, the lunar module, Apollo 11. There was even a separate sculpture of a family watching the moon landing on TV.

Here are a couple of other amazing sand sculptures. Participants came from all over the world. Many had been working on their sculptures for a couple of days. They were so talented.

Beautiful day and cool sand sculptures.
Amazing sand sculptures!
The sand sculptures were cool. The food was good.

For more information: Revere Beach Reservation official site

Hampton Ponds State Park

July 20, 2019 Sunny & Blazing Hot

This state park is consists mainly of a small beach on a pond.

The day we visited was sweltering and sunny, and the parking lot was nearly full. Several groups held large parties in the pavilions at the edges of the beach, and the smell of BBQ and mixture of music was strong in the air.

We changed and raced into the water, only to hear a whistle blow for a “safety check” just 30 seconds later. Our timing was unfortunate and we had to bake on the beach for about 20 minutes before we were allowed to return to the water. Our advice – try to time your visit to avoid the checks. If you’re not sure of the schedule…ask the ice cream trucks! They seem to known exactly and show up seconds later.

Although the beach had a golden color and was fine for sunbathing, the sand was somewhat coarse and a few other factors detracted from the experience. The swimming area was small and shallow, the water fairly warm and a bit murky, and there was a good deal of pond grass (as seen below).

The constant roar of jet skiers, waverunners, and motor boats zooming by also soured us on the experience.

Although the children enjoyed cooling off, we all agreed there are better state beaches to visit.

Water was too warm, lots of pond grass, and noisy motorboats really detract from the experience here.
Too much seaweed/pond grass (?). Noise from jet skis nearby was too annoying.
There was pondgrass and stuff in the water.
There was a lot of seaweed. The water was warm.

For more information: Hampton Ponds State Park official site

Hopkinton State Park

July 13, 2019 Sunny

This is a large park with a reservoir, beaches, boat rental, and a trail system. We visited on a hot July day mainly to swim at the beach. But first we climbed a large dike to look over the reservoir. In the picture below you can see the beach that fronts a pond and the changing rooms.

On the other side of the high dike is the main reservoir for boat rentals and fishing. It also has a small beach (center of picture below, on the opposite shore).

But we returned to the Main Beach, which was fairly busy, even at 4 pm on a Saturday. It was family oriented, with plenty of children. Several lifeguards kept watch and there are buoys to mark the swimming area, which covers only a fraction of the pond.

The beach is sandy and clean, but the sand texture is fairly coarse. The water is warm enough to just wade in, and mainly shallow, which is great for kids to splash around. Near the edge of the swimming area, it’s maybe 6 or 7 feet, so not deep.

The kids really enjoyed splashing and swimming, and later playing on the shore. Since there are no waves or tides, it’s easy to build something elaborate and know that it will be there for a while.

An ice cream truck pulled up during our time there, offering a welcome treat, and I think the”Snowy Joey” truck is a regular. In fact, they came within minutes of an emergency medical situation that cleared the water for about 15 minutes. Maybe they knew it happened and what a great opportunity it was? In any case…it wasn’t related to swimming and we never did find out what happened.

Later in the day, around dinner time, we did a short drive over to the other “Upper Beach”, but were not impressed. The grilling is right next to the beach and the atmosphere is smoky (although in a good way). But there was also some trash on the beach, which was a bit muddier and not as sandy. I also noticed that it was shaded in the later afternoon hours, unlike the Main Beach that remained sunny the whole time.

But Ryan climbed up and enjoyed playing lifeguard.

The upper reservoir also has a nice-looking boat rental with paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddleboats, and more. Although we didn’t take advantage of the boat rental, we definitely wanted to come back.

The reservoir is lovely in the afternoon and very clean. It’s quite large and more peaceful than I expected. There’s also no road noise within the park, which is great.

Overall, there’s plenty of variety here and the park is well kept. We were impressed with the Main Beach as an easy alternative to ocean beaches.

On our next visit, we’ll be sure to try the boat rental and report on it.

A clean, family-friendly beach with facilities and grills nearby. The water was warm and clear. Surprisingly fun for an inland location.
Nice big park with plenty of space for every activities. Swimming was fun for the little ones.
The water was warm but it was busy.
The water was nice and warm, and I like seeing Ryan on the life guard stand.

For more information: Hopkinton State Park official site

Winthrop Shore Reservation

July 4, 2019 Sunny

Winthrop Beach is just north of Boston in Winthrop, MA and has been a popular beach for city dwellers since the 1890s when the commuter rail extended north out Boston and past this area.

What’s interesting is the dunes you see when you arrive, as well as the so-called “5 sisters”, or piles of rocks offshore that help to break the waves.

Although we came on a very hot day around noon, the beach was not too busy, with groups of mainly younger beachgoers, but plenty of space to stretch out. It looked like most of the visitors were there for the day, with tents, coolers, sporting goods, etc.

The beach has really nice, fine sand. The water was brisk but not too cold, and very clear. A gentle ocean breeze provided some cooling as well.

The kids enjoyed playing and swimming here much more than Constitution Beach which we visited earlier that morning.

Our family enjoyed the beach itself and the views. The main drawback is the lack of facilities. There are a few showers near the ocean drive, but the bathhouse is apparently down from the main beach so we didn’t explore it. Come to the beach changed to your suit and ready to go.

The beach is less crowded than others nearby. While the sand and water are fine, it could use better facilities close to the beach.
The sand was fine. No facilities though.
The sand was soft and there weren’t many creatures.
The sand was soft and fine. Not busy.
The sand was very soft.

For more information: Winthrop Shore Reservation official site.

Constitution Beach Park

July 4, 2019 Sunny

We visited Constitution Beach on a very hot July day, arriving at 10 am to find a full parking lot with just a few spaces left. This beach is a man-made crescent of sand in East Boston that opened in 1952.

It has some good facilities such as a playground, clean changing rooms and restrooms, and a snack bar with good Italian ice.

The main beach sand is good but we visited at low tide so the kids were playing in an area that seemed fairly small and a bit muddy. But it was very safe and calm, with a clearly marked swimming area.

The fun part for kids is watching planes land and take off from Logan airport, which is just across the water (see the plane in picture above?)

It seems to me this is a great beach to sunbathe and hang out on, but mainly for families. For swimming, it’s probably best to hit the beach at high tide, when you’d have more sand to play on.

Definitely a beach for locals, but easy to get to and nice sand. On the other hand, it’s not facing the Atlantic, so you don’t get the ocean breeze and waves.
The water wasn’t clean, though watching planes taking off was something different.
The sand was low quality and the waves were nonexistent; I also cut my finger on the many rocks, which impaired my fine motor skills for days to come.
The tide was coming in but there was a playground and it was cool.
I like it because there’s a lot of wet sand, and you can play.

For more information: Constitution Beach Park official site.