New England Beach Vacation?

[threeboysmom]

Hi! I'm looking for a beach resort for the last week in July - someplace within driving distance (Maine to New Jersey coastline). It will just be three of us - DH, myself and my 9 DS.

We're looking for a great kid-friendly beach with lots of sand & waves, a nice clean hotel or cottage preferably oceanfront, but would settle for walking distance. Would like a hotel with activities & amenities geared towards children in case of bad weather.

Anybody know of a great beach?

Anybody know of a great resort to stay at?

Right now, we are looking in Gloucester, MA, but am open to other ideas! Thanks!!

 

[TomD]

misquamicut beach Westerly RI is a nice place with Hotels on the beach. less then 3 miles from Watch Hill which is a pleasant place to look in the shops, ride the flying horses and go to the beach. Walk Napatree point to seee the forts.

or Old Orchard Beach Maine or Hampton Beach in Hampton NH.

I grew up in Watch Hill and go to Old Orchard and Hampton with my kids during the summer

 

[disneymcgraw]

We head to Cape Cod every summer. The house that we rent is on the beach and the kids love it. We go with my best friend and her family so all together it's 4 adults and 3 shorties ages...6,6, and 5.

www.capecodtimes.com

This is a good link to find some cottages or hotels.

 

[pattyT]

http://www.lighthouseinn.com/

 

[momof2minnies]

The best beach in New England is Ogunquit Beach in Maine. The sand is like sugar, the water is crystal clear and people ride the waves all day long. We leave and my kids feel like they are still riding. When the tides go out it leaves little pools of warm water and the tikes play in there. I have been to Hawaii- give me Ogunquit anyday. I am from Ma. and I find Cape Cod beaches to be gross.We make it a must to go to Maine 2x per summer.

 

[pattyT]

your comparing Maine and Hawaii
I will take the water temps and beaches in Hawaii anyday - lol


I think it depends on WHERE you go to at the Cape -
like anywhere else there are dives and there are nicely kept beaches

 

[monarchsfan16]

I went to Ogunquit for the first time last summer. The beach is beautiful there. Plus it seems like there is plenty of other stuff to do, and if it rains, it's a short drive to the Kittery outlets. Everywhere we looked were families that appeared to be having a wonderful time.
I would not recommend Hampton Beach in NH. If you want to do a NH beach, pick one of the state beaches. Hampton Beach is the biggest tourist trap this side of Weirs, and significantly more crowded than our other beaches.

 

[pattyT]

I went to Ogunquit for the first time last summer. The beach is beautiful there. Plus it seems like there is plenty of other stuff to do, and if it rains, it's a short drive to the Kittery outlets. Everywhere we looked were families that appeared to be having a wonderful time.
I would not recommend Hampton Beach in NH. If you want to do a NH beach, pick one of the state beaches. Hampton Beach is the biggest tourist trap this side of Weirs, and significantly more crowded than our other beaches.

like i said there can be dives anywhere - I agree RUN AWAY from hampton Beach!

But if you stay near Salsbury State Park in MA it is Awesome! and driving distance to that tourist trap!

 

[momof2minnies]

Yeah Patty I am. The beaches in Hawaii may have been warm but that does't matter when there is so much algae that you can't go in - No algae or seaweed at Ogunquit Beach!

 

[shamrock30]

You mentioned about looking into Gloucester, and its two largest beaches are definitely kid friendly. There are also whale watches, a Duck Tour, and Hammond Castle Museum. I don't think there are any resort type hotels that would have a lot of kids activities, but if it rained, it would be easy to catch the commuter rail into Boston and hit the Science Museum or the Aquarium.

 

[disneymcgraw]

The best beach in New England is Ogunquit Beach in Maine. The sand is like sugar, the water is crystal clear and people ride the waves all day long. We leave and my kids feel like they are still riding. When the tides go out it leaves little pools of warm water and the tikes play in there. I have been to Hawaii- give me Ogunquit anyday. I am from Ma. and I find Cape Cod beaches to be gross.We make it a must to go to Maine 2x per summer.

Each his own..I hardly think our beach at the Cape is gross but you're entitled to your own opinion.

 

[jim and meesie]

If you're looking for a real resort vacation Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod can't be beat. I wouldn't be surprised if Disney based the Yacht Club on CBI. We actually spend our summers in the town of Chatham but have only stayed at the resort a couple of times. It is a little pricey in the middle of the summer but they ahve a great kids program. The Town of Chatham (just about a block away) is just beautiful with lots of fun shopping, great candy shop, great family golf course on siteand the beach and pool are really nice. If you find it too pricey right next door is a smaller hotel (same Beach) called The Hawthorne which is older and less resorty but great beach and easy walk to restaraunts and town. We just love Chatham in the summer.

 

[jim and meesie]

Here are the websites to check out;


Chatham Bars Inn website (doesn't it look like Disney??)

http://chathambarsinn.com/

The Hawthorne website

http://www.thehawthorne.com/

 

[mickeyfan1]

Ogunquit is my all time favorite beach, I also like the Yorks in Maine. As a child I vacationed in New Hampshire every summer and we always went to one or the other or both, we stayed in a campground at York Beach for 2 weeks, I think I was maybe 14, my younger sisters would have been 9 and 10, there was plenty of stuff we liked to do, there is a really cool wild animal park there, too. The one thing to be aware of, the water is NOT warm. We would be blue when my mother would insist on us getting back to the sand.

As to Hampton, it is extremely like Ocean City Maryland and Virginia Beach. It is very much more touristy, but that is not a bad thing. Everyone has there own ideas of what makes a great beach, what one person doesn't like, others will.

 

[threeboysmom]

LOL! I didn't mean to start a debate here about the best beaches!! Everyone is entitled to their own opinions!

What are the two main beaches in Gloucester?

I heard the Cape is way too crowded in the summer months.

I think I'm going to look into Ogunquit - I think I have a gorgeous hotel there bookmarked in my favorites from a while ago - Stage Neck Inn - does that sound familiar?

And I'd go to Hawaii in a heartbeat if I could! I wouldn't even be discussing New England beaches if I had the chance to go there! LOL!

Thanks!

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I'll agree with those people that said avoid Hampton Beach. Unless you like lots of traffic in a tourist trap. Any of the state beaches in NH are good, as is Wells ME. We usually camp up there, so I can't help with hotels.

Jen

 

[mtemm]

As to Hampton, it is extremely like Ocean City Maryland and Virginia Beach. It is very much more touristy, but that is not a bad thing. Everyone has there own ideas of what makes a great beach, what one person doesn't like, others will.

That is absolutely true. I HATE Hampton beach. really hate it. I like long stretches of beach without the carnival like atmosphere...ogunquit is pretty, longs sands at york is nice, love chatham and harwichport on the cape. Salsbury state beach is very nice (not to be confused with salsbury beach). cranes beach in MA is stunning.

My husband, on the other hand, loves Hampton. He liked other beaches, too, but he loves the arcade atmosphere that is a part of hampton. what I find dirty and annoying, he finds exciting and fun.

If you do stay in Gloucester, make sure to do a daytrip to rockport and marblehead.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

your comparing Maine and Hawaii
I will take the water temps and beaches in Hawaii anyday - lol

I agree, but I'm a hot weather girl! DH dragged me to Cape Cod a long time ago, because that's where they always vacationed when he was a kid.

I was used to the beaches in Florida, and when we were in Cape Cod in August, I about froze!!!

It's all what you're used to, but you'd never catch me again in a swimsuit up North, no matter what time of year!

 

[kat3668]

I am also a BIG fan of Ogunquit beach... we go to footbridge beach and it is sooo nice...
ReallY NICE resorts and tons of hotels in the area... Moody, Wells ,Ogunquit
And Kennebunkport is about 20 minutes down the road... The Bushs summer house is there....as well as awesome little shops etc...
thers is also a little beach called Drakes island where you can sea seals...I have vacationed in that area for over 20 years and it is a faboulous area!!!

 

[shamrock30]

What are the two main beaches in Gloucester?
QUOTE]

They are Wingarsheek and Good Harbor. Wingarsheek is a little more out of the way, and the surf is usually calmer. Good Harbor is more centrally located to the town, and I know there's at least one motel within walking distance. Some of the rooms there have an ocean view--not sure if they all do. It's a motel though, not a resort. There are also some B&B's in the area.

There are other (more expensive, I think) hotels that have a great ocean view, but they aren't within walking distance to a large beach.

Feel free to PM if I can help further.