20 Beaches by Boston That Are Perfect for Families

Spread across nearly 600 acres of barrier beach and salt marsh, this beautiful stretch of white sandy beach is one of the most popular of the state park system. Its location provides plenty of refreshing breezes off the Atlantic and great windsurfing conditions. Amenities include a bathhouse, snack bar, picnic tables, lifeguards, walking trails and adjacent campground.

Just 20 minutes (via ferry) from downtown Boston, Spectacle Island has a sandy beach (one of the few on the islands) supervised by trained lifeguards in the summer. You can take in panoramic views of the harbor and city from the tallest hill on the Boston Harbor Islands. On the island, you'll find a visitor center, restrooms, rinse station, cafe, gift shop and picnic area. This 114-acre island is the perfect local getaway for hiking, swimming, boating, and learning about nature.

The largest of the Boston Harbor beach areas, Quincy Shores Reservation, offers a unique place for jogging, biking, and swimming at the 2.3-mile beach front. There is also a lookout tower, playground, concession stand and bathhouse. Access by public transportation is available at the Wollaston stop on the Red Line. The now inactive quarry, by the way, is a popular area for rock climbing and picnicking with the family.

Tour Fort Independence, walk the paved loops (great for bikes, strollers and scooters) and grab a kid-friendly bite to eat at Sullivan's. The island and its connected beaches have plenty of shoreline for swimming, with restrooms, picnic area, rinsing showers and a large playground. Parking is free near Fort Independence.

This popular East Boston beach offers unique views of Boston Harbor and Logan Airport. Amenities include a bathhouse, concession stand, seasonal lifeguards, playground, basketball and tennis courts. A pedestrian overpass offers access from the Orient Heights MBTA station.

This popular beach is packed with sunbathers and the perfect place to grab a roast beef sandwich or famous lobster roll at nearby restaurants while watching the airplanes land or take off. Facilities include restrooms, changing rooms and concession stand. It's also home to the annual Revere Beach Sand Sculpting contest, the largest sand sculpting festival on the East Coast.

An easy drive from Boston, Nahant Beach offers a wide stretch of soft sand with a large distance of shallow water which is perfect for families of small children. Bathhouse and lifeguards are available as well as a 2-mile promenade for walking, jogging and biking. There is a large paid parking lot which provides plenty of parking.

The historic Salem Willows Park offers three beautiful beaches, scenic views, gazebos, picnic area, sports courts and kids will have a blast at the nearby arcade plus bumper cars, carousel, and kiddie rides. Swimming is permitted, but there are no lifeguards. The private amusement center portion of Salem Willows Park operates seasonally, generally April-October.

Dane Street Beach is a great beach for young kids. After a small rocky incline, the land is flat and has soft sand for a long way, creating quite a stretch of shallow water when the tide is going out. The kids can venture far from the shore and still only be up to their knees. There is a bathhouse with restrooms just off the beach. As if the beach isn't enough fun, there also is a good-sized playground right there as well. There is a very small parking lot at the beach and street parking along Lothrop Street.

Plum Island is an 11-mile barrier island and Sandy Point, on the southern tip, is a state park and a wonderful place to swim in the Atlantic, explore the tide pools, or just sunbathe. This area is an important nesting ground for the piping plover, which may cause beach closures at times. Access to the beach is through the wildlife refuge which is home to over 800 species of birds, plants and animals. Limited free parking is available at the refuge or in private lots.

This beautiful north shore beach has a bathhouse, concession stand and lifeguards during the summer season. Although small, (1/2 mile wide) it's a great beach for walking, collecting seashells and just watching the surf. The beach is open to the public but very limited parking is available for non-residents.

This popular ocean beach stretches 3.8 miles with renovated bathhouse, lifeguards, playground, picnic area, boardwalks out to the beach and boat ramps. With great waves, this is a perfect spot for boogie boarders. Arcades, restaurants and shops are close to the area. The beach overlooks the point at which the Merrimack River feeds the Atlantic Ocean.

With 4 miles of white sand, gentle waves and picturesque vistas it's no wonder that Crane Beach has been voted "Best Beach of Boston" for multiple years. Seasonal amenities include bathhouses, lifeguards and rangers, picnic tables and concession stand. Besides the beautiful beach, you can also explore more than 5 miles of trails through the protected dunes on elevated boardwalks.

Duxbury Beach, a 7.5 mile long barrier beach, offers a bay side and an ocean side. The ocean side is perfect for swimming, taking a walk or just sun-bathing while the bay is the location for kayaking, boating and bird-watching. This family-friendly beach has restrooms, showers and several dining options.

This beach is a favorite for families with small children as low tide produces tons of tidal pools to explore and rocks to climb along with white sand and clear water protected from big waves. Restrooms, showers and a concession stand are available. It's best to get there early as parking fills up or wait until late in the afternoon.