by Denise Calaman

Created on: November 22, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Plymouth, Massachusetts is a wonderful, historic, vacation destination for families but there is one place in Plymouth that may just get overlooked by tourists who crowd the small Cape Cod town during the summer months in order to learn more about America’s first settlers. Plymouth, Massachusetts has a lovely beach that has a pleasant family atmosphere and it isn’t off the beaten path but quite close to one of Plymouth’s main attractions; Plimouth Plantation. 

Many beachgoers are familiar with beaches that are laid out with white, sugar sand, perhaps even a boardwalk and tons of shopping. But for beachgoers who have never been to a beach in New England they may be surprised upon first laying foot on one. New England beaches aren’t like other beaches around the country.  The sand is full of pebbles, the water is cold, and most beaches don’t have the carnival flair of say a Mid-Atlantic beach with a boardwalk.

Plymouth Beach is your typical New England beach.  So if you are from the Mid Atlantic or the South be prepared to expect that Plymouth Beach won’t be like your hometown beach.  The water is extremely cold and the shoreline isn’t just full of pebbles it has big rocks that litter the shoreline so much that it is tough to walk in some areas especially during high tide.  During high tide the shoreline on Plymouth Beach gets extremely thin but as the tide goes out it widens considerably. 

Plymouth Beach is an excellent place to find shells and sea glass.  The beach isn’t combed regularly so shells pollute the sand, the water line and even the parking lot. Small shells and pieces of sea glass get trapped in the rocky shoreline and a shell collector can literally search for hours in the rocky crevices. 

Plymouth Beach has no boardwalk but it does have public bathrooms, showers and a seafood restaurant sits in the parking lot.  The beach is family friendly however; there are no lifeguards on duty even during the hottest summer days.  This may be a concern for parents of young children although the water at Plymouth Beach is quite shallow.  However; parents should keep a watchful eye on their children even at beaches with lifeguard towers.

When travelling to Plymouth spending a day at the beach may not be on your activities list.  However; a day at the beach is a relaxing time and allows families to spend time together making lasting memories.  Plymouth Beach is located not far from some of Plymouth’s best hotels and located within a mile of Plimouth Plantation.  For directions, rules and regulations or more about the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts please visit the town’s website at http://www.plymouth-ma.gov/Public_Documents/Plymouth MA_WebDocs/visitors.

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