Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester

Probably the best beach I have been to on east coast. It really is so peaceful and serene here. We went on a weekday and the beach wasn’t crowded and had ample space for kids to enjoy the waves. The waves were fantastic and we ended up getting a boogie board from the snack shop. The bathrooms are open until 5 pm and they were clean. The only downside is that there is no place to rinse your feet which is a bit surprising since it has everything else you need to enjoy a beach trip! Not a fun ride home with sand all over your feet.

Probably the best beach on the North Shore. This is an amazing stretch of beach in Gloucester. There are public porta-potties and even an ice cream shop. The sand goes very far and there is plenty of space for several families. Great sand for games and castle making. The surf is not too rough and there is even a side channel where the little ones can play and go look for snails and crabs among the rocks. The seagulls are pretty bad so keep a close eye on your food. Parking can be a little expensive if you’re not local but if you go during the week or close to 5pm parking is free. Parking is also free on the off season and there is free parking on Nautilus road with beach access but that gets picked quickly so come early if you want a spot.