Massachusetts Has One Of The Best Towns For A Beach House
With schools out for summer, it’s that time of year when we retreat to the shorelines. Where you go depends upon your location. However, Travel and Leisure recently published a list with some great suggestions. They recognized an area of Massachusetts for having one of the best beach towns.
There are a few variables in what you look for in the beach you frequent. While convenience is high on the list, sometimes people seek out a quiet area of soft sand to simply relax. Others look for beaches that have comfortable waters, activities for kids, and great food options close by.
This location in Massachusetts has the best of both worlds. If you’re in Boston, simply head over the Bourne and Sagamore Bridge, and you will be about 60 miles from this unique beach town.
Provincetown
At the tip of Cape Cod, P-Town has all of summer’s best offerings right at your disposal. “Vacationers spend days frolicking at commerce-free Race Point and Herring Cove beaches, biking through pine forests and dunes, or strolling downtown’s Commercial Street to visit its funky shops, galleries, and eateries,” Travel and Leisure explains.
Most whale watch tours on the Cape leave out of Provincetown. Their open-air pedicab tours offer an impressive way to experience Cape Cod’s natural beauty.
Bay Harbour is one neighborhood where you will find luxury beachfront homes with stunning views of Cape Cod Bay. In addition, the West End offers a quieter residential experience.
Where Else In New England
Although Provincetown was the only place in Massachusetts highlighted, there were a few other New England areas highlighted in the best beach towns feature. Ogunquit, Maine, Block Island, Rhode Island, and Newport, Rhode Island, were also praised for their coastline accommodations.
If you are looking to spend time at a Provincetown beachside house this season, there are still options available to you via rental sites like VRBO.
Massachusetts Lighthouse Named One Of The Most Beautiful In The World
What do Porto, Portugal, Crete, Greece, and Scituate, Massachusetts have in common? They all have historic lighthouses. In fact, in Trips To Discover’s recent guide, they named Old Scituate Light, along Massachusetts’ south shore one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world.
The 1800’s
This landmark dates back to the year 1810. “Congress voted to build a lighthouse at the harbor, and the light made of split granite blocks with a house attached and was activated the following year (1811),” Trips To Discover explains. It was the 11th lighthouse in the United States upon completion. It cost $4,000. Shortly after, Captain Simeon Bates, his wife and nine children lived at the house. Bates was the first keep of this lighthouse.
“Because mariners complained that the light could not be seen from far enough away to make proper heading adjustments, the U.S. Government added fifteen feet in height to the tower in 1827, mortaring red brick on top of the granite blocks,” Scituate’s Historical Society explains.
The 1900’s
The town of Scituate acquired the lighthouse from the government in 1916 for $1,000. Fourteen years later, a new lantern room was built at the top. 1994 marked one of the most memorable events in Old Scituate Light’s history as it was relit, making it visible from the sea for the first time in 134 years. Three years prior, it had been relit to be seen on land only.
Present Day
Old Scituate Light is a very popular south shore attraction. Every day people can be seen taking pictures of this lighthouse. Select dates are released each year that detail when it will be open to the public. Walkways along the water’s edge surround it for guests to explore the area. One of this destination’s most notable elements is the attached cottage. That remains a private residence that is the lightkeeper’s cottage.
While many tourists travel to the south shore of Massachusetts for the beaches and boating, stopping by one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world is also a site worth seeing.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
