Categories: TRAVEL

Visiting Singing Beach in Massachusetts

Although New England boasts a varied coastline with dozens of beaches to chose from in the summer, the North Shore of Massachusetts offers some particularly scenic and quaint beaches in the vicinity of Boston.

Singing beach, located in Manchester-by-the-Sea, is a small beach about 45 minutes away from Boston. The beach gets its name from the type of sand that covers its shore, which is actually made of ‘singing sand.’ This type of sand is rare and makes a whistling sound when stepped on, if you listen carefully when the beach is deserted. You’ll also feel that the consistency of this sand is slightly different. Even so, at first look, it looks just like regular beach sand so don’t worry, there won’t be any surprises!

The best time to go to Singing beach is early in the morning or later in the afternoon when the beach isn’t as crowded. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the summer tend to get very crowded as locals and tourists flock to this beach. The beach has been increasing in popularity over the last five years as visitors spread the word but most Singing beach fans have been going there for years. On a hot summer Sunday, expect the beach to be crowded but rest assured, the beach is always clean and well manicured. Singing beach also attracts a lot of families with small children since the water is almost always very calm. It’s also evident from the interactions of people around, that the beach continues to be popular with locals: families gather around with each other and children play together as the adults socialize and catch up.

If crowded beaches and small children are not your thing, consider enjoying the natural beauty of Singing beach during the weekday or the off-season. The beach, although small, has a crescent shape and is lined by large rocks and stately trees. It makes for beautiful walks, especially at sunset or early morning. You’ll frequently see locals exercising on the beach or enjoying family get-togethers and socials in the late afternoon.

If you are an avid swimmer, you’ll need to be aware that the water at Singing beach tends to be very cold. On the warmest day, the water temperature may hit 63F but usually stays in the upper 50s or low 60s. The water temperature is posted daily outside the bathhouse which features changing stalls and bathrooms for men and women. Lifeguards are also on duty throughout the beach during the summer season.

There usually is a $5 entrance fee per person for Singing beach. There is an option to buy a season pass if you are a frequent beachgoer. This does not include parking and you must pay whether you enter the beach on foot, bike or car.

How to get to Singing Beach:

There are two ways to get to Singing beach: you can either drive or take the commuter rail. Both options will likely involve a bit of walking to the beach (about 10-15 minutes from the center of town) so it’s best to pack light and bring just your basic necessities. There is a small snack stand at the beach for refreshments and food. There are also many food options in town. When we visit, we usually stop by the grocery store on Beach Street on the way to the beach to pick up bread, deli meat and some fruit for the day.

If you are planning on traveling by public transportation, you’ll need to take the Rockport Commuter Rail Line. You can view the schedule, stops and other information by going to: www.mbta.com

Some trains will accept bikes onboard – it is advisable that you check the schedule in advance to find out which trains are able to do this. Once you arrive at the Manchester-by-the-Sea stop, turn left on Beach Street (away from the center of town). You’ll have to walk about a half a mile. Beach Street ends at the beach.

If you are driving, you’ll need to take exit 16 off of Route 128. If you are coming from Boston, you should take Route 95 North and make sure to stay on Route 128 North when the split occurs. Once you exit, take a left and you’ll be on Route 127. After about 2 minutes, you’ll enter the center of town. Stay left as you enter a street lined with shops and continue across the railroad tracks. You’ll pass Crosby’s Market on your left and the Beach Street Café on your right. This street is Beach Street so you can stay on until you hit the beach or park in town.

If you are planning on driving, keep in mind that parking in town has a two hour limit. The beach is also about a mile walk from the center of town. On Beach Street, there is free all-day public parking but there are only about 20 spots and they tend to fill quickly. A parking alternative is to pay $20-30 in town. Right after the commuter rail lines, you’ll see a parking lot to the left in front of a grocery store and other small stores. Usually, there is a big sign outside advertising the beach parking. This is probably your best bet if you can’t get a spot across the street in the free parking.

There is a parking lot right on the beach but parking here requires a beach permit that is only available to residents. Keep in mind that Singing Beach is primarily for the residents. In the off-season, October through April, the town of Manchester-by-the-Sea frees up approximately 20 spots in Singing beach’s parking lot for non-residents. After June 16, non-residents can park in the Singing beach parking lot if spaces are available only Monday through Thursday for a parking fee of $25. Take care to park in marked spots only. The local police tickets very frequently and this applies both to parking spots in town and on the beach.

According to the Singing Beach website, the rules and regulations of Singing Beach are as follows:

1. No alcoholic beverages allowed on the beach.

2. Ball playing at right end of beach in marked recreation area only.

3. Recreation area use is at the discretion of lifeguards.

4. Rubber rafts, wind surfers, kayaks, artificial floats, skim boards, etc. are prohibited.

5. No dogs are allowed on the beach from May 1st – September 30th.

6. Lifeguards have jurisdiction of beach and swimming area.

7. Climbing and diving off of rocks and island swimming strictly prohibited.

8. Boats must remain 100 feet outside of the designated swim area.

9. No nudity allowed.

10.No open fires permitted. Grill fires by fire department permit only.

11.No littering. All rubbish must be placed in trash barrels.