Does a summer’s day at the ocean make you feel like singing? Let the beach do the vocals for you at Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. Just an hour or so from bustling Boston, you’ll find this delightful seashore, where just by shuffling your feet in the sand, you’ll hear a distinctive squeaky “song.” Here’s what to know about visiting Singing Beach and other North Shore beaches.
Why Is It Called the Singing Beach?
The phenomenon that creates the squeaking sand is found at several beaches around the world. When the surface of one grain of sand rubs against another – called shear – there’s a distinctive sound. Since it’s a very delicate process and diluted by pollution or dust, it’s best heard on the dry side of the beach above the normal high tide line.
Other areas of the world that exhibit these “singing sands” include California’s Kelso Dunes and Eureka Dunes, AuTrain Beach and the beach and Warren Dunes in Michigan, Sand Mountain in Nevada and the Booming Dunes in the Namib Desert in Africa.
How Do I Get to Singing Beach?
If you are driving from Boston, take Route 95/128 north. Stay on Route 128 and take Exit 16. Take a left at the end of the ramp and follow the road to the end. Take a left on Route 127. When you get to the intersection of a gas station, Crosby’s Market and the US Post Office, continue straight over the railroad tracks onto Beach Street. Follow Beach Street a half-mile to the end.
Parking can be difficult on busy summer weekends. On Saturdays and Sundays, town residents only may park here with a beach parking sticker. However, starting in late June, non-resident can pay to park at Singing Beach Monday through Friday, space-permitting ($25/day). There are parking spaces at Masconomo Park near the train station, as well as two-hour parking meters throughout downtown Manchester and on the weekends. From 7 PM to 10 PM, parking is available for free at the Singing Beach parking lot.
Public transportation is your best bet for arriving at Singing Beach so that you don’t have to battle the parking scarcity. From Boston’s North Station, take the Rockport Commuter Rail Station Line to the Manchester stop. From the station, walk away from downtown on Beach Street a half-mile to Singing Beach.
How Much Does It Cost to Go to Singing Beach?
Singing Beach costs $7/person over age 12 from 9 AM to 5 PM every day when staff is on duty until Labor Day. Visitors aged 65 and older are free. Cash and checks accepted.
What Amenities Are at Singing Beach?
The beach is about a half-mile long with a small snack shack and bathhouse with restrooms, showers and changing stalls.
What Are Some Other North Shore Beaches and Cape Ann in Massachusetts?
White Beach (named for its white sand) in Manchester-by-the-Sea is a nice alternative to Singing Beach. It is located on one side of the Crow Island Peninsula, with its sister beach, Black Beach, on the other side of the peninsula. Black Beach is bigger, but does not have any parking. White Beach has parking spaces for town residents and is a popular choice for those seeking to avoid the Singing Beach crowds.
Crane Beach in Ipswich is another favorite, with 4 miles of shoreline and 1,234 acres of soft sand, nature trails and pristine conservation area (5 trails wind through the dunes themselves). Your admission price allows access to the neighboring Castle Hill Estate, an incredible Stuart-style mansion built in 1928.
Another option is Rockport, with its Front Beach and Back Beach. If you’re a diver, head to Back Beach, known for its easy entry, fantastic visibility (particularly of lobster and squid). These are both easy to get to when visiting bustling Rockport and provide a nice respite from the tourist crowds.
To really get away from it all, head to Plum Island, with its miles of beaches, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and Sandy Point State Reservation. You can swim and sunbathe, and go fishing, beachcombing and birding. Keep an eye out for the piping plover. You’ll find small private parking lots throughout out the island. Refuge admission is just $5/car.
Where Is Gloucester Compared to Singing Beach?
The picturesque fishing village of Gloucester, Massachusetts, is north of Singing Beach, farther up the commuter rail line. If you’re visiting Singing Beach, consider adding on a visit to this historic seaside town on the North Shore. This is America’s oldest seaport and offers maritime history, fresh seafood, a fun working waterfront, an incredible array of art galleries and studios, award-winning restaurants, nature, beach and more. Go whale watching from here, indulge in a traditional lobster roll, visit Long Beach or quieter Half Moon Beach or head out on a deep-sea fishing charter.
Good Harbor Beach on the eastern edge of Gloucester is a favorite of locals and visitors alike for its soft white sand, rolling dunes and tidal creek area. When the tide is out, you can walk out to uninhabited rocky Salt Island.
Where Should I Eat on Cape Ann?
If you’re on the North Shore and in the towns of Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester-by-the Sea and Essex, you’re on Cape Ann and, therefore, in the heart of fresh seafood. For a most traditional lunch, go for the lobster roll. Where’s the best one? While that’s a matter of personal preference, we have a few top-notch recommendations:
Jeff’s Variety, Eastern Avenue, Rockport: Cheap, but delicious with no frills, but good chunks of lobster meat.
Woodman’s, Essex: A family-owned (for five generations) seafood shack that claims to have invented the fried clam.
Roy Moore’s, Rockport: Hefty helpings and delicious, freshly shucked lobster.
Lobsta Land, Gloucester: Classic New England seafood joint with a generous lobster roll and hearty fries and cole slaw sides.