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Crane Beach
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- Good for Kids:
- Yes
45 reviews for Crane Beach
I made it to this beach over Labor Day weekend and had a good time. It's a pretty white, soft sandy beach. You can get here driving or by the Ipswich Essex Explorer bus. If you drive, you pay to park. The price varies by season and time of day. We went during the busiest/warmest season, but arrived just after 3 pm so it was $11. There are a couple of buildings with showers and bathrooms and food stalls. The menus had great healthy, tasty-sounding options, pretty impressive for a beach.
We just hung out on the beach and soaked up some vitamin D in preparation for winter. I would recommend walking a little ways to get away from others so you could enjoy the serenity without listening to inane coeds getting drunk. It's pretty family friendly so no worries if you're bringing kids. They were the ones brave enough to get into the 63 degree water. It's just too cold for my Southern blood.
There were lots of boaters. There's an estate nearby you can visit for an admission fee. And some nice trails. Overall, nice beach for New England.
I love this beach and it's very easy and CHEAP(er) to get to via the commuter rail and the Ipswich Essex Explorer bus versus driving.
This beach is five miles of soft sand. At high tide (mid day), a good portion of sand disappears, but given its length, there is plenty to find yourself a quality spot. I was particularly fond of the part around the bend (to the right of the main boardwalk entrance) that forms a huge sand bar; providing lots of shallow water as far as you dare to walk out.
Oh man, so anyway, the water was cold at this time of year (early September), but I got used to it (not because I was numbed) to the point where I didn't want to get out. But in some spots there was a thick mass of seaweed. But really; isn't there seaweed everywhere? Oh, and those nasty horse flies or whatever you want to call them? None to speak of today. Oh man, what a beautiful day! The sand dunes were also nice; there are roped trails for you to explore. Unfortunately, not a lot of amenities, but the grounds are kept quite clean by the beach trustees.
Sometime they're not having a corporate function up on the estate, I'm going to dig a hole in the forest and live here.
Then I will subsist by sneaking into the corporate functions and stealing the wine and cheese.
PS: plovers, gulls, seals, whales, crabs, giant sea snails, clams, mussels, worms, big fish, baby minnows, shiny soft white, golden, black, and purple sand, ... I've seen Things here.
PPS Those who complain about the water are sissies &/or didn't stick around long enough/are unobservant. 2 words: sandbars = tidepools. They're like bathtubs. Ya freaks.
(As IF CA has warm water anywhere between WA and LA?!)
Head North on 93, then up towards Gloucester on 128, then wind your way several miles through rich scenic country towns like Hamilton and Wenham, through marshland and then find yourself at Crane Beach.
The "getting there and getting in" part is sort of a bitch. Count on a 1 1/2 hour trek with inevitable 128 traffic coming out of Boston, Cambridge, or Somerville. Then count on a $22 charge to park and get in to the beach, unless you are a "member." Then count on Jersey Shore beach volume on a thinner stretch of sand that stretches out for quite a while.
On the plus side though, there are some great local farms to stop by on the way up if you want to make a more leisurely day of things, and the beach is scenic with good facilities and food areas which can be rare. Water is a nice temp in August and good for swimming.
I used to go here a lot.
I used to date this girl who looooved beaches. I used to HATE the beach.
But after going a million times, I am now a beach-lover.
Then, I dumped her. She was NUTS.
I still love this beach, though. Yes, parking is expensive. Welcome to New England!
Bathrooms are nice! Kind of? Well to me it's a plus...
You can smuggle your own beer! Don't sit near the lifeguards!
Water is so cold, it hurts to put my ankles in it. I don't really like swimming in the ocean anyway. I go for the scenery, the booze, and the sun.
It's a nice big clean beach so if you walk a little bit down the beach you'll find a nice spot that's not so crowded.
Movie bonus: "My Best Friend's Girl" was filmed up here.
Oh, and I like to smoke cigars here. Nothing like the fresh air!!!!!
Love this beach! The drive through Ipswich to get to the beach was magnificent, and would love to go back just to visit their town.
So far with my experience with our New England beaches this is the most family friendly beach by far...I know we went as children to this beach but I can't even remember yesterday! But this beach was not rocky, no undertow, sandbar area is pretty big, and they had a decent showering/bathroom area... only downside, which is not a big deal, is that their not going to have trash cans any longer and each patron is responsible for their own trash starting july 13.
The day we just went was pretty breezy, and we didn't get bit by any bugs like other have said..BUT I did see beach bugs all around, but they didn't come near us. Maybe we were lucky! :)
I absolutely will go back again with my family!
I stepped in gum that had melted in the hot sun at this beach. I had to scrape my toe really hard with sand to get it off and it was black and nasty. That's about the worst thing that ever happened to me there, though.
What nice about this beach? The sand is soft and low on rock and pebble concentration. No jellyfish, and a gentle grade into the ocean. You can wade out forever it seems without seaweed grossing you out, without suddenly being over your head in the water, without a tide sucking you under. It's a peaceful beach and good for cooling off in the water. Not many beaches an hour or less away from Boston are worthy of actual swimming. The water is cold, but the shallowness keeps it from being unbearably so. The beach is clean and smells nice, even at low tide.
It can get crowded right by the snack bar and bathrooms, but if you walk down a ways (past all the families that can't drag toddlers more than 1/2 a mile) you'll get a nice, screaming-child free spot. I've never eaten at the snack bar so I can't review the food, but it smells pretty decent. The shack is definitely run by high school students, though, so be warned. The showers/bathhouse/changing areas are pretty good for rinsing off and are kept relatively clean, but are small compared to the size of the beach so expect a line during peak leaving hours (3-4 pm).
It costs money to park there for out-of-towners, but it's cheaper than Water Country and there's less baby pee.
Like all these pictures posted by fellow yelpers, both on the way and the beach itself, this whole area is so picturesque. Absolutely gorgeous.
You might find parking spot is pretty pricey(ranges from $11 to $25), just think of how much of effort having been put for dune restoration, keeping beach clean, maintaining the little stand, shower, bathhouses, etc... So it's fair.
Just like other beaches, later you go, cheaper the parking is. We arrived there around 3pm and it was $11 for parking.
Best practice is to pack the car with many people as you can to split it. I ditched my car at Woodman's then hopped on my friend's.
This is a nice beach to hang out with your friends. We recently went here as we were bugged of our daily routine and the place is unbelievably romantic. Lot of families and people are here too. But one thing there are also places where you can just be for yourself. If you have a small little family I think you should not miss this beach.
The sand is soft and there are not much pebbles. Good place to get your skin tanned as the sun here is over your head always in the afternoon, though the evening sun is wonderful to watch. Playing games on the beach is a little hard in here because you usually end up in some others way always.
I would say this beach is a better place if you are a member here. Else be sure to pay a lots from parking to everything there.
*cue soundtrack*
http://www.youtube.com...
I was feeling kind of bad for possibly offending the fine people of New England when, in my earlier review of Nuggets, I intimated that I prefer the vibe out here in Cali just a little bit more.
*cough*
It's not that I think California's better than Massachusetts. No. Rather, it's that I think New Englanders are generally better than me.
That's right. I don't have it in me to live there. I spent a big chunk of my life in Boston and I was a whiny little bitch for nearly every second of it.
"It's too cold!"
"It's too hot!"
"You wanna know what you can do with your Wind Chill Factor?"
"Wait, you expect me to play FIELD HOCKEY?"
"I TOLD you I don't DO L.L. Bean and I'm NOT putting THOSE on my feet."
*slaps mosquito*
"Get up early to shovel snow before work? Are you fucking serious? Shovel THIS."
"Why is that cop standing there watching the sewer guy dig a hole? And getting paid time and a half for it?
"Why is this fucking fly green? OW! And why does it BITE? Fuck you, fucking green biting fly!!!"
Yes, if you can deal with all that shit on a daily basis, you are a better person than I could ever hope to be. Or stronger. Or something.
My theory is that, although I mostly grew up there, technically I wasn't born in New England, and thus do not have the requisite salt water and whiskey flowing through my veins. I'm simply a bad candidate for permanent residence.
I did, however, spend enough time there during my childhood to grow very attached to the Atlantic coastline. Even my memories of my swim coach forcing me to jump into frigid Atlantic waters at 7 am on an overcast morning in still give me delicious pangs of nostalgia.
"Juhhmp in the gahhhdammm wahter, will ya? Swim out tah tha dahhwk! NOW!!! And cuhhp yahh haahhnds, Tsaaahhhdahh!!! Yah heeeeah me?? I said CUHHHP YAH HAHHHDS!! Yah naaaahhht cuhhpppin' yah haaaahnds!!!!"
If you can understand that, then chances are you've spent some time in the Boston area. And if you've spent some time in the Boston area, then chances are you've been to Crane Beach (or "Crane's", as the locals call it).
It's one of the most magnificent beaches you'll ever go to, but just like most aspects of New England life, you'll have to make some sacrifices if you want to spend any significant time there.
Here's the thing. If you want to swim at Crane Beach, you have to accept the fact that you will freeze your tits off if you get in the water any time before July or after August. However, if you go to Crane Beach any time after June or before September, you will be devoured by BIG GREEN ASSHOLE FLIES (aka "Fahhckin' Greenies"), unless of course you're willing to slather yourself in Avon Skin So Soft.
Personally, I say fuck the Avon lady and the mean gangsta flies she rode in on. Goosebumpy tits never hurt anyone...even a West Coast wimp like me.
*cups hands and dives into the icy June waters of Crane's*
Like they say, it'll put hair on your chest.
Wait, what?
*looks down at chest*
*gasps*
There is nothing like driving through picturesque stretches of quaint villages with antique houses and bucolic farmland to then land at Crane Beach, one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Massachusetts.
and while this is one of my all time favorite beaches there are several important things to consider when planning your trip. If you come unprepared you'll hate me for this glowing review but if you follow my advice I promise you a great day at the beach.
Green Flies:
First off yes there is the issue of the stupid green flies. early in the summer season you don't have to worry about them, but come july and part of august please come prepared with bug repellant. I don't mean the standard crap like Off cause that does not work. the only stuff I have found to actually repel them is BuzzAway natural spray. Seriously go find it online or something and just keep in your beach bag at all times.
Wind:
the wind and the weather patterns are very different here so just because its sweltering in your landlocked 3rd floor apartment in Allston, does not mean its going to be sunny and warm on the Ipswich shore. Check the weather conditions and be open to changes in the notoriously changeable weather New England is known for. When the wind blows on this beach the sand gets into everything and makes it quite unbearable.
Parking:
its expensive to park here. check the website for updated fees for this season but last year during the peek season the fee was like $22 so get a car full people and make sure everyone chips in. there is a shuttle that you can pick up from the commuter rail so the car-less can still take advantage of this beach. If you are driving however the parking lot, while enormous, fills up quickly and by mid afternoon you might see signs on your way down that say LOT FULL. Do not be deterred. they want you to park in Russell orchards and walk or something. what a schlep- ignore these signs. maybe I have just been lucky but I have yet (um...why aren't you knocking on wood for me as you read this informative and illuminating review ?) to be turned away by the gate keeper.
now on to what makes this beach special...For me i think it has to do with the cove like shore line. it makes the water delicious to look at and luscious to swim in. the water on some days can be full of waves and perfect for body surfing, while other days it's is smooth and clear and perfect for laps or just floating on your back. The sand is clean and soft and the back drop of green woodland is striking.
this place is huge and as you can imagine gets packed with both tourists, locals and city folk alike. best bet is to escape the madding crowd by walking farther out from the center to find and find a quiet secluded spot to enjoy the pristine unspoiled natural beauty of this unique beach.
Bring a sweater and stay till dusk.
Love this beach. Not a lot of rocks, plenty of shells for the kids, soft sand and gentle grade into the ocean. Come early for easy parking and get a primo beach spot.....lots of families and kids but can easily be avoided. Lifeguards pay attention here which is nice since some lady lost her son today but the lifeguard already had him! Parking pricey and minus one star for the college kid not letting me buy a membership when I was 15 cents short. Boo on her! I'll be back...I bet it's really romantic in the fall......
A nice beach that's a hike from Boston, but so worth hanging out in the middle of the summer. Not terribly crowded, and it clears out if you walk down from the entrance a bit. Bring bug spray--horseflies were out in force when we went. The secret to getting around the price: become a member of the Trustees of the Reservation. Bonus if you're a student: you can join as a family (and, in MA, there are all kinds of ways to define a family), thereby saving even more money and making price of admission $5 for a car. Not bad!
Okay, I have to preface this review by saying that this is the first real Massachusetts beach that I've been to (aside from beaches in Southie or drive-by's of Revere Beach). This was someplace I came to swim and enjoy a little sunshine.
It's not difficult to find coming from Boston but man, oh man, is it expensive! Luckily I was here on a Monday so it was only $15 but on the weekend it's $22 a car?? That seems nuts to me but maybe that's just because I'm a MA beach novice. The sand on the beach is super nice, soft and has a purple tint to it. There are no rocks, just some beach grass all broken up that can hurt your feet a bit. It was somewhat easy to find a place that wasn't overly packed not too far of a walk down. The waves are tiny (almost non-existant) and the water is COLD but I enjoyed swimming here (even though I only stayed completely submerged for about 30 seconds since it made my bones hurt it was so freezing). The problem here, though, is the flies. Those things bite and it hurts!! I couldn't sit still for more than a few seconds without having to swat them off of me. Bug spray did nothing to keep them away. I'm now covered with a gazillion little bites but I guess that comes with the territory here. The facilities were nice...changing rooms, bathrooms, showers, etc. All in all it was a pretty beach with clean water and I'll likely be back.
i would have to say, favorite beach in the "north shore" realm. it is so nice here, carribbean sand, the water is not too wavy, its warm, and the drive there off the highway is so relaxing. there is apparently an estate that this beach belonged to, i have yet to see it.
parking on the weekend is like $ 25 for the day, but if you are with 4 people or so, with gas, from boston its about 10 bucks to get there and back, im so into it.
the flies that bite you are vicious, if you buy Avon skin-so-soft repellant, you are in the know, i think the staff tells you about this product, somehow, i actually had it, and it smells great and the flies stay away.
overall there are not many amenities, but there is food, which is pricey for the crap that you get, the bathrooms are never really full, and very few times is the beach actually too full to feel comfortable on. people are laying on their chairs, swimming in the water, playing volleyball, and having a good time, i recommend this beach!
Best beach I've been to in MA so far! No seaweed or pebbles or anything - you can see your feet when you are in the water even when up to your neck. I was concerned about flies after reading other reviews, but it was quite windy so there weren't any! Showed up at 4 (yeah, I burn easy) and stayed until 7ish and I think we only paid $7 to park. It was perfect! Water was warm enough to go in, which we did several times, the crowd had cleared out and we were able to sit away from everyone. Just such a nice beach that is well maintained and has nice facilities. My one tip would be to use the boardwalks to go over dunes - I had forgotten how hard it is to walk in deep sand! That and bring a chair as opposed to a towel to sit on. Loved it!
It's a beach. There isn't much to review here people. Is it large enough to find your own spot? Sure. Is it way too crowded most of the time and do little children kick up sand in your face at least once a visit? Yup. Is there a chance you might be forced to listen to some 22 y.o's love affair with Journey on their radio? Absolutely. But the sand is soft enough, and the water is free of seaweed/rocks mostly and swimable. It's not Wasque Point on Chappy or Lucy Vincent, but it's also not Dot Bay Harbor beach or Revere beach.
Favorite beach for a day trip close to Boston. It is about an hours drive from the Cambridge side of town, or you can take the commuter rail to Ipswich and ride your bike for 4 miles through a fairy tale land horse polo fields and farms to paradise. Like any beach in warm weather of course it gets super crowded but I feel like the pro's generally outweigh the con's at this one.
It is a pretty long stretch of beach, it's gorgeous, and if willing you can keep walking past the crowds around some sand dune cliffs and find a little bit more seclusion for more of an adult only vibe where you are less likely to get pegged in the face with a nerf football.
Bring a picnic, this isn't the kind of place you can go into town easily for a sandwich like Singing Sands, though they do have a seasonal concession stand for some moderately priced snacks. Also, beware of greenhead fly season, a type of horsefly that needs blood to produce their eggs (how cute), which is July through August, these flies are vicious and it hurts when they bite you.
They have a fee to get in, but if you go after 3 pm it's half price. Score.
This was a great beach to check out on our "Head north from Cambridge" tour.
Semi-private beach that's beautiful, pretty clean, and lots of wildlife. I mean real wildlife, not screaming kids or spazzy dogs. While walking the expanse of the beach we found plovers, seagulls, and some living examples of mussels and a ginormous clam. We saved them from a possible doom amidst the beached, broken bodies of their kind. This place is like some sort of buffet for seagulls that dig clams. (literally)
The water isn't as cold as I expected, but the wind was. It's a pretty cold place in early October, I could see this place kicking ass in early june - july.
Of note, they allow fishing! I think next time out here I'm going to hunt out some clams.
Reason for the neg: Dog owners aren't adhering to the on leash/ off leash areas, and that can be obnoxious. I wish this was enforced.
pretty pretty. parking is a bit pricey (as with all the nice beaches), which i feel only makes it worth it if you're carpooling. or you can buy the season pass which makes it worth it if you go at least three times.
but BONUS: if you go before may, it's only $7 to park!! (instead of $25 or something). so yeah, this only works when there's flukey hot weather in april like there was this year :)
perfect beach getaway.
When you get there it might seem a bit plain and just open, but that is the case only if you believe it, take a long walk and you will discover why this place is just beautiful. I had thought that the Singing Beach was it for me, but Crane Beach isn't bad at all. There is a little fee to get in, but its for a good cause as its also preserved. There are no stores in the area, so be prepared and bring your own food (its always fun and cheap that way anyways!) , water and other necessities.
This beach is sooooo nice.
Just a few quick specs:
-The parking is $20 or more. So if going, and want to make it worth it, make sure you're going for more than a few hours.
-It's not too far from Boston and well worth the trip.
-The beach is beautiful. It's a wildlife sanctuary and so you cannot walk across the dunes. The benefit of this to us is that the grassy dunes are beautiful and shield the parking lot from view while your lounging on the beach.
-The water is always FREAKING cold. Seriously. I was there in August and it was miserable cold. It's more of a chillin' space. If you brave the water more power to ya'.
-I didn't check the snack bar, but the restrooms and such were all clean and well maintained.
This was all-in-all a great experience. Make for a day trip out of Boston and enjoy the beach!!
the best beach in the area, hands down.
become a member of trustees of reservation and parking is reduced or free (depending on what membership level you choose) and you'll get free admission to so many gorgeous nature sites in massachusetts (including the magnificent world's end).
crane's is a huge beach, and while everyone clusters by the stairs, if you are willing to walk for ten minutes, you'll find lots of space and quiet.
in august, there's a magnificent sand sculpting contest.
downsides:
-it's often windy...
-no dogs (except oct-mar)
-portopotties except from memorial day-labor day (or maybe a few weeks beyond labor day).
Crane Beach in Ipswich, MA, is an oasis for urban dwellers less than an hour outside of Boston. From North Station, we took the Newburyport line to the Ipswich station, where a the $1 "Essex Explorer" bus took us through the picturesque downtown (which I'd like to go back and explore), through wooded streets and past an orchard/winery (where I'd also plan to stop next time), then out across open fields with rolled haystacks, and bikers pedalling languidly toward the sea . Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the beach.
What a sight. The shoreline seemed to go on forever in both directions, and the fields and hills surrounding it stretched out in a vista so luxurious and wide that I almost started to cry. This was what I had been needing for weeks--a truly beautiful natural scene to rest my tired eyes.
A sandy array of snack shacks, free showers and kids running up and down a boardwalk greeted us when we first walked in. After paying a $2 walk-on fee that helps maintain the pristine nature of this preservatory, we climbed over the dunes on wooded steps to find a beach to beat any Cape Cod fantasy. Beach grass grew everywhere on the flat shore, striped umbrellas popped up like mushrooms as the day wore on, and a walk down the beach revealed purple sands under our footprints and bright white boats anchored in the gentle surf. It was a little cool that day, but the beach was full of families, taking the weekend off.
I was actually incredibly stressed that morning, fixated on an impending deadline, and my boyfriend was making business calls all day--it was the first day off he'd had in weeks. But something about Crane Beach quieted something in us that nothing else could have. What a magical place. I hope to come back many times after this--and I plan to share its easy accessibility with as many auto-less Bostonians as I can. When it's this simple, there's no excuse not to visit Crane Beach.
This beach is gorgeous - I've been here quite a few times this summer and I'm really enjoying it. It's about an hour from Somerville door to sand, which isn't so bad with the windows down and the tunes blasting. Sometimes the tide brings in an awesome sandbar about 600 yards off the shoreline and boats pull up, throw down the anchors, and lounge out in ocean.
Three downfalls to the beach: giant green flys which really hurt when they bite seem to take over the beach and the parking lot for a week or two over the summer; a hefty price tag to park requiring you to pluck down $50 and just become a member; and no recycling! Come on Trustees - offer some recycling bins! The beauty of the beach makes up for this - but the Trustees should seriously consider supplying the summer flock with the option.
I love this beach. We actually took my beloved family dog here on a surprisingly balmy Christmas Eve in 2005, right before she died, so it holds some tender significance for me and I will cut you if you mock its brilliance.
Ahem.
Anyway, this is the beach for me. Wild, sandy, a long walk along the shore, plenty of swimming to do. The parking is expensive as heck, but if you go with a carload (or take the bus from the Ipswich T station), it's affordable. The water is generally cold enough to freeze off your delicates, but such is the nature of the Labrador current -- no pleasant Gulf Stream waters for us, eh? Beware the dreaded greenheads, of course, but enjoy this beach. It's beautiful, and if you head far enough down the peninsula, you might even find a drop off in people that lets you really enjoy the beauty of this very natural beach. This is what all beaches should look like -- not the sanitzed, hotel strewn crap that I saw down in Virginia last year. The beach should be a little wild. And this one is, and that's why it's the best.
We showed up on Monday like every other person in a three county radius for a chance at another end-of-summer beach day. The line wasn't too bad but we were sure we'd be turned away. It had been a couple of summers since we visited Crane's and we had brought a local with us, just not his car with the sticker. So all we had was $15, only to find out it is $22 to park for the weekend or holidays. Ugh! Not to worry, the awesome parking lot dude let us in for $15.
The water was freezing but where in New England can you find a beach without freezing ocean water? After 15 minutes or so your lower extremities are numb anyway so you stop minding the temperature of the water so long as the sun is blazing hot. Lot's of cool kites being flown and some college kids smoked up the whole area with their charcoal grill. It is a nice beach with a great view, nice sand and pretty water. Though I must say that by the end of summer you don't care what the beach looks like, only that you're on it.
Without the kind parking attendant I would have given this place three stars because it would suck to pay $22 to park anywhere outside of the city.
Coming from a country where beaches are one of the main attractions, I was very skeptical when a friend of mine insisted that she knew a really great beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Well, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised - Crane Beach more than delivered in terms of satisfaction, and is one of the nicer beaches I've been to in the area. Yes, we had to pay an entrance fee but considering what a great day we had, not to mention how much time we enjoyed there there, it was money well spent (and it really wasn't that bad!) What I like about beaches with entrance fees is that they are always well-maintained, but this one in particular was notably clean and equipped with many things we might have needed.
The water is clear, the sand is white, clean and soft.. there are even little mini "islands" you can swim to if you feel so inclined and the wind isn't too strong. Bring snacks if you wish, but they do sell refreshments and snacks before you walk up to the beach part of it. There is an enormous parking lot, which is fantastic. Just don't forget where you parked your car!
The crowd is pretty polite and considerate, you won't find many hoodlums here - always better not to have nuisances when you're trying to have a relaxed day at the beach. Plenty of space for you to lounge around, bring lots of towels - some to use while lounging around the sand if you can't find a lounge-chair, and some to dry yourselves with at the showers (which you can find both outdoors, and indoors with changing rooms). The bathrooms aren't the cleanest ever though, but that's expected when you're at a place with sand and water getting everywhere and in everything! Make sure you keep your sandals on and you'll be fine.
It's not always open for viewing, but the crane house/mansion is nearby as wel, and I hear it's pretty cool to check out. I'll definitely be back to this beach if I'm ever craving some sun and sand just a short while away from the city of Boston.
Don't forget the sunblock!
A favorite to go in the summer for the Sandblast; their sand sculpture contest.
A very nice strip of beach, well maintained for both people and wildlife.
Bathrooms, showers, first aid, lifeguards, a food concession featuring real food (even salads!), and parking.
On warm days in winter it is also a lovely place to sit and watch the water and seagulls.
For all Southern Californians in Boston, be prepared for many "WTF" situations with this beach.
It will start when they require you to pay $2 JUST to step foot on the sand. No, I am not lying. As a West Coaster, the beach felt very Great Gatsby to me. The water was absolutely freezing, and this is coming from a NCAA Division I water polo player with years of unheated pool experience. It is unswimmable. I wanted to die trying.
If you go to this beach- BRING FOOD. $18 later, all my boyfriend and I had were 2 popsicles and a wanna-be turkey sandwich on a roll.
Everything is kept very clean and it is a well-deserved break from the city, but don't fooled by the word "beach." Beach is subjective. I think Rio, Caribbean, Miami....paradise. This is not that. But it does the trick. And it's neat to see the tiny town of Ipswich on your way. But I would not venture back short of dire circumstances.
Yes you pay to step on the beach, but the money goes towards maintaining the beach by The Trustees. If you know someone who lives in town or is a member of the Trustees, go with them as they get free parking.
Every year the winter weather changes the beach slightly. It's always interesting to check it out in the spring to see how the sandbars have morphed and what effect it has on the beach...espeically during low tide.
If you like taking walks on the beach, you'll be a happy camper. You can walk all the way to the Essex River in one direction and to the Ipswich River in the other.
Having grown up in LA, the waves (read: lack there of) are bit of a shocker. But it does make it more fun for young kids I guess.
Crane Beach is my favorite beach on the North Shore. The water is incredibly clean, no debris, not even seaweed! The beach also is quite clean given the number of people who can be found here on the weekends. Week days are far less crowded.
Parking is pretty steep, but all the similarly nice beaches are roughly the same price.
One of the best things about Crane Beach is the close proximity to Crane Estate (which is amazing) and many wildlife areas including Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and Crane Wildlife Refuge. You could easily make a day of an Ipswich trip.
Also check out Russell's Orchard - ice cream, fresh produce, fudge, cider, plants, etc... Awesome!
My favorite beach in eastern Massachusetts. Plum Island is a close contender.
It's not a meat market like Hampton. No carnies like Salisbury. No flesh-eating bacteria like Revere. Just fine white sand. Pretty endangered birds. Marshes. Bathrooms. Food.
But parking will cost you! Admission is $22. Unless you show up later in the day, say 4pm, then it's half price. You can always go up to Crane Estate, pay $8 or so, park up on the estate, hike a mile through the marshes and end up on the quiet side of the beach near the boats. The wildlife is better, the water is warm, BUT, if you like to swim, be warned--way too many boats, and the water is very shallow here.
Please don't forget the bug spray. The biting flies are bold and mosquitoes, relentless.
I went here for a company shindig the other day and I will say, hopefully without sounding too corny, that everything about this place is magical. Really! The drive up was so far removed from the hustle of the city, it was quaint and quiet, the roads were empty and winding. (I recommend driving with your windows down and the radio loud.)
I may have cheated because I went to the 'private beach' part, but the sand was white, the water was cold and the outhouses didn't smell..ALWAYS a plus. Who knew Boston area beaches could be so fantastic?
Peaceful green dunes and a seemingly endless stretch of beach. There was a good crowd on the weekend I went, but still so quiet. No one had annoyingly set up a boombox blasting awful music, so it was just the roar of the surf and children squealing. The water gets up to about waist level and stays flat for so long, so fewer worries about kids going out too deep. The water's cold, but suck it up and go under and you'll have fun the rest of the day.
Parking fees are about 20 bucks...eek. I took the Ipswich/Essex Explorer bus, which runs all summer. It's $5 round trip to the beach including beach admission. Beach admission, you ask? Well, there's a bathhouse and outdoor showers to rinse off sand, a concession stand with really tasty sandwiches and wraps, some lifeguards.
As for the Explorer bus, be advised: the machine that takes fares on the bus accepts only one and five dollar bills. Nothing else, even if there's two of you and you have a ten. I had the nastiest driver ever. Had to get off the bus and go get change and wait 30 mins for the next bus...so rude! But I had a great day at the beach. It was like being a kid again.
I like this beach a lot. The water is a little on the cold side even for Ma, but it's clean. The sand is soft and clean too. There are 2 weeks in July that are horsefly season, so don't go, or you'll be bit to death!
People are also very considerate.
I'm lucky enough to have friends who live in Ipswich and get to go for free so I'm not one who has to pay, but I will say if you go, walk over the dune to the private side, it's way less crowded than the public side.
admission/parking fees are steep - $20
but you pay for a pristine beach with nice facilities - snack bar, bathrooms, lifeguards, and the cambridge/brookline crowd.
water is freakin' cold - so it's more of a place to relax, get some sun, smell the sea, exfoliate your feet, and hang out with your friends.
but it is near woodman's - so you can treat yourself to some great fried seafood afterwards or buy some veggies & fruit at the local farm nearby.
The only drawbacks: parking is pricey (paid $20 or $22 on a Friday), and it happened to be incredibly buggy the day I was there- to the point where it was really difficult to lounge and enjoy yourself (there was absolutely no breeze the day I was there, and I can only assume that it isn't this buggy all season). The beach itself is huge, beautiful, and clean. The bathrooms are well lit and sparkling, especially in comparison with other beach restrooms. I'll be back!
this beach is seemingly endless and boat loads of wonderful, my favorite beach in the greater boston area i think. however, $20+/car for parking is a bit much. but if you are willing to pay that (and you should, at least once) get there early and bring your own food (because the snack bar food is (of course) expensive).
I hate going to the beach. I'm a chubby, ghostly white dyke so the beach just feels unnatural to me. But my girlfriend forced me to go to Crane with her this year. I brought one of those old lady umbrellas, a book of crosswords, grapes (best beach snack ever) and a gallon of sunblock. And it was as good as a beach experience can be. It can get crowded, so on those days when everyone is gonna go to the beach you have to get there early or the lot will fill up. The people are decent enough, mostly well-to-do families (they can afford the admission) who keep to themselves and behave. The worst we encountered was a group of annoying girls who kept telling stories about "Omigod, I was soooo drunk!" I can handle that. The beach is clean and the estate is quite lovely.
Needless to say, we joined the trustees of the reservations which means you get in for $5 admission instead of $22. The membership costs ~$40, but they put that initial $22 toward it so if you go more than twice in a year it's worth it.
