Chatham beaches

Besides Oyster Pond for the kiddies which Chatham beach can provide a great experience for a day visit? We have dropped in at Ridgevale and I think I remember experiencing rocks in the water rather than an all sand bottom.

For North Beach/Lighthouse Beach we have only been able to enjoy that for the 1/2 hour that parking is allowed there. The ladies at the Chatham Chamber gave us directions about where we could park nearby longer but there were No Parking signs all along the road. Kim Grant%26#39;s excellent guide book mentions parking in town and taking a cab to Lighthouse beach. Any other ideas or better beaches?

Chatham beaches

The information you need can also be garnered by searching for ';Chatham beaches'; here on the site. Each Cape village has its own special beaches...hope visitors have the chance to enjoy many of them!

Oyster Pond is actually quite special for little kids (and therefore quite nice for the adults with them, so enjoy!).

Lighthouse Beach: This isn%26#39;t my favorite beach for swimming...it is cold water, no lifeguards and really no other facilities there...but teens seem to love spending the day there.

It is a Great place to walk the beach!Parking is available on Bridge Street (just around the corner from Lighthouse Beach). There%26#39;s plenty of parking there...that%26#39;s where one parks to go to this beach!

At one point, homeowners along Bridge St. posted their Own ';no parking'; signs (can%26#39;t say I blame them...however, these signs were taken down by the appropriate group who takes care of such things...so park).

You can drop off your stuff right at the parking lot in front of the beach with your group, park the car and walk back to the beach. Everyone is picking up and dropping off their teens and other family members right near the stairs by the tennis club. Not a big deal.

Re: Nantucket Sound beaches: Ridgevale is lovely. As is Hardings Beach. As is Cockle Cove beach. It%26#39;s usually Not a sand bottom on any Nantucket Sound beach....our kids wore the little ';water shoes'; you get at Ben Franklin%26#39;s or CVS or cheaper yet: Job Lot.

Even if you%26#39;re in water that has a sandy bottom, these shoes are nice in case you step on a random persnickety crab or piece of sharp broken shell. Nantucket Sound beaches are warmer than the waters of the Lighthouse Beach. All the Sound beaches have at least porta-potties; Hardings has a rudimentary bathhouse and outside shower. The guy selling hot dogs and ice-cream makes his rounds and hits the Sound beaches as well.

Chatham beaches

That%26#39;s good information about the No Parking signs.

Actually we had never experienced the rocks in the water on Nantucket Sound beaches that we visited and that%26#39;s why the rocks at Ridgevale sort of stick out in my mind.

Re: Bridge St. Parking: When you%26#39;re there... Only the traditional, official, familiar ';No Parking'; signs are enforced. (there are some of these as well, so be careful!) But there%26#39;s plenty of parking on Bridge St. for the Lighthouse Beach. Parked cars line both sides of Bridge St. all summer, so enjoy!

But get there early during July and August! Even the locals are relegated to finding street parking during those busy months!

Anyone who wants to spend more than a 1/2 hour at the Lighthouse Beach is relegated to street parking on Bridge Street....doesn%26#39;t matter if you%26#39;re local or a tourist...(although if you live near this beach you%26#39;re one of the lucky ones who can just walk it!).

However, if you drive by the overlook and the parking lot is full, drive slowly, a car will most likely be pulling out from a space as Nobody can stay longer than 30 minutes there. (neither local nor tourist). The police are marking tires to mark the time.

If you want to spend more than 1/2 hour at a glorious ocean beach go to the National Seashore Beaches in Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro or Provincetown. You can park in a lot and stay all day.

But again...if it%26#39;s July or August, get there early!

fussyguest, I agree, Lighthouse Beach is great for walking. Hubby %26amp; I did just that when we went for a weekend back in November. It was cold/windy so we dressed accordingly (all bundled up w/ scarves, etc).

In addition to our week-long stay in August, he and I are returning for 3 nts over Columbus Day weekend, staying @ Bluefish B %26amp; B again (Hi Lori %26amp; Tim) :-)

Nice time of year to be on the Cape, very different than July/ August when it%26#39;s CRAZY ;-)

Naomi :-)

but fun!

How much is parking up in Eastham at the Ntl. Seashore these days for the day? For many it%26#39;s worth every penny...if you%26#39;ve got it!

No charge on Bridge Street OR the overlook at the Lighthouse Beach in Chatham.

As this thread%26#39;s header is asking about Chatham Beaches, I%26#39;ll add:

Parking is free at Oyster Pond too!

Someone should start a new thread or FAQs or Sticky describing Cape Cod Beaches for each village including parking costs, transport or shuttle services, availability to tourists, hours of operation, etc.