Massachusetts beaches are glorious in summer — but they can also be crowded and sometimes scorchingly hot. By contrast, the area beaches are often pleasantly deserted in colder months, and the bright winter sun and the windswept Atlantic makes these beaches downright picturesque. Some of the best beaches near Hanover are open year-round. Dress warmly, take a hot drink and go enjoy a peaceful stroll.
Nantasket Beach
Nantasket Beach, 15 miles from Hanover, is a relatively small beach and perfect for winter walks. The beach covers about 1 and 1/3 miles of oceanfront property, so you can stroll the full length and back in less than an hour. The sand here is packed tightly, especially in winter, so it makes for a relatively smooth walking surface.
Plymouth Long Beach
If you’re a dog owner — or just a dog lover — head to Plymouth Long Beach, about 20 miles from Hanover. Because the beach is a peninsula, it can get cold in the winter as the wind comes sweeping across the open area. But it’s also a beautiful, peaceful and often empty stretch of land where you can walk and watch for birds and ocean life.
And, of course, you can do it all with your best fuzzy friends. Dogs are allowed year-round at the beach, although they can only go about halfway up the peninsula, to the day parking area.
Cape Cod National Seashore
Winter’s the perfect time to drive down to Cape Cod, when the crowds (and traffic) are light. There are dozens of beaches on the Cape, and most are managed directly by the towns where they’re located. But six of the area’s most beautiful beaches are part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, and they’re open year-round.
Visit Nauset Light Beach and look for the brick foundations of the Three Sisters, lighthouses that were built in the mid-1800s. Their foundations aren’t visible in summer, when the beach’s profile is higher, so this is a special historical treat for wintertime visitors. Or head to nearby Coast Guard Beach and walk out onto Nauset Spit. In winter, seals are often visible from this spot. (It’s the first of the CCNS beaches you’ll reach on Cape Cod, located about 70 miles from Hanover.)
When you’re done with the sand, take advantage of the 12 hiking trails within the Cape Cod National Seashore that are open year-round.
With a convenient location just off of Rte. 53, residents of Sconset Landing are lucky enough to enjoy a home with easy access to some of the area’s most beautiful beaches throughout the entire year.
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