The 18 Best North Shore Beaches, Chosen By North Shore Beachgoers

• Crane Beach, Ipswich

  Named for the Crane Estate. So you get the beach, the trails through the marshes, and the Estate itself as a backdrop.

• Dane St. Beach, Beverly

  My youngest kid’s Godparents live just down the road from Dane St. Beach, so we’ve had a lot of great family moments here.

• Dead Horse Beach, Salem

  Right by Salem Willows. Named because, back in the day, this was the spot that was far enough away from Salem’s hustle and bustle to bury a dead horse.

• Front Beach, Rockport

  My move is to hit Bearskin Neck, grab a bite, maybe do some shopping, then hoof it up to Front Beach for seaglass hunting and maybe a swim.

• Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester

  Shout out to my friend Andrea and her family for welcoming us to one of Gloucester’s best beaches and showing us all the local secrets.

• Half Moon Beach, Gloucester

  Back-to-back Gloucester beaches? You bet. And there’ll be a couple more, too. So wait and see if your preferred one pops up.

• Long Beach, Rockport

  I don’t love Long Beach as much as I love Front Beach, but Rockport fans will tell you this is the one to hit.

• Lynch Park Beach, Beverly

  My kids used to hit this one with their mom all the time when they were young. Perfect layout for little kids.

• Nahant Beach, Nahant

  Nahant Beach got lots of love when I asked beachgoers about their favorite North Shore spots. Nahant transcends generations.

• Niles Beach, Gloucester

  Gloucester locals love Niles Beach. Gloucester Harbor and Boston skyline views are just two of the reasons why.

• Plum Island Beach, Newburyport

  Yes, it’s a drive if you’re not close by. But it’s like another world when you get there. Plum Island forever.

• Rice's Beach, Beverly

  Old school Beverly heads still call it Ober Cove. Another great Beverly beach that got tons of love from locals.

• Salisbury Beach, Salisbury

  Shout out to my Auntie Carol and Uncle Kenny, two of the biggest beach bums I know. Salisbury has been their favorite for years.

• Singing Beach, Manchester-by-the-Sea

  Back in college, I worked a Sunday morning radio gig at a private residence up in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Singing Beach was my post-show destination more than a few times.

• Wingaersheek Beach, Gloucester

  Another fave for generations of North Shore folks. I went here in high school, then took my kids here when they were little. You probably did, too.

• Winter Island Park Beach, Beverly

  Here’s a Beverly beach I haven’t paid a visit to yet. But to hear folks talk about it, it’s one we should all make a trek to.

• Winthrop Beach, Winthrop

  Winthrop Beach gets points for being so close to the city. Accessibility is an important thing.

• Yirrell Beach, Winthrop

  Another great beach for families. Kids can play in the sand, splash in the water, and watch planes take off!