Northeast Best Beach Spots for Family Vacation Fun. Just as no two families are alike, no two beaches in the Northeast match. In addition to sand, sun and surf the best beaches offer music, tempting summer beach food, funky rides and the beauty of Mother Nature. 

Here's the scoop. At the best beaches in the northeast you will find seafood, saltwater taffy, and Shakespeare. Enjoy fireworks, beach music, carousels, windsurfing, boogie boards or activities along a boardwalk. One of my favorites is Dewey Beach in Delaware because I love the beach music and fish cakes. Find the perfect match for your family.

Rhode Island: Misquamicut Beach - Bumper Cars, a Carousel and Great Surf. There's a great college scene here, with loud music and bumper cars--great for the kids after dark. But families have a great time here, especially on the seven miles of unspoiled beaches. Atlantic Beach Park retains the same old-fashioned charm that characterized beach recreational areas of years gone by, including a carousel with antique band organ, kiddie amusement rides, bumper cars, game room, ice cream and more. Atlantic Beach Park is fronted on the south by one of the cleanest and most beautiful stretches of ocean surf anywhere. On the north side of the property is Winnapaug Pond, a rich source of Rhode Island quahogs (clams) and sweet tender bay scallops. Off beach bonus: Water Wizz Waterslides in nearby Westerly is home to 35-foot high giant water slides and 50-foot high Super Speed Slides – in total the park features more than 1,000 feet of spills and thrills, tunnels and dips, a splashing good time for everyone. Discovery: If your family enjoys music the checkout the annual Misquamicut Music Festival held each July. The Misquamicut Business Association (401) 322-1026 or www.misquamicut.org)

Rhode Island: Charlestown - Seafood, Saltwater Taffy, and Shakespeare. The beaches in the area of Charlestown are uncrowded and stress free - a perfect escape for families. Imagine flat, uncluttered sunrises, near-empty streets perfect for biking, miles and miles of dunes and peaceful beaches with lobster shacks. Off beach bonus: Every August the town hosts an only-in-America-style seafood festival with more than 125 venders and oodles of fun. Discovery: Shakespeare at the beach? Checkout the Colonial Theatre Shakespeare Festival a company is known for exceptionally entertaining family friendly performances. (Westerly. (401) 596-7909 or www.thecolonialtheater.org) (Charlestown Chamber of Commerce 4945 Old Post Road, Charlestown. (401) 364-3878 or www.charlestownrichamber.com)
 

Massachusetts: Marconi Beach - Fiddler Crabs, Oysters, and Sand Pails. Not far from the famous seaport of Wellfleet this beach is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. At low tide, the tidal flats reveal dramatic places to be discovered and a chance to cross over by foot to a small group of islands called glacial kames. Fiddler crabs scurry from pathways and hiking options are abundant. Off beach bonus: The town of Wellfleet is family friendly. Synonymous with oysters it also provides a shopping showcase for excellent art. Discovery: The Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail begins at Marconi Beach parking area and meanders through eight different ecosystems and provides a living example of species adaptations and how plants evolve over time. (Details at Marconi Beach) 

New Hampshire: Hampton Beach - Fireworks, Beach Music, and a Submarine. The state may have only 18 miles of seacoast, but the beach options suit families on vacation. Hampton Beach provides hours of carefree activities from fantastic fireworks every week, 14 in all, to 80 free summer concerts along a boardwalk. Soft ocean breezes and miles of sandy beaches await discovery. Each August the annual international Children’s Festival includes magic shows, puppets, storytellers, contests and costume parade. Off beach bonus: Board a submarine at Albacore Park in Portsmouth and see what life aboard a sub was like. (600 Market Street, Portsmouth. 1(603) 436-3680 or www.ussalbacore.org) Discovery: Check out the Isles of Shoals, a group of nine islands seven miles off the coast of Rye. You can take a scenic ride around the islands by contacting the local fishing & whale watching charter boats or by taking a three-hour tour of Star Island with the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company in Portsmouth. (Hampton Beach Village District 22 C Street, Hampton Beach. (603) 926-8717 or www.hamptonbeach.org)

Researched and posted by Nancy Nelson-Duac, Curator of the Good Stuff for the Family Travel Files. Images courtesy Misquamicut Beach State Park, Cape Cond National Sea Shore,  and Hampton Beach State Park. Copyright updated copyright 2015.