Beaches with kids during, gulp, July peak- south MA or RI

Don%26#39;t know where to start so I%26#39;m asking for help from my friends on TA. I need to plan a trip for 2 families to a beach in southern Mass or RI for the last week in July.

Our party includes 5 kids ages 1-7. Most are from the SW and will be the only time they ever see the ocean. I need to find an modestly priced location near a beach with waves, sand, shells and preferably tide pools. I%26#39;m thinking of eliminating much of the Cape due to the crowds in July. These folks are not really into activities and just want to see the beach and pop up to the NE aquarium for a day.

any suggestions for RI or Mass? Westport? Little Compton? Narragansett? Wareham? Dartmouth? Buzzards Bay?

Beaches with kids during, gulp, July peak- south MA or RI

Beaches in R.I. will be packed too but the traffic doesn%26#39;t seem to be as bad as it is on the Cape in the summer. Also, I think R.I. rentals are a bit less expensive than Cape rentals, if that helps.

I%26#39;m not a fan of R.I. beaches (I%26#39;m always the one who bumps into the big boulder hidden by the water when the tide comes in), but my kids love the huge waves. Narragansett waters are very calm.

Have you thought about Long Island beaches?

Beaches with kids during, gulp, July peak- south MA or RI

Horseneck Beach in Westport MA has the waves. It%26#39;s a state owned beach so parking for the day should be less than 10.00.

Thanks so much for the advice. any thoughts on where to get rentals?

Which state? Which town? Still July?

I%26#39;m still trying to nail down a more specific location. Southeastern MA or RI. Still the last week in July.

My preference would be for Falmouth, MA. It is on the Cape but traffic isn%26#39;t really an issue. There are some great beaches for kids- and looking for tidal pools- you can%26#39;t miss the creek at Woodneck Beach. Surf drive beach is great for kids too- and you can pay to park there. (Woodneck is a resident parking sticker beach, but if you go in the late afternoon-it doesn%26#39;t matter %26amp; the kids will still get to explore the ';creek'; and you won%26#39;t have to worry about over exposure to the sun as much!) Try Shoreway Acres Inn- a family owned hotel- some rooms have kitchenettes- and I think that breakfast is included daily. The have an indoor and outdoor pool--it is at the midpoint (walking distance) to both Surf Drive beach and downtown- that has shops, restaurants, an amazing community playground. Falmouth is a great jumping off point for exploring ---only about an hour to Boston- you could easily make a day trip to the aquarium. (There is a very small aquarium in Woods Hole -a part of Falmouth- at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Lots of hands on activities and a few seals that you can get pretty close to. (Other easy day trips from Falmouth would include Martha%26#39;s Vineyard, Provincetown, Providence RI and Newport RI.)

You can try Durkin Cottage Rental in Narraganset RI for that area.

Great recs above.

I would add Orleans on Cape Cod to the mix. Try The Cove Motel (http://www.thecoveorleans.com/) for a nice, clean, modestly priced (for the Cape) stay in a central location. You can visit the family friendly Cape Cod Bayside Beach called Skaket - a true favorite for many families with young kids and babies. The Cove also puts you a short drive away to ocean side beaches like Nauset, or further afield to the beaches of the not-to-be-missed Cape Cod National Seashore (http://www.nps.gov/caco/). The National Seashore often host beach bonfires and other ready-made family activities, so make sure to check the schedule.

Hope that helps!

Enjoy!

Thank you all so much, we are really starting to narrow down our options nicely!