Nickerson Beach
Quincy, MA
Nickerson Beach is a very small public beach on Dorchester Street in the Squantum neighborhood of Quincy, where a park with a walking path backs the sand. Salt marsh and mudflats next door draw birds, so this is as much a birdwatching stop as a swim spot on Quincy Bay.
It is a quiet, intimate spot with wildlife next door, but it is small and there is almost nowhere to park.
How we score beachesBring binoculars. The marsh and mudflats next to the beach are good for shorebirds, especially around low tide.
Limited street parking, and the Squantum bus also stops nearby. Access is easiest by foot or bike.
A walking path runs through the park to the sand. Expect uneven ground and soft sand at the water.
Late spring and fall are the best times for bird activity, while summer afternoons suit a short swim on the flat bay side.
More Atlantic Coast beaches
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA · Atlantic Coast
A National Seashore beach backed by grassy dunes and a tidal marsh, with clean Atlantic surf and one of the Cape's most scenic approaches on foot from the parking area.
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA · Atlantic Coast
Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.
Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY · Atlantic Coast
A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.