Coast Guard Beach Making the Top Ten Best Beach List Again

Coast Guard Beach in Eastham is a lovely, sandy jewel, part of the grand National Seashore and like all other Cape Cod Beaches, it's beauty is only surpassed in it's glory by the frighteningly cold water.

But don't let that dissuade you from visiting Coast Guard Beach because it's ranked as the 8th Best Beach in America according to Dr. Beach.

And we agree, it's gorgeous.

Though we've grown accustomed to the Cape waters, and plow right in, (well, Karen does) be warned, it's cold here- you'll be hard pressed to find many folks bobbing in the water for any length of time.

And remember, no matter what the chalk boards say about water temps, round down a few degrees.

There's no direct parking, so you'll have to take a shuttle from the Salt Pond Visitor's Center in order to reach the beach, a short ride costing $15.00. Or if you want to get some exercise and avoid the entrance free, bike the Nauset Trail, a 1.6 mile bike path that takes you across some lovely marshes and a pine and oak forest to Coast Guard Beach.

You can pick up the Nauset Trail from either the Salt Pond Visitor's Center or the Doane Rock Picnic Area. Doane Rock is the largerst exposed glacier boulder on Cape and if you're into geology, it's worth the diversion. We have seen several flocks of wild turkeys on this trail and it's always a delight.

We'll toss a few extra towels, sunscreen, a sandwich and drinks into our backpacks and spend a few hours here, enjoying the sights and sounds.

There are bathrooms, changing facilites, and an outside shower.