Barnstable

Dowses Beach: This large peninsula beach offers a gorgeous view and lots of room to enjoy it. There's two sides to the beach which lines the massive parking lot. Walk all the way to the end to get to rock jetties and a nice viewing dock to sit, relax and watch the ocean.

Hathaway's Pond: A visit to Hathaway's Pond makes for a great day for families. This pond offers a good-sized beach, restrooms, picnic tables, shade and sun, a playground and grills for barbecues.

Joshua Pond: is another peaceful gem of a beach hidden in a residential community. It's small, but offers a great view. For those just trying to get a tan, there's a grassy overlook just above the pond that offers lots of room in the sun. There's also a playground for the kids.

Sandy Neck Beach: is a beach for both Barnstable and Sandwich. At 6 miles long, it is the area's longest beach. It's very popular, especially for its off-road vehicle trails. There's plenty of room for campers and sunbathers, and at night campfires can be a great pleasure.

Bourne

Barlows Landing: is a spacious beach on Pocasset Harbor. It has rock jetties, lots of boats for viewing pleasure, and, of course, a boat ramp. The sand is a little bit darker, but the spectacular water view makes up for the lack of pretty sand.

Electric Avenue Beach: A safe haven among the hubbub of downtown Bourne, Electric Avenue Beach is on the edge of Buzzards Bay. Fairly small, this beach doesn't get too crowded, but has a great view of Bourne residential life. You can even see the electric windmill hovering above rooftops. There's also a playground for the kids and a bike rack for those who want to ride to the water.

Hen Cove Beach: has lots of sand and plenty of boats to watch. With a smaller parking lot, this beach is surely never to get too crowded. Calm water and a defined swimming area, along with an attentive lifeguard, make this a great beach for kids.

Picture Lake: is simply picture perfect. There's a lot of room on this quaint beach, and ample amounts of both shade and sun. The water looks cool and refreshing against a backdrop of majestic trees. This beach doesn't get too crowded, and it's a great place to go fishing.

Mashpee

Attaquin Park Beach: features a spectacular view of the interconnecting Mashpee and Wakeby ponds, the Cape's largest freshwater expanse. It's popular for swimming, fishing, and boating. This park not only offers a large beach, but also has a playground and basketball net. The beach itself is bright and open, with plenty of room for a game of catch. The calm waters make this a great place for swimming and boating.

John's Pond: One of the larger pond beaches, Johns Pond in Mashpee has plenty of room for all sorts of fun and games such as volleyball or throwing a football around. There's also plenty of room for a beachgoer's favorite pastime: suntanning. This is also a great place for kayaking.

South Cape Beach: It offers not-too-distant views of Martha's Vineyard. You can walk to get a bit of privacy on this beach, which is wide, sandy, and pebbly in parts, with low dunes and marshland. A hiking trail loops through marsh areas and ponds, linking it to the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Somewhat crowded.

Sandwich

East Sandwich Beach: is a beautiful, long, slightly sloped stretch of Cape Cod Bay beach. It is dotted with small rental cottages and is busy through the summer season. It lies behind the grass-covered dunes beyond a row of gray-shingle beach cottages. Calm, clear waters are perfect for swimming. The soft sand makes for a comfy sunbathing spot. And the view of Cape Cod Bay is spectacular.

Horizons Beach: is a small plot of sand overlooking the rock jetty entrance to the Cape Cod Canal. It is nestled in a sparse residential area, with nice hotels and restaurants close by. The sand is slightly rocky, but still soft enough to accommodate sunbathers.

Scusset Neck Beach: is a popular state-run beach visited by sun lovers of all ages. It is a large beach, with plenty of room for its many visitors. The soft sand is perfect for sunbathers and calm water is great for swimming and kayaking.

Town Neck Beach: Rocky and dune-backed, Town Neck Beach is a beautiful spot to watch boats travel in and out of the Cape Cod Canal. There's plenty of room for everyone and calm waters make this a great spot for swimming or kayaking. Teens love to lounge on the sand and soak up the sun.