long beach

a place to relax and get away without the parking issues at Good Harbor Beach No stores on the beach and a lot of summer residences on the boardwalk and a peaceful crowd

Long Beach is beautiful but parking is tough in the summer so I compromised on 4 stars but if you can get here it's a five-star attraction. Should mention there are no facilities of any kind so bring your own fluids and food. I should mention this is a nice spot outside the summer months and of course the parking is pretty much not a problem then.I usually ride my bike here so I'm not an expert on parking. There is a small lot on the South end of the beach but you need to get there early. Otherwise I'd say head to the North end and start driving North til you find a legal spot and then walk back. If you have a lot of gear leave it at the beach before you try to find parking so you won't have to carry it. The best thing about tough access is privacy and that you will find here. I like to take my top off and it's ideal for that. If you lie among the rocks at the North end you can take everything off. Long Beach is great for running which I enjoy. At low tide you can go quite a ways. You start at the end of South Beach and can get all the way to the end of Penzance Road and then get on the road itself if you want to go further North toward Rockport. If you're out too long the tide may come in far enough so coming back you'll need to get up on Penzance and turn the corner and get back to Long Beach on the road but it's no problem. This is a really nice destination either real early in the day or late in the day. Sunrise is just beautiful and the last two hours of the day is great too.

we went in august, and the water was just TOO cold to get in. I dipped my feet in and wasnt quite sure how there were people in the water. It was very cold.We just enjoyed sitting on the beach and enjoying the scenery. There is a concrete wall surrounding the beach cove with a walkway on top.There are lots of houses along the beach, and it looks like alot of people who live there use it quite often.The sand is very soft. We didnt feel like we were in a public beach, but rather in people's "back yard" but it was a nice alternative and we felt safe.One of the highlights of my trip to Gloucester.

Family oriented with mostly " regulars". The half mile cove is protected and has low wave action, but is very dramatically changed by the tides. Great sun rises and full moons. Families with kids rule. It's kept very clean. Parking can be a challenge so get there early if you're not drying nearby. Cape Anne Inn anchors the southern end. A great New England beach.

A lovely beach with very clean soft sand. The parking is limited and there are no public bathrooms. There's a sub shop on the corner that has facilities for a purchase of a cold drink. It's mostly family's on the beach and everyone is good about taking out their litter. There is a couple of retired folks that have a pay to park lot that isn't far from the beach and it's much cheaper than the bigger lots.

The length of the beach is lined with an elevated concrete walkway with excellent handrail. It was fun to feel the ocean breezes, enjoy the sunshine, hear the ocean sounds, and look at each of the cottages along the way. At the far end from the Cape Ann Motel there is a bridge off the beach to a stone island. Very enjoyable. One of the highlights of my trip to Gloucester.

The people who come here with their families are very respectful of other people enjoying the beach.The only improvement would be a public rest room and some rubbish barrels.

unlike the "neighboring" beach up the road this one seemed to have a nicer "clientle" it was quaint and the access as well as parking is far better than Good Harbor beach plus the cost to park is less

We've been going here for years. We love Wingaersheek and Good Harbor, but there's just something special about Long Beach. Maybe it's the boardwalk where you can walk and dream about spending a summer in one of the cottages, maybe it's the surf…. but probably it's the memories you'll make there.

For many years we have brought our children here and even rented a cottage on the beach. We eventually bought a summer home here a few minutes walk from the beach. Our children have grown and we have retired here in our summer cottage. This is a great beach for kids and families. Unfortunately the access to this beach can be difficult. Even though it is a public beach you can only access the back road if you have a cottage on the beach. There is a parking lot for residents and a parking lot on the Gloucester end for a price. If you think you would like to spend a day on the beach I would recommend that you arrive before ten to get a space at the Gloucester end parking lot. To find this lot you need to turn right just before the dairy maid on thatcher rd. and go to almost the end. Turn left at the sign for public parking. Once you park, if you don't mind walking go to the middle of the beach and you will feel like you are on your own private beach, as both ends are crowded, but the middle is practically empty! Enjoy!

It was of the most beautiful beach I've ever seen, the sea was great, the beach is really long the sand is white and the water is transparent! I went there at 8 o'clock in the morning and I have been in that amazing 2 hours completely alone!

I grew up vacationing on this beach when there was a Chicataba Inn (sp?), and I brought my family there last summer. My children and wife loved it. It is a great beach to walk, play in the sand and swim. The water is a bit cold but this is the North Shore folks and the sand is not rocky at all. Awesome beach, not touristy or too crowded. Beautiful sunrises and a nice view of the the twin lights ... a real find.

You must go at low tide and enjoy the beach. It is incredible! Gloucester has few really nice beaches, yes the water is cold, but it is New England!

beautiful, unspoiled, and very serene place to walk - we happened upon quite a bit of sea glass which was wonderful to collect and were pleasantly surprised to see cairns on the rocks at the end of the beach.

We have stayed on Long beach every summer for as long as we can remember. It's not for everyone and sometimes I wonder if it's the sense of nostalgia that keeps me coming back. There's nothing like walking the beach touching you toe to the rocks on each side of the LONG stretch of sand. The twin light houses are picture perfect. The boardwalk is quaint with kids walking, eating melting ice cream from the ice cream truck that parks itself at one end each day. Crabbing is great at low tide.