With the sun setting somewhere between 7:00 and 8:30 p.m. all summer long, the Bay State beckons you to take advantage of the lingering illumination with some coastal exploration. Check out these seven suggestions for enjoying the summer seaside as the sun goes down and see if night time is the right time for you.
Options for Summer Evenings on the Shore
Castles Made of Sand with Music, Food, and Ferris Wheels - Revere Beach holds the distinction of being America’s oldest public beach. It is also the site of the annual International Sand Sculpting Festival where sand sculptors from around the globe create masterpieces. The evening hours bring music, food, and Ferris wheel rides along Revere Beach Boulevard, and the beach stays open ‘til 10 p.m. on specified nights. (As a bonus, there’s even a firework display!)
Cruise into the Sunset - Being out on the water as the sun sets and the moon rises is magical, and there are many ways to enjoy a coastal evening by boat. If you want to steer yourself into the sunset, or sit back and have someone else do the steering, there are many options (including kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, sailing on a tall ship, and cruise ships with themed nights). To find one that work for you, navigate the “sunset” search on the VisitMA.com's Boats and Watersports page for specific ideas.
Fireworks - Free Fun for Everyone - Celebrating American independence by simulating the rocket’s red glare with spectacular pyrotechnic displays is a July 4 tradition. In Massachusetts, there are many opportunities to see fireworks over the water. Of course, there is the world-renowned Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade, with some prime viewing from Boston Harbor (see these suggestions at Boston.com). Seaside displays in other communities include those hosted by Barnstable, Harwich, Marblehead, Marion, Mattapoisett, Nahant, Nantucket, New Bedford, Provincetown, Weymouth, and Winthrop. To find the fireworks for you, check out VisitMA.com's Fourth of July Across Massachusetts page, which includes the yearly fireworks roster.
Get into the Groove - Get your groove on, or back, or just sit back and enjoy an outdoor picnic with a sea breeze. Start at Rowes Wharf along Boston Harbor for the annual Summer in the City series, where a rotating lineup of live jazz, soul, and blues bands perform every Tuesday through Friday nights. By July, The Trustees of Reservations serves up everything from 80s cover tunes, to bluegrass, funk, and more during their Thursday Night Picnic Concerts on the Grand Allee of the Crane Estate in Ipswich. Pilgrim Memorial State Park also hosts evening concerts along Plymouth Harbor through the Project Arts of Plymouth Summer Concert Series.
Let There Be Light - For lighthouse enthusiasts and history buffs, these Martha’s Vineyard lighthouses can be toured in the evening hours: Gay Head Lighthouse (in operation for more than 200 years and perfect for watching the sunset and sunrise at every angle); Edgartown Lighthouse (famous for its supporting role in the movie Jaws); and East Chop Lighthouse (open for Sunday sunset tours). For a rundown on the behind-the-scenes history of these maritime marvels, check out Martha’s Vineyard magazine’s Illuminating Lighthouses.
Movies by Moonlight by the Coast - When the sun sets on Summer nights, a variety of movies can be viewed by moonlight at various locations along the coast. Check out Cinemarina at East Boston's Harbor Shipyard & Marina for a free annual movie night right on the harbor featuring great views of the Boston skyline. Or pull up a lawn chair for any of the Department of Conservation and Recreation's (DCR) Free Movie Nights at coastal (or riverine) locations, including the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade (Fridays), Salisbury Beach (Saturdays), Red Rock Park in Lynn (Tuesdays), and Castle Island (Wednesdays).
See a Spectacular Sunset by the Sea - Nothing says “picture perfect” like the colors nature paints over the sky while the sun sets. And Massachusetts has some primo places to watch these fleeting masterpieces. For sunset spots on Cape Cod, see Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce's 8 Spots to Catch Dramatic Cape Cod Sunsets, which includes a variety of quintessential sunset scenes. Other sure bets include Mayflower Beach in Dennis, with its wide stretch of powdery sand and shallow pools that reflect the glowing evening sky, and Herring Cove Beach at the very tip of Cape Cod, which offers stunning views of the sun dipping directly into the water. North of Boston, check out this blog from Addison Choate on the 12 Best Spots To Capture A Sunset on Cape Ann, which includes spots like Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, known for its dramatic rock formations, tide pools, and vivid sunset hues. For other suggestions for public beaches where the salted wind and sand serve as the perfect backdrop for the end of a summer’s day, see DCR's Saltwater Ocean Beaches Locations page, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce’s Cape Cod Beaches and Cape Cod National Seashore page, Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce's Beaches, and the Insider’s Guide to Nantucket Beaches from Fathomaway. For viewing sunsets at beaches in other regions of the state, check out VisitNewEngland.com’s Massachusetts Beaches page, and if you are looking to enjoy a sunset with a furry friend, see Massachusetts Dog-Friendly Beaches by New England Dog Travel.
For other coastal spots in Massachusetts, check out CZM’s Public Access Program, and in particular Coast Guide Online, which includes 1,900 sites along the Massachusetts coast that are owned by government agencies and nonprofits and open to the public.