Hardings Beach, Chatham MA

Hardings Beach in Summer
Image thanks to weneedavacation.com

Hardings Beach is Chatham's most family-friendly beach with soft sand, warm, placid waters and a hiking trail. Hardings Beach is the largest all-around family beach on the Lower Cape, just barely edging out Ridgevale Beach in South Chatham. There are two parking lots, two life guard stations, a bath house with bathrooms and a shower and food service trucks in each parking lot.

Lighthouse at Harding Beach
Image thanks to weneedavacation.com

Hardings Beach is a 1.5-mile-long barrier beach along Nantucket Sound with a salt marsh, low grassy dunes and views of Monomoy Island and Stage Harbor Light, it's unusually picturesque. Non-resident daily parking is $15, while a one-week sticker is $60 and a season sticker is $125. Beach stickers for non-resident parking can only be purchased with cash at the on-site beach booth. Residents can purchase stickers at the booths or at the permit office at 283 George Ryder Road

Image thanks to weneedavacation.com

Harding's is a wonderful beach for the game of your choice- beach bocce (a local specialty), volleyball, frisbee, wiffle ball, or just build a sand castle or take a stroll to collect sea shells with the kids. A highlight here also is the hiking trail that extends behind the beach after the second parking lot. Take it easy in your bare feet on a mild nature hike one mile down to the lighthouse or set a more serious pace.

Image thanks to weneedavacation.com

Anywhere outside the marked swimming areas is the place to launch your sailboat or kayak. (Monomoy Island makes a great destination from this beach.) You can also leave your boat for the week or season in the dunes after the second parking lot. You'll see the others who've left theirs before you.