Photo Gallery: Top New England Beaches

Cape Cod

New England, with its picturesque colonial villages and maritime history, is replete with gorgeous beaches. And though water temperatures are only warm enough for comfortable swimming during the hottest parts of summer, the region's beaches offer so much more than icy refreshment. Couples can lose themselves in a romantic sunset stroll, and families with young children have no shortage of sand with which to construct majestic castles. There's even surfing and all manner of boating adventures. In short, New England's beach destinations present something for everyone.

With almost 560 miles of coastline, 40 miles of which is the protected sandy beach of the Cape Cod National Seashore, there are few places in the world as beach-oriented as 'the Cape.' The Cape Guide is a good place to start learning about which beaches and towns might suit you best. If you're heading to the area in the summer, visit the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce website, which lists special offers from local lodging providers.

Photo: Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce

Old Orchard Beach

Old Orchard Beach isn't so much a beach as it is an experience. Sure, there are seven miles of sandy waterfront for swimming, but it's the attractions (think amusement parks, miniature golf courses, and a boardwalk) that color this Maine town's identity. The beach is free to all pedestrians, so if you can stay at one of the many nearby hotels or motels and park there, it's easy to keep your control your costs.

Photo: Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce

Salisbury Beach, MA

Many of the beaches included in this gallery are great for day trips. Salisbury Beach, on Massachusetts' North Shore, has a 484-acre on-site campground, so it's easy to create a complete vacation around the beach. It's also affordable, as nightly fees for coastal campsites are just $17, or $15 for state residents.

Photo: Gary Miles/Courtesy of the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

Martha's Vineyard

Sand Bar, Vermont

The only fresh water beach in this gallery, Vermont's Sand Bar State Park is on Lake Champlain, between the mainland and Grand Isle. The beach is ideal for children, since the naturally occurring "sandbar" means the water is rarely deeper than about two feet, and there's no need to worry about sharp rocks under little feet. The most-visited day park in Vermont, Sand Bar has a play area, grills for cooking out, and food concession, all on-site.

Photo: Dennis Curran

Located at the northern edge of Massachusetts' coast, Crane Beach in Ipswich boasts seven miles of waterfront and over 1,000 acres of dunes and upland, but watch out if you plan on driving in. On weekends, there's a $22 entrance fee for cars driven by non-members. This is why Crane Beach was one of the Boston Globe Magazine's picks for best beaches for rail travelers.

Photo: Cliff Amero/Essex River Cruises & Charters/Courtesy of the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

Block Island, RI

Block Island, off the southern coast of Rhode Island, is home to just 800 year-round residents, but you'll find everything you could ever need in a beach destination. Crescent Beach heads the list of island beaches, which total 17 miles in length. And because the island is relatively small, many visitors choose to ride mopeds or bicycles and leave their cars on the mainland. Doing this is also a great money saver, since it costs $45 one-way to take a car on the ferry and just $2.90 for a bike.

Photo: Zak Patten

Sand Beach, Acadia

Warm it ain't, but that doesn't stop intrepid swimmers from braving the chilly waters of Acadia National Park's Sand Beach. What draws visitors to this Maine coastal park every summer is not the ocean temperatures, which max out at 55 degrees, but the sheer natural beauty, which earns rave reviews like best sunrise from Away.com. Entrance fees to Acadia are $20 in the high season (June 23 to early October) or $10 from May 1 through June 22 and early October through October 31.

Photo: iStockphoto

Wingaersheek Beach

It may be tough to pronounce, but Wingaersheek Beach, in the Massachusetts fishing town of Gloucester, is easy to enjoy. It's also on the Boston Globe Magazine's list for best family beach. But make sure to arrive early, as parking, which costs $25 per car on the weekends and holidays, isn't usually available for long.

Photo: Cliff Amero/Essex River Cruises & Charters/Courtesy of the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

Coast Guard Beach

Rated the country's number three beach by MSNBC.com in its 2007 roundup of top family beaches, Coast Guard Beach has miles of sand and surf. Studious beachgoers may be interested in the plovers that nest from early spring to early summer, or the fact that the Mayflower landed on the beach in 1620, 65 days after setting sail from England. Note that there is no beach parking in the high season, so you'll have to take a shuttle bus from the Little Creek parking area.

Photo: MOTT/Kindra Clineff