We are asked all the time, “what’s the difference between the Oceanside and the Bayside beaches?”. There are so many choices! The better question is, what are you looking for? Here’s a handy comparison of both.
|
|
OCEANSIDE |
BAYSIDE |
| Sand Conditions: | Mainly soft with a white to off white color. There is a pebbly tide line on many of the beaches. | Mainly soft or with a light texture and off white in color. There is a pebbly tide line on many of the beaches. |
| Surf Conditions: | Moderate Surf meaning: Small to medium sized waves under normal conditions. Wave action will increase if there is an offshore storm. Great for surfing! Swimming can be more of a challenge. | Mild Surf meaning: The Water is flat-calm or gently lapping at the shoreline. Swimming is good for all ages and abilities. Wave action will increase if there is an offshore storm.
|
| Water Temperature: | COLD! The water is the large Atlantic ocean with no real protection from the vast chilly volume. Water temperatures in the summer may reach into the low 60s but is warmer in the tide pools that form when the tide goes out. | Chilly but warmer than the ocean side beaches. Water temperatures normally reach upper 60s to low 70s in the summer. The Tidal pools that form when the tide goes out and creeks hold even warmer water. |
| Accessibility: | Some of the Eastham oceanside beaches are wheel chair accessible. Others have wooden stairs from the top of the dune down to the beach. Nauset Light and Coast Guard have paths down to the beach. | Numerous Eastham bayside beaches either have wooden pathways or just blue carpeted walkways down to the beach. Some Eastham public and private access points have wooden stairs down to the beach. Cooks Brook: Path Boat Meadow: Path Campground: Path Cole Road: Path First Encounter: Path Kingsbury: Path Thumpertown: Stairs Sunken Meadow: Path |
| Location Tips: | 40+ miles of federally protected land and coastlines with light houses, walking and biking trails, historic sites, nature preserves and breathtakingly lovely scenery.
Beach camping and small campfires are allowed at some of the Ocean beaches too. Tide charts are recommended! |
‘The Flats”
When the tide goes out on the bay, it goes Way out. Leaving miles and miles of sandflats to walk, jog or fly your kite. And hundreds of tide pools to explore for pretty shells and little sea critters, as the bay waters recede. The High Tide comes in very fast, please be aware of that when out on the Flats. Tide charts are recommended! |
We love both sides of Eastham beaches! It doesn’t matter which beach you go to, in the end you win! Call us today and we’ll help you find the perfect property close to your favorite Eastham beach.