Beaches You Can Get to Via MBTA Subway Lines

On this Monday, I'm sitting in my Dorchester office fantasizing about lying on the beach and alternating between sleeping and reading. I love a great beach, but I also despise the inconvenience of getting to one. I don't like the long drives in heavy traffic, the expensive parking lots, and getting sand all over my car. Luckily, there is a solution to all of these problems. Every MBTA Subway line can bring you to an urban beach that offers all the perks a beach bum wants with none of the hassles. Here are a few of my favorites.

Revere Beach (Blue Line to... you guessed it... Revere Beach Station)

The Boston area is known for is pioneering spirit. Revere Beach is a perfect example. Just a few

Sand Sculptures at Revere Beach

miles from downtown Boston and right next to the Revere Beach Blue Line Stop, Revere Beach is the first public beach in the United States. Of course you are going to want to stop at beach institution Kelly's Roast Beef a place so renowned it's been name checked in both Good Will Hunting and 30 Rock. Another big attraction is the New England Sand Sculpting Festival, which has taken place at Revere Beach each July since 2004. During this festival an area of the beach is fenced off, and sculptor's create an art gallery for beach visitors. These are not your grand daddy's sand castles.

Carson Beach (Red Line to JFK/UMass Station)

Volleyball at Carson Beach

Carson Beach is just a short walk from JFK/UMass station. This spot is particularly easy to get to from downtown since it is just three T stops away from South Station. Parking is very limited making the T the optimal way to get there. Carson Beach is a true urban beach with the city skyline draped across the horizon. This beach is particularly lively during the afternoon and into the evening on weekdays during the summer. Carson Beach is a favorite spot for casu
al and serious beach volleyball players. Pro Tip: If you go on a hot day during the off season, stop by Star Market next to JFK Station for beach provisions since the Seaside Cafe at Carson is only open during the summer.

Wollaston Beach at Sunset. Photo Credit: Nancy Santry

Wollaston Beach (Red line to North Quincy or Wollaston Station)

Wollaston Beach is a bit of a walk from the Red Line, but if you have a beach craving it is worth the trip. Wollaston is about a mile from either North Quincy or Wollaston on the Red Line. The Clam Box and Tony's Clam Shack provide excellent New England Beach Grub mainstays. Taking the T to Wollaston will get you closer to these clam shacks.

The Charles River Esplanade (Green Line to Copley, Orange Line to Back Bay, or Red Line to Charles MGH)

"Beach" Bums on the Esplanade.
Photo credit: Keith Bedford, Boston Globe

Okay... so technically this isn't a beach. But if you go there on a hot weekend day in the summer, you might believe it is. A major benefit of the Charles River Esplanade is that it is easy to get to from the Red, Green, and Orange lines (sorry Blue) so its an easy meeting spot for groups of friends who are coming from different areas of the city. This is my personal favorite "beach" in the Boston area. Bostonians flock to the esplanade to enjoy lying in the sun by the Charles River.  You get many of the features of the beach at the esplanade: people in swimsuits catching rays, sailboats gliding across the water, and, most importantly, a tranquil escape from the city. Unlike the beach however, you don't leave with shoes full of sand and you're slightly less likely to get in a territorial dispute with a seagull. In addition to all of these benefits, you're just a few blocks away from the restaurants and bars in the Back Bay and on Charles Street.