Two If By T: Best MBTA-Accessible Beaches Around Boston

So, sitting in Cape Cod traffic isn't your thing? Good news. There are some great beaches around Boston you can get to without even having to set foot in a car. Paul Revere never had to pay for parking, so why should you? (There's your tie-in to the title.) That's why we came up with the list of best beaches accessible by MBTA.

North Shore:

Singing Beach

119 Beach Street
Manchester By The Sea, MA 01944
Line: Rockport
Stop: Manchester
Distance To Beach: 0.5 miles
Cost: $8.75 for a one way ticket. $5 beach walk on fee.

Non-resident parking can be almost impossible to come by at Singing Beach. When you set foot on the soft white sands, you'll understand why. The sands do actually sing (learn about it here). The beach is immaculate, the views are breathtaking, and the amenities (changing rooms, restrooms, etc.) make life a little bit easier.

The North Shore cycling option: The MBTA runs a special bike train on weekends in the summer. It's a short ride (but a long walk) to a number of gorgeous beaches in Gloucester, Rockport, or Newburyport.

South Shore (Bicycle recommended):

Nantasket Beach

Hull Shore Drive
Hull, MA 02045
Line: Greenbush Line
Stop: Nantasket
Distance to beach: 2-3 miles

The South Shore is tough if you want to walk to the beach. Everything is about a couple miles away. So why not ride? Bikes are allowed on all commuter rail trains during off-peak hours. And the Greenbush Line has a special cycle train running on weekends. Nantasket is one of the South Shore's most popular beaches. It's great for activities. Nantasket is close to mini golfing, a carousel, an arcade, ice cream places, restaurants, and plenty more. You can also lock up the bike, rent a kayak and do a little cross-training.

The city:

Carson Beach

Day Boulevard
South Boston
Line: Red Line
Stop:JFK/UMass
Cost: $2 for a one-way subway pass

Carson Beach is close, cheap, and convenient. It's located about 1/2 mile from the JFK/UMASS stop on the Red Line. This beach boasts sand volleyball courts, a bocce court, restrooms and food vendors.

Revere Beach

Route 1A, Revere
Line: Blue Line
MBTA Stop: Wonderland
Cost: $2 for a one-way subway pass

Revere Beach was the first public beach in the United States. I also may have been the most disgusting at one point (we kid). But seriously, they've cleaned it up quite a bit in the past decade and it has gradually transformed back into a local hotspot. In addition to traditional swimming and sunning activities, this beach also hosts a yearly sand sculpture festival perfect for families.

If you don't mind cheating:

Spectacle Island

Boston Harbor Islands
Cost: $15 round trip (discounts available for children)

It's not the MBTA, but you still don't need a car to get there. Take the Blue Line to Aquarium and hop a harbor ferry to the Boston Harbor Islands. Kick back on the pebbly beach, hang out on boat docks, pop into the visitor center (with restroom facilities and concessions) or just take a hike around. The views are spectacular and you get the sense of being away from the city.