Both Woods Hole and Falmouth have numerous lovely beaches. Some become crowded during the summer, while others remain relatively quiet. Beach parking stickers are required for all the public beaches in Falmouth. You can see what beaches need a sticker and which don’t: http://www.falmouthmass.us/deppage.php?number=9 . Parking stickers are issued daily at the bath house on Surf Drive (508 548 8623) from 9:00–16:00 until the end of the summer season. Beach stickers are required from June 22 to Labor Day. A beach map is available from the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce (http://www.falmouthchamber.com/documents/BeachMap.pdf).
The Knob Quissett Harbor
Coming from Woods Hole, turn left at Oyster Pond light and go straight to the end of the road. Keep right on the dirt path to get to beach. A beautiful, quiet beach. Good for reading a book and swimming, even in the middle of the summer when other beaches are crowded as it’s hard to find.
Stoney Beach (MBL Beach)
Go to the MBL end of Water Street and turn right. Turn left on Bar Neck. Turn right at the yacht club. Beach is on your left past the tennis court. Walk to this beach from the village for a swim at lunch.
Nobska Beach
Between Oyster Pond Rd. and Church St., Woods Hole. Views of the ferries passing and of the lighthouse. Sandier than most other beaches in town and has changing huts. Parking is a nightmare, and there’s nowhere to lock bikes. A short walk from the village or Winding Lane.
For windsurfing: SW W wind on a dropping Woods Hole tide. Advanced sailing only because of strong tides and waves.
Surf Drive Beach (Trunk River, Mill Road)
Really several beaches, with dirt parking lots dotting the length of Surf Drive. Rocky, but good for swimming. Walk from Oyster Pond apartments. The Trunk River lot is accessible via a short dirt road between the Oyster Pond Rd./Surf Drive intersection and the entrance to the CRL
Falmouth Heights
Accessible from Falmouth Heights Road. Very busy in the summer, and parking can be difficult. Similar to Surf Drive Beach. Wood Neck Beach West Falmouth. Wide sandy beach on Buzzards Bay. Rt 28 north. Left turn onto Palmer Ave. Left onto Sippewissett Rd. Right onto Woodneck Rd. Large parking lot at the end of Woodneck Rd
Chappoquoit Beach
Very popular bathing and windsurfing beach on Buzzards Bay. Rt. 28 North, Brick Kiln Rd. West, Rt 28A north. Left onto Chapoquoit Rd. Large Parking lot near end of road. The pond across the road is warmer and calmer.
For windsurfing: N NW W SW wind. Great high wind spot with waves. Pond on the east side of the road for beginners.
Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket
There are fine beaches all around the island, and there are surfable waves at some beaches on the east side of the island. For the naturalist types, there are several nude beaches near Gay Head on the Vineyard.
Cape Cod National Seashore
If your image of what a beach is includes acres of sand and pounding surf, head for the Seashore. About an hour drive from Woods Hole, you can access the beach at several well-marked locations from Chatham to Provincetown. The water is a lot colder than in the Sound or Buzzard’s Bay