Salisbury Beach was similar to beach destinations developed in the 1950’s and thrived through to the 1980’s. So many people I know from the greater Boston area spent their best years hanging out here. It’s still a fun place to go and the general area has a lot to offer. It’s a great area for biking.
Intro
Salisbury, MA has 3 areas each of which is a day bike trip. In addition to Salisbury Beach there’s the Hampton Beach, NH area and there’s also the Newburyport, MA area. Each has their own charm.
Salisbury Beach
There’s four different areas here in biking distance. Salisbury Beach, Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Hampton Beach just over the state line in NH, and the Newburyport area.
Back in the day Salisbury Beach was a hot destination. There’s very little of this left but it does still attract crowds.
A “midway” still remains and it’s got a few attractions and a number of food options. Most of the food is beach food.
Joe’s Playland is typical. Arcade and beach food.
On a weeknight the parking lot attendant has little to do. It’s a sad place. If he’s not on his skateboard he’s sitting in the chair.
This is Salisbury Town Beach. One of them. There’s a lot of them. The beach is open to all but there’s no parking. Parking is restricted to residents. That’s where a bicycle comes in handy. If you’re on a bicycle it’s easy.
Salisbury State Beach Reservation is just south of Salisbury Beach. There’s a separate entrance. They have a large campground here as well. All beaches get crowded in the afternoon. This is no exception.
Hampton Beach, NH
Hampton Beach, NH is a short bike ride north. It has a lot to offer as a destination and is a good place for families to get away for a day. There’s a lot of bars and funky eating places. There’s a large music venue that brings in good music. It gets crowded.
The Coffee Break Cafe on Hampton Beach is a great place for a coffee and breakfast.
Hampton Beach is a great place for some people. Great for families where they can have a day in one place and keep an eye on their kids. I like to keep moving and find interesting places.
Newburyport, MA
Newburyport is the highlight of this area. It has a lot to offer from your morning coffee, great bike rides, nice beaches, that New England seaside port ambience, and some very good restaurants.
Fresh coffee and fresh blueberry muffin to fuel up for a bike ride.
Riding into Newburyport from Salisbury this little park is a nice place to stop and take in the views.
Just across the bridge you pick up a trail that takes you along the water and out to the beach.
If you’re looking for more than a muffin you can find some interesting breakfast choices along the streets of Newburyport. Crepes is one such choice.
Riding through the back streets of Newburyport surprises with interesting little “finds” in shops and food choices.
Market Square in the center of Newburyport is bustling in the heart of the day and especially in the dinner hours.
Newbury Beach in the Parker River Wildlife Sanctuary is the best beach in the area. It is park of the National Park system so you have to pay even on a bike. If you’ve purchased a lifetime National Park admission card it is good here.
This beach goes out for about 3 miles. You can ride along a road but it’s a very rough road. The Parker River Wildlife Sanctuary is just that…an incredible habitat for a variety of wildlife.
The road out to the tip of the Parker Reservation is a difficult ride. It’s a washboard pattern almost all the way out. You have to keep your eyes on it to pick the easiest path over it. Before attempting it another cyclist suggested I wear a mask as a barrier for road dust and at least 2 liters of water. I’ll make the same suggestion and it’s one I follow. There’s some nice beaches out this way but they are not so good at low tide. Basically they are tidal mudflats.
Videos of Bike Rides
Salisbury