Singing Beach

$25 for parking more

A cheat, a con, a rip-off. That's this bitch, I mean, beach. If Mussolini asked me to recommend him a beach, that would be this. It has all the fascism and xenophobia you need in a beach. Honestly, I regard this review as a Public Service. DON'T GO THERE!!! You'll end up robbed, exhausted, humiliated and frustrated, in that order. Police and functionaries (let's call that those lazy, ne'er-do-well punks) have been ordered to steal money and then expulse all out-of-towners! They follow instructions from the little plutocracy that happen to have a mansion there (yes, the same responsible for the death of a child when he crossed the railway line and the train didn't whistle 'cause the whistle perturbed the rich's naps...) What all of them don't know is that what they're doing is illegal, and I, like some other decent people are going to suit them soon. Till then, farewell, Stinking Beach! more

I am the guy my dad wrote about in the other Rip-Off comment. You should know I had left my daughter with a friend and her daughter on the beach. We had stayed about two hours and wanted to leave. I took most of the stuff and went to ge the car. It was gone. So, I had to begin the runaround to get it back. Meanwhile, the two little kids and my friend are baking on the beach wondering when I will get back. If I did not have a cell phone who knows how messed up this could have gotten. Pros: Nice beach, townspeople, beach policy not so nice Cons: Bad, VERY bad parking, towing policy more

My son has been taking his 2 ? year old daughter each weekend to Singing Beach since the season began. They like the beach, keep it clean, respect others, AND spend money in nearby shops. (Much more money than I would like to see him spend on local food, sundries and beaching items.) Pros: nice beach Cons: PARKING - be prepared they will rip you off. more

Yeah the beach is nice. There is lots of clean sand ample room to spread out. However, with $25 to park a half mile away and $5 per person just to walk on it's an incredible rip-off. Not all of us have the funds that those rich folks in their mansions overlooking the beach have. Don't get me wrong. The beach is nice, but not $30 nice. There are lots of scenic, clean, and AFFORDABLE beaches (most of them free, imagine that) in the area that I would rather go to. I think I'll leave Singing Beach to those millionare snobs who clearly want it all to themselves. Pros: Cleanliness Cons: Price more

Singing beach is a great beach though it is quite . From climing ont he rock to swimming in the refreashing waters itbis a must see.If driving in or taking the train stop by the Kitchien Witch Backery. Snacking on a nice Greek Greens Wrap and laying out in the sun is a prefect combination.I dont recermend the snack bar high prices for not that good of food.If your not in the mood for quite or crowed or your taking kids older than 7 then go to tucks point. It is also a must see.From juming off the docks to the quite water tucks point is forr you. Stop by the coffie cup on your way out great pizza and vgood riends prefect comination. All in all The Town of manchester by the sea is a must see. more

I finally made it out to Singing Beach last weekend. My 12-yr niece & her friend were visiting from CA and they really wanted to go to a beach. I live in the city so we took the commuter rail which was a little expensive for 3 round trips, but not so bad if you're just paying for yourself. The train ride seemed short and the walk to the beach is nice. Being from CA, I'm not used to paying a fee to go to the beach, but I think it is worth it since the beach was really well maintained. It was a beautiful day and was as pretty as a postcard. The girls were in the water as soon as we put our stuff down and they loved the waves. It was a very relaxing atmosphere. Pros: clean, beautiful beach Cons: snack bar, bathrooms more

Being from the Caribbean I have been to a couple of nice beaches in my life. I can say that when I first went to Singing Beach a couple of years ago it had nothing to envy those beaches down south. Even the water was on the warmer side that day. I'm in my 20's and went with a group of my friends. We all loved it. Fine sand, enough space for everyone to spread out, beautiful setting. I thought it was so great I'd bring my mom, my sisters and my sister's kids next time I went. I'll hesitate to do it ever again. When you're by yourself or with friends it's a nice walk from the station (or the parking lot nearby), and the $5 walk-on fee is reasonable to keep such a jewell well cared for. However, when you're with kids, an older person, and carrying gear, the walk gets way longer and the fee now multiplies by the number of persons over the age of 12 you brought, which I thought was expensive since I was the one paying. With that said, this is still one of the best beaches I've been to. Pros: sand, beauty, location, facilities Cons: parking, walk from the station, and fee (but only if you're paying for other people or coming with roudy kids and teens :-) more

I'm from MA and I had no idea about this beach until one of my friends from school told me about it. It's a pretty secretive spot and the residents are protective of it. We had to park about a mile down because when we tried to go in the parking lot right by the beach at around 12pm (it wasn't a crowded lot) there was already a police officer parked by the entrance informing people that it was only for residents. The beach was relatively quiet and peaceful, and it was overall an enjoyable experience. The Beach Comber, which is a dessert offered at the food stand, was delicious! I would definitely go back. Pros: Beautiful, Quiet, Peaceful Cons: Parking is difficult more

Singing Beach is hands-down one of my favorite places to spend a sunny day in New England. Taking the train from Boston makes more sense than crowding the streets and parking lots. Plus, there's a great bakery in town where you can grab snacks or sandwiches before you walk to the beach. You can buy a beach season pass (for two people) for about $25 or $30, which makes more sense if you're a regular. Summer week-ends can be hectic, but during the week it's very mellow and sometimes you almost have the beach to yourself. The beach is squeaky clean, there are lifeguards (if you're brave enough to swim in the freezing water), it's quiet and family-oriented. Pros: gorgeous beach, induces zen-like calm Cons: people who complain about having to walk 1/2 mile! more

One reviewer said it was snobby, at $25- well, the reason its clean and well maintained is because the town cares enough about the beach to support it. Residents pay through their taxes and beach permits (did you know that residents pay too?) and why should vistors get it for free? At least if they have paid they will appreciate that beautiful singing beach is something to be loved and valued. Having grown up spending many days on the beach, I was always entranced by the squeaking sand- a reward for getting your pace ""just right"". Pros: Scenic, unique (Singing Sand), accessible Cons: Presence of Tourists moaning its not free, parking. more

I thought unless a beach was private, it's public. I was wrong. With $25 to park (on a weekday) and additional ""walk on"" fees there's no more expensive beach I've ever been to. Parking 1/2 mile away with a group of kids and beach gear isn't really an option. Manchester by the sea doesn't want you at Singing Beach unless you're a resident. more

Fantastic beach... the only downside is the parking... but taking the train isn't a bad option and the great sand and water make it worthwhile Pros: Clean, Beautiful more

Being new to New England after a recent move from California, I didn't know what to expect and was really happy. The beach is beautiful and crowded but not too much so, plus the snack bar is a nice touch. The walk from town (where you can park on the street only if you get there after 10AM on a nice day) was about 15 minutes, but worth it. Pros: scenic, good sand, location Cons: cold water more

I love this beach because it serves my purpose of laying out and getting a tan. I don't have to deal with tons of people and the beach and water are pretty decent for its location. Parking is costly though, this year (2002) is $15 unless you want to try your luck parking in the 2 hour slots and hope not to get a ticket. Commuter rail runs right by the parking, so that's good. Pros: nice sand, not too far from city, less crowded Cons: parking expensive more