The secret is out: Seabrook Beach, Jenness make list of America’s 100 top hidden beaches
SEABROOK — The nation now knows what Seacoast residents have known for hundreds of years: Seabrook is the home to a “spectacularly beautiful” beach.
Nestled at the southern end of New Hampshire’s small 17-mile-long coastline, Seabrook Beach is long, wide, clean, dune-lined, picturesque, uncrowded and concealed from sight along the town’s stretch of Route 1A. The latter issue, its protection from the view of passers-by, is part of the beach’s nuance and what led it to make the list of the “Top 100 Hidden Beaches in the USA,” published by Family Destinations Guide.
The beach is obscured from sight because of the enclave of homes that lie between the Atlantic-side beach and Route 1A. Driving along the busy summertime byway, people can easily see the harbor waters, on the west side of the roadway, but they’d never know a shoreline is just few hundred feet away to the east.
In addition, the beach’s reputation for not being packed with beachgoers may be attributed to its limited nearby parking and restroom facilities for visitors, and no lifeguards.
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According to FamilyDestinationsGuide.com, its list was developed from a poll of 3,000 families, asked to reveal the “secret beaches they would most like to visit this summer.”
“With over 95,000 miles of coastline, the U.S. boasts some of the most breathtaking and unspoiled beaches in the world,” according to FamilyDestinationsGuide.com. “Unlike popular beaches that are often crowded and overdeveloped, hidden beaches offer a sense of exclusivity and intimacy that is hard to come by elsewhere.”
Owned not by the state but by the town of Seabrook, those whose job it is to keep the beach clean believe the listing is well-deserved, said John Starkey, Seabrook’s public works manager.
“I applaud the people at the (public works department) who keep the beach as beautiful as it is,” Starkey said. “I’m proud and privileged to work with them.”
Starkey added Seabrook Beach has two distinct personas: South Beach’s predominant feature is its dunes, Starkey said, while North Beach is wide open and spacious.
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Seabrook residents not surprised by beach designation
Not only did Seabrook Beach make the list, it came in 37th, above any of Massachusetts’ famed Cape Cod beaches. The only New England beaches appearing before Seabrook on the list are Maine’s Roque Bluff’s Beach and Crystal Lake Beach in Vermont. The only landlocked state in New England, the Green Mountain State made the list twice.
Town Manager Bill Manzi said Seabrook Beach’s listing is only a surprise to those who don’t already know, “there’s nothing like a day on the beach in Seabrook.”
“We are very proud of our beach,” Manzi said. “We consider it to be the most beautiful shoreline in the region. The view is majestic, the ocean sparkling, and our shore has remained pristine.”
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Seabrook’s shoreline position along the coast has protected it from the brunt of storms that have ravaged beaches in other nearby communities, like Salisbury and Plum Island, Massachusetts.
Of the 36 secluded sandy seashores listed above Seabrook Beach, it isn’t surprising to see that most are in states with enormous coastlines. Seven are in Florida, six from California and five in Hawaii, with seven of the top ten in Florida and Hawaii, two from Califonia and one in New Jersey.
In its description, FamilyDestinationsGuide.com comments Seabrook Beach is known for a “peaceful and relaxing atmosphere,” “long and wide stretch of sandy shoreline with beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean,” making it “the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.”
Former Fire Chief Jeff Brown agrees. Growing up in town, Brown spent many days swimming at the beach with friends as a kid, always feeling safe while enjoying the clean sand and ocean. Although the beach has changed over the decades, he said, it retains its unspoiled nature.
It was that and more that attracted former Massachusetts resident and current Seabrook Selectman Ravi Ravikumar to become a Seabrook Beach property owner in 2007, and full-time resident in 2017. He discovered the beach during a visit in 2006, he said, finding it “spectacularly beautiful,” making up his mind to buy property.
“The very first time I saw the beach my jaw dropped,” Ravikumar said. “I just loved it. It’s very, very special. The crown jewel of the New England seashore.”
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Rye’s Jenness Beach recognized, too
Not to be left out, another Granite State beach made the list. Rye’s Jenness Beach came in at number 66.
Although in plain sight on Route 1A, FamilyDestinationsGuide.com, describes it as “picturesque and secluded” offering “a stunning natural setting” that no one can refute.
According to FamilyDestinationsGuide.com’s poll results, Jenness offers “soft, white sand, clear water, and gentle surf, making it a popular destination for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports such as surfing and paddleboarding.”
But FamilyDestinationsGuide.com wrote Jenness remains “relatively uncrowded, even during peak summer season, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the peace and tranquility of this hidden gem on the New Hampshire coast.” That could again be due to its limited parking area and Rye’s roadside parking restrictions.
As for how Seabrook residents feel about their wonderful beach making a nation-wide listing that all can read, perhaps Ravikumar’s response sums it up.
“First, I believe Seabrook Beach is an asset to the town of Seabrook and an asset to the entire state of New Hampshire,” Ravikumar said. “Second, I’m a little bit upset it made the list because now the cat is out of the bag.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seabrook, Jenness make list of America’s 100 top secret beaches
