Corn Hill Beach

Known around town as an excellent family spot, the clean and well-maintained Corn Hill Beach (Castle Rd., off Rte. 6, Truro, 508/349-3635, non-resident parking $10 per day)—named such because it was where Pilgrims had once found corn gathered by Native Americans—has easy parking, views of Provincetown, and a warm bay for swimming.

Cahoon Hollow

The sandy ocean beach of Cahoon Hollow (Cahoon Hollow Rd., Rte. 6, Wellfleet, 508/349-9818, parking $15 per day), meanwhile, gets considerably more crowded, but can be counted on by parents to usually have a lifeguard on duty, by surfers to have decent waves, and by seafood lovers to have fresh specimens at its restaurant, the Beachcomber (1120 Cahoon Hollow Rd., Wellfleet, 508/349-6055, www.thebeachcomber.com, Memorial Day–Labor Day).

Oyster Pond

A veritable magnet for kids in the on-season, Oyster Pond (1233 Main St., Chatham, 508/945-5180, free parking) also boasts waters warm enough to stay welcoming in the shoulder season, when things calm down and the sheltered pond regains some serenity.

Beach Facts

Most Cape Cod beaches have parking lots that charge a daily fee (usually between $5 and $15) from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Many have public bathrooms and concession stands as well; when the latter is not available, local grocery stores often cater to beachgoers’ picnic needs.

The beaches on Cape Cod’s north and west shores face Cape Cod Bay, and have mile-wide tides and the least surf. Thus, they’re often the best for toddlers and babies. The southside beaches face Nantucket Sound, and tend to have small waves, so they’re also relatively safe for toddlers. More wave action — and undertow — happens on the east-facing beaches of the Atlantic Ocean.