Beach Guide: Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and South Shore

Why should beach bums have all the fun? This summer, plan to spend at least one hour at the beach every day, even if it is from 6 am to 7 am.

How do you like your water?

Salty, fresh, brackish? Surf, calm, ripples? Deep, shallow, fast, still?

And, your beaches?

Sandy or rocky? Seaweed? Shells? Shore birds? Pristine? Crowded? Isolated? Full of families? Or surfers?

From Plymouth to Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard there are enough beaches to suit everyone's mood, temperment, individuality.

Patch has put together this guide of beaches in Plymouth, Barnstable-Hyannis, Falmouth and Martha's Vineyard. Click on the town you want to visit for a list of its beaches.

If you live in the Greater Boston area Plymouth is about a 30-to-45-minute drive; Barnstable and Falmouth are about an hour to an hour drive and if you are feeling adventurous, you can catch the ferry in Woods Hole and be hitting the waves off the Vineyard in 45 minutes.

So put on your suit, wear a hat and sunscreen, bring a towel, some toys for the kids and a hamper of food and water and head to the beach.