Park your car on the main parking lot right over the harbor, and carry your gear on the beach via the small ramp. You will then need to park your car elsewhere on the street. Tip: A good spot is on the small ocean drive that hugs the shoreline past the ramp, in front of a small pier that juts into the harbor – arrive early, as there are only two places…

Start your excursion by paddling straight out of the harbor towards Kettle Island. You can easily go ashore and explore the place, or find a corner for you and have a snack. From there, you can paddle southwest to the small island visible in the distance, but you will not be able to go ashore, as steep rocky ledges prevent disembarking. From there, paddle north directly to the shore. White Beach is a nice place to stop and get some rest before your trip back to Magnolia. White Beach is nested in a quaint cove, with often crystal clear water. Beach parking is restricted to local residents, and even in summer the beach is sparsely used.

From there, you can continue on back to Magnolia by visiting the next cove, Kettle Cove, where boats take anchor in the summer. As its name implies, Black Beach is not terribly attractive there, but the rocky coastline is worth the extra distance. You can also have a glimpse of the Ocean Lawn, part of the Coolidge Reservation (the seawall prevents you from accessing the Lawn from the sea). The Ocean Lawn is a great place to relax - see our related destination, The Ocean Lawn at Coolidge Reservation.