The northern view facing the Westport River.
Location: Westport, South of Boston, Massachusetts, USA (Horseneck Beach on Buzzard's Bay)
Accommodations: Beach House, 2 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 1.5 Baths (Sleeps 6-8)
If you’re looking for a beach about a hour from Boston that hasn’t been found by crowds of summer visitors, this is the place. If you want a quiet, cozy fall or winter weekend getaway, this is the place too.
Our wood-frame, classic beach house, nestled at the edge of the dunes between Horseneck Beach and the Westport River, is perfect for families. It’s a year-round home, comfortable, fully-equipped, clean, and within easy driving distance from Boston, midway between Cape Cod and Newport, R.I. Through eight-foot-high living room windows (or from a bench at the end of our private dock), you can watch the evening sun go down. Out the back door, relax with a magazine on our large sundeck or have lunch at our umbrella-shaded picnic table. Walk 30 feet through the sand up a few wooden steps and you'll find yourself looking at the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.
A three-minute walk through the dunes and you are on a private section of scenic Horseneck Beach, a place that has long been a secret haven for many folks from Boston who dislike the seasonal congestion of Cape Cod. The wide, white sand beach is spacious, gently-sloped and uncrowded. It offers lots of room for sand castles, opportunities for body surfing and boogie boarding, pretty good early morning fishing, long late afternoon walks and always plenty of space to settle in with a sand chair and a good book. Back in the 1930's, Roosevelt summered here, in a house now long gone from a hurricane.
The property includes shared access to a boat dock that’s a short walking distance from the house, where a boat of up to 25' can be moored. From the end of the dock, on the Westport River, look across to the historic town of Westport, a small, charming group of well-preserved Colonial-era homes with pretty summer gardens. A half-mile from the dock is a marina that features a Zagat-rated restaurant, The Back Eddy, with outdoor/indoor fine dining, a congenial bar area and wonderful views of the harbor.
You are 15 minutes away from shops and farm stands that offer simply superb fresh fish and lobster, locally grown fruits and vegetables, wines from two respected nearby wineries and a micro brewery (all offer tours). Grocery staples are available at Lee’s Market, with a gas station, pizza and Greek take-out nearby. There’s a Farmer’s Market on summer weekends and Westport Winery offers outdoor evening concerts and family events.
Our great location makes for easy day trips to many places of interest. It's just an hour to the mansions of Newport or historic Plymouth Rock and the Plantation, 30 minutes to the old Portuguese whaling town of New Bedford, and an hour’s ferry ride to Martha's Vineyard and Cuttyhunk Island. A quick visit to Truro or Chatham on the Cape is also an hour away. If you (or your kids) require a dose of “city” life, Dartmouth, MA, with malls, a cinema multiplex and fast food, is a 15 minute trip. But honestly, we've found that once you get here, the tendency to just put your feet up and relax is irresistible.
Local things to do include biking, golf, canoeing, kayaking, boating, hot-air ballooning on the beach, horseback riding, hiking, or as I mentioned, just doing nothing. Children love to explore the sand dunes and ride the ocean waves. Casual lunches and that essential summer food, the double dip ice cream cone, are right around the corner just off the main road, at Handy Hill Creamery. You will also find a convenient shop across the street from the Back Eddy called Bud’s Place. They serve a light breakfast, lunch and dinner along with things for the beach including sun screen, bathing suits, and other things to bring to the beach. And for many, just having coffee and Sunday papers (Lee’s Market has them) on our deck can turn into an all day affair. Available for your use are a charcoal grill, boogie boards, and several comfortable beach chairs.
For indoor entertainment, we provide satellite TV/VCR/DVD, a Bose Wave stereo CD player with eclectic collection of over 60 CDs ranging from Coltrane to Mary Chapin Carpenter to Mozart. There is an extensive collection of classic video tapes and DVDs, including most Disney children’s films, oldies from the 30's and 40's, and (yes, I’m a fan) Seinfeld reruns. We’ve got books and board games galore. You may find your video-obsessed child suddenly clamoring for one more game of Monopoly one evening, something we had to see to believe.
Our very large, open family space includes a living room and kitchen with an eating area. A sun porch off the living room is quieter for reading or doing jigsaw puzzles. The master bedroom has a comfortable queen size bed and the second bedroom has two sets of bunk beds. To accommodate extra sleepers, there is a double futon and a fold-out sofa bed in the living room. The fully-equipped kitchen has dishes, glassware, pots and pans, utensils for barbeque and lobster boils, and all the usual appliances (electric range, full-sized refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker) except a dishwasher. There is one full bath with a tub/shower. Outdoors on the deck there is also an enclosed cabana with a shower that we use during the summer months. Our visitors, kids and adults alike, will tell you that stepping out from that shower into the full sun (or into the moonlight) is absolutely grand, and for some, reason enough to return!
This property is not for everyone. It is not fancy yet it's quiet, private and there is a very local feel to the place and the town. Family and friends who have returned many times over the years tell us it is a special place for them as well. We think you’ll agree. Thanks for the visit.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Wood Fireplace: This may only be used from October through March.
- Beds
- Queen Bed: Very comfortable.
- Bunk Bed (2) : Two sets of single bed bunk beds.
- Convertible Bed (2) : Two futons, one full-sized and the other a queen sized.
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV: Dish Network
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library: Just about every Disney available. Also varied collection of major motion pictures, and PBS series.
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library: Eclectic CD collection from Mozart, Coltrane, and about 60 others
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: Does not include a dishwasher.
- Cooking Utensils Provided: Including lobster pots, grilling utensils
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio: 15' x 30' wooden deck and picnic table. Deck chaise lounges and outdoor shower/cabana.
- View/Location
- Oceanfront
- Communications
- Telephone
- Other Amenities
- A 25 foot boat slip is also available for an additional daily fee, Sorry, there is no room for a boat trailer on the property but there is a public lot for launching where trailers may be left during your stay (1/2 mile away)
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters: 25
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Shelling
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Fishing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Miniature golf
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Other Activities
- Winery tours and proximity to ferry to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Easy access to Newport, RI, Plymouth Plantation and Cape Cod.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Jun, Jul & Aug .. $1800/week (Mon-Sun)
May and Sep ..... $1500/week .. $500/weekend (Fri-Sun)
Oct-Apr ......... $1200/week .. $400/weekend (Fri-Sun)
*Thanksgiving,Christmas and New Years: $300/night plus $50 housekeeping.
Bed Linens are available for $75 extra.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Property Photos
- The northern view facing the Westport River. - Westport, MA - Massachusetts Home on Horseneck Beach, Buzzard's Bay
- Inside the family room from the kitchen. - Westport, MA - Massachusetts Home on Horseneck Beach, Buzzard's Bay
- The view of Horseneck Beach and the Atlantic from the dunes behind our house. - Westport, MA - Massachusetts Home on Horseneck Beach, Buzzard's Bay
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #23660
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Date last modified - October 24, 2009
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