Recreation Behavior Patterns as Related to Site Characteristics of Beaches

Abstract

The analysis of sampled information about visitors to Cape Cod beaches reveals significant relationships between patterns of beach visitors and conditions existing at the various sites. Higher total attendance is associated with the availability of beach facilities and the development of nearby areas. Beach location relative to the Cape Cod Canal is important in explaining the patterns of day-users, but an entirely different criterion of accessibility is relevant to other visitors. Visitors' socio-economic characteristics and associated origin characteristics are related to the physical settings of beaches. Teenagers are particularly attracted to those beaches having food facilities and are the only identifiable group of users who seem to be influenced by crowding on the beaches.