Why You Should Visit These 8 Coastal New England Destinations

Journey

Plan your next getaway to these seaside locations nationally recognized for their beauty and charm.

Travelers seeking salt air, crashing waves, seafood restaurants and quaint shops this summer will find plenty to enjoy in New England's coastal communities.

Below, check out eight seaside spots that have received national acclaim and why they're worth visiting this season.

Eastham, Massachusetts

Eastham is presented as the gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore because more than a third of the city lies within the National Seashore, which includes nearly 40 miles of beaches, ponds, marshes, uplands and historic sites.

Stacker named Eastham the best beach resort in massachusettsTravelers can visit the National Seashore there Coast Guard Beach And Nauset Lighthouse Beach in Eastham, among other beaches. The first was recently named among The 10 most beautiful beaches in America by “Dr. Beach” and considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Massachusetts by Boston.com readers.

Additionally, lighthouse enthusiasts can visit Nauseating lightthe iconic red, white and black lighthouse featured on bags of Cape Cod Potato Chips. Other highlights include enjoying a plate of fried clams at Arnold's Lobster and Clam Bar and ride a bike Cape Cod Rail Trail.

Check out our guide: 5 Things to Do When Visiting Eastham.

Provincetown, Massachusetts

Provincetown is another popular seaside community on the Cape. Located on the northern tip of Cape Cod, P-town was named one of the best beach towns in America by Thrillist and one of the the most charming seaside resorts on the Atlantic coast by worldatlas.com.

P-town, full of restaurants, nature and art, is one of the America's Most Popular LGBTQ Destinations. Summer programming This year we will be attending Family Week, the Provincetown Jazz Festival and the Provincetown Carnival.

Visitors can enjoy the sand and surf at Herring Cove Beach And Race Point Beachpart of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The latter is one of the The 25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the United Statesaccording to Tripadvisor. It's also a happy place: Expedia travelers named Provincetown among the The 10 Friendliest Cities in America.

Check out our guide: 5 Things to Do When Visiting Provincetown.

Scituate, Massachusetts

The coastal town of Scituate, located halfway between Boston and Plymouth, offers approximately 21 miles of coastline and the scenic Scituate Harbor.

The South Shore spot was named the best small beach town in america this year by Smithsonian review.

The harbor is full of things to do, says Patrice Maye, a 20-year resident and founding president of the Scituate Harbor Cultural District, told Boston.com. THE Scituate Harbor Cultural District is full of entertainment, shopping, restaurants, cultural activities and much more.

Beach lovers have plenty of options for sandy spotsas well as the popular summer meeting place called spindlea barrier beach with a large salt marsh located at the mouth of the North and South Rivers. Be sure to check out Scituate Lightthe 11th oldest lighthouse in the country.

Check out our guide: 5 Things to Do When Visiting Scituate.

Ogunquit, Maine

Maine is no stranger to summer fun and Ogunquit is Maine's “ideal summer spot,” according to Thrillist, which recently named it one of the the most beautiful seaside resorts in the United States

Not only is it Ogunquit Beach Ranked Among Best in Countrybut there is also a strong LGBTQ+ community, the beautiful Marginal way cliff walk, and great restaurants, shops and museums, Thrillist wrote. Plus, Ogunquit Theatre has been entertaining audiences for almost a century.

Ogunquit Beach's popularity is due to “miles of soft sand, rose-fringed dunes and endless views of the Atlantic.” wrote visitmaine.com.

The Maine getaway was also listed among the best holiday destinations for 2024 by Really simplewho praised its “peaceful charm.”

Kennebunkport, Maine

There is plenty to do in the quaint town of Kennebunkport, which Fodor's Journey called “the Northeast’s ultimate dream vacation destination.”

“It's one of New England's most beloved beach towns, brimming with seaside charm and coastal character,” wrote Fodor's Travel, which ranked it among The best beach destinations for a summer getawayVisitors can enjoy a multitude of water activities including kayaking, kitesurfing, sailing, fishing, boating, exploring Goose Rocks Beach or exploring the winding bike paths and local trails.

US and World News named Kennebunkport one of the 15 best family beach vacations in the United States

Finally, hungry guests should take a look The Land at Hidden Pondnamed one of the the most beautiful restaurants in the USA by People review.

Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor, on Mount Desert Island, is known as the gateway to the beautiful Acadia National Park.

Travelers stroll through the historic coastal town and enjoy “spectacular Victorian-era homes, some of which have been converted into bed and breakfasts and fine dining restaurants,” wrote TripsToDiscover.com, which named Bar Harbor one of the the best small towns for summer vacation.

Acadia National Park has 27 miles of historic roads, 45 miles of carriage roads, and 158 miles of hiking trails. several beaches in the region.

“One of the most popular activities is hiking the park's trails, including a route that leads to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest mountain on the Atlantic coast,” the site writes.

Bar Harbor has also been named the the best small town in america by US and World News and one of the the most charming seaside resorts on the Atlantic coast by worldatlas.com.

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, considered the sailing capital of the world, has been named one of the The 10 Best Small Coastal Towns in America by USA Today readers earlier this year.

“Go paddleboarding or sailing, visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame, hike the Cliff Walk with beautiful ocean views, or just stroll downtown for a bite to eat and do some souvenir shopping,” wrote USA Today.

The city has four beaches and is well known for its The Mansions of the Golden Age. The iconic Breakers has hosted presidents and royalty and is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year, according to the Preservation Society of Newport County. This summer, the mansion launched a new tour inviting guests into never before seen areas of this opulent property.

Newport is another New England location with one of the the most beautiful restaurants in the USAaccording to People magazine — Cara at Chanler at Cliff Walk.

Of note for city dwellers without cars: a new nonstop bus service between Boston and Newport, called Discover Newport, started operating this summer.

Hampton, New Hampshire

Among New Hampshire's 18 miles of coastline is Hampton Beach in Hampton, one of the largest and most popular beaches in the state. The beach is well known for its boardwalk, which The country life praised for its “retro summer vibe.”

The publication named him among the classic beach walks who all talk about “summer nostalgia.”

Coastal life named Hampton Beach the best walk in americanoting its mix of old-fashioned food, fun and entertainment.

“Skee-Ball, old-school pinball machines, raucous music, pizza joints and saltwater fudge stands are all part of the seaside experience on this mile-long paved boardwalk, as is a summer concert on the Sea Shell Stage,” the publication wrote.

One of the most popular events of the summer is the Classic Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpturefeaturing enormous, intricately carved sculptures by artists from around the world.