By Travelers in search of salty air, rolling waves, seafood restaurants, and quaint shops this summer will find a wealth of riches at coastal communities across New England. Ahead, check out eight seaside spots that have been praised nationally and discover why they’re worth visiting this season. Eastham is billed as the gateway to the because more than one-third of the town falls within the National Seashore, which is comprised of nearly 40 miles of beaches, ponds, marshes, uplands, and historic sites.
Stacker named Eastham . Travelers there can visit the National Seashore’s and in Eastham, . The former was recently named among by “Dr.
Beach” and considered by Boston.com readers. What’s more, lighthouse lovers can visit , the iconic red, white, and black lighthouse featured on Cape Cod Potato Chips bags.
Other highlights: digging into a plate of fried clams at and biking the . Check out our guide: . Another beloved beach community on the Cape is Provincetown.
Located on the northern tip of Cape Cod, P-town was named by Thrillist and one of by worldatlas.com. P-town, full of restaurants, nature, and art, is one of .
this year includes family week, the Provincetown Jazz Festival, and the Provincetown Carnival. Visitors can enjoy the sand and surf at and , part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The latter is one of the , according to Tripadvisor.
It’s also a happy place: Expedia travelers named Provincetown among the . Check out our guide: . The coastal town of Scituate, located halfway between Boston and Plymouth, offers about 21 miles of coastline and the picturesque .
The South Shore spot was named this year by magazine. The harbor is chockfull of things to do, Patrice Maye, a resident for 20 years and the founding chair of the Scituate Harbor Cultural District, . The is full of entertainment, shopping, dining, cultural activities, and more.
Beach lovers have plenty of options for , as well as the popular summer hangout called , a barrier beach with a large salt marsh located at the mouth of the North and South rivers. Don’t forget to check out , the 11th-oldest lighthouse in the nation. Check out our guide: .
Maine is no stranger to summer fun and is Maine’s “summer sweet spot,” according to Thrillist, which recently named it one of Not only is , but there’s also a strong LGBTQ+ community, the beautiful cliff walk, and great restaurants, boutiques, and museums, wrote Thrillist. What’s more, the has been entertaining audiences for nearly a century. Ogunquit Beach’s popularity is due to “miles of soft sand, dunes edged with roses and endless Atlantic views,” .
The Maine getaway was also listed among the by , which applauded its “peaceful charm.” There’s plenty to do in picturesque Kennebunkport, which called “the ultimate Northeast dream vacation destination.” “It’s one of New England’s most beloved beach towns, overflowing with seaside charm and coastal character,” wrote Fodor’s Travel, which named it among .
Visitors can experience an abundance of water activities like kayaking, kite surfing, sailing, fishing, boating, check out Goose Rocks Beach, or traverse the winding bike paths and local trails.” has named Kennebunkport Finally, hungry guests should check out , named one of by magazine. Bar Harbor, on Mount Desert Island, is known as the gateway to the beautiful .
Travelers stroll the historic coastal town and enjoy “spectacular Victorian-era mansions, some of which have been transformed into B&Bs and fine dining eateries,” wrote TripsToDiscover.com, which named Bar Harbor one of the . Acadia National Park has 27 miles of historic motor roads, 45 miles of carriage roads, and 158 miles of hiking trails.
And there are . “One of the most popular things to do is to hit the trails in the park, including a route that leads to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain along the Atlantic coast,” wrote the site. Bar Harbor was also named the by and one of by worldatlas.
com. Newport, billed as the sailing capital of the world, was named one of the by readers earlier this year. “Go paddleboarding or sailing, visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame, hike along the Cliff Walk with gorgeous ocean views, or simply stroll about downtown to grab a bite and do some souvenir shopping,” wrote .
The city has and is well-known for its . 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 inviting guests into never-before-seen areas of the opulent property.
Newport is yet another New England spot with one of , according to magazine — Cara at The Chanler at Cliff Walk. Worth noting for city dwellers without a car: A new nonstop bus service between Boston and Newport, called Discover Newport, . Among New Hampshire’s 18 miles of coastline sits Hampton Beach in Hampton, one of the state’s largest and most popular beaches.
The beach is well known for its boardwalk, which lauded for its “throwback summer vibes.” The publication named it among the nation’s that are “all about summertime nostalgia.” named Hampton Beach , noting its mix of old-school food, fun, and entertainment.
“Skee-Ball, old-school pinball machines, raucous music, pizzerias, and saltwater taffy stands are all part of the seaside experience on this mile-long asphalt boardwalk, as is a summertime concert in the Sea Shell Stage,” wrote the publication. One of the most popular events of the summer is the , featuring enormous and intricately carved sculptures by artists from around the world. Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.
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