Why you should visit these 8 coastal destinations in New England

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, Mass.

Eastham is billed as the gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore 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 the best beach town in Massachusetts. Travelers there can visit the National Seashore’s Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach in Eastham, among other beaches. The former was recently named among the top 10 beaches in America by “Dr. Beach” and considered one of the best beaches in Massachusetts by Boston.com readers.

What’s more, lighthouse lovers can visit Nauset Light, the iconic red, white, and black lighthouse featured on Cape Cod Potato Chips bags. Other highlights: digging into a plate of fried clams at Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar and biking the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

Check out our guide: 5 things to do when visiting Eastham.

Provincetown, Mass.

Another beloved beach community on the Cape is Provincetown. 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 most charming beach towns along the Atlantic Coast by worldatlas.com.

P-town, full of restaurants, nature, and art, is one of the most beloved LGBTQ destinations in America. Summer programming this year includes family week, the Provincetown Jazz Festival, and the Provincetown Carnival.

Visitors can enjoy the sand and surf at Herring Cove Beach and Race Point Beach, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The latter is one of the 25 best beaches in the U.S., according to Tripadvisor. It’s also a happy place: Expedia travelers named Provincetown among the 10 friendliest towns in America.

Check out our guide: 5 things to do when visiting Provincetown.

Scituate, Mass.

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

The South Shore spot was named the best seaside small town in America this year by Smithsonian 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, told Boston.com. The Scituate Harbor Cultural District is full of entertainment, shopping, dining, cultural activities, and more.

Beach lovers have plenty of options for sandy spots, as well as the popular summer hangout called the Spit, a barrier beach with a large salt marsh located at the mouth of the North and South rivers. Don’t forget to check out Scituate Light, the 11th-oldest lighthouse in the nation.

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 “summer sweet spot,” according to Thrillist, which recently named it one of the greatest beach towns in the U.S.

Not only is Ogunquit Beach ranked one of the best in the nation, but there’s also a strong LGBTQ+ community, the beautiful Marginal Way cliff walk, and great restaurants, boutiques, and museums, wrote Thrillist. What’s more, the Ogunquit Playhouse 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,” wrote visitmaine.com.

The Maine getaway was also listed among the top vacation destinations for 2024 by Real Simple, which applauded its “peaceful charm.”

Kennebunkport, Maine

There’s plenty to do in picturesque Kennebunkport, which Fodor’s Travel 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 the best seaside destinations for a summer escape. 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.”

U.S. News & World Report has named Kennebunkport one of the 15 best family beach vacations in the U.S.

Finally, hungry guests should check out Earth at Hidden Pond, named one of the most beautiful restaurants in the U.S. by People magazine.

Bar Harbor, Maine

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

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 best small towns for a summer vacation.

Acadia National Park has 27 miles of historic motor roads, 45 miles of carriage roads, and 158 miles of hiking trails. And there are several area beaches.

“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 best small town in America by U.S. News & World Report and one of the most charming beach towns along the Atlantic Coast by worldatlas.com.

Newport, R.I.

Newport, billed as the sailing capital of the world, was named one of 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 along the Cliff Walk with gorgeous ocean views, or simply stroll about downtown to grab a bite and do some souvenir shopping,” wrote USA Today.

The city has four beaches and is well-known for its Gilded Age mansions. 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 the opulent property.

Newport is yet another New England spot with one of the most beautiful restaurants in the U.S., according to People 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, began operating this summer.

Hampton, N.H.

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 Country Living lauded for its “throwback summer vibes.”

The publication named it among the nation’s classic beach boardwalks that are “all about summertime nostalgia.”

Coastal Living named Hampton Beach the best boardwalk in America, 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 Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic, featuring enormous and intricately carved sculptures by artists from around the world.