10 Prettiest Towns to Visit on the Atlantic Coast
The Atlantic Coast of the United States stretches from the quaint town of Eastport, Maine, to the more popular Key West, Florida. Best known for numerous beaches, lighthouses, and national and state parks that dot its jagged shores, the coast of the Atlantic Ocean is home to a variety of exhilarating locales and a multitude of picturesque towns. From the Acadia National Park to Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum, these natural and historical attributes are the "cream of the crop" along the eastern seaboard of the United States. Starting in Bar Harbor, Maine, to Sebastian Island, Florida, uncover ten of the prettiest towns to visit along the Atlantic Coast.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Situated on Mount Desert Island, between Acadia National Park and the Atlantic Ocean, Bar Harbor is a welcoming haven for those who consider themselves avid photographers. Whether it is taking pictures of wild animals along the banks of Eagle Lake in Acadia National Park, enjoying a boat tour out on Frenchman Bay, or hiking the Bar Island Trails, there is something for everyone in this little corner of New England.
Downtown Bar Harbor is also home to a variety of dining experiences. The Lompoc Cafe offers great outdoor seating, while CherrySTONES presents more of a laid-back atmosphere. Both serve up a tasty, toasted lobster roll with crispy French fries, a signature dish in the state of Maine.
Rye, New Hampshire
The picturesque town of Rye, located in Rockingham County along the jagged coast of New Hampshire, is home to a plethora of naturalistic qualities. From Rye Harbor State Park to Wallis Sands State Beach to Odiorne Point State Park, there are a multitude of vistas available to capture with the camera lens.
With a population of just over 5,000 people, this quaint town is also home to many historical aspects as well, including the Seacoast Science Center, which caters especially to marine science, and the White Island State Historic Site, featuring White Island’s first lighthouse, which was originally built in 1865, and is also currently the only offshore lighthouse on the coast of New Hampshire.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Along with Nantucket County and Nantucket Island, home to three lighthouses, Great Point, the Sankaty Head, and Brant Point, and several beaches, including Siasconset on the eastern side of the island and Surfside to the south, the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts has a lot to offer in the range of photographic opportunities. Two museums, one of them showcasing the history of whaling and the other catering to shipwrecks and heroic rescues, are located in the town of Nantucket.
Nantucket also has a variety of cultural attributes. Laines Observatory allows for a more intimate viewing of the nighttime stars. At the same time, the Wauwinet, an oceanfront resort located between Nantucket National and the Coskata-Coatue wildlife refuges, provides its own sense of comfort.
Cape May, New Jersey
Located in Cape May County and home to the Jersey Shore Alpacas and Cape May Beach, the town of Cape May, New Jersey, has a variety of excellent qualities that make it “picture-perfect,” at least in the range of a small coastal town with just under 3,000 permanent residents.
One of the best assets complementing this oasis of natural beauty is the Cape May Lighthouse, which was first constructed in 1859 and currently provides visitors with stunning views of the panoramic Atlantic Ocean in its almost infinite wonder. There is also Washington Street Mall, located in downtown Cape May, and home to several shops and eateries like Sea Weeds by the Sea and Iccara Italian Bistro.
St. Michaels, Maryland
The quaint town of St. Michaels, situated along the eastern bank of Chesapeake Bay, is home to a great deal more than what would be thought, considering that this town has a population of around 1,000 people. From checking out the majestic view on the widow’s walk of the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse to visiting one of several museums in town, like St. Michaels Museum, the Classic Motor Museum, or the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, there is a historical thread running through the town of St. Michaels.
Even while viewing a stunning sunset from the shores of Tilghman Island with a loved one, people can see why St. Michaels is one of the prettiest towns along the Atlantic Ocean's coast.
Chincoteague, Virginia
Located on its own island, which also goes by the name Chincoteague, the coastal town of Chincoteague, Virginia, is home to a vast variety of activities that warrant the use of a camera multiple times. From experiencing a private boat tour around Chincoteague and Assateague islands to viewing the antics of the wild horses on Assateague Island to taking a kayak tour with friends along the Assateague Canal, the area around Chincoteague is filled with excitement and exhilaration.
Several activities in town are also well worth doing with a camera, including visiting the Timothy Hill House, which was built around the early 1800s, and stopping by the Robert N. Reed Downtown Waterfront Park.
Nags Head, North Carolina
Perhaps considered one of the prettiest towns in North Carolina, as well as one of the prettiest towns all along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the town of Nags Head is famous for providing several panoramic vistas. Whether it is in Jockey’s Ridge State Park, at the First Flight Adventure Park, on Jennette’s Pier, or at the Bodie Island Lighthouse, there are a multitude of locales in and around Nags Head that cater especially to the outdoor enthusiast.
For those who prefer inside art, a variety of shops, museums, and restaurants call Nags Head home. Some of them are Tortugas Lie, which serves delicious skewered shrimp Barbados, and Mahi Mahi’s Island Grill, which has a tasty steamed mussel plate.
Beaufort, South Carolina
Not to be confused with Beaufort, North Carolina, which is 400 miles to the north and home of the Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge, the town of Beaufort, South Carolina, has its own share of natural wonders, like Huntington Island State Park and the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
Remember to check out downtown Beaufort, South Carolina, including the Pat Conroy Literary Center, the Point, and Bay Street. Bay Street, like many other downtown districts across America, possesses a plethora of mom-and-pop shops, art galleries, and eateries, like the Saltus River Grill, which is home to a collection of urban seafood options, like the sea island shrimp with stone-ground grits.
Tybee Island, Georgia
One of the best weekend destinations along the Atlantic Ocean's coast, Tybee Island has a little bit of everything when it comes to a coastal town. From the Tybee Island Lighthouse, first built in the late 18th century, to Fort Pulaski, commemorating those who fought in the Civil War, and the Cockspur Lighthouse, which was built in the 1830s, this town of 3,000 people has a wealth of picturesque experiences.
Downtown Tybee Island, the area surrounding Butler Street, is home to eateries and restaurants like Pier 16 and The Deck Beach Bar and Kitchen. Tours offer many opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the town, either from one’s own perspective or through the lens of a camera.
Sebastian, Florida
Located where the Indian River and the St. Sebastian River meet, less than two miles from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the town of Sebastian, Florida, is home to a vast variety of establishments, festivities, and locales that emphasize the want for a camera, like visiting Riverview Park for the Sound Waves and Sunshine Fest, a festival that takes place in June and celebrates musical talent.
There are several activities to be enjoyed in downtown Sebastian as well, like taking the family to Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum or the North County Aquatic Center, or stopping by the Sebastian Area Historical Museum.
From the First Adventure Flight Park and the Wright Brothers in Nags Head, North Carolina, to Fort Pulaski and the remembrance of the Civil War in Tybee Island, Georgia, these ten picturesque towns are only “a drop in the ocean” when it comes to pretty towns to visit along the Atlantic Coast. From Eastport, Maine, the northernmost town along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean to Key West, Florida, the southernmost town along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, there is a natural beauty that begs for a camera.
