11 Most Scenic Small Towns In Massachusetts For Nature Lovers
The great state of Massachusetts is known for many phenomenal attractions, from Plymouth Rock, where the Mayflower first landed in 1620, to Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox. Yet, this 1st New England state is also home to numerous small towns that are perfect for those who love the great outdoors. From Rockport and Halibut Point State Park to Brewster and Nickerson State Park, most of these small towns within Massachusetts possess a common theme: natural amenities that encourage visitors to return again and again. Here are eleven of the most serene small towns in the Bay State that are ideal for nature lovers.
Rockport - Essex County
Rockport, situated along the Atlantic Ocean, is home to Halibut Point State Park. Along with some awesome amenities at Cape Ann, like panoramic vistas of sunrises over the majestic waters of the ocean, Halibut Point offers its own share of stunning coastal views. There are also ample opportunities for fishing, hiking the Halibut Point Trail, and picnicking with friends and family.
Some other scenic attractions in the town of Rockport, Thacher Island, Bearskin Neck, and Front Beach all provide great attraction to nature lovers. While Bearskin Neck offers numerous photography options, both it and Front Beach are easily accessible from downtown Rockport. Thacher Island, which is located off Cape Ann and can be accessed by boat or kayak, is home to Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Adams - Berkshire County
Home to Mount Greylock, which climbs to a height of 3,491 feet and is considered to be the highest point in Massachusetts, the small town of Adams, located on the western side of the state, is home to several awesome natural attractions. The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, which was converted into an almost 15 mile-long paved trail following the banks of the Hoosic River, is one of these scenic outdoor attractions.
Greylock Glen is another of the phenomenal natural attractions in the area around the small town of Adams. Located at the base of Mount Greylock, Greylock Glen offers visitors and residents of Adams alike with serene hiking trails like Gould Trail, picnicking opportunities, and stunning panoramic vistas of the majesty of the Berkshires.
Nantucket - Nantucket County
Situated on Nantucket Island in Nantucket County, the small town of Nantucket is perhaps one of the most ideal places for nature enthusiasts in the entire state of Massachusetts. Home to Madaket Beach, on the western side of the island, Surfside Beach, on the southern side of the island, and Siasconset Beach, on the eastern side of the island, this is the place to see if you love spending time on the sand or in the water.
Nantucket is also known for being home to the 1746 Brant Point Lighthouse, situated on the western side of Nantucket Harbor, the 1850 Sankaty Head Lighthouse, which is located north of Siasconset Beach, and the 1784 Great Point Light, situated on the northern point of the island. While Brant Point is only 26 feet tall, and Great Point is only 60 feet tall, Sankaty rises to an astounding 158 feet.
Chatham - Barnstable County
The picturesque town of Chatham, situated between Chatham Harbor and Oyster Pond, has some wondrous natural attractions worthy of visiting over and over. From several scenic beaches, including Chatham Lighthouse Beach, Ridgevale Beach, and Harding Beach, to Oyster Pond, which has its own beach, there are ample options for sunbathing and swimming.
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, located on Morris Island, between the banks of Mitchell River and the Atlantic Ocean, also calls Chatham home. With several great amenities, like a scenic hike along the Morris Island Loop Trail or Monomoy Nature Trail, the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge has a bit of something for even the most cynical of nature enthusiasts.
Topsfield - Essex County
Home of Bradley Palmer State Park, which is situated west of town and offers guests of Topsfield ample opportunities for hiking, mountain-biking, and horseback riding, the town of Topsfield is a hidden gem. Located less than an hour’s drive east of Cape Ann, Bradley Palmer State Park has several awesome scenic trails, including Bradley Palmer Loop, Healthy Heart Trail, and Moon Hill Loop.
Another phenomenal outdoor attraction within the quaint town of Topsfield, the Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary has its own awesome amenities, including 12 miles of hiking trails. There is also the option to take a canoe or kayak down the Ipswich River or even camp overnight in a rental cabin with friends.
Newburyport - Essex County
Just 15 miles north of Topsfield and five miles southeast of Amesbury, the quaint town of Newburyport has a plethora of great attractions that would appeal to outdoor enthusiasts. From Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, which provides a variety of scenic hiking trails like the Hellcat Wildlife Trail, to Waterfront Park, along the banks of the Merrimack River, Newburyport is an excellent option.
Maudslay State Park also calls the town of Newburyport home. Also situated along the banks of the Merrimack, Maudslay State Park has a plethora of great options for enjoying nature, including amazing gardens with the largest naturally-occurring stands of mountain laurel in the state, as well as a number of flowering trees like the brilliantly-colored rhododendron.
Ipswich - Essex County
Quite close to Newburyport, even closer to Topsfield, and only 15 miles west of Rockport, in case you find yourself in eastern Massachusetts for the entire weekend, the town of Ipswich has its own share of natural amenities. One of these is Crane Beach, which is located on the fantastic homestead called Crane Estate.
Another awesome natural amenity in the town of Ipswich, Wolf Hollow, provides the opportunity to interact with the Grey Wolf within a safe environment. Plus, if you are staying for the weekend and wish to continue to interact with nature, both Perkins Island and Sandy Point State Reservation on Plum Island offer options to camp overnight.
Lenox - Berkshire County
Approximately 22 miles south of the town of Adams, just south of Onota Lake, the picturesque town of Lenox is home to a plethora of awesome natural attractions. From the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, which is just over a thousand acres of wilderness in the Berkshires, to 2,120-foot high Lenox Mountain, there is something for any outdoor enthusiast in Lenox.
Lenox is also home to Kennedy Park, with fifteen miles of scenic hiking trails, and Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, which offers train rides through the Berkshire Mountains. Plus, if you find yourself in the area for a night or even longer, Lenox is home to the Garden Gables Inn, which features comfy rooms, great service, and breakfast the next morning.
Martha’s Vineyard - Dukes County
Another phenomenal attribute of Massachusetts, one that attracts thousands of visitors to the state every year, Martha’s Vineyard, as well as the small towns of Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, is the place for outdoor enthusiasts to check out. From Aquinnah Cliffs and its awesome sunsets to Inkwell Beach, a popular attraction from the 1800s, Martha’s Vineyard is the place to be.
Gay Head Lighthouse and Edgartown Lighthouse are two other natural attractions in the area that are worth visiting, especially if you are fond of New England lighthouses. Gay Head Lighthouse was first built in 1796, making it the first lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard. Edgartown Lighthouse, located off Edgartown Harbor, was built in 1875.
Manchester-by-the-Sea - Essex County
The small town of Manchester, also known as Manchester-by-the-Sea, is an ideal town for those who love nature. Manchester is not only near a variety of awesome beaches, like Singing Beach, which is located along Massachusetts Bay and has some phenomenal sunrises, but this tiny town is also home to Agassiz Rock, a nature preserve situated between Manchester and Essex.
Some other excellent natural attractions in Manchester-by-the-Sea include the Coolidge Reservation, which includes Bungalow Hill and Clark Pond, and Masconomo Park, which is situated on Massachusetts Bay and provides free live music every Tuesday night all summer long. There is also a little league baseball field and a playground for younger children.
Brewster - Barnstable County
The picturesque town of Brewster, situated along Cape Cod Bay, thirty miles south of the town of Provincetown, is home to several outdoor attractions, including Nickerson State Park. Some of the amenities available at this great state park include hiking, biking, and horseback riding along Cliff Pond Trail or Grassy Nook Pond Loop, Boating, Canoeing, or Kayaking, swimming, and picnicking.
Brewster is also well known for the Cape Cod Rail Trail, which is 25 miles in length and runs from the town of Wellfleet to the town of Dennis. There are also several great beaches in Brewster, including Crosby Landing Beach, Breakwater Beach, and Paine’s Creek Beach. Plus, if you want to stay all weekend, the Captain Freeman Inn is within walking distance of Breakwater.
In this day and age, people want to be able to get away from the hustle of the big city and commune with nature on a more regular basis. The state of Massachusetts in New England can help with that. From serene beaches like Breakwater Beach in Brewster to scenic parks like Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, the small towns in the Bay State are well worth a visit. And these were just eleven of the most serene small towns in Massachusetts that are ideal for nature lovers.
