14 Small Towns on the Atlantic Coast that were Ranked Among US Favorites
The Atlantic Coast, also known as the East Coast, is filled with a plethora of small towns, and big cities, that leave visitors amazed and awestruck. From Bar Harbor, Maine and Mystic, Connecticut, through Lewes, Delaware and St. Michaels, Maryland, to Tybee Island, Georgia and St. Augustine, Florida, here are over a dozen small towns on the Atlantic Coast that are considered favorites in those in the United States. Whether it is a national park or white sand beaches that catch your interest, these fourteen small towns are stunning in their simplicity and fun and exciting for the whole family.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Known best for Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island, the town of Bar Harbor is possibly the most popular town in the state of Maine. With the Shore Path, the Ocean Trail, the Land Bridge to Bar Island, and Cadillac Mountain - North Ridge Trail, there is always something exhilarating to do with friends in Bar Harbor. Plus, if you’re only spending a day in Bar Harbor, there are still several activities that will keep you in and around town without reducing you to boredom, like checking out the ninety-minute Ghost Walking Tour, or stopping by the Village Green for a lobster roll and potato chip picnic with the family.
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
The small town of Hampton Beach, located in Rockingham County, south of Hampton Beach State Park, has that true Atlantic Coast vibe while still expressing the comfy feel of a small north-eastern town within the state of New Hampshire. From the state park north of town, to the Ocean World Oceanarium, to North Beach, to the dolphin, seal, and whale-watching tours off the coast, Hampton Beach is alive with adventure showcasing the Atlantic Ocean as the star. Even the restaurants in town are assisting with this sea-faring mood, with fresh seafood being served at many places, including the Purple Urchin and Sea Ketch Restaurant, both situated on Ocean Boulevard, and Perkins Pier Clam Shack out on Ashworth Avenue.
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Out on the tip of Cape Cod, in Barnstable County, the town of Provincetown is most definitely a favorite of Massachusetts and the Atlantic Coast. From dolphin & whale-watching, private scavenger hunts, and walking tours around town for historical and educational purposes, to enjoying the day at Race Point or Herring Cove Beach with the family, to touring Commercial Street and MacMillan Wharf with friends, there is something for everyone in this tranquil coastal town. Provincetown even offers a variety of different dining options, including the Lobster Pot, the Canteen, and Jimmy’s Hideaway, all located on Commercial Street, and Victor’s and The Pointe, both situated on Bradford and, yes, they all offer a variety of seafood dishes.
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Hidden away in the state of Rhode Island is the small town of Narragansett. Yet, that does not stop it from being a town with a lot of fun and exciting activities to entertain family and friends. Narragansett Beach, the Black Island Ferry, and Roger W. Wheeler State Beach are all excellent when entertaining young children. There are also several fine dining establishments that are worthy of visiting, including the Coast Guard House, Spain of Narragansett, and Aunt Carrie’s, all on Ocean Avenue, and Crazy Burger Café & Juice Bar on Boon Street. Plus, the Point Judith Lighthouse, also located on Ocean Avenue, is a true wonder for everyone who experiences this historic treasure in person.
Mystic, Connecticut
The town of Mystic, located in the southeastern part of Connecticut, is well-known for several exhilarating attractions, including the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Aquarium, the Mystic Museum of Art, and Olde Mystick Village, which was modeled after a 1720-style colonial village. The town of Mystic is also home to the Charles W. Morgan, the last surviving wooden whaling ship, which was built in the 1840’s and has resided in the Mystic Seaport since the 1940’s, and the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, which is a hospital for native animals and birds that have been injured. There are also several ghost tours in and around Mystic, Connecticut, from the Mystic Moonlight Ghost Tour to Ghosts of Christmas Past.
Montauk, Long Island, New York
At the very tip of Long Island, the small town of Montauk, with a population of around five thousand people, is a great place to visit for the day, for the weekend, or even while on vacation. From lodging in Montauk Manor, the Ocean Resort Inn, or Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa, to dining at Harvest on Fort Pond, Duryea’s Montauk, or Gosman’s Restaurant, the sense of elegance is everywhere in this tiny town. Plus, in regard to stopping and smelling the roses, there are several opportunities in Montauk to commune with nature, including checking out Montauk Point State Park and the Montauk Point Lighthouse, stopping by Camp Hero State Park, Shadmoor State Park, or Hither Hills State Park, and hanging out at Gin Beach for the day.
Cape May, New Jersey
Most definitely a favorite among the towns within New Jersey, Cape May is home to a variety of outdoor activities that will get the vim and vigor burning, from running around with the Jersey Shore Alpacas, to surfing off Cape May Beach, to walking around the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum and checking out the Cape May Lighthouse. If all this exercise builds up your hunger, several fine seafood restaurants await you and the family, including Union Park, the Lobster House, and Blue Pig Tavern, the latter offering a great grilled swordfish. To top it off, Montauk has dolphin watching tours, afternoon fishing tours, and a Wetlands Safari Cruise, offering visitors a chance to see a variety of different marine creatures.
Lewes, Delaware
Located on Delaware Bay in Sussex County, the town of Lewes has a variety of things that will occupy your time this summer, as well as any other time of the year. Cape Henlopen State Park, Blackhouse Pond, and Zwaanendael Park & Herb Garden will all appeal to that craving for nature, while the Lewes History Museum and Cannonball House will peak the historical side. There are also several fine restaurants that will satisfy the hunger, like Striper Bites and Bethany Blues, both offering an excellent children’s menu and several great local delicacies. Plus, in downtown Lewes, people can check out a variety of places catering to the locals as well as visitors, including Mary Vessels Park and the Lewes Farmer’s Market.
Saint Michaels, Maryland
Saint Michaels, a small town in Talbot County with less than two thousand residents, is home to several opportunities to commune with nature, including visiting Tilghman Island and the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse, both out on the water of Chesapeake Bay. There are also several activities in downtown Saint Michaels, like the St. Michaels Museum, Gregorio Gallery, and the Classic Motor Museum. If you are looking for that special gift for a friend or family member, stop by the Preppy Redneck or the Candleberry Shoppe; and, if you want to take the family out for something you cannot get back home, grab some seafood at Awful Authur’s, The Crab Claw, or Chesapeake Landing.
Chincoteague, Virginia
Located on the eastern side of Virginia, on Chincoteague Island in Chincoteague Bay, in Accomack County, the town of Chincoteague is most famous for the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Chincoteague Island Adventures, the latter covering kayaking tours, wild pony tours, and the Pony Swim, an event that takes place every July where guests can attend the Volunteer Fireman’s Carnival and experience the wild ponies swimming back to their home on Assateague Island. In town, which is pretty much anywhere on Chincoteague Island, visitors can stop by the Robert N. Reed Downtown Waterfront Park, Chincoteague Veterans Memorial Park, and Beebe Ranch, a museum and ranch catering to the breeding, raising, and training of horses of all kinds.
Beaufort, North Carolina
Beaufort, a small town in Carteret County, and possibly one of the most favorite coastal towns in the entire state of North Carolina, has a plethora of activities and events that keep people coming back every year. From visiting the Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Rachel Carson Reserve, to stopping by Hammock House and the Beaufort Historic Site Old Burial Ground, historical presence and scenic nature both abound in the town of Beaufort. Plus, Beaufort also offers some great places to dine out or spend a luxurious evening with that special someone, including the Dock House Restaurant on Front Street and Langdon House Bed & Breakfast, with breakfast included in the price.
Beaufort, South Carolina
Not to be confused with Beaufort, North Carolina, the town of Beaufort, South Carolina, almost four hundred miles further south along the Atlantic Coast, is located on Port Royal Island and is home to Hunting Island State Park, the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, and the Hunting Island Lighthouse. Along with these three great naturalistic attractions, visitors can also experience the town of Beaufort through the historical aspects of the John Mark Verdier House, the Beaufort Museum, and the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center. Plus, if there is still time, several cultural tours are available, including Pat Conroy’s Tour by Golf Cart and a Historical Bus and Boat Cruise Tour of Beaufort.
Tybee Island, Georgia
A magical location on the Atlantic Coast, and one of the most recognized towns along the eastern seaboard, Tybee Island holds a special place in the hearts of many married couples across America and beyond. From weddings and honeymoons of loved ones to weekend trips and vacations with the whole family, Tybee Island has a vast variety of opportunities to enjoy fun in the sun, from visiting the Tybee Island Light Station and Cockspur Lighthouse to checking out Tybee Pier, Back River Beach, North Beach, and Tybee Island Beach. Plus, the seafood on Tybee Island is phenomenal, including the hearty seafood platter at The Crab Shack and Sting Ray’s and the crunchy crab cakes at Bubba Gumbo’s and A-J’s Dockside Restaurant.
St. Augustine, Florida
Possibly saving the best for last, the town of St. Augustine, in St. John’s County and about forty miles south of Jacksonville, is home to some of the best indoor and outdoor activities available in Florida. Between the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and the Castillo de San Marcus National Monument, the plethora of museums, including the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum, and tours of everything from haunted mansions to the history of the town, St. Augustine will probably have to be experienced at a variety of different times during a year. This, of course, does not even mentioning the various seafood experiences that are in St. Augustine, like the Salt Life Food Shack on A1A Beach Boulevard and Catch 27 on Charlotte Street.
In Conclusion
From Bar Harbor, Maine to St. Augustine, Florida, there are so many excellent small towns located along the Atlantic Coast that not only serve mouth-watering seafood, caught fresh straight out of the Atlantic Ocean, but also offer everything under the sun from island tours to dolphin, seal, and whale-watching. The good news is, no matter which town catches your eye this time, there are always a variety of others waiting for that next three-day weekend or week-long family vacation.
