8 Close-Knit Towns to Visit in the Northern United States
Usually, when we think of the northern United States, we think of the big northeastern cities, such as New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. Yet beyond the Northeast’s urban-suburban “Acela Corridor,” you can discover a wealth of small towns that overflow in bucolic beauty and authentic charm. A few of these towns may sound familiar in a cozy way, yet others might be pleasant surprises.
From the great Green Mountains to the laid-back coast of Cape Cod, here are eight close-knit towns to visit in the northern United States.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Perhaps best known as the gateway to Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island’s largest town, Bar Harbor (about 175 miles northeast of Portland), is a lovely town worth spending some quality time in. Not only is Bar Harbor chock full of locally-owned restaurants and cafes serving tasty Maine-style cuisine, but it’s also easy to head out and burn those calories in the most scenic ways imaginable. If you’re up for a wet adventure on the open water, rent a kayak and explore the area’s rich marine life while taking in the amazing coastal scenery. If you prefer staying on dry land, try a hike at Cadillac Mountain and enjoy the views from the Eastern Seaboard’s highest peak. And, of course, there’s never really a bad time to enjoy a lovely beach day at Sand Beach.
Whenever you’re ready to call it a day, you have some good options to turn in for the night. For a convenient spot near the heart of town, check into the Harborside Hotel or the Sand Bar Cottage. For more luxurious digs near the ferry terminal (where you’ll find seasonal ferry service to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada), try The Bayview Inn.
Stowe, Vermont
Situated about 35 miles east of Burlington (and 128 miles south of Montreal in Quebec, Canada), the Vermont village of Stowe may be New England’s premier winter sports destination. This “Ski Capital of the East” has slopes reaching all the way to Mount Mansfield, which has Vermont’s tallest peak at 4,395 feet above sea level. During winter, you can ski and/or snowboard from as high as 3,625 feet above sea level across 485 skiable acres and try out some 116 trails. Even during summer, Mount Mansfield offers top-notch terrain for climbing and bouldering, as well as an extensive network of hiking trails and indoor climbing at Spruce Peak.
Beyond the mountain, the town of Stowe also has plenty of its own high-achieving features. Walk around town to admire the signature white spires of Community Church and the cool collection of local art galleries, and learn more about Stowe’s skiing heritage at Vermont’s Ski History Museum. Enjoy tasty local cuisine, original Vermont craft beers, and an incredibly colorful backstory at von Trapp Bierhall. You can also stay the night at Trapp Family Lodge for Austrian Alp-style lodging with a uniquely Vermont twist, or opt for The Lodge at Spruce Peak for world-class luxury by the ski slopes.
Middlebury, Vermont
Home to the highly acclaimed Middlebury College, Middlebury not only looks and feels like a classic New England college town—albeit one with exceptional natural scenery, cool multicultural vibes, and a uniquely adventurous spirit. While Main Street downtown has the indie bookstores and natural co-op grocery stores you’d normally expect in a college town, you can also try everything from Mexican to Thai and Indian cuisine at local restaurants. Once you’re fueled up, head out and enjoy the great outdoors of the nearby Green Mountain National Forest: The Robert Frost Interpretive Trail offers an immersive experience of the life and work of the acclaimed poet, while Lefferts Pond is great for fishing, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
During winter, Sugarbush comes alive with extensive trails covering 2,600 vertical feet for skiing and snowboarding, plus the Middlebury Snowbowl offers additional options for true Vermont-style skiing. Once you’re ready to settle down, the Swift House Inn offers cozy accommodations and amazing farm-to-table local cuisine in the heart of town, while the Waybury Inn provides rustic yet chic lodging at the base of the mountains.
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
If you know anything about the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts, you may have heard about this charming town that sits about 47 miles southeast of Albany. Though Great Barrington was the United States’ first town to get alternating current (AC) streetlights in 1886, Main Street today still feels fresh and new with its collection of chic boutiques and artisan restaurants. Even better, you’ll find the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center just off Main Street, and this venue stages everything from classic musicals to classical music performances.
Just outside of town, East Mountain State Forest provides a fun variety of trails with wonderful forest and valley views, and the nearby Ski Butternut offers 22 trails for skiing and tubing during winter. And if you feel like staying around town a little longer, you have some solid options. In particular, the East Rock Inn offers comfy and contemporary accommodations near Ski Butternut, and the Wainwright Inn offers an authentically historic small-town inn (at a house that’s stood here since 1766!) near downtown.
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Perched at the very northeastern tip of the Cape Cod peninsula about 115 miles southeast of Boston, Provincetown is a special seaside village that you simply have to see and experience to believe. Long known as one of the United States’ preeminent LGBTQ-inclusive beach towns, you can sense the warm and welcoming spirit throughout downtown. As one of the nation’s oldest continuous art colonies, you can discover over 3,000 works from some 700 artists at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, and you can uncover the next generation of local artistic talent at the Fine Arts Work Center.
Of course, as a beach town, you’ll find some phenomenal beaches in and around Provincetown. More specifically, Herring Cove Beach (at Cape Cod National Seashore Park) offers calm waves for swimming and a perfect spot for the region’s most stunning sunsets, and Race Point Beach (also part of the national park) provides expansive natural dunes and prime whale watching spots on the beach. And whenever you’re ready to kick back and relax, the Brass Key offers fun yet refined accommodations in town, while The Inn at Cook Street is a charming country inn that’s walking distance from the harbor beach and many of the town’s art galleries.
Lake Placid, New York
Perhaps best known for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, this New York town about 140 miles north of Albany continues to exemplify the spirit of athletic greatness and outdoor adventure. Located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, it’s easy to jump right into the wilderness from town. Head to Mirror Lake for picture-perfect canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Hit the Adirondack Rail Trail for prime hiking, biking, birdwatching, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing that spans 34 miles of incredible northern Appalachian scenery.
During the winter season, go to the Lake Placid Olympic Center to try everything from hockey lessons to curling sessions, as well as indoor and outdoor ice skating. For some of the region’s best skiing and snowboarding, head up to Whiteface for nearly 300 skiable acres full of easy, intermediate, and advanced trails. And no matter when you’re visiting, you can check into the Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa for laid-back lakeside luxury.
Tarrytown, New York
Only about 28 miles north of Manhattan (in New York City), you’d be forgiven for assuming that Tarrytown is just another well-heeled Westchester County suburb. Yet once you start to browse around town, Tarrytown might start to look and feel strangely familiar. That may be due to its feature in Washington Irving’s classic 1820 short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and supporting roles in TV shows like AMC’s Mad Men and HBO’s Divorce. Yet despite Tarrytown’s fame, the vibes still feel quaint and soothing as you explore the central village’s eclectic boutiques and its surprisingly multicultural collection of restaurants.
Should you decide to stay longer, you can catch a show at Jazz Forum Arts or Tarrytown Music Hall. From there, feel free to settle in for the night at the grand and historic Tarrytown House Estate (which has operated since 1840) or try the Westchester Marriott for more contemporary digs.
Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania
Nestled in the Laurel Highlands around 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, Ohiopyle looks and feels a world away from all the troubles of the outside world. The town itself is a small, cozy hamlet that’s surrounded by Ohiopyle State Park. At Ohiopyle State Park, you can try everything from kayaking, whitewater rafting, and (wilderness trout) fishing at the Youghiogheny River to hiking and biking the park’s 79 miles of trails that provide incredible Appalachian wilderness views. While here, you can also keep your eyes out for a great variety of native wildlife, including white-tailed deer, black bears, bobcats, ospreys, and occasionally even bald eagles.
If you prefer a more rustic Ohiopyle adventure, the state park has a campground with electric hookups and shower houses, along with more glamping-friendly cottages and yurts. But if you’d rather splurge on a more glamorous getaway, the nearby Nemacolin resort has three luxury hotels—The Chateau, The Grand Lodge, and Falling Rock—set on over 2,200 acres of gorgeous terrain where you can enjoy everything from clay shooting and golf to their own private art collection and a full-service spa.
The northern United States, and more specifically, the very urbanized northeast, is typically viewed as a region full of big cities. Without a doubt, cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh have plenty of their own special charm and features. But when you head out and explore the region’s backcountry and small towns, you can really experience more of what makes this corner of the nation so magical. From the wondrous waterfalls of Ohiopyle and the sporty spirit of Lake Placid to the sleek slopes of Stowe and the splendid shorelines of Provincetown, these northeastern close-knit towns let you stretch your legs, take in all kinds of beautiful natural scenery and feel a sense of small-town warmth that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.
