New England Travel
Three are in Massachusetts.
Gingerbread cottages in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. Vincett Dewitt for The Boston Globe
Eight of the loveliest beach towns on the East Coast are in New England, according to Conde Nast Traveler.
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Bracket Round 3: What is the best New England beach town?
The travel publication released a list of 20 East Coast beach towns worth a visit and included Oak Bluffs, Nantucket, and Rockport in Mass.; Newport in R.I.; Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport in Maine; Hampton Beach, N.H.; and Madison, Conn.
Known for its colorful gingerbread houses, Oak Bluffs on the island of Martha’s Vineyard is “straight out of a storybook,” Conde Nast Traveler wrote.
On the island of Nantucket, “the food, shopping, and walking around is great, but where Nantucket really shines is on the shore,” according to the publication. “For a day trip or quick overnight, Jetties Beach is ideal because it’s walkable from ‘town,’ the center of the action.”
Rockport is home to Halibut State Park, which the publication called a “can’t-miss natural gem,” as well as Motif No. 1, billed as the most painted building in America (Motif No. 1 Day, an annual festival celebrating the structure, takes place on May 16).
Bar Harbor, Maine. – Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce
Bar Harbor, Maine is “a full-fledged tourist town with a bustling main street, whale-watching tours, and of course, easy access to Acadia,” wrote the publication.
For an “iconic, charming New England feel,” travelers can explore Kennebunkport where Dock Square is full of shopping and restaurants, wrote Conde Nast Traveler.
At Hampton Beach, N.H., visitors can “walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the classic seaside vibes while you pop into arcades, saltwater taffy stands, souvenir shops, ice cream parlors, and spots with live music,” wrote the publication.
Visitors in Newport enjoy lavish museums, noted the publication: “Ten enormous, historic mansions—once the summer homes of the Vanderbilts, Nevada silver heiresses, and other Westerners of unimaginable wealth—remain standing along the famous cliff walk.”
Finally, Madison, Conn. is “somewhere where you can truly get away from it all,” wrote Conde Nast Traveler, with four beaches and an “adorable” downtown.
What’s your favorite New England beach town? Help us crown the best beach town by voting in our Battle of the Beach Towns bracket, running through May 18.
Kristi Palma
Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.
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