New England Travel
The publication calls it a “classic New England coastal town.”
Castine, Maine was named one of the best coastal small towns in America by USA Today readers. smilla4 / flickr
For small town coastal charm, it doesn’t get much better than Castine, Maine, according to USA Today.
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The publication named the best coastal small towns in America on Wednesday, part of its 2026 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and Castine ranked No. 5.
The towns on the list have a population of 25,000 or less and “offer a calm and charm that is hard to find in more heavily populated areas,” wrote USA Today.
Here is what USA Today wrote about Castine:
This Downeast Maine seafaring village maintains the coastal appeal that it’s had since it was first settled in the 18th century. Just wander the waterfront streets of Castine, Maine, and you’ll see homes built over 200 years ago. It’s a pretty place on Penobscot Bay, so go kayaking and sailing, visit the lighthouse and museum, eat lobster and other seafood delights, and enjoy the slow pace of this classic New England coastal town.
The No. 1 coastal small town in America is Pismo Beach in California.
Castine also ranked No. 6 on the publication’s list of best small towns in the Northeast (The No. 1 small town in the Northeast is Sewickley, Pa.).
For the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards lists, USA Today travel experts select 20 nominees in topics from food to lodging, destinations to things to do. Then the publication asks readers to cast votes to determine the top 10.
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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