10 Best Small Towns on the Atlantic Coast For A Crowd-Free Summer
The sand at St. Simons Island holds shell rings that local people built more than 4,000 years ago. That kind of deep history sits quietly along the Atlantic shore all summer long. The towns on this list trade the packed boardwalks for room to breathe in July and August. One Massachusetts beach actually sings underfoot when you walk across its dry sand. A village on the Outer Banks guards 16 miles of dunes where sea turtles still nest each season. Down in the Florida Keys you can tour the working winter retreat of a sitting American president. These are the 10 best small towns on the Atlantic Coast for a crowd-free summer.
Key West, Florida
For anyone who really wants to get away from it all (without having to book a transatlantic flight), it's hard to beat the southernmost point of the United States' mainland at Key West, Florida. Thanks to Key West's secluded location and near-tropical climate, a number of famous figures have retreated here over the years. In particular, the Harry S. Truman Little White House serves as Florida's only presidential museum and lets visitors tour the historic home that President Harry Truman frequently used as a "Winter White House" from 1946 to 1952. A few blocks south, The Hemingway Home and Museum is where the famed American author Ernest Hemingway worked on multiple books, including the non-fiction The Green Hills of Africa (1935), and the fictional novels To Have and Have Not (1937) and Islands in the Stream (1970). And at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, visitors can take their pick of checking out the United States' largest cache of Civil War armament, or hitting the beach and enjoying an easy day swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing.
After spending a splendid day poking around Key West, guests can retreat to their own oasis at Marrero's Guest Mansion. Originally built as a private home for local cigar maker Francisco Marrero in 1891, this Victorian manor now operates as a boutique hotel with 12 individually designed guest rooms, a tropical garden-style pool complex, and a complimentary continental breakfast spread every morning.
St. Simons Island, Georgia
Out at the Golden Isles of Georgia, roughly halfway between Jacksonville (Florida) and Savannah, is the delightful beach town of St. Simons Island. At the north end of the island, Cannon's Point Preserve extends across 644 acres of mature maritime forest, the biologically rich wetlands of the Altamaha River delta, and an archaeological treasure trove of middens and shell rings that date as far back as 2500 BCE. Meanwhile, in town, Anderson Fine Art Gallery showcases paintings by acclaimed artists from near and afar, and they regularly host interactive art workshops. And down at East Beach, folks can stretch out for an easy swim or take on a more challenging kiteboarding session at this expansive white sand beach.
Speaking of the beach, travelers can enjoy exceptional oceanfront luxury at the five-star Sea Island Resort. Not only do guests have access to five miles of private beaches, but also three 18-hole championship golf courses, several delectable restaurants, an expansive full-service spa and fitness center, and a wide selection of opulent accommodations.
Ocracoke, North Carolina
At the southern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks, around 200 miles southeast of Raleigh, is the gloriously laid-back island village of Ocracoke. While Lifeguard Beach is part of the larger Cape Hatteras National Seashore that extends across the Outer Banks, this local beach offers some 16 miles of largely undisturbed white sand dunes, sea turtle nesting areas, and prime opportunities to ditch the crowds and find one's own corner of seaside bliss. Then, for those who want to explore on dry land, the Hammock Hills Nature Trail offers an easy yet scenic journey through a local pine forest to the serene Pamlico Sound salt marshes. And in the main village, the Ocracoke Lighthouse is a hand-built 1823 historic landmark that continues to operate an 8,000 candlepower beam that can be viewed from up to 14 miles offshore.
Mere steps away from the historic lighthouse, The Ocracoke Harbor Inn is a family-owned and operated local establishment offering beachy-chic guest rooms and larger cottages suitable for families wanting a stress-free beach vacation.
Cape Charles, Virginia
Near the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula that sits between Chesapeake Bay and the open Atlantic Ocean, the Virginia village of Cape Charles really makes it easy to escape the maddening crowds and find some peace of mind. In fact, adventurous travelers can paddle out to Smith Island to enjoy the tranquility of this barrier island and the striking silhouette of the 191 foot-tall Cape Charles Lighthouse (that's Virginia's tallest). Closer to town, the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge provides a welcoming haven for monarch butterflies, songbirds, and other migratory birds. And at Kiptopeke State Park, folks will find a pleasant stretch of Chesapeake Bay shore for hiking, biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and (summertime) swimming.
Heading into town, guests will find their own special refuge at the Bay Haven Inn of Cape Charles. This boutique bed-and-breakfast provides classically elegant guest quarters, a proper Eastern Shore-style farmhouse breakfast, and full access to the property's wraparound front porch and outdoor gardens.
Berlin, Maryland
For travelers who want the Atlantic shore without the boardwalk crush, the inland town of Berlin sits about eight miles from the sand and supplies the calm that the beach resorts lose every summer. Budget Travel named Berlin "America's Coolest Small Town" in 2014, and its compact downtown backs up the title with 47 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, several dating back two centuries. A walk down Main Street passes the restored 1832 Calvin B. Taylor House Museum, the brick storefronts that stood in for the fictional town of Hale in the 1999 film Runaway Bride, and the Burley Oak Brewing Company, whose tasting room pours small-batch sours and local-grain ales. When the ocean does call, Maryland's stretch of Assateague Island National Seashore is a short drive east, where wild horses graze the dunes along an undeveloped barrier beach.
For an overnight in town, guests can settle into The Atlantic Hotel, a restored Victorian-era property on Main Street that has welcomed travelers for more than a century. Its 15 individually appointed rooms carry period antiques, and the porch of the on-site Drummer's Cafe looks out over the historic district below.
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May may only be about 95 miles southeast of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), yet this town at the southern tip of the Jersey Shore transports visitors to their own unique environment of a stately Victorian era resort destination. This especially rings true at the Emlen Physick Estate, an 18-room historic mansion (built in 1879) that offers an intimate view of life in this region during the late 19th century. Then, at Cape May Point State Park, folks will find a prime spot for coastal birdwatching, the iconic Cape May Lighthouse that's stood tall since 1859, and a long stretch of shore at the edge of Delaware Bay. And just to the east of town, Cape May National Wildlife Refuge encompasses a pristine corner of Atlantic coast alongside salt marsh and upland forest habitat spaces.
For the complete Cape May experience, one might as well stay at "America's First Seaside Resort." Congress Hall has been welcoming guests to town for over 200 years, and the hotel continues to impress with deluxe accommodations, multiple tantalizing restaurants, and the full-service Sea Spa on site.
Bridgehampton, New York
Located some 98 miles east of New York City, Bridgehampton brings the bold flavors of wine country right into the heart of The Hamptons. In recent years, Long Island has gained a reputation for fine wines, and the Wölffer Estate Vineyard is the perfect place to taste some "summer in a bottle" in the form of their lovely rosés. In addition, visitors can head over to Channing Daughters to try a variety of locally made wines (including orange, red, white, and sparkling wines) and enjoy them with picnic-style snacks in a beautiful vineyard and garden backdrop. And for that classic New York beach experience, Sagg Main Beach is open to the public and a very inviting expanse of shore for surfing, surf fishing, sunbathing, and beach volleyball.
When playing in The Hamptons, it's worth staying at Topping Rose House, perhaps the area's top full-service luxury hotel. They sport a great location in the heart of Bridgehampton's central village, a fine selection of spacious rooms and suites, the delectable Jean-Georges restaurant, a refreshing lap pool, an on-site Farmaesthetics treatment studio, and even luxury car shuttles to select local beaches.
Westerly, Rhode Island
Westerly sits at the southwestern corner of Rhode Island, about 50 miles from Providence, and it may be the perfect New England beach town for a relaxing and refined getaway. Speaking of the beach, East Beach offers some two miles of golden sands and splendid shore for swimming, strolling, and sunbathing. Shifting inland, Westerly's historic downtown abounds in unique treasures, such as Westerly Library's Hoxie Gallery and its exhibitions of works by local artists, and the broad selection of fine literature and coffee shop refreshments at Martin House Books.
Returning to the coast, Ocean House is Rhode Island's only oceanfront five-star luxury resort. Guest quarters are lavishly decorated with custom wood furnishings and authentic New England art, plus they come with 21st century amenities like high-speed internet and complimentary refreshments. In addition, guests can enjoy Ocean House's state-of-the-art Ocean & Harvest Spa and fitness center, and their acclaimed lineup of on-site restaurants.
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Around 32 miles north of Boston, Manchester-by-the-Sea is a town that sounds so sweet, they have their own "singing beach." Yes, really, folks can go to Singing Beach and feel for themselves how this beach got this name as they walk on its storied sands. A short drive east, Black Beach offers more low-key vibes and its curiously tinted magnetite and iron-enriched sands. And at the heart of town, the Powder House Hill Reservation has a 1.5 mile loop trail that works well for quiet walks, bike rides, and birdwatching sessions.
Heading west, visitors will find a welcoming refuge at Wylie Center and Tupper Manor, Endicott College's own on-campus boutique hotel. Set on 10 acres of prime Massachusetts oceanfront property, this hotel provides a distinctly tranquil environment and the ideal backdrop for group trips and special events.
Kennebunkport, Maine
Near the southern tip of Maine, some 29 miles south of Portland, lies the effortlessly elegant resort town of Kennebunkport. On the coast, Colony Beach is a nice beach to kick back and admire the natural beauty of the Atlantic Ocean as its waves lap onto shore. To the north, Goose Rocks Beach has about three miles of splendid white sand and a local population of harbor seals who might be spotted sunbathing here. And a short distance inland, Tyler Brook Preserve is a forested oasis with winding hiking trails and open views of the Batson River and its tributaries as they run down to the sea.
Just across the river from the central village, the White Barn Inn makes for a cozy yet luxurious hideaway near the center of it all. The Auberge Collection boutique hotel has been accommodating guests for over 150 years, yet it's still as good as new with expertly restored rooms and suites (and floating houseboats!), a full menu of restorative treatments at their Saltwood Spa, and the highly acclaimed White Barn Inn Restaurant for New England-style farm-to-table fine dining.
Find Your Own Place In The Sun At These Atlantic Coast Towns
Up and down the U.S. East Coast, travelers will encounter busy beach towns, yet they can also escape the crowds and discover many more coastal towns with beautiful beaches and fascinating culture. At the very end of the Florida Keys, Key West lets visitors step back into the historic digs of leaders and luminaries like Harry Truman and Ernest Hemingway. Heading up to the Golden Isles of Georgia, St. Simons Island combines ancient treasures and present-day luxurious splendor. Then, there's Cape May, the Victorian resort village in New Jersey with historic manors and great expanses of untamed coastal wilderness. Farther north, New York's Bridgehampton offers a taste of wine country elegance in the heart of the Hamptons. And at Kennebunkport, there's no shortage of space on the beach to stretch out and cool off. However one seeks to get good for the summer, these East Coast towns never make bad options.
