10 Most Breathtaking Towns In Atlantic Coast
The coast of the Atlantic Ocean, along the eastern border of the US, ranges from the state of Maine at the northern point of the country, all the way down to the southernmost tip in Florida. The towns you will find along this coastline are wildly diverse, some with rocky beaches, some with white sandy beaches, some highly populated, and some surrounded by nature preserves. Each of these towns are breathtaking in their own rights, with everything from historic lighthouses to waterfront boardwalks, and of course, endless deep blue sea views.
Bar Harbor, Maine
In the northeastern tip of the US, the state of Maine, located in the New England region, is, in fact, the largest of the New England states, also boasting the most coastline at 3,478 miles. Maine's coast is known for being rocky, rugged, and having cliff sides in many spots, as well as being dotted with small islands. The town of Bar Harbor exhibits several of these traits, as it is on Mount Desert Island off Maine's coast, surrounded by the Atlantic waters of Frenchman Bay.
Bar Harbor is well-regarded as one of Maine's most breathtaking towns due to the stunning scenery surrounding it. It boasts a historic waterfront downtown, featuring picturesque ships and lighthouses along the boardwalk, and has also been dubbed the gateway to Acadia National Park. This national park is the only one in the state of Maine. The park is characterized by steep granite mountains, including the state's tallest peak, Cadillac Mountain, dense woodlands with well-maintained hiking paths, and, of course, a rocky coastline.
Within Acadia National Park, one of the hiking trails that has proven to be remarkably breathtaking in all seasons is the Ocean Path. This two-mile-long one-way trail winds from Sand Beach (named quite accurately for being the park's only beach with sand instead of rocks) along the coast of the bay, serving up panoramic views and stunning clifftop overlooks along the way. The trail is mostly paved and is relatively flat, making it both beautiful and accessible.
Rockport, Maine
Another town in Maine, Rockport, is in the mid-coast region of the state, on the coast of both the Atlantic Ocean and Penobscot Bay. Rockport is a historic port City which is known for its working harbor, abundance of delicious seafood, and artsy downtown. It is also near a ton of lovely outdoor attractions, which Maine in general has no shortage of. One popular place to truly enjoy the beauty of this town is Rockport Marine Park, a waterfront city park directly on the harbor, which provides picturesque scenes of boats coming and going and gentle waves lapping the shore.
Right outside town is Camden Hills State Park, a vast park of almost 6000 acres, which offers some of the most breathtaking panoramic coastal views available in the state, especially from the summit of the massive Mount Battie within the park. Camden Hills State Park has over 30 miles of hiking trails, as well as skiing paths in the winter months, campgrounds, and is known as an excellent place for fall foliage viewing. Camden Hills is often cited as a quieter attraction compared to Acadia National Park, which can be quite busy and crowded, but it is just as scenic and offers similar iconic sights from the top of Mount Battie.
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Another state in New England, Massachusetts, is home to over 1,500 miles of coastline, offering a mix of rocky cliffs and pristine sandy beaches, along with quaint beach towns galore, each boasting its own historic harbor. Provincetown is no exception, located on iconic Cape Cod, on a peninsula that is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Lovely beaches, such as Race Point Beach, which are part of this preserved land, are fantastic for activities like whale watching and seal spotting.
Like many old New England towns, Provincetown has several lighthouses, some of which are still functioning, and others which are simply very pleasant to visit. One of these, a 40-foot-tall white tower built in the 1870s, is called the Long Point Lighthouse. It can be reached by ferry, or when the tide is low, you can actually walk to it. The lighthouse is quite remote, set at the end of a two-mile trek to the southernmost tip of the peninsula, but the breathtaking bay views surrounding it are well worth the effort.
Another excellent hike, which offers stunning views, is the Dune Shacks Trail —a fairly challenging path that winds through sand dunes and passes several unique dune shacks. Throughout history, writers and artists have resided in these small buildings. It is recommended that you let a guide accompany you on this trail, because it is unmarked.
Lewes, Delaware
In the Mid-Atlantic region of the US, the state of Delaware, nicknamed the "First State," is a historic and scenic state, characterized by rolling hills in the north, low-lying plains, wetlands, and a long stretch of pristine coastline. One of the quaint waterfront towns along that coast is Lewes, often called the "First Town in the First State," as it was initially settled by Europeans way back in the 1630s.
Lewes is particularly beautiful, with a historic and well-developed downtown district that has been immaculately maintained, including local shops in restored buildings from the 19th and even 18th centuries, brick sidewalks, and a stunning waterfront stretch with views of the Delaware Bay and its accompanying canal. In the Lewes Canalfront Park, you can find Lightship Overfalls LV 118, a very cool preserved lightvessel, which was a ship used for the US Lighthouse Service in the 1930s.
Lewes is also surrounded by lush waterfront natural landscapes, comprising a significant amount of protected land in the state of Delaware, which preserves its breathtaking original state. One of these tracts is Cape Henlopen State Park, a coastal reserve consisting of diverse landscapes for public enjoyment, including sandy bayfront beaches, rolling dunes, and ancient saltwater-fed forests. It is known for its hearty population of shorebirds and quiet, peaceful atmosphere.
Ocean City, Maryland
The centrally positioned state of Maryland is another Mid-Atlantic resident. Maryland boasts its own gorgeous, charming stretch of coastline, littered with friendly beach towns that cannot be missed, many of which are nestled in the heart of a rural paradise. One of its most popular destinations, directly on the Atlantic coast, is the town of Ocean City, which is bustling with tourist traffic every summer, but has just under 7000 full-time residents.
Ocean City is a beautiful city in itself, with three miles of wooden paths along the Ocean City Boardwalk, which you can also use to access over nine miles of free public use beaches. These beaches are known for being clean and having calm waters, and are perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and relaxing while enjoying the breathtaking ocean scenes. Just off the shore, in the center of town, you can find Northside Park, a large, well-maintained, tranquil city park with a ton of green space. It has water too, in the form of a lagoon, but it also offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation over a 50-acre space. The park has walking trails through peaceful woodlands, playgrounds, and fishing piers.
Ocean City is also near Assateague Island National Seashore, a federally protected and preserved barrier island off the coast, which can be reached by ferry from Maryland's shores. It is known for being a stunning piece of nature in its raw form, filled with untouched salt marshes, coastal woodlands, and dune-covered beaches, which often have wild horses roaming over them, only a short distance from visitors.
Chincoteague, Virginia
Virginia, an East Coast state with over 3000 miles of tidal shoreline, is a massive draw for ocean lovers from all over the US. It is a breathtakingly beautiful state, with Atlantic beaches, rolling plains, and, further west, the massive Blue Ridge Mountain range. Virginia also has several offshore islands, and the town of Chincoteague Island is one of those.
Chincoteague is a serene, charming town renowned for its lovely waterfront downtown, pristine sandy beaches, and federally protected nature, including the Chincoteague Island National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is home to many of the island's wild ponies, which roam freely within the shelter and can be viewed by visitors from boats or, occasionally, from the 15 miles of hiking trails that traverse the sanctuary.
One of those trails, the Woodland Trail, culminates in what is known as the Pony Overlook, for this very reason. Another preserved land tract, the Assateague Island National Seashore, is renowned for its undeveloped beaches, white dunes, free-roaming horses, and excellent opportunities for kayaking, camping, and fishing, all without the distractions of large buildings and city lights. The nighttime views are simply breathtaking under the stars, with the sounds of the waves and wildlife.
Ocracoke, North Carolina
A southeastern state composed of coastal plains to the east, Appalachian Mountains to the west, and the Piedmont Plateau in the middle, North Carolina is geographically similar to Virginia. Culturally, both states also have a rich colonial background, and the coastline of North Carolina is dotted with quaint historic towns, gorgeous sandy beaches, and many offshore islands. The most well-known of these collections of islands is the Brunswick Islands and the Outer Banks, and one of the latter is serene Ocracoke Island.
Ocracoke is well known for its fascinating history, with many local legends including pirate lore, and for being home to the Ocracoke Lighthouse, which was constructed in the 1820s, making it North Carolina's oldest functioning lighthouse. The town has incredible surrounding scenery as well. Ocracoke is known as a hidden gem in the area because it is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a preserved 70-mile stretch of coastline littered with friendly towns and pristine, undeveloped beaches. You can explore further into the preserve around the beach by strolling the Hammock Hills Trail, an out-and-back trail with dune and marsh views. You might even get a glimpse of some wild Banker horses!
Beaufort, South Carolina
Another southeastern state, South Carolina, is a beach vacation paradise, boasting a subtropical climate and a welcoming Southern culture. The state has a massively diverse landscape, ranging from the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northern part of the state to the swampy Carolina bays of the Lowcountry, to the densely populated beach towns like Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head along its Atlantic Coast. South Carolina also has many charming little beach towns in between, some absolutely immersed in breathtaking scenery.
One of those is Beaufort, a historic Lowcountry city with lovely beaches just outside its downtown area, which is full of unique Southern colonial and antebellum architecture. The Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, along the saltwater-fed Beaufort River, is surrounded by local restaurants and shops, offering lovely water views. Beaufort also has numerous cypress wetlands surrounding its outskirts, offering interesting landscapes that can be explored along the Spanish Moss Trail. This 10-mile-long trail, paved and multi-use, runs throughout Beaufort.
Tybee Island, Georgia
Nicknamed the "Peach State," Georgia is a southeastern US state with over 2300 miles of coastline. Like many other southeastern US states, Georgia has within its borders tracts of the Appalachian Mountains and a section of the Piedmont Plain. The state is also home to the Okefenokee Swamp, North America's largest blackwater swamp. Georgia also has 14 barrier islands, one of which is Tybee Island.
Tybee Island is a laid-back and peaceful beach town renowned for its uncharacteristically calm Atlantic shores, vibrant downtown, and large dolphin population in its waters. Tybee's North Beach, in particular, is known for truly breathtaking ocean views, is typically less populated, and is home to the iconic Tybee Island Lighthouse. Near North Beach is the historic Fort Screven, once a bustling military base with a long and occasionally dark history, which is now open to public exploration.
Fernandina Beach, Florida
At the southernmost tip of the US, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Florida is incredibly flat and is known for its swampy wetlands that cover most of its undeveloped land, especially the Everglades, an ecosystem unique to the state. The climate is humid subtropical, making it extremely hot, which is one of the things that makes Fernandina Beach, one of its numerous beach towns, appealing.
Fernandina Beach boasts a highly appealing walkable downtown area with wide sidewalks and old southern Victorian architecture on the town's main drag, Centre Street, all set against perfect white sand beaches. The town is incredibly well-maintained and composed, and it has a calm, relaxed vibe about it. Despite the well-established city feel, Fernandina Beach is surrounded by nature. In addition to the perfect family-friendly beaches with vast ocean views, it has a state park in very close proximity. This park is Fort Clinch State Park, whose namesake military fort was constructed in the 1860s.
More can be learned about the history of Fort Clinch at the Amelia Island Museum of History, or by touring the fort itself, but for nature, the surrounding park cannot be beat. With a ton of hiking and biking trails, a campground, and a boardwalk and dock where you can swim, fish, look for seashells, or soak in the sun, Fort Clinch State Park is ideal for the whole family. All this is only a few minutes' drive from downtown Fernandina Beach.
Along the Atlantic Coast...
You can experience a vast variety in landscapes from marshes and swamps, to rocky mountain overlooks, to islands surrounded by the Atlantic in all directions. You will have magical experiences with golden sunrises and sunsets, dolphins and whales swimming just offshore, and wild horses galloping past you on glistening white sand. These Atlantic coastal towns are sure to take your breath away!
