10 New England Small Towns With Unmatched Friendliness
New England is historic and welcoming and beautiful. Across its six states, small towns abound, each with a cultural identity that makes the region the sum of its parts. Some sit on the weather-worn North Atlantic coast while others are set inland within some of the country's smallest states. What ties them together is a genuine friendliness. These are ten of the friendliest small towns in the region. Each one is sure to capture your heart with kindness and warmth.
Bangor, Maine
Nothing says "welcome" more than a 31-foot tall flannel-clad Paul Bunyan wielding a double-sided ax and lumberjack's peave. If you agree, then you'll feel immediately home in Bangor, Maine. This town of 32,000 on the Penobscot River is home to its own airport, a single-terminal operation that is a refreshing change of pace in the oft-crowded Northeast. In the center of town is the aforementioned lumberjack, a photo op worth traveling for, absolutely.
Downtown Bangor is beautiful and features a variety of murals, museums, and independent shops that invite unhurried exploration. Visit Stephen King's house at 47 West Broadway, for a dose of creative inspiration or The Zillman Art Museum on Harlow Street (free!) to admire works by Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. Throughout the year, art festivals in downtown Bangor make this Maine town a lively and lovely place to be. The Sidewalk Art Festival in October is especially fun for families and a great way to take in this town's fabulous fall foliage.
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is best-known for the eponymous Witch Trials, a heartbreaking period of history that's part of the town's very core. Despite the tragedy of this era, the town is a remarkably friendly and welcoming place where all are welcome. Downtown Salem is full of rainbow flags, folks walk year-round in costume, and local shops, like Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe and The Lost Library: A Peculiar Gift Shop, celebrate the wonderful and weird.
Visiting during the fall is, of course, peak tourist season, with Salem's Haunted Happenings the largest Halloween festival in the world. Come in costume and be sure to pay your respects at the Charter Street Cemetery.
Burlington, Vermont
Famed for its unbelievably beautiful fall foliage, Burlington, Vermont, is also one of the friendliest towns in the Northeast. As a known tourist destination for fall leaf peepers, Burlington's locals welcome out-of-towners with open arms.
Church Street Marketplace is the centerpiece of town and features a variety of local makers, businesses, and dining options. If you want to impress locals, grab a creemee whilst wandering the streets of Main Street Burlington. This light-as-air soft serve is a fan favorite, and there's even an entire food challenge (the Hello Burlington Creemee Challenge) built around this regional delicacy.
Westerly, Rhode Island
Straddling the border between Connecticut and Rhode Island, Westerly is a beloved coastal town in the latter, the smallest state in the US, and it is a welcoming slice of beach paradise in the Northeast. A place that shines during the summertime, Westerly's Watch Hill Beach, home to the historic Flying Horse Carousel, is a family favorite.
Other low-key activities in Westerly include a visit to Westerly Library and/or Wilcox Park. The park is the town centerpiece and a popular gathering place and point of interest for its landscaped grounds and fountain.
Westerly isn't all low key, however. This beautiful beach town is beloved by Taylor Swift, whose High Watch mansion in town served as inspiration for "The Last Great American Dynasty."
Block Island, Rhode Island
With its unique, sinuous shape and sweeping bluffs, Block Island is an unexpected surprise in Rhode Island. You'll need to book transportation (definitely opt for a ferry ride!) to visit this beautiful island, and the journey there is all part of the experience. While there, make a point to check out South East Lighthouse and Block Island North Light, two beautiful beacons on the East Coast.
During the summer, Marina Market is the best place to meet and mingle with locals and features seasonal produce, locally made goods, live music, and unbeatable waterfront views.
Rockport, Massachusetts
Out on the tip of Cape Ann, about 40 miles northeast of Boston, Rockport is a coastal town of roughly 7,000 that has welcomed artists and visitors for generations. The heart of it is Bearskin Neck, a narrow peninsula of galleries, seafood counters, and little shops packed into weathered fishing shacks, with not a chain store in sight. Everyone is friendly, and the pace is slow. People walk, eat ice cream, and watch the lobster boats come and go.
At the end of the wharf sits Motif No. 1, a red fishing shack often called the most-painted building in America. The original was lost in the blizzard of 1978, and the town rebuilt it board for board, which tells you how much the little landmark means here. Grab a lobster roll at Roy Moore Lobster Company, browse the studios along the Neck, and climb out onto the granite breakwater for a wide view back over the harbor.
Mystic, Connecticut
A waterfront wonder in the Northeast, Mystic, Connecticut is a walkable city with the most darling downtown and welcoming vibes. Make a grand entrance to Mystic's downtown via the Mystic River Bascule Bridge; this striking architectural feat carries vehicle and foot traffic directly into the tourist district where over 80 locally owned businesses and a bevy of restaurants await.
A waterfront town through and through, take in the views via a cruise or kayak ride down the Mystic River and then be sure to check out a free summer concert at Mystic River Park.
Freeport, Maine
Home to the L.L. Bean Flagship store (and giant Bean boot), Freeport is a warm, welcoming, and walkable small town just north of Portland (if you're driving from Portland, be sure to stop by the Portland Head Light, a Northeast icon).
Boots aside, the Freeport Fall Festival is a local favorite that draws folks from all over the Northeast for its vibrant music, arts, entertainment, and celebration of community. And foodies flock round Freeport for its acclaimed seafood scene. Between fresh oysters at Freeport Oyster Bar and a lobster roll from Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster Co., there's a lot to love about this welcoming New England town.
Littleton, New Hampshire
Located in Northern New Hampshire, Littleton sits in the region's wondrous White Mountains. The town itself is a beauty, earning the motto "Be Glad" courtesy of Pollyanna. In fact, the plucky protagonist's author, Eleanor H. Porter, is commemorated in the town square with a balloon-holding bronze statue welcoming visitors to this winsome New England town.
Main Street Littleton is a delight; grab lunch at the Littleton Diner, shop at Little Village Toy & Bookshop, take in the trails at Remich Park & The Dells, and be sure to take in local art at First Friday or a summer show at Remich Park.
Chester, Connecticut
Chester is one of the Northeast's best-kept secrets; not only is this Connecticut River Valley town sits within easy reach of myriad parks and hiking opportunities, but its downtown is teeming with local businesses and restaurants that welcome visitors with infectious warmth.
On Main Street, Simon's Marketplace is a cozy, family-owned spot colloquially referred to as "Chester's Living Room." It's a town gathering spot where visitors can enjoy a delicious meal and great company. The Wheatmarket is another local favorite where a sandwich is sure to hit after a day wandering downtown Chester or one of the nearby trails; with regard to the latter, definitely plan to see Mount Pisgah, which boasts some of the most breathtaking Northeast vistas, especially in the height of fall foliage season.
New England is a delightful region of the US wherein you'll discover the perfect mix of natural beauty, local color (especially during fall foliage season!), delicious dining and fresh catches courtesy of the cold North Atlantic, and, most importantly, warm and welcoming communities. From a larger-than-life lumberjack welcoming you to Bangor, Maine, to a Connecticut town with a community "living room" and a coastal Rhode Island town with a waterfront carousel, New England is home to so many small towns sure to welcome you with open arms.
