11 Most Charming Cities on the Atlantic Coast
The northern Atlantic coast runs through rocky cliffs, ancient mountains, and sandy beaches. The shoreline carries autumn colors and old harbors alongside cities built when settlement meant getting off a ship. Boston pours clam chowder while Halifax pours pints and stories. Portland balances cobbled streets with breweries. Providence stacks river walks under university spires. The eleven coastal cities ahead each carry a different version of the same Atlantic story.
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
No discussion of cities on the Atlantic Coast is complete without Boston, Massachusetts. The Massachusett people knew the value of this harbor long before European settlement, setting up fishing weirs and summer homes around the inlets. The summer breeze off the harbor draws thousands of tourists and residents alike.
Walk the boardwalk, take in the city lights reflecting on the water, and sit down for a bowl of Boston clam chowder. The Beacon Hill neighborhood holds historic streets perfect for self-guided wandering, while Boston's many ghost tours work the after-dark hours. Home to Harvard, the Freedom Trail, and the Skywalk Observatory, Boston gives historians, artists, and scientists something to love.
Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
Plymouth sits directly on the Atlantic with a small-town feel, close enough to Boston for day trips but at its own pace away from the state capital. Home to the Mayflower's final landing in 1620, Plymouth is brimming with history. Plymouth Rock juts into the water marking the traditional landing site, with the Mayflower II, a full-scale reproduction, docked beside it. Replica Pilgrim settlements and buildings of a bygone era such as the First Parish Church tell the story of a colony coming to its own. The Pilgrim Hall Museum covers both the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people who had lived on this land for thousands of years before the 1620 arrival.
If nature is more your thing, Plymouth's beaches mix rocky stretches and soft sand, and many are good for swimming as well as walking. The town also keeps significant green space with old-growth trees. Downtown Plymouth runs local shops and a lively local spirit that adds warmth to the sometimes chilly climate.
Portland, Maine, USA
Old and new beauty fuse in Portland beneath the watchful eye of the Portland Head Light, a lighthouse that has guided ships into Casco Bay since 1791. While the lighthouse technically sits in neighboring Cape Elizabeth, a short walk along the Eastern Promenade Trail brings visitors close enough to take it in.
Speaking of Casco Bay, you can board a tall ship to cruise across the bay as sailors of old. Further inland, the historic Old Port district stays alive with colors of the past and present, with museums, restaurants, and shops. Stop at Allagash Brewery for a fresh pint of local beer to round out the trip.
Bangor, Maine, USA
Home to Stephen King and to the Paul Bunyan statue, Bangor encapsulates Maine in a way few other cities do. Victorian houses dot the landscape while the Penobscot River feeds the city both metaphorically and physically. A river-port city set in boglands lets forests thrive with exquisite biodiversity. Enjoy this at the Orono Bog Boardwalk or Bangor City Forest.
Stroll along the river, a short walk from the thriving downtown where you can find a pint at Geaghan Brothers Brewing or browse local boutiques. Tour Cascade Park or the historic Mount Hope Cemetery before getting a photo with the famous Paul Bunyan statue. Between Paul Bunyan and Stephen King, Bangor gives birth to great stories.
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Baltimore is one of America's oldest port cities, and to this day you can book a cruise on tall ships sailing the Inner Baltimore Harbor. Overlooking the glistening harbor is the early-19th-century star fort Fort McHenry, once the city's primary defense and now a national monument and historic shrine. For history lovers, there is no shortage of sights, from the Peabody Library and the B&O Railroad Museum to the historic Fell's Point neighborhood with buildings dating to the city's founding.
Lovers of modernity will also have plenty to do in Baltimore. Visit the American Visionary Art Museum or take in art from all eras at the Walters Art Museum. Learn about marine life at the National Aquarium or catch America's favorite pastime at Camden Yards. Historic or adventurous, a Baltimore trip will leave you wanting to return.
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
A major port city in this compact state sits where the Providence River meets Narragansett Bay. Providence teems with natural and architectural beauty spanning centuries. During your Providence visit be sure to see both river and bay waterfronts, where you will find good food, beer, and historic buildings. WaterPlace Park downtown allows travelers to explore the city on foot, while being near both natural and manmade wonders. A spooky touch can be added with a tour of Swan Point Cemetery. Animal lovers can enjoy the natural beauty of Roger Williams Park before heading to the Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Art aficionados can easily find a place to spend an afternoon. Take in works of art through the ages at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum. Historians are sure to enjoy the sight of the Rhode Island State House or downtown's Benefit Street, packed with important locations.
New Haven, Connecticut, USA
New Haven sits right on the water, dominated by the Yale University campus. Centuries-old buildings tower over this walkable city's landscape, fitting for the region's name of New England.
Find the beauty of the Atlantic while enjoying the amenities on Long Wharf, including Long Wharf Theatre where you can take in a play for a reasonable price. Nature lovers will enjoy the verdant landscapes and wide views of East Rock and Edgerton Parks, or the fusion of nature and bygone eras at the defunct carousel at Lighthouse Point Park. Historians may enjoy a stroll through Grove Street Cemetery or the New Haven Museum, while artists can visit the Yale University Art Gallery. There is truly something for everyone in the aptly named city of New Haven.
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
We travel back up to Canada for our next city. Rather than sitting on the ocean, Moncton sits on the Petitcodiac River, which is fed by the impressive Bay of Fundy. The interaction between the river and the bay creates a unique tidal bore that is a sight to behold. A short drive south brings you to Hopewell Cape and the famous Hopewell Rocks.
A bilingual city with an active French community, downtown Moncton hosts many restaurants and buildings, including cathedrals and basilicas contributed by the prominent French and Irish settlements back in the 18th century. Atlantic Canada's wilderness can be enjoyed at Irishtown Nature Park and Mapleton Park. Add whimsy to your trip with a stroll along the river through Centennial Park or the Riverfront Boardwalk.
Moncton's most famous attraction is a unique phenomenon called Magnetic Hill, where the terrain makes it appear things are being pulled uphill by magnets. Few of these exist worldwide, and it is worth the sight. While there, visit the Magnetic Hill Zoo or have a glass of New Brunswick's finest wine at the Magnetic Hill Winery.
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Set atop cliffs overlooking the Atlantic, the ocean is St. John's lifeblood. Brightly colored buildings jut from the landscape on Jelly Bean Row, with 18th- and 19th-century architecture. Watch the waves from the vantage point of Signal Hill, home to the first transatlantic wireless transmission in 1901 and to hiking trails framed by ancient conifers. The view can also be taken from Cabot Tower, a structure overlooking the ocean that evokes Scottish castles.
The rugged landscape carries its own share of ghost stories. As one of the oldest English-settled cities in North America, many have lived and died within the city limits. Pirates, witches, and jilted lovers fill the local tales, and these stories are best experienced with the Haunted Hike, which provides historical context with each location.
Like Nova Scotia, Newfoundland is renowned for its unique style of folk music inspired by the many cultures that settled the area. Experience the best of Newfoundland music and storytelling at the St. John's Storytelling Festival. Rugged wilderness, Viking heritage, and coastal bustle combine in St. John's to make a city with everything.
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Not to be confused with the previous entry, Saint John sits on the New Brunswick side of the Bay of Fundy, granting residents and tourists alike views of the highest tides in the world. Take in the one-of-a-kind sight of the Reversing Falls along the boardwalk, a short walk from the thriving uptown centre with waterfront restaurants.
Uptown Saint John is like stepping through a portal to the past with cobbled streets, narrow alleyways, and towering buildings dating to the 19th century. Market Square boasts a seaside market similar to paintings from years past, but Market Square also carries all the modern amenities common to any city's shopping centre.
The wonders of the natural world are not limited to the Bay of Fundy. Countless saltwater and freshwater beaches complete with hiking trails can be found around the city. Enjoy wooded trails under towering pines, tour the walkable downtown, watch the Dragon Boat Festival, or attend the Festival by the Sea. History buffs, nature enthusiasts, and maritime culture fans all find a fit here.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Home of the celebrated schooner Bluenose II, Halifax is one of Canada's oldest cities and therefore one of its most storied. Downtown Halifax hugs the Halifax Harbour, where one can stroll along the boardwalk or watch ships come and go from the many waterfront restaurants.
Buildings dating back to the 1700s remain gorgeous and have a soul of their own. You can still see the scars from the Halifax Explosion of 1917 if you pay close attention, repaired and restored. According to locals, ghosts haunt the many old buildings and factories, including the Halifax Citadel (the current star fort dates to 1856, on the site of the original 1749 garrison) and the 19th-century Alexander Keith's Brewery.
Boardwalks, ghosts, and food define Halifax. The city remains one of the East Coast's most diverse, and the restaurants reflect that. Have a pint and cod at one of Halifax's many Irish pubs, or tuck into Lebanese fare at Mary's Bread Basket or Mezza. No discussion of Halifax is complete without music. Stroll along the boardwalk during the Halifax Busker Festival every summer, attend a concert, and visit during spring for the Celtic Colours-style folk festivals.
A Coastline With Character
Be sure to visit the surrounding towns and villages that fill out the region with East Coast character. Songs and tales, ships and natural wonders all find a home along this coastline. You are certain to find what you need on a vacation in Atlantic Canada and New England.
