8 Massachusetts Towns That Rival Europe's Best

Scattered like twinkling stars amidst spectacular coasts, travelers flock to Europe’s many small towns, searching to take in bracing sea air or to explore hundreds of years of history. Travelers flock to the English, French, and Irish coasts, to name a few. But crossing the pond is not the only way to immerse yourself in both refreshing waves and intriguing pasts. In Massachusetts, which, like much of New England, has a bounty of captivating small towns that are coastal jewels or have their own rich history, if not both. As the most populous state in the region, Massachusetts has countless perfect additions for a stunning itinerary without having to cross the Atlantic.

Ipswich

Dover may have its white cliffs, but to the North of Boston, Ipswich has its own claim to coastal terrain beyond the pale. Established in 1634, Ipswich is not only a historical treasure for its many well-preserved houses ranging from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, but also for its coastal charm. Resting along the Essex Coastal Byway, visitors to Ipswich can enjoy a wide gamut of coastal nature and historic highlights. Crane Beach is perfect for moderate hiking with five miles of gorgeous white dunes and all manner of amenities, including a shop that sells produce from the nearby Appleton Farms, which is America’s oldest working farm in continuous operation. You can enjoy their artisanal dairy goods as a snack while wandering the trails or get the ingredients for a beachside barbecue. And for the history buffs, Crane Beach is only a portion of the Crane Estate, a whopping 2,100 square acres of ecologically diverse wilderness. Resting at its heart atop Castle Hill, visitors can explore the Great House, a Stuart-style mansion with over fifty rooms and a lawn that stretches half a mile to the bluffs above Crane Beach, so enjoy a guided house tour and lunch at its café before hitting the beach.

Dedham

For those seeking wisdom and excitement in the past, Dedham is the perfect destination. Established early in the 1600s, Dedham shares its name with an English town, but its nearly four centuries of existence have made Dedham especially unique. Travelers looking to indulge their inner antiquarian will find plenty to experience, and all without going more than fifteen miles from Boston. Built in 1637, the Fairbanks House is both only a couple of years younger than Dedham itself and is the oldest standing timber frame house in North America, and is beautifully preserved, letting you breathe in the centuries as you take in its antique architecture. Once you’ve whetted your appetite there, Dedham is filled with many other historic buildings to explore, such as the Powder House, which was built to store weapons and powder during the Colonial era and offers a great view of where the original settlers landed. And for those cozy cloudy days where you just want to take in a museum, the Dedham Museum has a unique collection ranging from paintings to pottery, and even one of Simon Willard’s astronomical shelf clocks.

Nantucket

Herman Melville fans can attest that Nantucket has a whale-sized spot in the hearts of both beach-goers and nautical historians, one to rival even such luminary European ports as Bristol or Exeter. Nantucket is a key location in Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick, and whaling remains a central part of Nantucket’s history, which you can dig deeply into at the Nantucket Whaling Museum. Located on an unparalleled gem of an island off the coast of Cape Cod, Nantucket has a beach to suit everyone, from skilled swimmers and surfers searching for challenging heavy surf to those looking for a scenic shoreline to soak in, such as Brant Point, where you can relax and watch the ships pass in and out of the harbor. The seas are the soul of Nantucket, and one of the most inviting embodiments of this is its lighthouses. All three lighthouses are located on the northern shores of the island, and each one stands alone with its own unique charms. When you step off the ferry and first take in Nantucket, the Brant Point Lighthouse is there to welcome you. But these lighthouses aren’t the only bright lights visitors can experience on this island paradise. Visitors to Hadwen House, a Greek Revival Mansion which is now a museum, can check out exhibits of “lightship baskets,” an example of iconic New England woven crafts.

Williamstown

Known as “the Village Beautiful,” Williamstown offers the itinerant traveler a varied assortment of victuals and visitations. Williamstown, like many New England hotspots, has its own historical flavor and a wide array of artistic centers, but it even comes with its own basecamp perfect for intrepid adventurers. The Williams Inn combines modern amenities with the folk feel of Massachusetts’s heritage, having been built in the style of a classic New England farm. It also has a terrific view of the Taconic Mountain range. The Clark Art Institute is the place to start for art lovers. Chartered in 1950, the Clark serves not only as an art museum, but is also a center for research. The Institute offers visitors whatever their soul desires, from a broad art collection including a striking collection of French Impressionist pieces to a pastoral paradise of the surrounding landscape. Meanwhile, the Williamstown Art Conservation Center not only works to preserve the art of the past but also displays it so that everyone can enjoy the collection. Even the building itself was designed by famed architect Tadao Ando to blend seamlessly with the scenic background.

Amherst

You do not have to go as far as London or Edinburgh to find a literary hotspot with Amherst around. Its greatest claim to fame is local literary legend Emily Dickinson, as the famed poet lived in this alpine Arcadia from her birth in 1830 until her death in 1886. She lived a largely secluded life in a townhouse, which in 2003 was established as the Emily Dickinson Museum, where visitors can see the structure returned to its Dickinson era in one of four different tours, each with a specific perspective. If children’s books are more to your tastes, Amherst is also the home to a more colorful literary treasure-trove, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Best known for The Hungry Caterpillar, Carle’s unique collage-based style appeared in over seventy picture books, and he founded the museum with his wife in 2002. Visitors to the museum can see not only his work but also that of many other beloved picture books in both “the Carle’s” collection and in traveling exhibits. And for those who aren’t as literary-inclined, the silver screen beckons through the four screens of the Amherst Cinema, a nonprofit independent cinema that shows over two hundred films annually. Located in the exciting downtown area amidst all manner of modern fixtures in classic New England dressing, the Cinema is the perfect place for a romantic evening.

Rockport

Instead of risking the rocky road to Dublin, try taking in the rocky beaches of Rockport, a serene port town. Founded in 1840 to support the granite industry, Rockport found new life as an artists' haven in the 1930s, and today boasts breathtaking beaches and many photogenic places. Foremost among these, Motif #1 seems a simple fishing shack at first glance, notable only for its bright red paint. However, this humble shack is a replica of a building that has inspired hundreds of artists since its construction in the 1800s. It’s an easy walk from Bearskin Neck, a popular wharf lined with art galleries, boutiques, and an irresistible ice cream shop. For those looking to take up the paintbrush themselves, Rockport’s beaches are a picture-perfect place to start, as no visit to Rockport is complete without sandy shoes and fresh sea air. Aspiring landscapists and those just wanting to enjoy the peace and quiet in a beautiful, natural beach are encouraged to take the seasonal footbridge to Cape Hedge Beach. Bordered by a pebble wall, this quiet shoreline is mostly made of sea-smoothed pebbles, a soul-soothing scene. Families looking for a more stimulating day at the beach will enjoy Front Beach, which is within easy reach of town.

Provincetown

Travelers wanting the excitement of Carnevale in Italy can find its stateside equivalent year-round in Provincetown, but especially during the town's annual Carnival celebration in August. Sitting at the tip of Cape Cod, “P-town” is one of the oldest artists' colonies in America and is welcoming to anyone and everyone, being particularly popular with the LGBTQ+ community. You can blow in like the Pilgrims, who found safe harbor here after being blown off course, an act commemorated by the Pilgrim Monument. This 350-foot tower and the attached museum provide visitors not only a gorgeous view of the Cape, but also of Provincetown’s place in America’s history. For those seeking serene relaxation and a refreshing breath of sea air, you can enjoy one of the many beaches, or you can book a stay at the Seaglass Inn and Spa. This family-run hotel offers a quiet place to rest and recover without being too far from the town's amenities. And once you’ve rested well, or if you just have energy to burn, Provincetown has endless excitement and entertainment. A perfect place to start or end a night is the Post Office Café and Cabaret. Since its establishment in the 60s, the Post Office has seen shows both refined and raunchy, and even served as a landmark in many performers' careers, including Elvira, Mistress of Darkness.

Sandwich

Like many New England towns, Sandwich has retained its Colonial charm and welcomes visitors with a captivating glimpse into previous centuries, but in its more than two hundred years of existence, Sandwich has been best known for layering something besides deli meat and bread. Sandwich, Massachusetts, is most famous for its glass, and the art of glassware remains a cultural touchstone for the town. Visitors can see this stamped cleanly in the Sandwich Glass Museum. Containing a collection of nineteenth-century glassware beyond compare, the Glass Museum not only has multiple galleries of New England glassware, but it also offers guests the chance to work with glass firsthand and make their very own keepsake. If you’d rather raise a glass, or a teacup, the Dunbar House has you covered. This restored Colonial home, which at 250 years old is nearly as old as the town itself, has both a traditional tea room, with a full afternoon tea service to rival Buckingham Palace’s, and a well-stocked wine bar. And for those with a floral fancy, the Heritage Museum and Gardens has eight magnificent gardens, each with its own assortment of fauna ranging from rhododendrons to hydrangea, and even humble herbs, as well as nature trails for those with feet for wandering.

The coasts of Massachusetts have just as much to offer the itinerant traveler as the shores of Europe, and can be much easier to reach. Travelers seeking a relaxing holiday don’t have to go far to find exactly the sort of refreshing retreat to recuperate from life’s challenges. The Bay State has a rich and subtly varied history that shines amidst its small towns, and visitors can experience immersion in it readily, while still having plenty of modern marvels close to hand should they need them. With its gorgeous coasts, Massachusetts can be the perfect destination for any itinerary. Hitting the Cape can be just as thrilling as hopping across the Pond.