Friday, July 18, 2025

9 of The Greatest Coastal Cities in Massachusetts


Massachusetts is a small coastal state situated on the East Coast of the USA in New England. Whereas it’s comparatively small in comparison with different states within the US, it has a considerable shoreline and a few nice coastal cities.

These attractive cities provide pretty seashores, stunning views, unbelievable eating places, and extra. Examine eight of the most effective coastal cities in Massachusetts.

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The boardwalk at Gray's Beach at sunset

9 of The Most Stunning and Greatest Coastal Cities in Massachusetts That You Need to Go to

Massachusetts has a number of coastal areas regardless of being a small state. The North Shore of Boston is north of Boston as much as the New Hampshire border. The South Shore is the realm south of Boston, to Cape Cod. Lastly, Cape Cod is the cape bordered by the Cape Cod Canal. Alongside the coast, Massachusetts shares borders with Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

Due to the scale of the state, it’s comparatively straightforward to incorporate a number of coastal cities, together with Boston, in your loved ones trip plans. To try this, you’ll in all probability wish to fly into Boston’s Logan Airport and hire a automotive in your street journey.

In case you hope to go to the attractive seashores, you’ll wish to go to in the summertime. July and August are the height season and the hotter months, though it may be good within the late spring, or early fall.

Cape Cod particularly has many eating places and outlets which might be solely open seasonally. Whereas visiting Massachusetts, you should definitely attempt a scrumptious lobster roll, oysters, fried clams, do-it-yourself ice cream, and different native specialties.

You’ll discover that whereas many of those locations have resorts, motels, and inns, there aren’t loads of massive chain resorts in these Massachusetts coastal cities. Along with native resorts and resorts, trip residence leases are well-liked.

Sign for shops in Chatham MA including Lily Pulitzer and Blue CoralSign for shops in Chatham MA including Lily Pulitzer and Blue Coral

Chatham

Positioned in Cape Cod, Chatham is the quintessential city in Cape Cod. This quaint and preppy city is bustling in the summertime, with many vacationers visiting the assorted sights, eating places, and outlets. Chatham is a well-liked vacation spot. Just a few of the highlights embrace:

  • The Chatham Lighthouse
  • The Chatham Fish Pier, the place you may see harbor seals taking part in within the water
  • Chatham’s city heart presents a row of retailers, together with native favorites and small chains
  • Chatham Orpheum Theater
  • Chatham Shark Heart
  • Monomoy Nationwide Wildlife Refuge

The place to remain: Probably the most well-liked household resorts in Chatham is the waterfront and opulent Chatham Bars Inn.

Gray's Beach boardwalk with sea grass and rocks in the foreground.Gray's Beach boardwalk with sea grass and rocks in the foreground.

Yarmouth

If you’re on the lookout for a enjoyable, traditional seaside trip, Yarmouth (together with the villages of South Yarmouth, Yarmouthport, and West Yarmouth) is a superb possibility. It presents a number of stunning seashores, together with Smugglers Seaside, Seagull Seaside, and Grey’s Seaside (which has a phenomenal boardwalk over a salt marsh). That is the vacation spot the place you may play mini golf and get ice cream within the evenings after an extended seaside day.

Yarmouth can also be centrally situated on the mid-Cape with the intention to do all Cape Cod day journeys proper from your own home base. It’s the right place to remain, with easy accessibility to the opposite Cape Cod cities.

Actions in Yarmouth (along with the seashores) embrace:

  • The Whydah Pirate Museum
  • Mini Golf
  • The Cape Cod Inflatable Park
  • The Cape Cod Baseball League
  • Ice Cream outlets, together with Cape Cod Creamery
  • Bike paths, together with the Cape Cod Rail Path

There are a number of nice household resorts and resorts in Yarmouth. Many are situated inside a brief stroll to the seaside. Listed here are a few of the hottest:

the Lobster Pot in Provincetownthe Lobster Pot in Provincetown

Provincetown

Provincetown is situated on the tip of Cape Cod, a vibrant coastal neighborhood with nice outlets, eating places, leisure, seashores, and extra. Provincetown is a little bit of a drive from Boston, though there are seasonal ferries that may make it a shorter journey. I favor to remain mid-Cape and make a journey to Provincetown for the day, however you may as well select to remain there.

Summer season guests to Provincetown can take pleasure in the next actions:

  • Seashores – the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore, Race Level Seaside, and extra.
  • The Pilgrim Monument
  • Provincetown Museum
  • Dune Tour
  • Whale Watching
  • Procuring and eating on Industrial Avenue

Lodges with nice evaluations embrace:

Gloucester

Gloucester, situated on the North Shore on Cape Ann, is one among my favourite locations to go to in Massachusetts. Generally known as the setting for films akin to The Good Storm and CODA, Gloucester is a fishing neighborhood with a few of the greatest seashores.

Issues to do in Gloucester embrace:

  • Seashores, together with Wingaersheek Seaside and Good Harbor Seaside
  • Deep sea fishing
  • Whale Watching
  • Stage Fort Park

Effectively-rated resorts and inns in Gloucester embrace the next:

Motif #1 in Rockport with boats in foregroundMotif #1 in Rockport with boats in foreground

Rockport

Positioned proper subsequent to Gloucester is Rockport, one other fishing neighborhood. Rockport presents a quaint downtown space, Bearskin Neck, the place you’ll discover outlets, eating places, and exquisite views. Rockport is one among my favourite Massachusetts cities. It’s not as touristy because the Cape Cod cities, though it nonetheless may be very busy in the summertime months.

Rockport presents the next actions:

  • Kayaking
  • Sightseeing (don’t miss the attractive and iconic Motif #1, a pink fishing shack
  • Halibut Level State Park
  • The Paper Home

Performs to remain in Rockport embrace the next:

Salem

Whereas Salem is hottest as the house of the Salem Witch Trials, it’s additionally a beautiful coastal city the place you may take pleasure in procuring, waterfront eating, historic websites, and extra. Except you might be particularly at Salem to rejoice Halloween, I like to recommend that you simply go to in the summertime months and never in October. Salem will get extraordinarily busy within the weeks main as much as Halloween.

Actions in Salem embrace:

  • Salem Heritage Path
  • Peabody Essex Museum
  • Salem Maritime Nationwide Historic Website
  • The Home of the Seven Gables
  • The Salem Witch Museum
  • Strolling Excursions
  • Boat rides

Listed here are some well-liked locations to remain:

Martha's Vineyard view of coastline with beautiful ocean waterMartha's Vineyard view of coastline with beautiful ocean water

Martha’s Winery: Oak Bluffs and Edgartown

Martha’s Winery is among the two Massachusetts resort islands off Cape Cod’s coast. The one approach to get there’s by ferry or airplane, however the island of Martha’s Winery is a well-liked trip vacation spot in the summertime months. You’ll wish to go to in the summertime, however keep in mind that it might get very busy.

Oak Bluffs is a phenomenal city providing seasonal ferry service to mainland Massachusetts. It’s additionally a terrific place to stroll, store, and eat. Oak Bluffs might be most identified for the lovely gingerbread cottages on the streets and the Flying Horses Carousel within the heart.

One other well-liked coastal city on Martha’s Winery is Edgartown. It presents some nice eating places and outlets in a really walkable downtown.

Actions embrace:

  • Joseph Sylvia State Seaside
  • Day journey to  Chappaquiddick Island
  • Procuring downtown
  • Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary

If you’re touring to Martha’s Winery throughout peak season, you should e book your ferry transportation early. In the course of the busy season, they will refill – particularly the automotive ferries.

Like the remainder of the cities on this listing, there aren’t loads of chain resorts on Martha’s Winery. Listed here are some well-liked native choices:

Ipswich

Ipswich is a small city on the North Shore of Massachusetts. It’s identified for its clams, so that you’ll wish to get some throughout your go to. The city additionally has some nice seashores and different locations to go to.

You’ll be able to mix a visit to Ipswich with visits to Rockport and Gloucester if you happen to’d love to do a coastal North Shore day journey. Listed here are a few of the issues you may see there:

  • The Crane Property (together with Crane Seaside)
  • Eat on the iconic Clam Field (which is formed like a fried clam field)
  • Russell Orchards

As a smaller city, Ipswich presents principally inns and mattress and breakfasts. When touring with a household, we suggest staying at a resort in a close-by city.

Red fishing shack, Pilgrim Monument, wooden boardwalk leading to sunsetRed fishing shack, Pilgrim Monument, wooden boardwalk leading to sunset

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