Jeff Mills Coastal Vacations Club Blog

The New England Coast is a natural choice as a summer destination.  Whether you only have a weekend or a whole month’s time to spend, there are many areas in the New England Coast where you can hole up to pass away the summer heat.  New England is also picture-perfect in summer – exquisite to the point of being sharp – and you’ll find yourself lolling away the warm days and spending cool, lazy evenings sipping cocktails.  Here are some of the best destinations you might want to check out:

Cape Cod

There are summer vacations and there are Cape Cod summer vacations.  Cape Cod, located in southeastern Massachusetts is probably your quintessential summer town.  Turn east and you’ll face the Atlantic Ocean; turn north and there’s Cape Cod Bay, turn southwest and there’s Buzzards Bay, turn south and there’s Nantucket Sound. 

The sands of Cape Cod give way to hills and forests so should swimming and lying on the beach ever gets tiring to you, there are plenty of other things you can explore.  Go fishing, find restaurants that serve fresh seafood or check out the year’s harvest of cranberries.  Can’t get enough of the beach?  Go and see some of its famous lighthouses, such as Cape Cod Light and Chatham Light.

Should any of the beaches become saturated for you, try one of its private beach resorts.  Red Jacket, for example, offers 700 feet of sandy beach and enough privacy for the discerning guest.

Martha’s Vineyard

If you’ve always dreamed of spending a summer vacation in an island, Martha’s Vineyard is THE place to be.  Other than the incredibly beautiful beaches, it also boasts of spectacular sceneries.  Many celebrities call this island home and occasionally vacation here, so if you want to bump into someone famous, there are plenty of places you can rent out for a few weeks’ stay.  After a day’s fun at the beach, try to explore the island.  There are a few reminders here of colonial life that you will find interesting.

The Singing Beach

Found in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, the Singing Beach is so named because of the sound the sand makes underneath the feet.  Dry sand ’sings’ best, provided you stomp and shuffle.  The beach is open to the public Mondays until Thursdays.  From Friday till Sunday, the locals take over. 

Newport

This is another excellent destination for a summer vacation on the New England Coast.  There’s a misconception about this town, considering that many of its more famous residents and visitors are from the rich and richer.  However, Newport isn’t such a snob.  There’s plenty of summer vacation fun here for the average visitor.

Newport’s beaches are a popular destination for summer tourists so be ready to meet the crowds.  Take a stroll down the Cliff Walk, a 3 ½ mile path that offers spectacular views of surf, sea, sand and mansions in all directions.  If you’d rather have a short hike, start walking towards the Castle Hill Lighthouse, still used as a beacon and starting off point for sailing races. 

Fresh seafood is also Newsport’s strong suit, perfect to complete your summer vacation.  Have them served hot in any of the restaurants near the seashore or you could catch them yourself.  Catching squid, lobster, crabs and healthful fish such as mackerel are often allowed for visitors, even if you don’t have a license.

Waterville Valley

Although Waterville Valley is more famous as a skiing destination, you could actually opt to spend your summer vacation here if you’re traveling with your family.  This popular New England Coast destination is reborn as a family-friendly resort during the summer, secluded enough for more privacy and fun enough to keep the kids entertained.

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Filed under: Jeff Mills, New England Travel