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The East Coast has beautiful beaches, cute coastal towns, and some of the biggest cities in the United States. Whether you are looking for a ski destination or to hit the waves, there is something here for everyone. Keep reading to learn more about our recommendations for this part of the country. 

Please note: For your convenience, states are listed in alphabetical order.

Connecticut

1. Mystic

Mystic features a charming shopping area and an aquarium featuring over 4,000 animals. The aquarium is right next to Old Mistick Village, which is an outdoor mall. There are plenty of great restaurants (We recommend Trattoria Amalfi). If you’re a Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings fan, there is also a wizard shop to explore, where you can order fun drinks or check out goods related to your favorite books.

Pro Tip: Be sure to also check out B.F Clyde’s cider mill, for delicious drinks and apple cider donuts. It is the oldest steam-powered cider mill in the US and has been in operation since 1881.

Delaware

2. Delaware Bay Towns

Explore the towns located alongside the Delaware Bay, featuring marshlands, hiking, and historic locations.

Georgia

3. Atlanta

Atlanta is a large city with a wide range of sites to explore, including World of Coca-Cola and the Zoo.

Florida

4. Orlando

Orlando has both Disney World and Universal, which makes it a great destination for Harry Potter fans, Disney fans, and theme park enthusiasts.

However, before planning a trip to Orlando, it’s important to note that Disney and Universal are both big parks with multiple tickets needed to enter each park. For example: Harry Potter World is divided amongst several areas and if you want to ride the Hogwarts Express from one area to another, you will need two separate tickets. Orlando is definitely fun, but it can get pricey very quickly. 

5. South Beach Miami

If you are looking to party, Miami is a great place to go. Filled with clubs and bars, where you can dance late into the night. South Beach also has really cool archetecture throughout the city and we recommend taking a tour of the downtown to learn more about the building and the people running the hotels.

There are also great beaches, so you can enjoy the Florida sunshine. However, be warned: Miami can get really hot in the summertime, so it’s best to avoid in July or August if you can..

6. St. Augustine

St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States and is incredibly charming. There are pedestrian-only walkways, small boutiques and a historic fort. We also recommend tasting chocolate at Whestone Chocolates. You can get a tour and homemade candies.

Maryland

7. Assategue Island

Assateague Island has beaches, short hiking paths, and wild horses. You can also go camping here (but you will need to get a permit in advance). If you don’t see the horses right away, explore the trails, and you’ll be sure to eventually spot them.

Most of the island is in Maryland, with the lower third being located in Virginia. 

Wild horses in Assateague Island

8. Ocean City

Ocean City is the closest city to Assateague Island. It’s a resort town with beautiful views of the seashore. It’s a perfect summertime destination!

Maine

9. Acadia National Park

This is the largest national park on the East Coast, featuring numerous hiking trails and places to swim. We recommend going during the fall to enjoy peak fall foliage. 

10. Boothbay

Boothbay is a charming, small town located in Maine. You can go whale watching or check out a show at the Carousel Theater. We recommend coming here in the summertime or early fall.

11. Portland

Portland has great breweries and a beautiful downtown. You can also easily check out Portland Head Light, which is one of four remaining lighthouses from George Washington’s presidency.

Massachusetts

12. Boston 

Boston is a historic town with plenty to do and see. We recommend visiting Faneuil Hall for a quick bite and the Seaport for a walk and drinks. If you are into museums, you will definitely need to visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner, which has beautiful paintings and exquisite attention to detail.

13. Berkshires

The Berkshires span Western Massachusetts and parts of Connecticut. This is a perfect place to check out some of the famous fall foliage that the region is known for.

14. Cape Cod

Growing up in Massachusetts, Cape Cod is a New England staple. With beautiful beaches, good food, fun antique shops, and beautiful art galleries, Cape Cod has plenty of things to do. It’s a perfect destination for couples seeking a romantic getaway, bachelorette trips, and family holidays.

Be sure to check out places like Chatham, Hyannis, and P-Town. All of these towns have great downtowns that worth exploring and are close to the beach. If you are planning to head to the islands (Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard), we highly recommend Hyannis.

Pro Tip: Most tourists will come during the summer months, but we love going in the shoulder season (September, October, April, and May), since it’s less crowded.

Visiting the beach in Cape Cod

15. Martha’s Vineyard

Perhaps best known for the movie Jaws, Martha’s Vineyard is a beautiful island located off the coast of Cape Cod. You can get here via the ferry from either Hyannis or Falmouth.

Staying overnight on the island can be expensive, particuarly in the summer months. However, it’s easy enough to do a day trip to cities like Oaks Bluff. From here, you can easily access the beach, cute restaurants, and shops. If you do stay overnight, visit Menemsha Beach in Chilmark for amazing sunset views.

16. Newburyport

Newburyport is close to the New Hampshire border and has a cute downtown, making it the perfect weekend get away. In particular, we recommend checking out “When Pigs Fly”, which is a local baking company with amazing breads and baked goods.

Plus: If you are looking to avoid the crowds at Hampton Beach, we recommend checking out Plum Island, which is a short bike ride away from the main town (Beware that parking can be challenging though if you drive and you don’t get there early).

17. Salem

Looking for a spooky place to visit during Halloween, look no further!

Known as the site for the Salem Witch Trials (which technically happened in neightboring Danvers), this is the perfect place to visit in October. You can book a haunted ghost tour or visit the haunted houses. When we went in October, we went from haunted house to haunted house (They are all pretty short, but still very gun). Be sure to pack your Halloween costume, as it’s not uncommon to see people dressed up throughout the Halloween season.

There are also loads of different stores run by local witches with spell books and crystals. Salem embraces the Halloween spirit all year round, so even if you go at other points of the year, you can still check these out.

If you’re a Hocus Pocus fan, you can also see the Hocus Pocus house from the outside. It’s located right near the downtown area!

Pro Tip: Salem can get really crowded in October, so we recommend taking the Commuter Rail into Salem from Boston if possible.

New Hampshire

18. Portsmouth

Portsmouth has local boutiques, kayaking, and great restaurants. We recommend checking out the Portsmouth Brewery, which has a wide menu including a range of vegetarian options. There are also several cool bars, with outdoor spaces and live music.

19. North Conway

North Conway is a cute town that is great to visit in both the winter and fall. Situated close to mountains, such as Attitash Bear Peak, you can easily reach the slopes. If you are here in the summer, there are local breweries you visit and cute shops to browse.

New Jersey

20. Asbury Park

Known as the place where Bruce Springsteen started his career, Asbury Park offers a vibrant music scene, cute shops, and a fun boardwalk along the beach. This is a perfect destination during the summer months, since there are a series of live, outdoor concerts.

21. Atlantic City

If you are looking to go to a casino, Atlantic City is filled with them. The casinos themselves are pretty cool with some bars inside even featuring pools you can swim in during the day. It’s a good place for a bachelor or bachelorrette party (not as good for a family vacation).

Outside of the casinos, there isn’t much to the city itself. However, it’s conveniently situated on the Jersey shore, so you can explore other coastal towns if you have access to a car.

22. Cape May 

Cape May is part of the Jersey Shore, with beautiful beaches and Victorian-style homes. There are numerous local shops downtown (including one exclusively focused on peanut butter) that we recommend checking out.

23. Hoboken

Hoboken is located right outside of New York City. It’s an easy train or bus ride to get here. Plus, you get the best views of the Great Apple.

New York

24. New York City 

This is the largest city on the East Coast. Filled with various sites and tourist attractions, New York City is a destination worth visiting. Be sure to check out the Statue of Liberty and Times Square, while here!

25. Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes include beautiful nature and numerous vineyards. Watkins Glenn Park in particular, is famous for its hike and waterfalls. Located in downtown Watkins Glenn, you can easily complete this in a short afternoon.

26. Sleepy Hollow

Perhaps best known for the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, this is a great small town about an hour outside of New York City. It’s a great place to visit for Halloween. If you’r lucky (or unlucky), you may even see a headless horseman!

North Carolina

27. Asheville

Asheville is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has a vibrant downtown and is close proximity to hiking trails. If you visit Asheville, we recommend getting dessert at the French Broad Chocoloate.

Pennslyvania

28. Philadelphia

Rife with history, you can walk cobblestone streets and check out the Liberty Bell. They also have a large Christmas market in the winter time with ice skating and mulled wine. 

29. Poconos

There are numerous hiking trails and places to swim in the Poconos. We recommend checking out Jim Thorpe, which has been dubbed “The Little Switzerland” of Ameria.

Rhode Island 

30. Newport 

Newport is well known for their mansions that you can tour and explore. We recommend also doing the cliff walk, which leads you along the coast line.

South Carolina

31. Charleston

Charleston has beautiful architecture and boutiques to explore. It’s also close to several beaches, making it a great destination for when the temperatures begin to climb.

District of Columbia

32. Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. has numerous museums that are worth exploring. Many are even free to the public! The Cherry Blossom season is a popular time to go, since the trees are in full bloom.

West Virginia

33. Coopers Rock State Park

Go hiking or bike riding across 50 miles of terrain. It’s a short drive from Morgantown, which is also a popular spot to visit.

Vermont

34. Burlington 

Located on Lake Champlain, Burlington is a beautiful town in Vermont. There are several breweries close by and boutique shops.  If you come in the summertime, we recommend checking out “Splash At the Boathouse”, which is located along the water and one of our favorite things to do in Vermont. You can grab a drink or food on the deck.

View from Splash on the Boathouse

Be sure also to check out the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, which is located nearby. It’s a perfect destination for the entire family. Children can build their own bear and they offer tours of their facility. 

This is the popular “Zombie” bear from the Vermont teddy bear factory.

35. Stowe

Stowe has numerous popular Vermont attractions to enjoy. In the wintertime, it is a popular ski resort with 116 trails and the tallest peak in Vermont. You can also visit the Von Trapp family lodge (Yes, the Sound of Music family. They are real).

36. Waterbury

Ben & Jerry’s factory is located here and is worth a visit if you are in Vermont. Be sure to sample the various flavors and check out the “flavor graveyard”. Cabot Cheese Factory is also right down the road and worth checking out.

Virginia 

37. Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach not only has beautiful beaches but also a historic lighthouse. Cape Henry Lighthouse is the fourth-oldest lighthouse in the country. It’s also the first lighthouse that the US government authorized after the Revolution. 

Final Thoughts

The East Coast has a lot of great destinations to visit. Are there any East Coast places we missed? Leave them in the comments below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best month to visit the East Coast?

If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit the East Coast, that will depend entirely on you and your interests. Fall foliage, for example, will vary by state and region. However, you can use an online guide to determine when the peak will be. Beach weather is from June through August. However, beach towns are still worth exploring at other times of the year. For good skiing or snowboarding, you will want to visit the East Coast between late December and late February. 

What beach towns are non-touristy on the East Coast?

Boothbay, Maine, is a good choice if you are looking for a less crowded location. Additionally, although the Cape can get crowded in the summertime, there are a lot of beaches. If you avoid Hyannis and Chatham, you are more likely to find a quiet area.