The 10 Best Travel Destinations on the Eastern Seaboard
curated with charm, chosen with care, and narrated—of course—by Whitney Cabot
Some chase the West. We chase the tide. The Eastern Seaboard is stitched together by storied streets, saltwater escapes, and more heirloom ice cream stands than one can count. Here are ten destinations that are equal parts postcard and prose—worthy of your suitcase and your stories.
1. Newport, Rhode Island
For those who never outgrew their “marry a Vanderbilt” phase.
- Must-See: The Breakers Mansion
- Don’t Miss: Castle Hill Inn cocktails on the lawn
- Also Try: Newport Cliff Walk
2. Charleston, South Carolina
Where the tea is sweet, and the shade is sweeter.
- Must-See: Rainbow Row and Drayton Hall
- Don’t Miss: Husk Restaurant
- Also Try: Ghost Tours of Charleston
3. Bar Harbor, Maine
For travelers who pack hiking boots and a hardcover.
- Must-See: Cadillac Mountain Sunrise
- Don’t Miss: Jordan Pond House Popovers
- Also Try: Acadia’s Carriage Roads
4. Savannah, Georgia
Charleston’s artsy cousin who reads Flannery O’Connor and drinks bourbon neat.
- Must-See: Bonaventure Cemetery
- Don’t Miss: Peregrin Rooftop
- Also Try: SCAD Museum of Art
5. Cape May, New Jersey
Victorian drama, boardwalk nostalgia, and a touch of salt air mischief.
- Must-See: Cape May Lighthouse
- Don’t Miss: The Original Fudge Kitchen
- Also Try: Sunset Beach Picnic Ideas
6. Annapolis, Maryland
Midshipmen, crab cakes, and a historic downtown worth getting lost in.
- Must-See: U.S. Naval Academy Visitor Center
- Don’t Miss: Osteria 177
- Also Try: Sailing Tours with Woodwind Schooners
7. Block Island, Rhode Island
No stoplights. No chains. Just sand, surf, and serotonin.
- Must-See: Mohegan Bluffs
- Don’t Miss: Moped Rentals
- Also Try: The 1661 Inn Exotic Animal Farm
8. St. Augustine, Florida
Older than Boston. Warmer than Boston. Fewer Red Sox hats than Boston.
- Must-See: Castillo de San Marcos
- Don’t Miss: Aviles Street
- Also Try: St. Augustine Distillery
9. Outer Banks, North Carolina
Lighthouses. Wild horses. And kids that don’t ask for Wi-Fi (for a few days, anyway).
- Must-See: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
- Don’t Miss: Corolla Wild Horse Tours
- Also Try: Duck Donuts
10. Mystic, Connecticut
Sometimes your soul just needs a seafaring village and a slice of pizza.
- Must-See: Mystic Seaport Museum
- Don’t Miss: Mystic Pizza
- Also Try: Mystic Aquarium
Pack the linen, skip the itinerary, and don’t forget your curiosity. The coast is calling.
With salt in my hair and sand in my tote,