It can be a challenge for travelers to try and pin down the most beautiful destinations along the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. because so many places fit the bill, and each one brings so much to the table. It’s true enough that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but these 10 locations, from big cities to quaint rural areas, are all but certain to impress even the most discriminating tourists.
10 Miami's Art Deco Magic
A light breeze tickles the leaves of tall palm trees set against a backdrop of pastel-colored art deco hotels while just a block away, white sandy beaches give way to the blue-green Atlantic Ocean. It’s one of many beautiful scenes in Miami, the city known for sun and fun. South Beach, in particular, is stunning to view, and travelers have a wide choice of beachfront accommodations where they can unwind and take it all in.
- Must-see attraction: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
9 Beaufort's Rural Coast
The small South Carolina coastal city of Beaufort, located on Port Royal Island and home to just 13,000 people, is one of only a few places in the U.S. that has the distinction of its entire downtown being designated a historic district by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Visitors can see and tour mansions and historic homes dating from pre-Civil War days, enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides through town, and stroll along a pristine beachfront.
- Must-see attraction: Hunting Island State Park
8 Charleston's Lively Waterfront
The South Carolina port city, dating back to 1670, exudes old-world charm with its cobblestone streets, historic houses, and quaint harbor. In particular, its stunning French Quarter evokes a European ambiance, with gardens viewed through intricate wrought-iron gates. The city’s well-kept waterfront offers a promenade where tourists can view the harbor and historic Fort Sumter.
- Must-see attraction: Charleston Waterfront Park
7 Savannah's Spanish Moss
Sitting along the banks of the picturesque Savannah River, the Georgia city of Savannah is shaded with an abundance of Spanish moss, a beautiful and mysterious-looking flowering plant that hangs from tree branches like garland on a Christmas tree. The city is known for its parklands, particularly Forsyth Park, and antebellum architecture, and its historic district has cobblestoned streets and squares, making it a perfect destination for walking tours.
- Must-see attraction: Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
6 Cape May's Boardwalk
A two-mile-long boardwalk affords gorgeous ocean views in Cape May, a seaside playground at the tip of New Jersey’s Cape May Peninsula. Besides its coastal vistas, Cape May is renowned for its Victorian architecture, especially the Emlen Physick Estate, which has been turned into a museum. Visitors will enjoy the shops and eateries along the pedestrian-only area of Washington Street. From the Cape May Lighthouse, visitors can see across scenic Delaware Bay.
- Must-see attraction: Cape May Lighthouse
5 Montauk's Surfing Beaches
Nestled into the easternmost end of Long Island, where Block Island Sound meets the Atlantic, the village of Montauk is a coastal paradise that draws surfers, fishermen, nature lovers, and, most of all, seafood restaurants. The Montauk Point Lighthouse, built in 1796 and a national historic landmark, is located in Montauk Point State Park, and a museum inside the lighthouse displays documents from the Revolutionary War era.
- Must-see attraction: Montauk Point State Park
4 Newport's Stately Mansions
The famous Newport mansions of the Gilded Age dot the city’s waterfront cliffside like jewels perched on a mountain, and visitors can buy tickets to tour the opulent homes built by some of the country’s greatest industrialists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But Newport is more than just fancy houses. Situated on Aquidneck Island, the coastal city is one of the best boating destinations, and its pretty yacht-filled harbor has hosted the historic sailing regatta America’s Cup.
- Must-see attraction: The Breakers mansion
3 Cape Cod's Pristine Seashore
Home to the pristine Cape Cod National Seashore, the peninsula that juts out from the southeastern coast of Massachusetts in the shape of an arm and a fist features 15 towns, all with distinct character, plus the tony islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Both islands are easily accessible by ferry from Cape Cod. The Marconi Wireless Station Site in South Wellfleet is a historic site where the first transatlantic wireless communication between the United States and Europe was transmitted in 1903. Views of the Atlantic from atop the national park’s dune cliffs are unparalleled on the East Coast.
- Must-see attraction: Cape Cod National Seashore
2 Ogunquit's Cliff Path
Tucked into Maine’s southern coast, the small town of Ogunquit has a whole lot of personality. Ogunquit Beach sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ogunquit River, and the coastal cliff path called Marginal Way provides exquisite views of both. The town also is home to the historic Cliff House Hotel. The quaint fishing village at Perkins Cove is a top tourist spot known for its art scene and, of course, its picturesque harbor and beaches.
- Must-see attraction: Perkins Cove
1 Bar Harbor's Acadia Experience
Pretty Bar Harbor sits on Mount Desert Island, roughly a three-hour drive north of Portland and home to the outstandingly beautiful Acadia National Park. The small town of about 5,000 residents is a quintessential Maine coastal destination, with a charming downtown, lively harbor, and walking paths that take visitors on trails overlooking the Atlantic and the Porcupine Islands just offshore. Atop Cadillac Mountain, in the national park, tourists can enjoy sweeping views of the town, the coast, and the Cranberry Islands.
- Must-see attraction: Acadia National Park