Old Fashion NE Beach towns
 

We are driving from DC to Bar Harbour, Maine over a period of several days. We'd like to see one or two old fashion beach towns like we've seen in old movies. They may not exist anymore but I'm guess some have been preserved for tourists. We won't even step foot on the beach so that isn't important. We'd just like a smallish, quaint town that would be fun to walk around in for a few hours. Any suggestions please. Thanks!

In CT you can explore Mystic. The movie "Mystic Pizza" was inspired by this little town, but you won't be seeing any beach 'vistas' here. If you have more than just a few hours, you can go to Mystic Village and Seaport, a recreation of a whaling village.

Nearly any town on the Maine coast will afford you the opportunity to experience 'quaintness', Bar Harbor being one of them.

If you're on Cape Cod, the genesis of All quaint beach towns, you can visit Sandwich or Falmouth close to the bridges, or drive up route 6A to have views of the sea captain's homes. However, one of the prettiest towns on the Cape and part of an Historic Trust, is Chatham. There's plenty there for tourists, but this is a working fishing village. Make sure you take a ride down Shore Road to the Fish Pier to meet the fleet with their catch and to see the seals. They filmed that baseball movie, 'Summer Catch' with Freddie Prinz here (sort of) and more recently, one of the worst movies ever made was filmed in Chatham, 'The Golden Boys' with David Carradine.

Wellfleet is another little Cape town with a cute, walkable downtown area, but it's a bit of a drive from the bridges, about an hour or so.

For an old fashioned beach town, look at Ocean Park, Maine. Beautiful beach, no fast food, family cottages with some short term rental opportunities. Movies in the "Temple" one night a week.

Not sure exactly what you mean by "old fashioned beach towns," but you might check out Old Orchard Beach, Maine. They have a cute little arcade, shops, etc.

Madison, CT
Madison Beach Hotel

I'm not sure what you have in mind. I don't think of York Beach, Maine as quaint but it hasn't changed much in years. It's a very popular family vacation area jammed with small cottages, a few big hotels, beautiful stretches of sandy beach, the famous Nubble Light. I'm not sure how many generations have watched the saltwater taffy pulling machine at the Goldenrod. Not sure if the York's Wild Animal Kingdom is popular with kids anymore (it's practically attached to the downtown area) but we used to visit about 50 years ago with my grandparents. There's arcades, places that sell a slice of pizza or a clam roll. Hampton Beach in NH is similar.

What do you mean by old fashioned? Boardwalk? Old arcade? Cute little houses right on beach? (forget about that one in almost every place with price of beach front property) A downtown with little shops?

I can't think of any place that has all 4 - but if you say which aspect is most important, then we can head you in the right direction.

Also, what time of year. Some places have that quaint feel off-season but become a giant fried dough stand in the summer.

Not quite sure what you're looking for...here in New Jersey when we think of old-fashioned beach town, the honky boardwalks come to mind. For that, Pt. Pleasant Beach is perfect and lots of fun. If you mean old houses, interesting town but quiet, then Spring Lake would be it.

I’d like to have an idea of the movies you are referring to, as most of the old beach movies I can think of were filmed in California rather than East Coast beaches, except maybe something filmed at Coney Island (on Long Island, New York) which would be a bit inconvenient to get to on a trip from DC to Maine. But the places mentioned so far are good ones for sightseeing, I am just not sure they are what you are looking for.

I would certainly add the town of Lewes, Delaware to the list. The downtown is on the river rather than the beach, but is very quaint, there are even some colonial-era buildings. There is a bike/walking path for six miles between Lewes and Rehoboth beach (not as charming a town as Lewes, but the trip is nice). From Lewes you can take the car ferry to Cape May New Jersey, which has many Victorian homes and may also be the sort of town you have in mind. For ferry schedules, see http://www.capemaylewesferry.com/. From Cape May you can drive up the Garden State Parkway (far more pleasant than that Interstate 95 corridor IMO), stopping at Spring Lake (mentioned above), which has some lovely homes indeed, and nice downtown areas. In Spring Lake, be sure to see the lovely church on the lake and the old Essex and Sussex hotel on the beachfront, now condos. Also as mentioned above, if you want more of the Bruce Springsteen experience, head over a few towns south from there to Pt Pleasant Beach and the boardwalk where, weather permitting, you can get cotton candy, take a ride on a rollercoaster and see all the big hair you can handle (and I say that as a proud Jersey Girl myself).

You might also consider at stop at Annapolis Maryland, which also has an interesting preserved down town area and also the Naval Academy which you can visit. While perhaps out of your way on a trip to Maine, the Chesapeake Bay area has some lovely towns like St Michaels on the Eastern Shore (not far from Annapolis or Lewes for that matter).

As mentioned, most movies aren't actually filmed where they purportedly take place.

You can hardly go wrong with any of the seaport villages/towns along the coasts of CT, RI, MA, NH, and Maine.

I, personally, wouldn't bother with Bar Harbor. There are many nicer places less of a drive (and less pricey) than that far north.

One of the best things about Bar Harbor, and there are many nice things, is its proxomity to Acadia National Park. If you do decide to make that trip, visit Cranberry and Little Cranberry Islands, two of the most authentic island communities in the Northeast.

and should be 'proximity' not proxomity!

Guilford, CT has the largest and best preserved town green in New England. It is lined on all four sides with quaint shops and restaurants. Nearby Madison also has a quaint downtown. You could get off of I-95 in Guilford and travel down Route 1 through Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook and then hop back onto the highway. (If you do choose this route, be careful because Guilford town green is just off of Route 1.) Guilford also boasts the Henry Whitfield Museum - the oldest stone house in New England.

Don't forget Stonington which is next to Mystic.
You can eat outside at Skippers Dock or stay at the Inn at Stonington.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

As I'm sure you have ideas of what to expect in Texas where I'm from (usually from old westerns and not very accurate) we have ideas of what the NE coastal towns might look like. I think I had in mind boardwalks, old timey shops and restaurants, quaint old homes, etc.

I'm we will get a good sampling as drive up to Arcadia N.P.

Check out the Jersey Shore towns of Belmar for the beach, Point Pleasant and Wildwood for the boardwalks and Ocean Grove for history. Asbury Park is right next store if you are a Springsteen fan. Here is some info and pictures on my blog about Belmar http://bit.ly/aGQrZ8, Wildwood http://bit.ly/b1WMmv and Point Pleasant http://bit.ly/9GFTRB

As a non-native New Englander (who also spent some time in Texas), I think York Beach and Old Orchard Beach have much more of the "old-fashioned beach town" feel I'd guess you are looking for than Hampton Beach does.

Also, although the area around Mystic is a great place to visit, I do not think it is what you are looking for, either.

Thanks everyone!

Boothbay Harbor and Camden, Maine are both very quaint and pretty, with beautiful water views and nice shops. Boothbay Harbor is where the musical "Carousel" is set, and some of the original 1956 film was shot there. Camden is where a lot of the windjammers sail out of, and there are often some at dock in the very picturesque harbor. You can drive to the top of Mount Batty (a small mountain) for a wonderful view of Camden, the harbor, and beautiful Penobscot Bay - there's a nice observation tower at the top.

Stonington, CT
Westerly, RI (in a BIG way)
Westport Point, MA
Newburyport and Plum Island, MA
Portsmouth, NH (including New Castle)
NH 103 and US 1 Alt from Kittery Point to Ogunquit, ME
Brunswick, ME and South Harpswell, Bailey's Island, and Orr's Island, ME

Connie--

I have been to Stonington, Newburyport, Portsmouth, and Brunswick. While all are worth visiting, none of them has what you are looking for (if I understand you correctly). Westerly maybe - but I have just been through the "downtown" and not to the beach there.

I have not been to Plum Island, but I don't think it is what you want, either. Nearby Salisbury comes closer, but in my opinion Old Orchard Beach and York Beach in Maine are still your best bets.

Did I suggest Cape Cod towns? Falmouth, Sandwich, Harwich, Chahtam, Wellfleet and Provincetown are all inspiring.

I like the Camden, Maine suggestion.

If you go to Brunswick, Maine there's a great little Italian restaurant on the corner of Maine St. (yep, that's the correct spelling) and something else. If you're interested I'll get more information for you. There's also a dandy little Indian restaurant that does the trick. Brunswick is a nice little college town. Their summer stock theatre is a lot of fun. The Harpswell Inn is a little slice of heaven and it's right on the water. Ignore the abandoned boats and cars on the street leading you to the Harpswell Inn and enjoy yourself at the Inn. There's a place at the end of the road, on the water, that serves fabulous fried clams. It is a true hidden little clam shack. Try to visit Admiral Perry's summer home nearby. It's a marvelous place.

Old Orchard Beach and York Beach are much better off season or during the shoulder seasons. Otherwise, it's all a bit honky-tonk, imo.

If you're just pulling off the side of the road, why not just stop at Salem, Massachusetts? That'll tick all the boxes for a few hours.

Although it is quaint and fun to walk around, Salem is hardly an old-fashioned beach town!

But Salem Willows Park might fit the bill at least in part.

It's a charming destination spot that is typical New England, it's not out of the way and they only want to spend a few hours. Salem would probably 'do' just fine. It's certainly filled with atmosphere, just not beach atmosphere.

Plymouth and Onset would be great too. Plymouth would fit the bill for a few hours.

Bowsprit--

OP specifically said "We'd like to see one or two old fashion beach towns like we've seen in old movies."

Although it has much to commend it, Salem is NOT an old-fashioned beach town like OP wants to see.

Neither is Plymouth – although, again, it has a lot to offer otherwise. I am not familiar with Onset so I can't comment on it.

There are enough other towns that would provide what the OP wants (such as York Beach and Old Orchard Beach, ME; Lewes, DE; and many on Cape Code and the Jersey shore) that there is no need to "settle" for visiting Salem or Plymouth or any other place that is not really what they want to see.

Roadtrip plans change quickly. If the route becomes muddled I have offered other options for the OP to visit typical N.E. towns.

I will leave these last few as alternatives to my other prior recommendations. (which included Cape Cod towns. I think I was first to suggest the Cape as a destination, actually.)

Cranachin: I notice you seem to think you have the 'inside scoop' as to what Connie wants based on your responses to others' suggestions and have come up with the very 'untypical' N.E. beach town of York, Maine. Do you have any other suggestions?

Connie, one more from me: If you're planning to visit Boston you can take the passenger ferry from Boston (no cars on the ferry and you won't need one in Provincetown) to Macmillan Wharf in Provincetown on Cape Cod. Provincetown has a wharf, a fun and walkable main street (Commercial St.), great galleries, a diverse and vibrant community and some of the finest restaurants in Massachusetts. Provincetown sits on Cape Cod Bay and its Atlantic beaches are part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. It's a gorgeous place.

bookmarking...great suggestions :)

Salisbury Beach, MA and Hampton Beach NH come to mind.
Mom and ppo motels, amusement rides and boardwalks.
Enjoy.

Bowsprit--

Maybe I did come across as having the "inside scoop" - if so, my apologies. I'm just interpreting what she has said through my particular lens (which is what all of us are doing).

All she really gave us to go on is "We'd like to see one or two old fashion beach towns like we've seen in old movies" and "I think I had in mind boardwalks, old timey shops and restaurants, quaint old homes, etc."

Maybe I am wrong in interpreting Connie's request for a "beach town" to mean "a town that is focused on the beach and related activities" - as opposed to simply a "a town that is on the water". I'm just trying to go on my understanding of the information she has given us.

At any rate, it might well be that what Connie wants exists more in the Mid-Atlantic area than in New England, and she has been given suggestions of places to visit in that region as well. If so, that's great, and there is no need to try to sell her on (stereo)typical New England coastal towns if that is not what she said she is looking for. And, of course, there is no need to sell her on honkey-tonk boardwalks if what she wants is stately old homes of sea captains. It sounds a little like she might want both!

Connie--You've been given a lot of suggestions. Do any of these seem to be what you are looking for?

<< sigh >>

Connie: Let us know what you decide. I hope you have a wonderful and safe trip. Happy trails.

Spring Lake, NJ

You can't get much more "old fashion" than Cape May (as Cicerone suggested).

Here's a good Cape May introduction: http://www.MyJerseyShore.com/?page_id=18

Wow, you all are really inspiring me. I think I need to add more time to this part of our itinerary!

Regardless of what I originally asked for, it sounds like there are lots of lovely places to visit. I am printing this to guide us along the way.

Thanks for the time you took to respond!

Nice segue, kid.

Bookmarking--great thread :)

jayne, do be aware that it is 6 years old, so some of the information might not still be valid.

Haha how funny! Good thing we are talking about "old" towns!