Nix Nantucket and visit one of these affordable, family-friendly New England escapes

The Hamptons are a headache. And while Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard still connection cobblestoned charm, what nary of those destinations offers (anymore) is value. 

The median location waste value successful nan Hamptons surpassed $2 cardinal this year. Nantucket, meanwhile, is location to  the astir costly region successful nan United States. Rental prices are arsenic exorbitant, pinch homes successful either destination easy soaring into nan 5 figures successful nan summertime months — per week.

The solution? Set your sights beyond nan astir evident status-symbol destinations. New England is filled pinch picturesque towns that present not only nan coastal magic of their glitzier cousins, but superior value, too. If it’s cedar-shingle houses, lighthouses and clam shacks — and not Instagram bragging authorities — group your sights connected these undervalued New England summertime destinations. 

Block Island, RI

While Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard are edging toward billionaires-only status, Block Island remains decidedly democratic.

Located 13 miles disconnected nan coast, “the Block” is reached via a speedy ferry thrust from Point Judith adjacent Narragansett, aliases somewhat longer ferries from New London aliases Montauk.

Nature is nan large communicative present and astir 46% of nan land is protected. The municipality of New Shoreham (the charismatic sanction of nan municipality that spans nan full island) has an unfastened abstraction extremity of 50%.

Don’t miss Mohegan Bluffs, nan island’s astir iconic earthy attraction, wherever tremendous clay cliffs tumble into nan Atlantic, and a steep staircase leads down to a secluded beach. Numerous trails make hiking and biking this mini land a cinch. 

Is it much costly than mainland towns? Certainly — but it’s still a acold outcry from prices you’ll find connected nan Vineyard aliases Nantucket. Rooms astatine nan traditional Hotel Manisses or nan much boutique Block Island Beach House (both of which are connected nan island’s higher extremity of nan spectrum) timepiece successful for astir $500 to $600 per nighttime for highest summertime dates.

A room astatine nan White Elephant Nantucket, connected nan different hand, tin easy transcend $1,800 per nighttime successful nan aforesaid period. 

Mystic, Conn.

Ferries not your thing? Not keen connected sitting successful Cape traffic?

Consider nan historical seaport municipality of Mystic — it’s astir halfway betwixt Boston and New York City and is conveniently accessed via Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. 

The municipality is besides undergoing a spot of a edifice roar astatine nan moment. Delamar Hotel Collection, known for its original Greenwich, Conn., location, conscionable opened nan dog-friendly Delamar Mystic earlier this year, complete pinch waterfront views successful each room, complimentary meal and a guests-only outdoor heated swimming pool.

The Whaler’s Inn, a long-standing favorite, also conscionable added a caller building of high-end accommodations, nan Stanton House. Its Riverview Penthouse comes pinch a backstage pavilion overlooking Fishers Island Sound, and you tin bid room work from nan hotel’s restaurant, nan Shipwright’s Daughter, tally by a James Beard Award-winning chef. 

Both hotels are successful adjacent proximity to nan Mystic Seaport Museum and nan Mystic Aquarium, 2 rain-proof attractions that are awesome for kids. The humble Williams Beach Park is besides adjacent by. 

Plum Island, Mass.

Out-of-staters typically thrust to Cape Cod — only to find sticker daze (and different outlanders) — aliases they thrust consecutive done Massachusetts’ North Shore region to get to Maine. But exit disconnected Interstate 95 astir 40 minutes northbound of Boston and you’ll find Plum Island, a microcosm of what nan Cape has to offer, without nan value tag and only a fraction of nan crowds.

This obstruction land is location to unspoiled beaches, miles and miles of hiking and biking trails and a laid-back vibe that feels for illustration nan Cape did 30 years ago. 

Nature lover? Check retired nan Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, an important conservation area for migratory birds, chaotic roses and formation plums. The buzzy Sunset Club is simply a awesome spot for drinks, snacks and section games pinch awesome sunsets complete nan adjacent Great Marsh. For a due meal, task into neighboring Newburyport, a culinary basking spot successful this portion of nan authorities — book a array astatine Bar 25 for Middle Eastern food, aliases seafood towers astatine Brine that costs a fraction of what they’d costs astatine nan Surf Lodge successful Montauk. 

For accommodations, there’s obscurity amended successful this area than Blue – Inn connected nan Beach. As its sanction implies, it sits straight connected a quiet agelong of beach, and astir rooms person nonstop h2o views from their backstage balconies.

Peaks Island, Maine

Budget-friendly Peaks Island delivers each nan charm of a New England land but astatine a fraction of nan cost. The 15-minute ferry thrust from Portland will group you backmost conscionable $14 information trip, whereas a high-speed ferry to Nantucket runs astir $89. Once you’ve arrived, rent a motorcycle aliases a play cart and get exploring.

The land has a rich | contented of Wabanaki colony — which nan Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano noted erstwhile he sailed done this area successful 1524, having conscionable been nan first European to sail into New York Harbor and nan Hudson River. History buffs will emotion a sojourn to Battery Steele, a World War II-era fort. 

Peaks Island tin easy beryllium done arsenic a time travel from Portland, but the Inn connected Peaks Island makes a superior lawsuit for spending a nighttime aliases two. Top summertime rates hover astir nan $300 to $500 people for cottage-style impermanent rooms that tin slumber up to four. This is simply a awesome action for larger groups, excessively — nan inn has an apartment-style suite connected nan apical level pinch four-bedrooms that tin slumber up to 11. Whether you extremity up overnighting present aliases not, make clip for a meal of lobster rolls, steamers and Maine whoopie pies astatine nan waterfront Island Lobster Company. It’s a quintessential coastal Maine experience. 

Ogunquit, Maine

Don’t slumber connected nan expansive sandy beaches of Maine’s confederate seashore southbound of Portland. Ogunquit, successful particular, has a awesome formation that is acold wallet-friendlier than Cape Cod aliases nan Vineyard. Start your sojourn pinch a stroll on Marginal Way, a 1.25-mile coastal way that’s acold little ambitious than Newport’s tony, mansion-laden Cliff Walk. 

Ogunquit punches supra its weight culturally, whether it’s modern creation shows astatine nan Ogunquit Museum of American Art aliases theatre astatine nan historical Ogunquit Playhouse. On Saturdays evenings, there’s nary spot livelier than nan Mainestreet bar, which hosts a LGBTQ+-friendly “tea dance,” welcoming all. 

Hotels present span some rustic and luxury. The delightfully old-school Norseman Resort sits straight connected Ogunquit Beach, pinch thing but nan charming Lobster House edifice to 1 side, and astir 3 miles of undeveloped soil to nan other. You tin people a partial water position room location that sleeps 5 for astir $1,545 for 3 nights complete a premier August weekend.

For a splurge, cheque retired nan new-ish Dunes connected nan Waterfront, a bid of adorable, afloat renovated cottages pinch a secluded ambiance conscionable steps from nan beach. You tin get a two-bedroom cottage that sleeps 4 for $945 a nighttime successful nan September enarthrosis season, which New Englanders lovingly telephone “locals summer.” 

Sure, nan second complaint feels much aligned pinch Nantucket pricing —but successful a municipality this relaxed, luxurious touches guidelines retired each nan more. Sometimes, it does salary to beryllium a large food successful a smaller pond.