Powdery beaches, sunset cocktails, lobster rolls and corn on the cob.
Chelsea Bengier hits the road in search of the best East Coast vacation spots. Get packing!
SEE ALSO: We went inside the upscale NYC hotspot with a secret room for the rich and famous
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Shelter Island, NY
Set between North Fork's vineyards and the Hamptons' glam beach scene is Shelter Island, a small, sleepy atoll where New Yorkers come to unwind on golden-sand beaches and eat farm fresh fare. Rent a bike at Piccozzi’s by the North Ferry dock and pedal down to Wades Beach for an afternoon by the water. Shelter Island Craft Brewery serves flights of local ales and IPAs for when you need a break from the sun. Just make sure to save room for dinner at Vine Street Café— the Montauk pearl oysters are a must-try. End the evening with a glass of rosé at the checkered tables on Sunset Beach's deck.
Where to Stay: The Chequit
Falmouth, MA
This quaint seaside village has all the trappings of a quintessential New England getaway: a charming green, a boutique-lined main street and a white-steepled 19th-century church, just five minutes from the shore. Shop preppy-cool shops like Cape Chic, Vagabond Treasures and Twigs, then pick up a beach read at Eight Cousins bookshop. After a stroll through town, pop into Anejo Mexican Bistro for the signature guacamole, made tableside, and tequila (if you dare). Or nosh on classic French dishes — duck confit rillette, lobster strudel, pan roasted Atlantic swordfish — at The Glass Onion. For dessert, there's nearby Ben and Bill's Chocolate Emporium, where the homemade buttered lobster flavor (yes, you read that right) is a long-standing favorite.
Where to Stay: The Palmer House Inn
Newport, RI
There's a reason Newport is Instagram gold. The Rhode Island gem has gilded mansions, gorgeous coastal drives and 17th-century captains homes. Hit Bellevue Avenue to see the massive estates owned by prominent families like the Vanderbilts (who referred to the chateaus as their "summer cottages"). We recommend touring Rosecliff, Marble House, and the grandest of them all, The Breakers. Leave enough time for a stroll on the Cliff Walk, a path that winds between the manicured gardens and the sea below. Then head into town to explore the nautical shops along Thames Street, and the fudgeries and seafood joints by Bowen's Wharf. The clam chowder at Black Pearl, a cozy eatery that looks like the cabin of an old ship, is the perfect post-retail lunch. Or, reserve a table at the White Horse Tavern, a Newport institution that's been serving customers since 1673. Come sunset, go for a drive along the winding Ocean Drive.
Where to Stay: The Attwater | Forty 1 North
RELATED: Your Hot Summer in Newport
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