Storybook Summers on the East Coast
Boston Harbor Hotel | Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is the ultimate East Coast escape: cobblestone streets, historic wharves and all the coastal charm you want in a summer getaway. When they’re not at their beloved beach house in fictional Cousins, it’s also home turf for brothers Jeremiah and Conrad Fisher. At Boston Harbor Hotel, a grand 60-foot archway sets the scene for classic New England elegance. Expect plush rooms with waterfront views, Rowes Wharf Sea Grille’s terrace-perfect seafood and cocktails (live music included) and that perfect morning cup of coffee from Dandelion. Add in a 60-foot lap pool and a sleek health club, and you’ve got Boston’s version of seaside magic—refined, relaxed and ready to impress.
Storybook Summers on the East Coast
Inn at Hastings Park | Lexington, Massachusetts
If your summer mood leans less coastal beach house and more storybook New England town, Lexington delivers. Just outside Boston, this historic East Coast hotel sits in the very town where the Revolution kicked off—full of colonial charm and leafy strolls. Inn at Hastings Park is your chic home base, with three restored colonial buildings showcasing bold patterns, bright colors and luxe touches like Matouk linens (all interiors Susannah Fisher would love). Culinary adventures await at Town Meeting Bistro or in the Culinary Garden, framed by garden boxes brimming with basil, chives and lemongrass. Join a Farm to Vine dinner, sip craft cocktails or just soak up that small-town summer magic.
Storybook Summers on the East Coast
Chatham Bars Inn | Chatham, Massachusetts
The Summer I Turned Pretty author Jenny Han had plenty of beaches in mind when she wrote the story, including Cape Cod. It’s a quintessential choice with windswept New England beauty and a laid-back pace. On its southern tip lies Chatham, a place made for summer stories, and Chatham Bars Inn feels like the setting of a really good one. Shingled cottages, a private beach and views that go on forever have charmed guests for over a century. It’s polished yet playful: bike rides, beach cabanas, bonfires and afternoon drinks on Adirondacks facing the sea. Dine at The Beach House Grill, go farm-to-table at STARS or toast the sunset on Bayview Terrace with live music in the briny air.
Storybook Summers on the East Coast
White Elephant | Nantucket, Massachusetts
Weathered wharves, sea-grass dunes and that unmistakable New England summer hush that feels pulled from the pages of a beach novel, Nantucket has long been the East Coast’s answer to dreamy coastal getaways—making it a must-stop on any list of great East Coast hotels. Overlooking the harbor, White Elephant is the island’s standout stay with chic, light-filled rooms, garden cottages and luxe lofts just steps from galleries and boutiques. Sip cocktails on the Harborside Lawn, savor waterfront dining at Brant Point Grill, or unwind over afternoon port and cheese in the library. It’s New England at its most inviting, one timeless summer moment after another.
The article’s cover photo features White Elephant.
Storybook Summers on the East Coast
White Barn Inn | Kennebunkport, Maine
If Cousins Beach had a grown-up, getaway-ready sibling, it’d be coastal Maine. With its rugged shoreline, antique shops and lobster shacks, it’s easy to see why this corner of New England holds so much summer appeal. Tucked into Kennebunkport’s quiet elegance, White Barn Inn is all candlelit dinners, fresh flowers and butler-drawn baths (yes, really). Spend your day combing beaches or exploring town, then come back to champagne by the tub and a proper afternoon tea. The inn’s fine-dining restaurant, set in two restored 1820s barns, glows with soft light and old-world charm. And for something truly special, you can even check into the Cora Houseboat moored along the Kennebunk River.
Storybook Summers on the East Coast
Bedford Post Inn | Bedford, New York
For anyone whose summer plans include slipping away from the city, Bedford Post Inn is the perfect low-key escape. Tucked into New York’s wooded Hudson Valley, this eight-room charmer is a standout among East Coast hotels, feeling miles from Manhattan. Here, you’ll find antique Portuguese soaking tubs, Frette linens, fireplaces and terraces overlooking leafy grounds. Wake up to homemade pastries and coffee, then unwind at the yoga studio or settle in for wine and cheese at the daily cocktail hour. Choose between formal dining at The Farmhouse or a more relaxed meal at The Barn. It’s East Coast summer, but make it country-house sophisticated.
Storybook Summers on the East Coast
Wild Dunes Resort – Sweetgrass Inn And Boardwalk Inn | Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston secured its place on our 10 Best Places to Travel in 2025 for good reason, with pastel mansions, palmetto-lined streets and summer days that seem to last forever. On nearby Isle of Palms, Wild Dunes Resort is your go-to for sandy-footed luxury with two distinct stays: the beachy Boardwalk Inn and the modern, elegant Sweetgrass Inn. Guests can expect sunny rooms, an array of outdoor pools, a soothing spa and Southern Coastal cuisine that goes from sea-to-spoon. Tee off on championship golf courses, sip rooftop cocktails, or wander the marina at golden hour. It’s the sort of spot you could imagine Belly trading in her Northeast beach house for, chasing one more perfect summer.
Storybook Summers on the East Coast
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort | Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Perched on Kiawah Island’s pristine shores just outside Charleston, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is pure Southern seaside charm—just the kind of getaway Belly and the Fisher boys would dream about. Sweeping ocean views, cozy rooms where egrets might stop by to say hello and plenty of space to bike, kayak or chase that perfect golf swing. When hunger strikes, The Ocean Room serves fresh seafood with jaw-dropping ocean views. After a day of adventure, the spa offers soothing Southern-inspired treatments. Among East Coast hotels, this one’s a knockout for your next summer story.
Storybook Summers on the East Coast
The Tides Inn | Irvington, Virginia
Virginia’s Northern Neck is pure coastal Americana, where sailboat-studded marinas, forested trails and slow, golden sunsets define the pace. Among the standout East Coast hotels here is The Tides Inn, welcoming you with that legendary Southern hospitality. Rooms are filled with nautical details, marble-and-mahogany bathrooms and private balconies or patios for soaking in the view. Spend your days playing the George W. Cobb–designed golf course, feasting on fresh oysters at Fish Hawk Oyster Bar or enjoying regional tasting dinners at Salt & Meadow.
Storybook Summers on the East Coast
Ocean House | Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Perched high on the bluffs of Rhode Island, Ocean House feels like a storybook setting come to life—cozy stripes, warm fireplaces and sweeping views of the crisp Atlantic. Summer days here are made for lobster boils and beach BBQs, and there’s nothing better than claiming a cabana on the soft white sand to soak up the sun and sea breeze. Strolling the 13-acre grounds, you’ll quickly understand the draw: a perfect croquet lawn, a chef’s garden and a putting green. And don’t forget the wrap-around porch—perfect for curling up in a wool blanket with a book and a glass of wine. It’s easy to imagine the Fisher and Conklin families making memories at a place like this.
1 /10
Boston Harbor Hotel | Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is the ultimate East Coast escape: cobblestone streets, historic wharves and all the coastal charm you want in a summer getaway. When they’re not at their beloved beach house in fictional Cousins, it’s also home turf for brothers Jeremiah and Conrad Fisher. At Boston Harbor Hotel, a grand 60-foot archway sets the scene for classic New England elegance. Expect plush rooms with waterfront views, Rowes Wharf Sea Grille’s terrace-perfect seafood and cocktails (live music included) and that perfect morning cup of coffee from Dandelion. Add in a 60-foot lap pool and a sleek health club, and you’ve got Boston’s version of seaside magic—refined, relaxed and ready to impress.
2 /10
Inn at Hastings Park | Lexington, Massachusetts
If your summer mood leans less coastal beach house and more storybook New England town, Lexington delivers. Just outside Boston, this historic East Coast hotel sits in the very town where the Revolution kicked off—full of colonial charm and leafy strolls. Inn at Hastings Park is your chic home base, with three restored colonial buildings showcasing bold patterns, bright colors and luxe touches like Matouk linens (all interiors Susannah Fisher would love). Culinary adventures await at Town Meeting Bistro or in the Culinary Garden, framed by garden boxes brimming with basil, chives and lemongrass. Join a Farm to Vine dinner, sip craft cocktails or just soak up that small-town summer magic.
3 /10
Chatham Bars Inn | Chatham, Massachusetts
The Summer I Turned Pretty author Jenny Han had plenty of beaches in mind when she wrote the story, including Cape Cod. It’s a quintessential choice with windswept New England beauty and a laid-back pace. On its southern tip lies Chatham, a place made for summer stories, and Chatham Bars Inn feels like the setting of a really good one. Shingled cottages, a private beach and views that go on forever have charmed guests for over a century. It’s polished yet playful: bike rides, beach cabanas, bonfires and afternoon drinks on Adirondacks facing the sea. Dine at The Beach House Grill, go farm-to-table at STARS or toast the sunset on Bayview Terrace with live music in the briny air.
4 /10
White Elephant | Nantucket, Massachusetts
Weathered wharves, sea-grass dunes and that unmistakable New England summer hush that feels pulled from the pages of a beach novel, Nantucket has long been the East Coast’s answer to dreamy coastal getaways—making it a must-stop on any list of great East Coast hotels. Overlooking the harbor, White Elephant is the island’s standout stay with chic, light-filled rooms, garden cottages and luxe lofts just steps from galleries and boutiques. Sip cocktails on the Harborside Lawn, savor waterfront dining at Brant Point Grill, or unwind over afternoon port and cheese in the library. It’s New England at its most inviting, one timeless summer moment after another.
The article’s cover photo features White Elephant.
5 /10
White Barn Inn | Kennebunkport, Maine
If Cousins Beach had a grown-up, getaway-ready sibling, it’d be coastal Maine. With its rugged shoreline, antique shops and lobster shacks, it’s easy to see why this corner of New England holds so much summer appeal. Tucked into Kennebunkport’s quiet elegance, White Barn Inn is all candlelit dinners, fresh flowers and butler-drawn baths (yes, really). Spend your day combing beaches or exploring town, then come back to champagne by the tub and a proper afternoon tea. The inn’s fine-dining restaurant, set in two restored 1820s barns, glows with soft light and old-world charm. And for something truly special, you can even check into the Cora Houseboat moored along the Kennebunk River.
6 /10
Bedford Post Inn | Bedford, New York
For anyone whose summer plans include slipping away from the city, Bedford Post Inn is the perfect low-key escape. Tucked into New York’s wooded Hudson Valley, this eight-room charmer is a standout among East Coast hotels, feeling miles from Manhattan. Here, you’ll find antique Portuguese soaking tubs, Frette linens, fireplaces and terraces overlooking leafy grounds. Wake up to homemade pastries and coffee, then unwind at the yoga studio or settle in for wine and cheese at the daily cocktail hour. Choose between formal dining at The Farmhouse or a more relaxed meal at The Barn. It’s East Coast summer, but make it country-house sophisticated.
7 /10
Wild Dunes Resort – Sweetgrass Inn And Boardwalk Inn | Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston secured its place on our 10 Best Places to Travel in 2025 for good reason, with pastel mansions, palmetto-lined streets and summer days that seem to last forever. On nearby Isle of Palms, Wild Dunes Resort is your go-to for sandy-footed luxury with two distinct stays: the beachy Boardwalk Inn and the modern, elegant Sweetgrass Inn. Guests can expect sunny rooms, an array of outdoor pools, a soothing spa and Southern Coastal cuisine that goes from sea-to-spoon. Tee off on championship golf courses, sip rooftop cocktails, or wander the marina at golden hour. It’s the sort of spot you could imagine Belly trading in her Northeast beach house for, chasing one more perfect summer.
8 /10
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort | Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Perched on Kiawah Island’s pristine shores just outside Charleston, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is pure Southern seaside charm—just the kind of getaway Belly and the Fisher boys would dream about. Sweeping ocean views, cozy rooms where egrets might stop by to say hello and plenty of space to bike, kayak or chase that perfect golf swing. When hunger strikes, The Ocean Room serves fresh seafood with jaw-dropping ocean views. After a day of adventure, the spa offers soothing Southern-inspired treatments. Among East Coast hotels, this one’s a knockout for your next summer story.
9 /10
The Tides Inn | Irvington, Virginia
Virginia’s Northern Neck is pure coastal Americana, where sailboat-studded marinas, forested trails and slow, golden sunsets define the pace. Among the standout East Coast hotels here is The Tides Inn, welcoming you with that legendary Southern hospitality. Rooms are filled with nautical details, marble-and-mahogany bathrooms and private balconies or patios for soaking in the view. Spend your days playing the George W. Cobb–designed golf course, feasting on fresh oysters at Fish Hawk Oyster Bar or enjoying regional tasting dinners at Salt & Meadow.
10 /10
Ocean House | Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Perched high on the bluffs of Rhode Island, Ocean House feels like a storybook setting come to life—cozy stripes, warm fireplaces and sweeping views of the crisp Atlantic. Summer days here are made for lobster boils and beach BBQs, and there’s nothing better than claiming a cabana on the soft white sand to soak up the sun and sea breeze. Strolling the 13-acre grounds, you’ll quickly understand the draw: a perfect croquet lawn, a chef’s garden and a putting green. And don’t forget the wrap-around porch—perfect for curling up in a wool blanket with a book and a glass of wine. It’s easy to imagine the Fisher and Conklin families making memories at a place like this.
