Massachusetts Has One Of The Best Off-Season Beach Towns In America

After Labor Day, many popular beach towns slow down as we head into fall. However, Daily Passport recently named the best off-season beach towns, and a Massachusetts area was named. In fact, Daily Passport also has an enlightening perspective saying, "The long, warm summer days may be gone, but the good news is so are the crowds from America’s most popular coastal towns."

The best off-season beach towns named here are all across the country. From northern Florida to California and up the coast of Oregon, these areas all see significant local traffic throughout the year.

In Massachusetts, we are talking about one of the two most popular islands off the coast that require you (and your car) to take a boat to access.

Daily Passport explains that the island population decreases from 50,000 to approximately 11,000 after the summer months. In addition, Nantucket also has a significant number of people who live there year-round.

"There is still an extraordinary number of activities to do and places to visit during the peaceful, calm months outside of the summer," Cape Cod Xplore explains.

Furthermore, Daily Passport highlights the Cranberry festival in October and a Cold Turkey plunge around Thanksgiving on Nantucket. " Winters are a time for locals to recharge and enjoy the smaller, day-to-day life, compared to the busy, swelling summertime population," Cape Cod Xplore concludes.

Lastly, of the six best off-season beach towns named in Daily Passport's feature, Massachusetts was not the only New England state to be recognized. Mystic, Connecticut, was actually the first town to be mentioned. Their historic aquarium is filled with exciting things to explore any time of year. In addition, Mystic Pizza (made even more famous by the 1988 film of the same name) is always a popular place to grab a great pie while taking in the memorabilia throughout the restaurant.

As much as I love my south shore area of the Northeast, sometimes there is nothing better than a quick pause. We are fortunate in New England that there are so many great options that are a short drive away. It's not hard to embark on that perfect weekend getaway escape.

With summer coming to a close and the hustle and bustle of all the fall activities kicking into overdrive, here I will look at some of the best places for a weekend getaway in New England based upon all of those I have visited.

Many factors can be considered when nailing down that perfect two-day plan. We, of course, are graced with all four seasons of the year, so depending upon when you are traveling, different activities may be available to you. Then again, perhaps you don't want any activities at all.

Food options are important to me. However, I don't make trip plans based around what place has the best restaurants. I tend to lean towards exploring the local area in hopes of tripping across a local gem.

Driving distance is another thing I heavily weigh. Although I don't mind the occasional long road trip, my preference is to maximize my time on a weekend adventure. Therefore, time in the car is ideally under four hours. Cost is always a factor.

Lastly, I must preface this list by stating I am an outdoorsman. A good book or movie can certainly do the trick. I always opt for great ocean waves, a rope swing, or mountain over an extra hour of sleep.

In recent years, I have been to each of the places on this list over various months of the year. They each have their own unique characteristics. Their common bond is that they are all great destinations for a New England weekend getaway.

Cape Cod is an obvious location. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, there is perhaps no place that is more popular in Massachusetts. To me, it's about finding that specific corner of Cape Cod that is right for you. You can camp or find cottages along Cahoon Hallow Road that will enable amazing trips to the beach. Trekking those sand dunes, hitting the three-foot waves (yes, sometimes there are shark warnings), and then getting food at the Beachcomber while listening to the great live music, is my perfect day.

There is never a bad time to visit this charming town. You can ski Cranmore in the winter. Hike, hit the waterfalls, or visit Storyland in the summer. Either way, you will be graced with some amazing local restaurants. In fact, North Conway flies under the radar as one of the best pizza towns in New England. The hotels like Eastern Slope in accommodate any season, and are right in the middle of town where all the bars, restaurants and stores are. This weekend getaway is probably the least "quiet" but has the most amount of options at your fingertips.

The river that runs through Woodstock has a way of speaking to you. It's serene but can also provide a thrill of pushing you down stream. It's calming to provide that fresh water cleanse to rid yourself of all that comes with the lights on the city. Lastly, the various rope swings scattered around the town provide a liberating rush. From the climb up the rocks to the swing, to the plunge, you focus on nothing but the joy of that ride. Ramunto's Brick Oven and Brews is also an essential stop upon each visit.

Lake life just hits differently. Depending upon where you go around Lake Sebago you get the feeling that nowhere else on the planet exists while you there. Frye Island has the magic of no public cars, local watering holes, and the ability to bike incredible dirt roads. There's a history there to learn about and local taps to enjoy. It's common to see jet skiing or pontoon boating anywhere you look within the glistening waters. Furthermore, certain towns offer that one and only general store that has everything you can imagine, from household cleaning supplies to steaks to grill for dinner.