America's Best Small Beach Towns You've Never Heard Of

26. Port Clyde, Maine – Salt Air & Storybook Scenery

Port Clyde may be tiny, but it delivers a cinematic dose of New England charm. With fishing boats bobbing in the harbor and the historic Marshall Point Lighthouse standing sentinel (yes, that lighthouse from Forrest Gump), it’s pure postcard material. The rugged coastline is ideal for painting, pondering, or wandering. Local art galleries, seafood shacks, and ferry rides to nearby Monhegan Island add layers to its quiet magic. Unlike Bar Harbor’s bustle, Port Clyde remains blissfully under-traveled. It’s the kind of town where you can hear your own thoughts—and a lobster trap clang in the distance.