Kathleen Dooher

Want to collect seashells, feast on fried clams, or ride a carousel? For these and dozens of other hot-weather pursuits, seek out these prime stretches of sand. We guide you to the best beaches in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut for a varitety of interests: those seeking seashells, looking for top sunsets, hoping to ride a carousel, desiring fried clams, and more.

By Patricia Harris and David Lyon