"A Little Bit of Dickens and a Precious Little Port" Newburyport by gilescorey

And why is it so? How is Newburyport overlooked to the extent it is? Don't get me wrong, I have no desire to find this charming village overrun by sagging socks and sandals, nor gelaterias, but with so much curb appeal, it's difficult to understand.

Newburyport Harbor, Salisbury in background

Perhaps the fact this village stays such a secret is rooted in the glory of other regions of Massachusetts, and New England. Nantucket, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Stowe, Bar Harbor, Newport, Kennebunkport...these are the names one immediately thinks of when they imagine picturesque New England getaways. Cape Ann and the North Shore, more densely populated and strongly linked with Boston get chucked to the side. More for you and me to enjoy....some afternoons on Plum Island, lawn concerts at the Crane Estate, house tours in Manchester-by-the-Sea and a good bar brawl in Gloucester. It's a little old corner of paradise, with Newburyport as her crown.

• Pros:walkable charm and promenade.
• Cons:not many good restaurants, and slightly "over" revitalized.
• In a nutshell:Classic New England, Easily Accessible