13. Cohasset, Massachusetts

Insiders who know New England coastal life know that Boston's South Shore has some of the most picturesque (and hard to get to) towns there are. And those townfolk are all the luckier for their splendid isolation. Chief among those secret-treasure towns may be Cohasset, a former fishing village tucked in along the rocky shores where greater Boston Harbor ends and Massachusetts Bay begins.

Cohasset's beauty drew painter Maurice Prendergast, who captured its colors in famous oils. With only 7,500 residents, Cohasset offers a large park, two beaches for residents, and a wildlife sanctuary. Shh. Don't tell another soul.

Where to Stay: Red Lion Inn Resort's rooms have brick or gas fireplaces. Rates start at $230; 781/383-1704 or redlioninn1704.com.