Take a Break from the City on Your Interstate 95 Road Trip
When you’re driving the eastern seaboard, you’ll be well-acquainted with Interstate 95, which can take you over 1,800 miles from Miami, Florida to Maine’s border with Canada. There’s no lack of amazing cities you’ll pass through, including Boston, Providence, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Ft. Lauderdale. If the big cities are making you miss something a bit more charming, check out these small towns on the east coast.
Waterville, Maine: Exits 127 and 130
Home to Colby College and Thomas College, this small town has a youthful and sophisticated vibe. The town hosts Maine’s International Film Festival, Colby College Museum of Art hosts nearly 8,000 pieces of art, and the annual Taste of Waterville festival will make your mouth water.
Sharon, Massachusetts: Exits 8 and 10
After seeing Sharon’s tree-lined streets, you might think you’re in a postcard. Between I-95 and Sharon you’ll find the expansive Mass Audobon’s Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can hike and bird watch or snowshoe and ski in the winter. From the Moose Hill trails, you’ll be high enough to enjoy views of the Boston skyline and the surrounding hills and valleys.
Mystic, Connecticut: Exit 90
Mystic is more than just the setting of a 1988 Julie Roberts movie. This picturesque seaport town is a favorite summer getaway for New Englanders. Walk through the eclectic and chic shops downtown, visit an impressive aquarium boasting New England’s only beluga whale, and see the stunning tall ships at the historic Seaport.
Walterboro, South Carolina: Exits 53 and 57
Nestled in the southern portion of South Carolina, you’ll find “The Front Porch of the Lowcountry,” a surprising gem with no lack of small town charm. Walterboro won’t let the big cities of nearby Charleston and Savannah overshadow it – here you’ll find shopping centers, artisan and farmers markets, antique shops, cozy diners and more.
Cocoa, Florida: Exit 205
When you’re on the southern end of I-95, check out Cocoa – the town, not the beach (although that’s worth a stop, too!) Living up to its status on the Space Coast, Cocoa has the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory that includes interactive exhibits, flight simulators, laser shows and, of course, top notch telescopes. If you’re less of a spaceman and more of a cowboy, there are plenty of places to saddle up and enjoy a horseback ride in Florida’s beautiful sunshine.
Images via Waterford; Mystic Aquarium; Eastern Florida State College.
