Hyannis Port

Hyannis Port is what Hyannis isn’t: quiet, residential, and self-consciously old-school. The Kennedy Compound put it on the map permanently, but the village would feel much the same without it — shingle-clad cottages on quiet lanes, sailing instead of motorboats, and a yacht club that has been there longer than most American suburbs have existed. Beach access is largely resident-only, which is the point.

Most visitors come for the Kennedy history (the JFK Museum is technically in Hyannis a mile away) and the chance to walk past the famous compound from a respectful distance. Beyond that, you’re in a sleepy residential village without restaurants, shops, or much to do — and that is precisely the appeal for the people who own homes here.