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PA/NJ are beautiful and my vote for VA/MD/DE is not a knock on them in the least; but PA/NJ simply does not have an answer for Shenandoah National Park which is quite possibly the most beautiful place in the eastern US.
In my opinion, the New Jersey coastline is heavily overbuilt compared to the Delaware coastline. Additionally, I find the bays and inlets of southern Delaware to be more attractive than those found in New Jersey because they are surrounded by [what I perceive as] very attractive vegetation. Sussex County, Delaware is far enough south to have loblolly pine trees and other plant/tree species that are native to the Southern U.S., which gives the entire area a much nicer character than anywhere along the New Jersey shoreline. I have not yet found any beach towns in New Jersey that are as heavily wooded as Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach.
Also, I think Maryland is a much more attractive state than New Jersey overall. Maryland has larger mountains and more pastoral landscapes than New Jersey, which makes the scenery of inland Maryland more similar to that of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Many of the small towns on or near the Chesapeake Bay are very charming and historic. For example, towns such as Easton, Oxford, St. Michael's, etc. have a lot more colonial charm than anywhere in New Jersey and are more similar to the towns you find in coastal New England and eastern Long Island.
Between the larger states of Pennsylvania and Virginia, I find the latter to be much healthier-looking overall than the former. Outside of the wealthy Philadelphia suburbs and Amish Country in southeastern Pennsylvania, much of the state is rather dirty and rundown, despite having relatively similar scenery to Virginia. For many years, Pennsylvania has invested significantly less money into itself than Virginia, and I think that has allowed Virginia to run away with the crown. I understand that Virginia is (essentially) the seat of U.S. government, but still, Pennsylvania is the birthplace thereof.
Last edited by Outer_Bluegrass; 02-26-2023 at 10:30 AM..
In my opinion, the New Jersey coastline is heavily overbuilt compared to the Delaware coastline. Additionally, I find the bays and inlets of southern Delaware to be more attractive than those found in New Jersey because they are surrounded by [what I perceive as] very attractive vegetation. Sussex County, Delaware is far enough south to have loblolly pine trees and other plant/tree species that are native to the Southern U.S., which gives the entire area a much nicer character than anywhere along the New Jersey shoreline. I have not yet found any beach towns in New Jersey that are as heavily wooded as Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach.
Also, I think Maryland is a much more attractive state than New Jersey overall. Maryland has larger mountains and more pastoral landscapes than New Jersey, which makes the scenery of inland Maryland more similar to that of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Many of the small towns on or near the Chesapeake Bay are very charming and historic. For example, towns such as Easton, Oxford, St. Michael's, etc. have a lot more colonial charm than anywhere in New Jersey and are more similar to the towns you find in coastal New England and eastern Long Island.
Between the larger states of Pennsylvania and Virginia, I find the latter to be much healthier-looking overall than the former. Outside of the wealthy Philadelphia suburbs and Amish Country in southeastern Pennsylvania, much of the state is rather dirty and rundown, despite having relatively similar scenery to Virginia. For many years, Pennsylvania has invested significantly less money into itself than Virginia, and I think that has allowed Virginia to run away with the crown. I understand that Virginia is (essentially) the seat of U.S. government, but still, Pennsylvania is the birthplace thereof.
I'd say New Jersey is more well known for the quality and attractiveness of its built environment (ie., Nice walkable train towns, Hoboken, Beach towns, quaint suburbs) over its natural beauty. But I do think NJ has a few beaches that aren't built along Long Beach Island and Island Beach State Park. And I would agree, PA is very run down outside the Main Line, Nothern Bucks County and Amish Country.
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Originally Posted by masssachoicetts
I'd say New Jersey is more well known for the quality and attractiveness of its built environment (ie., Nice walkable train towns, Hoboken, Beach towns, quaint suburbs) over its natural beauty. But I do think NJ has a few beaches that aren't built along Long Beach Island and Island Beach State Park. And I would agree, PA is very run down outside the Main Line, Nothern Bucks County and Amish Country.
Mehh. Idk about that one. This is one where as a state Maryland is really slept on too much. "Charming towns" exist throughout the state. From Western MD, to the Eastern Shore, and everything in between. That Frenchtown place in NJ you posted is like 2/3 blocks wide max. A couple of others you listed are just a few sq blocks.
I agree that MD towns are not quite "New Englandy" in feel, but there's plenty of quaint ones:
Mehh. Idk about that one. This is one where as a state Maryland is really slept on too much. "Charming towns" exist throughout the state. From Western MD, to the Eastern Shore, and everything in between. That Frenchtown place in NJ you posted is like 2/3 blocks wide max. A couple of others you listed are just a few sq blocks.
I agree that MD towns are not quite "New Englandy" in feel, but there's plenty of quaint ones:
tbf I was just going for the architecture that I have seen throughout the state that could match New England and Long Island. A lot of those (like Frenchtown and all the Delaware Crossing towns) are small. But there are a lot bigger towns (Like Summit, Westfield, Hoboken, Cranford, Somerville, Montclair, Madison, Short Hills Morristown, Rumson, etc...) but they are like the towns you posted above.
Maryland is slept on and they do have charming towns but not as New Englandy as NJ. NJ will have a harder time having more 'quaint' towns since most of the state is either developed, are the pine barrens or are State Parks. NJ has a lot of nice towns, but they are much closer together since there are more in quantity.
Although, Maryland has a lottt more empty space than NJ between towns which is really nice. Something that reminds me of New England there.
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Originally Posted by masssachoicetts
tbf I was just going for the architecture that I have seen throughout the state that could match New England and Long Island. A lot of those (like Frenchtown and all the Delaware Crossing towns) are small. But there are a lot bigger towns (Like Summit, Westfield, Hoboken, Cranford, Somerville, Montclair, Madison, Short Hills Morristown, Rumson, etc...) but they are like the towns you posted above.
Maryland is slept on and they do have charming towns but not as New Englandy as NJ. NJ will have a harder time having more 'quaint' towns since most of the state is either developed, are the pine barrens or are State Parks. NJ has a lot of nice towns, but they are much closer together since there are more in quantity.
Although, Maryland has a lottt more empty space than NJ between towns which is really nice. Something that reminds me of New England there.
Oh ok gotcha. Yep I agree with all of this here.
Yes I know you left out some of the larger ones, like Hoboken, Montclair etc., at least those two I've been to. Like you said even though MD is #4th state in density, it's not as dense as NJ which is #1 and overall has like 3 million more people. Which is why it's no surprise you'll actually find triple deckers there to some degree unlike MD.
Mehh. Idk about that one. This is one where as a state Maryland is really slept on too much. "Charming towns" exist throughout the state. From Western MD, to the Eastern Shore, and everything in between. That Frenchtown place in NJ you posted is like 2/3 blocks wide max. A couple of others you listed are just a few sq blocks.
I agree that MD towns are not quite "New Englandy" in feel, but there's plenty of quaint ones:
Maryland is no slouch at all in the charming towns category, which is somewhat of a misnomer here on C-D.
Salisbury and Westminster are considered “charming towns?” Never heard them described as that before. Sure they may have some decent streets (though those street views aren’t super-impressive), but I don’t think that “charming” comes to mind for most people.
These types of towns stand out and look different because so much of Maryland is suburban or urban, but many are not what I would consider “charming towns.”
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Salisbury and Westminster are considered “charming towns?” Never heard them described as that before. Sure they may have some decent streets (though those street views aren’t super-impressive), but I don’t think that “charming” comes to mind for most people.
These types of towns stand out and look different because so much of Maryland is suburban or urban, but many are not what I would consider “charming towns.”
Well clearly it's a bit subjective, as the post I replied to either had NJ beach towns, not exactly "charming", or a towns with like a two block grid of, a couple quaint streets. Salisbury is probably the biggest stretch of the ones I posted for MD, because it's primarily a main street and not much "charm" outside that perimeter, but I also left out beach towns, unlike the other post.
Well clearly it's a bit subjective, as the post I replied to either had NJ beach towns, not exactly "charming", or a towns with like a two block grid of, a couple quaint streets. Salisbury is probably the biggest stretch of the ones I posted for MD, because it's primarily a main street and not much "charm" outside that perimeter, but I also left out beach towns, unlike the other post.
Ocean Grove, Stone Harbor, Cape May, the entirety of LBI are a few of the many charming towns on the Shore. There's a lot more too. Im not sure which towns weren't? None of these places were/are small. Maybe Frenchtown? but Frenchtown is on the Delaware River.
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Ocean Grove, Stone Harbor, Cape May, the entirety of LBI are a few of the many charming towns on the Shore. There's a lot more too. Im not sure which towns weren't? None of these places were/are small. Maybe Frenchtown? but Frenchtown is on the Delaware River.
Not really lacking charm per se, but I think it was Spring Lake, the one I just so happened to click on and see, to me it was pretty much just regular houses on an ocean front. Not like a small downtown or Main St. type of feel. All looks nice, but that's a pretty standard looking town found up and down the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast seaboard. I think your point about appearing a bit more "New Englandy" may have been why that particular one was posted.
I'm aware that NJ will win the beach towns with MD every day, as well as with other states on the EC.
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