Eastport

Eastport sits on Moose Island at the very eastern edge of the United States, where the Bay of Fundy's enormous tides shape everything. You arrive by tender into a harbour lined with 19th-century brick buildings along Water Street. Lobster traps stack up on the docks and fishing boats come and go throughout the day. The Old Sow Whirlpool, one of the world's largest tidal whirlpools, churns in the strait between the U.S. and Canada just offshore. The working waterfront is the main attraction. Galleries occupy old storefronts, and you can buy smoked fish or fresh-caught lobster from the boats. The Tides Institute and Museum of Art has a surprisingly good collection for such a small town. Bring layers because the wind off the bay is persistent even in summer. The town is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes, so you won't need a taxi.