The great July 4 weekend getaway is about to begin. In the coming days thousands of visitors will converge in New England’s eternally fashionable summer colonies of Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Newport to celebrate their independence the old-fashioned way with fireworks, parades and barbecues.
These coastal enclaves have been attracting affluent incomers for two centuries, drawn to their beautiful landscapes and vibrant social scenes like bees to flowers.
But while pre-pandemic buyers hankered for
