This unique windmill is one of MA’s best beach rentals

By Judy J. Beasley Last updated Dec 26, 2022

Cape Cod rentals are a summer staple here in Massachusetts and the market is hotter than ever. We discovered one of the coolest and most unique rentals in Cape Town!

Listed on Airbnb by Chatham Village Vacation Properties, Windmill Cottage invites people to enjoy their vacation at this classic historic property in Chatham’s Old Village neighborhood. Chatham town centre, beach and lighthouse are just steps away from this incredibly charming cottage.

This classic property, which has been fully restored and updated, was designed and built by a famous naval architect and features the rich maritime style he was known for and remains one of Chatham’s crown jewels in old town.

The cottage, which will cost around $400 a night, depending on the time of year, has a first-floor bedroom with a queen bed and a second-floor loft with a double bed and sleeps up to four. people. The stairs to the attic are quite steep and follow the contour of the sloping walls. Once in the loft, guests will marvel at the intricate mechanics of the layshaft and gears that turn with the outer sails. This truly remarkable property offers guests a remarkable vacation experience that they will remember for a lifetime.

WATCH: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pros and cons, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best in which to live. For the knowledge, Stacker consulted WalletHub data, published on June 17, 2020, which compares American beach towns. The ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. Cities ranged from 10,000 to 150,000 people, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read it complete methodology here. From these rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida won’t be surprised to learn that many of the cities featured here are in one of these two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

LOOK: Here are the best lakeside towns to live in

Many of the towns included jump out at the casual observer as popular summer rental spots – Branson of the Ozarks, Missouri or Lake Havasu in Arizona – it might surprise you to dive deeper into some quality of life offerings at beyond the beach and vacation homes. You’ll likely learn about a wide range of Americana: one of the last 1950s-style drive-ins in the Midwest; a Florida town that began as a retirement area for Civil War veterans; an island teeming with some of the nation’s best public schools and revenue streams smack dab in the middle of a lake between Seattle and Bellevue; and even a California town containing more than the prison blues of Johnny Cash.