A Massachusetts Town Was Ranked the Best for Backyard Entertaining

Barnstable, Mass. photo by Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism on Flickr/Creative Commons

New Englanders know there is nothing as sweet as Cape Cod in the summertime, where dining en plein air often translates to devouring ice cream cones by the beach.

So it’s no surprise that a Cape Cod town was ranked as one of the best in the country for backyard entertaining. According to a new report from Wayfair, it’s hard to beat the beachy backyard barbecues of Barnstable. The home goods e-commerce company listed Barnstable as the number two spot for best backyard entertaining. The town was topped only by Palm Coast, Florida.

By looking at regional sales data of outdoor summer goods, (think grills, meat smokers, outdoor dining sets and bars, chaise lounges, hammocks, pool floats, etc.) Wayfair ranked the places most likely to host the best backyard party this summer.

Cities like Napa, Miami, and San Diego trailed behind Barnstable on the list. Out of the top 20 U.S. towns, which mainly represented Florida and California, New England claimed three total spots—Stamford, Connecticut came in at number four, and Boston clocked in at number 14.

A best backyard entertaining ranking calls for celebration—see our recommendations for backyard dining accessories and patio design tips.

Check out the full list below.

1. Palm Coast, Florida
2. Barnstable (Cape Cod), Massachusetts
3. Atlantic City, New Jersey
4. Stamford, Connecticut
5. Napa, California
6. Miami, Florida
7. Ocean City, New Jersey
8. Sarasota, Florida
9. Naples, Florida
10. Brunswick, Georgia
11. San Diego, California
12. Punta Gorda, Florida
13. Vero Beach, Florida
14. Boston, Massachusetts
15. Palm Bay, Florida
16. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
17. Daytona Beach, Florida
18. Fort Myers, Florida
19. Santa Rosa, California
20. Port St. Lucie, Florida