Natasha B.C. Smith
Capeside, Massachusetts (Dawson’s Creek)
When I first saw Dawson’s Creek as a teenager, I was certainly enthralled by the characters, the dialogue, and the high school drama, but the biggest impression the show left on me was how breathtaking the setting was. I was blown away. I wanted to immerse myself in this world where a teenager could open their back door, walk a few steps to a picturesque creek, and watch the sunset while sitting on the edge of their own little pier, or hop in their boat and row themselves over to their best friend’s house to hang out.
I don’t know how they could afford it, but everyone on the show seemed to have a huge house set on a vast amount of land. The titular creek added to the show’s dreamy, idyllic quality, and Capeside seemed like the perfect place to grow up. Beyond the residential areas, it was the quintessential Massachusetts seaside town, with cute little stores and seafood restaurants on the waterfront, and small boats bobbing around in the harbor.
Joey’s family’s restaurant, the Icehouse, seemed like a fun place to hang out with friends or grab some food. The Rialto was a very cool old movie theatre that Dawson understandably adored. It was a truly unique and historic building that added to the character of the town, and therefore to the character of the show itself. The video store where Dawson and Pacey initially worked seemed ideal for a teenage film buff like Dawson, and it’s definitely evocative of the era of the show.
Of all the towns on this list, Capeside has to be the one I’d most like to actually live in—not just because it’s the only one devoid of both supernatural killers and massively irritating residents, but also because of its exceptional Cape Cod location and its charming amenities. Somehow, even the sunsets in Capeside always looked better than anywhere else, and when I think of Dawson’s Creek, I’ll always think of Capeside’s distinctive splendor.
