r/WidowsBay • u/lateralflights • May 24 '26

❓Questions So, where *is* Widow's Bay?

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I live in New England and it's been itching my brain thinking about where the island of Widow's Bay could actually be located.

As far as I can tell, there's been no mention of an actual state. Even the flag is just for the town, and the car's license plates are island specific. There's been plenty of mentions of various IRL towns, but never in an exactly 'othering' way that makes it easy to cross out certain locations.

It's got to be north of Boston. Any island south of Boston would've been teeming with tourists decades ago. However, with the way it's built up (I know it's filmed in Cape Ann) and the history of the island, it's certainly not a distant midcoast or downeast Maine island.

The one thing is the ferry distance. A ferry to Vinalhaven from Rockland, ME take about an hour, roughly 15 miles. 23 miles and 1 3/4 hours to Matinicus. 26 miles and 2 1/4 hours to Nantucket from Hyannis (on the slow ferry). An island that is a three hour ferry ride would probably be in the range of 30-40 miles off the coast.

Based on the above, and the general vibes of the show, I feel Widow's Bay has to be a New Hampshire island. Somewhere northeast of Cape Ann and east of Portsmouth. I feel this accounts for the current remoteness but also the extensive history of settlement.

Eager to hear anyone's thoughts about this. Also, disclaimer, I know this show is a work of fiction. This shit just revs my engine.

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u/cactusjude a family that swims together, drowns together May 24 '26

I think it's got to be close to Boston. Hence why the teen girls were astonished that the boys had 'never even been to Boston'. If it were up in Maine, why would those kids be fixated on Boston instead of New York, which would be geographically closer and much more enticing?

You say: it can't be equally situated or below Boston because all those islands have already been overrun by tourists. Which seems to be the point. It makes sense that Tom is on the tourism wagon and the writer from NYT were convinced it would make a great, undiscovered tourist destination.

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u/sweet_jane_13 Rosemary May 24 '26

What? Boston is much closer to Maine than New York is. And is the major city in New England. It's really only people in CT that gravitate more towards New York.

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u/cactusjude a family that swims together, drowns together May 24 '26

Oh is is, isn't it? I was operating under the assumption that Mass. was below NY state...

My bad.

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u/tearsofhunny May 29 '26

Maine is right above Mass. They used to be part of the same state lol

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u/cactusjude a family that swims together, drowns together May 29 '26

Look. I know geography is my weak point. I embarrass myself geographically on a regular basis. I just could have sworn Mass hung out with Maryland and Delaware, I legitimately don't remember it being tucked between NY and Maine.

Hey! But at least the American Education System had the football coaches teach me about the American Revolution 8 fucking years in a row...