Where to Go in New England

See Also

• Locating Appropriate Accommodations in Boston
• Suggested lodging in Portland, Maine

The Best Areas to Stay in New England

New England encompasses the historic portion of America, brimming with picturesque villages dotted with colonial churches, tranquil commons, and wooden homes. Nearly every town contains a residence museum dating back to the 17th or 18th century, and this region was where the Revolutionary War initiated in 1775. Presently there`s much more to enjoy, from a gorgeous coastline with craggy headlands, sandy beaches, and islands to an untamed interior of mountains, dense woodlands, and rolling hills.

If you can only go to one state then visit Vermont or New Hampshire (they are the most quintessential having the most to see and do in the smallest area).

• Best New England Destinations for Couples and Honeymoon: Martha’s Vineyard – Newport, RI
• Primary notable New England destinations: Boston • Lakes Region, NH • Coastal Maine
• Best New England Destination for Nightlife: Boston
• Best New England Destination for Beaches: Cape Cod
• Top New England destinations for cuisine include: Boston – Rhode Island – Portland, ME – Portsmouth, NH.
• Best New England Destination for Hiking Trails: White Mountains, NH

New England – The Highlights

10 Best Cities in New England

• Boston
• Portland
• Providence
• Burlington
• Portsmouth
• Bangor
• New Haven
• Hartford
• Newport
• Concord, NH

10 Best Beaches in New England

• Ballston Beach, Cape Cod (MA)
• Norton Point Beach/South Beach, Martha’s Vineyard (MA)
• Cisco Beach, Nantucket (MA)
• Block Island State Beach (RI)
• Mothers Beach, Kennebunk (ME)
• Goose Rocks Beach (ME)
• Sandy Point State Reservation (MA)
• Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester (MA)
• Popham Beach (ME)
• Nauset Beach (MA)

10 Best Vacation Spots in New England

• White Mountains, NH
• Boston
• Nantucket
• Green Mountains, VT
• The Berkshires
• Martha’s Vineyard
• Kennebunkport
• Acadia National Park
• Lake Winnipesaukee
• Cape Cod

10 Best Craft Breweries in New England

• Center Street Brewing Company, Wallingford, Connecticut
• Bissell Brothers Brewing Company, Portland, Maine
• Tox Brewing Company, New London (CT)
• Burlington Beer Company (VT)
• Austin Street Brewery, Portland (ME)
• Providence Brewing Company (RI)
• Article Fifteen Brewing, Weymouth (MA)
• Great Awakening Brewing Co, Westfield (MA)
• Granite Roots Brewing (NH)
• Smuttynose Brewing Company, Hampton (NH)

9 Best Food Destinations in New England

• Boston (clam chowder, Boston baked beans, Boston cream pie, Italian cuisine)
• Coastal Maine (lobster, clambakes, clam rolls)
• New Bedford, MA (Portuguese food)
• Cape Cod (fried clam bellies)
• Berkshires (sugar shacks)
• Newhaven, CT (pizza)
• Rhode Island (beverages like coffee milk, frozen lemonade, doughboys, coffee cabinet, hot wieners)
• Vermont (cheddar cheese, apple cider/doughnuts, rich fries/poutine, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream)
• Hartford, CT (Polish and old-school Italian)

10 Best small towns in New England

• Provincetown, MA
• Kent, CT
• Stockbridge, MA
• Shelburne Falls, MA
• Bennington, VT
• Grafton, VT
• Wolfeboro, NH
• Damariscotta, ME
• Eastport, ME
• Exeter, NH

New England Travel Itinerary

Creating a travel plan for New England centered around Boston’s Logan International Airport is effortless, where renting a car is convenient and (relatively) economical. From here, there truly are no poor itineraries – in the fall, especially, the entirety of New England ignites with color, and in the summer there`s a lot to do and experience inland and along the coastline. Boston merits no less than a couple of days for newcomers, but afterward, make time for the little towns, hamlets, secluded beaches, and mountains that make this such a unique region.

• For a 7 day New England itinerary: spend 2 days in Boston, 2 days in the Berkshires, and 3 days in Vermont OR 2 days in Boston, 2 days in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, 2 days in the White Mountains, 1 day in Portland, ME OR 2 days in Boston, 3 days in Cape Cod, 2 days in Rhode Island.
• 10-day Itinerary for New England: Spend 2 days in Boston, 2 days in the Lakes Region, 2 days in the White Mountains, 4 days in Vermont OR 2 days in Boston, 2 days on Cape Cod, 2 days in Nantucket, 3 days in Martha’s Vineyard.
• 14-day New England Itinerary: Spending 2 days in Boston, 2 days in the Berkshires region, 3 days in Vermont, 2 days in the White Mountains area, 2 days in the Lakes Region, 1 day in Portsmouth NH, either 2 days in coastal Maine & Portland OR 2 days in Cape Cod, 2 days on Nantucket Island, 1 day back in Portsmouth NH, then 2 days in the Lakes Region, 2 days in the White Mountains, 1 day in Portland ME, with 4 days exploring coastal Maine along US-1.

The 30 Best Places to Visit in New England

1. Boston, MA

The largest urban area and understood hub of New England, Boston is one of the nation`s most fascinating destinations, rich with historic sights, art museums, restaurants, and family-friendly attractions that could conveniently fill a week of sightseeing. Boston Common remains the city`s historic heart; from here the Freedom Trail connects all the major sights associated with the Revolutionary War. Highlights comprise the Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Faneuil Hall, and Quincy Market. Children particularly enjoy the New England Aquarium,Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum,Children’s Museum, and the Museum of Science. The city`s artistic gems comprise the Institute of Contemporary Art,Museum of Fine Arts, and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Beacon Hill, Boston’s most prestigious neighborhood, is also one of the most pleasant to explore on foot. Its narrow, cobbled streets are lit by original gas lamps and lined with gorgeous 19th-century townhouses. The Black Heritage Trail is here, as is the Massachusetts State House. The North End, Boston’s Italian neighborhood, features authentic bakeries, cafes, and restaurants. The atmospheric clapboard home of Paul Revere, where he covertly left on his famed ride in 1775, nevertheless stands in the North End, as does Old North Church, where two beacons were hung to caution Charlestown militia (“one if by land, two if by sea”). Across in Charlestown itself is the USS Constitution, the celebrated ship known as “Old Ironsides”, and the Bunker Hill Monument.TD Garden is home to the Boston Celtics and the Bruins; Gillette Stadium hosts the New England Patriots; and famed Fenway Park is where the Red Sox hold court. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum stands south of the city on Columbia Point.

2. Portland, ME

Maine`s center for culture and commerce, Portland makes for an enjoyable brief visit, with several notable museums, independent boutiques, fine dining establishments, and many high-quality craft breweries – the Allagash Brewery and the Bissell Brothers Brewing Company, both located on the outskirts of town, are our favorites. Other highlights include the charming Old Port district, the Portland Museum of Art, historic Victoria Mansion, and the Portland Observatory. Just offshore, Casco Bay’s Calendar Islands offer hiking trails, beaches, and historic sites.

3. Cape Cod, MA

This elongated, hook-formed landmass jutting into the ocean is among the nation`s most popular summer locations, studded with clam eateries, beautifully maintained colonial villages, and lined with wild, untouched beaches safeguarded within the protected Cape Cod National Seashore. At its northern tip lies Provincetown, featuring its own fine beaches, art galleries, tasty seafood, and a thriving LGBT community; it also contains the Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum and a smattering of Portuguese culture thanks to its historic fishing population. Though the roads and coastline of Cap Cod can be crowded in the peak summer months, booking ahead makes it relatively easy to find a quiet stretch of sand, village green, or local café. Beyond Provincetown and the beaches, the biggest attractions are the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, chronicling this history of the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, and the Cape Playhouse.

4. Acadia National Park, ME

Encompassing much of Mount Desert Island off Maine’s Atlantic coast (connected to the mainland by causeway), this expansive wilderness reserve is pitted with mountains, lakes, hiking trails, and plenty of wildlife, from seals and beavers to bald eagles. The main gateway is the elegant 19th-century resort town of Bar Harbor, crammed with hotels and holiday shops. The 27-mile Park Loop Road system offers a sample of the park by car from here, taking in the Wild Gardens of Acadia, Sand Beach, and Thunder Cave. It’s also worthwhile venturing over to the western side of Somes Sound to visit picturesque Bass Harbor Head Light and the renowned lobster hubs of Southwest Harbor. We also love the most isolated section of the reserve on Isle au Haut, only reachable by boat, renowned for its rugged hiking trails, marshes, bogs, and freshwater Long Pond.

5. Nantucket, MA

Known as the “Little Gray Lady”, Nantucket Island is located approximately 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts in the Atlantic Ocean. Once supporting a thriving whaling industry that some believe inspired Herman Melville`s classic novel Moby Dick, Nantucket today is renowned for its naturally beautiful shorelines, fresh local seafood cuisine, and historical landmarks commemorating its maritime past. Museums and stately homes constructed from weathered wood reflect the island`s seafaring traditions. The best way to explore is by bicycle, such as along Polpis Road heading east towards the rose-dotted cottages in the community of Siasconset.

6. The Coastal Route (Hwy-1, Maine)

I would also recommend exploring the majestic Iguazú Falls by joining this multi-day excursion and taking in the mountainous landscapes adjacent to Salta. Additionally, you can participate in this full-day activity to uncover the rich cultural heritage, stunning scenery, and historic attractions of the area.

7. The Berkshires, MA

Much of western Massachusetts is taken up by the Berkshires, a hilly region of small towns and charming villages best known for its world-class arts festivals and cache of historic mansions. It’s especially popular during the summer festival season and in the fall, when the woods and forests are smothered in color. Highlights include Tanglewood, summer quarters of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge; the Mount, home of writer Edith Wharton; and Hancock Shaker Village, five miles west of Pittsfield. To the north, in Williamstown and North Adams, The Clark and stunning MASS MoCA respectively are world-class art galleries. In addition to the Tanglewood concert series, there’s the Berkshire Theatre Festival, contemporary dance at Jacob’s Pillow,Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

8. Martha’s Vineyard

The largest New England island, Martha`s Vineyard offers significantly more diversity than Nantucket. It contains several distinct communities, each with their own identity. Edgartown features brightly colored Colonial clapboard homes and gardens, while Vineyard Haven serves as the main port, packed with stores. Oak Bluffs is best known for its decorative cottages. Elsewhere there are small beaches, hills, farms, and wild, undeveloped moorlands. The island can become crowded in the summer but quiet spots are generally easy to locate.

9. Newport, RI

Set within a beautiful waterside location on Aquidneck Island, Newport flourished greatly during the 19th century as a summertime destination for prominent families such as the Astors, Vanderbilts, and various other affluent individuals from America`s Gilded Age. To this day it remains a popular spot for yachting, with many enticing beaches in the summer months and the historic Point district packed tightly with homes built during the Colonial era, although it`s best known for the truly magnificent mansions constructed during its peak. Most of them welcome visitors and are filled with antiques, marble, and precious works of art, resembling more of European palaces than summer retreats. The Breakers is a must-see, undoubtedly the grandest mansion, built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II in 1895. Rosecliff, finished seven years later for Nevada silver heiress “Tessie” Fair Oelrichs, was designed by famous architect Stanford White in the style of the Grand Trianon at Versailles. Belcourt Castle (aka “Belcourt of Newport”) is another favorite, designed by Robert Morris Hunt and completed in 1894.

10. Portsmouth, NH

This small yet advanced coastal city in New Hampshire combines a wealth of history and remnants of colonial times with upscale restaurants and excellent craft breweries, its small center easily explored on foot. The primary attraction is the Strawbery Banke Museum, a living exhibition consisting of over 30 historic houses and wooden structures dating back to the colonial era. There are also various historic homes around town worth exploring, particularly the Moffatt-Ladd House and John Paul Jones House, home of America’s first great naval commander.

11. Lake Winnipesaukee & the Lakes Region, NH

Just south of the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the Lakes Region is enveloped by forests, ponds, and scenic expanses of water, home to thousands of loons, eagles, and wildlife. The largest lake and central feature is Lake Winnipesaukee, best appreciated on a boat cruise. The lake is surrounded by historic resort towns, the best being Wolfeboro.Weirs Beach, on the busy western shore is a more family-oriented resort town, home to adventure parks and watersports. Towering high above the northern side of the lake, don’t miss the Castle in the Clouds, a beautiful mountain peak estate built in 1913 and open to visitors. Further north, Squam Lake is a tranquil stretch of water surrounded by small villages and hamlets.

12. Burlington and Lake Champlain, VT

Stretched over some 150 miles between Vermont and New York state, Lake Champlain is one amongst New England`s greatest natural wonders, a magnet for kayakers, boaters and cyclists (it`s lined with appealing bike trails). The lake is anchored by Burlington, a fun city that`s been influenced by French Canadian culture, recognized for its 19th-century structures, brewpubs, the ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, and Lake Champlain Chocolates. The University of Vermont campus incorporates the Robert Hull Fleming Museum of Art, while the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum lies within the northern outskirts, commemorating the famed Revolutionary War hero. The northern end of the lake is dominated by the rustic Champlain Islands, home of Saint Anne`s Shrine, while the southern stretch is safeguarded by Mount Independence, a significant Revolutionary War stronghold.

13. Shelburne Museum, VT

Though on the outskirts of Burlington, this expansive outdoor museum deserves singular acknowledgement – a full day is barely enough time to do it justice. Spanning some 45 acres, it can roughly be portrayed as a grand compilation of Americana, with over 30 structures and 18th-century clapboard homes, most transported from other parts of New England. Highlights involve the giant McClure Round Barn and merry-go-round, the Circus Building (housing exhibits on historic American circus troupes), the Ticonderoga, a steam paddlewheeler, a once operational lighthouse, the 1785 Stagecoach Inn, and a vast assortment of art exhibited in the Electra Havemeyer Webb Memorial Building and Webb Gallery.

14. Mount Washington & the White Mountains, NH

The rugged mountain range of White Mountains in New Hampshire is a destination throughout the entire year, dotted with ski resorts in the winter months (notably places like Waterville Valley,Jackson, and Loon Mountain), and providing superb hiking, cycling, and scenic drives in the summer months. Towering over everything is Mount Washington, New England’s highest peak (at 6,288ft), accessible by automobile (Mount Washington Auto Road), on foot, or by the renowned Mount Washington Cog Railway. The Kancamagus Highway between Lincoln and Conway is one of the most picturesque routes across the mountains, while the finest hiking trails can be found in and surrounding areas like Franconia Notch (a local word for high mountain pass), Crawford Notch, and Pinkham Notch, along the eastern base of Mount Washington.

15. Hartford, CT

One of New England’s most surprising destinations, Hartford is traditionally known as the city that is the main center for insurance firms worldwide, as well as being the capital city of Connecticut, but it also boasts a rich collection of cultural attractions. The Mark Twain House and Museum keeps the legacy of America’s greatest writer, while the Wadsworth Atheneum displays a fabulous gathering of art. The newer Connecticut Science Center is an innovative family-friendly museum crammed with interactive exhibits. There’s also the Old State House, and the Museum of Connecticut History, where the original 1662 Connecticut Royal Charter is kept. The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center (next door to the Mark Twain museum) serves as a memorial to the author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, the book that turned many white Americans against slavery in the 1850s.

16. Stowe, VT

Stowe, Vermont is considered the quintessential ski destination in the area, with the slopes and mountains of Stowe Mountain Resort situated high above a beautiful 19th century village. It`s also known for being the final home of the Von Trapp family, which inspired The Sound of Music (the Trapp Family Lodge is a popular hotel here). Historic Stowe village and the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum lie along Route 100 (Main St), while Route 108 (Mountain Rd) leads up to the ski areas (lined with malls and restaurants), and on through the mountain pass known as Smugglers’ Notch. The highest peak in Vermont is also located here, 4,395-foot Mount Mansfield – it`s possible to drive up the Toll Road to the Mt Mansfield Peak Visitor Center for spectacular views.

17. Lexington and Concord, MA

The American Revolutionary War commenced in 1775 in the small towns of Lexington and Concord, situated on the outskirts of Boston, indispensable stops today for anyone interested in learning about United States history. There is sufficient to observe here to fill several days worth of sightseeing. Both towns have visitor centers, monuments, and museums dedicated to the battles fought here and the minutemen who sent the British soldiers scrambling back to Boston. In Concord there is a replica of North Bridge and the absorbing Concord Museum. Lexington contains the patriots headquarters at the Buckman Tavern, triangular Battle Green where the initial bloody encounter took place, and the National Heritage Museum. Between the two towns, the Minute Man National Historical Park preserves the old Battle Road on which the British forces were forced back. Non-war related attractions include Orchard House, the home of author Louisa May Alcott, and Wayside, the house where fellow writer Nathaniel Hawthorne lived. There is also Ralph Waldo Emerson House, residence of the renowned essayist and poet.

18. Emily Dickinson Museum, MA

One of America`s most beloved poets spent much of her life in Amherst, Massachusetts. Today the Emily Dickinson Museum safeguards The Homestead, her birthplace and family home, as well as The Evergreens next door, home of her brother Austin and his wife Susan Gilbert, Emily`s childhood friend. Guides lead tours of both houses sharing engaging anecdotes about the famously private poet, along with some personal effects and the desk where her poems were discovered after her passing. Dickinson`s final resting place lies in the nearby West Cemetery, behind Pleasant Street.

19. Monhegan Island, ME

A tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately ten miles from the coast of Maine (yet easily accessed by ferry in summer), Monhegan seems frozen at a point in history, renowned for its rustic village inns, lobster and clam eateries, the 1824 Monhegan Island Lighthouse, and its 17 miles of paths along granite cliffs.

20. Cambridge & Harvard, MA

Two of the world`s most renowned institutions of higher education have their home bases in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from Boston. Established in 1636, the historic architecture and libraries of Harvard University are arranged around Harvard Yard, with the nearby community hub of Harvard Square residing at the heart of town life in Cambridge itself. Impressionist and Picasso drawings hold prominence at the university`s Fogg Art Museum, while German Expressionists and Bauhaus artists take center stage at the Busch-Reisinger Museum. If visual arts do not appeal to one`s interests, opt instead for the massive dinosaur fossils on display at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, or take in the relaxed cafés and bars throughout Cambridge itself. A couple miles southeast of Harvard lies the sprawling campus of the world`s most esteemed engineering and science university, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The campus is home to Frank Gehry`s fanciful Stata Center (2004), a crazy amalgamation of tilting columns, shimmering metal, and curved walls. The MIT Museum featuressuitably high-tech displays including an entrancing hologram collection and working robots such as the 1993 version of the “sociable” robot, Kismet, which employs human-like facial expressions.

21. New Haven and Yale University, CT

One of Connecticut’s earliest colonies, the lively city of New Haven is most renowned as the home of Yale University’s leafy campus. Highlights here involve the Louis Kahn-designed Yale Center for British Art and the Yale University Art Gallery (which is free), along with Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History, home to a jaw-dropping collection of dinosaur fossils. The city of New Haven itself contains Chapel Street, crammed with bookshops, boutiques, cafés, and student bars, while the Italian District boasts some of the finest restaurants in the region; New Haven is famous for its pizza, with Pepe’s (founded in 1925 by Italian-born Frank Pepe), Sally’s Apizza (founded by Frank’s nephew Salvatore Consiglio in 1938), and Modern Apizza (1934) the most celebrated joints.

22. Salem, MA

Salem, just north of Boston, is a excellent family-friendly destination, with a rich maritime history and of course many attractions capitalizing on the infamous witch trials that occurred here in 1692. Older children will enjoy the kitschy witch-related sights; the best are the Salem Witch Museum, the atmospheric Witch House, and the Witch Dungeon Museum. The most intriguing attraction in Salem is actually the Peabody Essex Museum, a massive gallery with a collection that’s particularly good for Asian artifacts and culture. Much of Salem’s historic waterfront is protected within the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, and includes the House of the Seven Gables, an old mansion made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s eponymous novel.

23. Litchfield Hills, CT

This rustic section of northwest Connecticut is scattered with scenic villages, gentle waterfalls, and pine and maple woods. The area is centered around the small town of Litchfield, known for its traditional Town Green, elegant wood structures and Historic District; picture-perfect Washington; the antique haven of Woodbury; pretty Lake Waramaug; and the country town of Kent, an artists colony and home to Kent Falls State Park. Other attractions include the historic covered bridge at West Cornwall and the Yale Summer School of Music in Norfolk.

24. Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour, VT

Kootenay National Park is home to the Radium Hot Springs and the Sinclair and Marble Canyons. Waterton Lakes National Park borders the province of Montana and includes scenic trails and prairies. Yoho National Park is smaller, but has some of the most astonishing geology, including Takakkaw Falls, Wapta Falls, Mount Stephen, and Mount Burgess. If you go to Yoho, I recommend stopping by Emerald Lake and the Natural Bridge of the Kicking Horse River.

25. Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, MA

Springfield is best known as the birthplace of basketball. It was here in 1891 that Canadian James Naismith invented the modern game, as commemorated at the engaging Basketball Hall of Fame. Housed within a massive domed structure, it’s filled with interactive exhibits (like a virtual hoop simulation and rebound practice station) and displays (including one dedicated to Michael Jordan), as well as the hall itself where new players are inducted annually.

26. Worcester Art Museum, MA

One of the premier art galleries in the region is nestled away in Worcester, about 45 miles west of Boston. Its precious collections include a 12th-century Romanesque chapter house transported from France, the Roman Antioch Mosaics, and paintings ranging from the early Italian renaissance to El Greco, Rembrandt, Goya, Monet, and Gauguin. There’s also a substantial cache of American art and a vast collection of Qing dynasty Chinese jade.

27. Canterbury Shaker Village

This museum commemorating Shaker life makes for an intriguing day visit, preserving in full the community established here in 1792. It retains arguably the most complete Shaker village in the US, maintaining all primary buildings and ample data on the 18th century Christian sect known as Shakers.

28. Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, NH

Situated on the outskirts of the small village of Cornish, this site protects the studios and gardens of renowned 19th-century sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (creator of the Shaw Memorial in Boston and the General William T. Sherman Monument in New York City). He lived and worked here from 1885 until 1907.

29. Queechee Gorge, VT

Situated within the protected lands of Queechee State Park, this 165-foot gorge running along the Ottauquechee River is one of Vermont’s prime natural features. Most visitors glimpse the scenic gorge from the bridge carrying US-4 over the waterway, but hiking trails also branch out from the nearby park center providing additional perspectives. Its beauty is particularly evident in fall when the surrounding woodlands erupt in vibrant color.

30. The Long Trail, VT

Vermont provides an excellent setting for hikers, with the 272-mile Long Trail being one of the most arduous routes in the region (it follows the Appalachian Trail for much of its length). The trail runs along the ridge of the Green Mountains from the border between Massachusetts and Vermont to Québec, taking in some of the tallest peaks in the state such as Camel’s Hump (4,083ft) and Mount Mansfield (4,393ft). Most walkers require 25 to 30 days to complete the entire trail, but sections are relatively convenient to access for day excursions.

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