New England Travel Suggestions -- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont!

"If we don't have the answer (unlikely), we'll find it for you!" -- Best regards, the "news hawks" at VisitingNewEngland.com
 

Q: We would like to find a special place to take our twin sons in late August for their 13th birthday breakfast or brunch. We will be staying in Danvers and would like restaurant recommendations in Salem or Marblehead or somewhere not too far from Danvers. We are interested in good food, a good ambience or a scenic view, something unique for their special day. They are "sharing" the rest of their birthday (afternoon and evening) with their cousin's wedding, and so breakfast/brunch is the only time that we will be able to celebrate their birthday alone.

A: The Landing Restaurant in Marblehead, Mass., the Lyceum Bar and Grille in Salem, Mass., and the 1640 Hart House in Ipswich, Mass., offer Sunday brunches (always call ahead to make sure the brunches are still part of their businesses). The Landing has nice views of Marblehead Harbor. The Lyceum is located in the heart of historic downtown Salem in a 19th century building where Alexander Graham Bell made his first phone call. The 1640 Hart House is located in a quaint, antique restaurant/tavern setting. The Hart House has been serving food since the 1700s, and has recently been remodeled. It's a charming place to dine.

The Landing Restaurant at Marblehead Harbor 81 Front St. at State St., Marblehead, Mass., Tel. 781-639-1266

Lyceum Bar and Grille, 43 Church St., Salem, Mass., Tel. 978-745-7665

1640 Hart House, 51 Linebrook Rd., Ipswich, Mass., Tel. (978) 356-1640

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Q: I am planning a trip to the New England area at the end of July and the first week of August. What is the weather like around that time of the year? I'm a southerner where it's hot from Apr/May to Nov.

A: It depends what part of New England you are going to, but generally count on day temperatures in the 70s and 80s, with some days in the 90s. Nights usually cool off into the 60s and sometimes in the 70s. The ocean provides seabreezes in some areas that cool things off a bit at day and night, while the mountains usually cool off more at night. You can also count of some humid days.

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 Q: Our family is considering taking our annual vacation to New England next
August. There seems to be so much to do, we need help. We are considering
driving from area to area taking in as much as possible and spending at
least a week if not two. Is there a resource we can use that will give us
some idea where to start and where to go from there to maximize our trip?

A: You've come to the right place -- VisitingNewEngland.com -- to plan your New England vacation. We recommend first looking at our top destinations and travel library pages to identify the best places to visit in New England. Also valuable is the scenic drives page, which lists destinations that people envision what New England should look like. Once you find the destinations that appeal to you most, we suggest you go to the lodging section of VisitingNewEngland.com to browse lists of lodging establishments (with descriptions and great photos) in your chosen destinations. You can make reservations online, with many rates at guaranteed lowest rates.

That is general advice. If we had to choose an itinerary for two weeks of vacation in New England, we take the following route:

Start in Boston, Mass., a cultural, historical and very fun city that could easily take up two weeks of vacation. It is the "Hub of the Universe," a walkable city with a remarkable retaining of history mixing with some very breathtaking modern leanings. We strongly recommend visiting Faneuil Hall, a restored historical set of buildings housing over 100 specialty shops and restaurants. The North End has a wonderful Italian flavor in the streets and in the restaurants. Museums like the Museum of Fine Arts, Gardiner Art Museum, Museum of Science and Children's Museum are world-class, in nature. Newbury Street looks like scene out of a European city. The Swan Boat rides in the Boston Public Garden provide a scenic oasis with this bustling city, And of course, there's Fenway Park -- be sure to catch a game, if the Sox are in town in this unique, small intimate ballpark featuring the legendary "Green Monster" wall. This is all just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to visiting Boston!

Don't forget visiting Lexington and Concord, Mass., about a half-hour west of Boston by taking Route 2 west. Home of the American Revolution, we strongly recommend taking the tours and admiring the proud. old homes and buildings that grace these two beautiful towns. Plus, there's plenty of shopping, dining and lodging opportunities, as well as visiting Walden Pond in Concord -- a pleasing respite where one can swim and also take a 45 minute walk around the pond. It is the former home of that famous misanthropic author, Henry David Thoreau.

From Boston, travel an hour-and-one half north on Route 93 north to Route 495 east to York, Maine, to experience the ultimate family fun, with great ocean beaches, classic rocky Maine coastline, wonderful lobster dinners, great lodging choices, and a zoo/ amusement park that is extensive and entertaining. From the York area, go back on Route 95 south for 10 minutes to Portsmouth, N.H., a small historical port city with interesting little shops, fine restaurants, wonderful sea captain's architecture in the homes, and loads of coastal character, perfect for those who like to walk but not too much. From Portsmouth, take Route 16 north into New Hampshire where, in a few hours, you'll end up in the White Mountains featuring some spectacular mountains (like Mt. Washington), myriad family attractions, great scenery, fresh mountain air and neat towns like North Conway, Lincoln and Woodstock.

From Woodstock, take Route 93 north into Vermont and then Route 15 east through beautiful green Vermont countryside for an hour until you reach Route 100 south which leads to Stowe. One of Vermont's most scenic, appealing villages, Stowe has plenty of attractions and truly epitomizes the small town appeal of Vermont. It's like being in a Currier and Ives setting, although there is a commercial strip leading away from the Village. From Stowe, take Route 100 south to Route 89 south to Route 91 south for about three hours until reaching the "Green Mountain" community of Brattleboro in southern Vermont. Laid back with lots of hippies and ex-New Yorkers, this is a Grateful Dead kind of town with plenty of unique shopping, dining and diverse lifestyles that lends character and a bunch of characters to this sleepy, but vibrant town. Nearby towns like Weston and Londonderry are worth exploring -- unspoiled, beautiful and full of friendly locals. The famed Vermont Country Store is located in Weston and is worth a special trip.

From Brattleboro, take Route 91 south for two hours through Massachusetts and into Connecticut. South of Hartford in the middle of the state, take Route 9 south to Essex Conn., located on the Connecticut River and recognized as one of the best small towns in America. It is a true walker's haven, with sidewalks meeting with historical buildings, cozy taverns, views of the water and some of the nicest concentration of homes in New England. Not too far from Essex are classic New England towns like Deep River, Old Saybrook, Old Lyme and Haddam -- old-fashioned, traditional New England type towns that Hollywood likes to capture in any movies made about New England (although re-creations of these towns take place sometimes in places other than New England). Enjoy the village greens, lack of development, scenery and tall white steeples rising above the sleepy towns.

From Essex and vicinity, take route 9 south to Route 95 north through the seaport towns of Mystic, Conn., Watch Hill/Westerly, R.I., and then 45 minutes north to Providence, R.I., a medium -sized city experiencing a remarkable revitalization. From the colorful Italian streets of Federal Hill to the elegant brownstone, Ivy League neighborhoods of Brown University, Providence feels like a complete city. There's the mile of colonial houses on Benefit Street juxtaposed against a rapidly growing skyline. Providence Place Mall, one of the biggest malls in New England shines its modern leanings against the architecturally old world aura of the State House. Providence also offers some of the best restaurants in New England (Al Forno, Pot Au Feu) and a plethora of high quality hotels and inns. Providence is a world class city for several blocks, with expansion of that greatness on the way.

From Providence, take route 195 east for a few minutes to Route 114, going through charming, coastal towns like Barrington and Bristol. Eventually, you'll end up in Newport, replete with spectaculars mansions, shopping to last a lifetime, unbeatable harbor and ocean views (Easton's Beach is a great summer destination with its warmer New England waters and plenty of sand), and an incredible variety of attractions.

From Newport, take Route 138 north to Route 195 east to Route 25 to Cape Cod (about an hour's trip to the entrance to Cape Cod). What a perfect way to end your New England vacation, with the gentle summer breeze as a catalyst to enjoy the legendary beaches, seafood dinners and ultimate relaxation in beautiful villages like Chatham, Brewster, Barnstable and Yarmouth (on Route 6A) Truro, and Eastham.

We also recommend checking the Dec. 27 and 22, 2006, parts of this page, for other great places to visit in New England!

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Q: If you had to pick three downtown that represent New England at its best, what would they be?

A: To us, a great New England town retains its sense of history, has a village green, predominantly locally owned stores, and tree-lined side. Additionally, we would prefer towns that remain peaceful, and don't sell out to the "souvenir/outlet store/Housing development. With that in mind, we think of the five following towns as best representing New England:

1. Guilford, Conn. This peaceful town on the southern Connecticut coast centers around one of the largest village greens in New England. A limited number of pleasing locally-owned stores and a great concentration of well-maintained colonial homes make Guilford a great place to stop. It's more a day trip than an overnight stay as the town focuses on its residents, both tourists -- that means there aren't a lot of gift stores and places to stay in town. Just because it's not a lodging destination doesn't mean its not worth a visit, however. Those who truly want a taste of authentic New England should strongly consider parking their cars, taking in the historic aura, walking the trip-back-in-time downtown and resting on a park bench in the oasis of the wonderful village green. As you can see, there's not a lot to do here, and that is precisely the point of visiting this wonderful downtown.

2. Hanover, N.H. -- With Dartmouth College and its grand old examples of architecture, beautiful tree-lined streets, remarkable, large old homes and a good amount of local places to shop, Hanover seems like perhaps the most complete version of a true, historic New England town. The spirit of a college town never takes away from the historic feel and vice versa. The result is a vibrant community that sure looks good, all wrapped up in colonial splendor, people with strong opinions and a commitment to never letting the town deteriorate into a generic, faceless community, like so many towns in New England have sadly become. Hanover is the real deal, so get a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop, talk with the locals and treat your eyes to one of New England's best maintained towns.

3. Concord, Mass. -- Home of the American Revolution, this western Boston suburb is one of the few communities in the area that has held onto its roots. What that means is the town center has grown with the times and looks great with its mix of old town buildings, museums, churches with tall white steeples rising above the trees, the great "Village Green" Monument Square, real neighborhoods with splendid colonials and Victorians and a refreshingly relaxed feel. The shops can get a little precious and expensive, at times, but there are still enough family-oriented businesses to avert the town from becoming an obnoxious retail center. Plus, if you ever get tired of the downtown -- which is unlikely -- you can take a nice ride through the country roads leading from the downtown to historic Walden Pond or one of the many local farm stands.

There are many more true New England communities like Pomfret, Conn., Litchfield, Conn., Essex, Conn., Stonington Borough, Conn., Old Lyme, Conn., Northeast Harbor, Maine, Deerfield, Mass., Hollis, N.H., Keene, N.H., Wolfeboro, N.H., Bristol, R.I., Wickford Village, R.I., Brattleboro, Vt., Weston, Vt., and Waits River, Vt.. For more information on these and other New England towns, please visit our "Top New England Communities" section.

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Q: I'm interested in moving to New England after retirement. Any recommendations on where to live?

The Sunapee, N.H. region -- It's beautiful with Mt. Sunapee and the gorgeous Sunapee Lake providing the splendor. Nearby New London is a wonderful little residential mountain/lake town with enough to do (shops, restaurants, recreational opportunities), but the chance to unwind with every c New England country sunrise and sunset.

Lexington-Concord, Mass. -- Expensive, but both towns have real character and lots of history. A walk to the center of each place, or to Walden Pond, Old North Bridge, Minuteman Park or down a tree-lined residential street would indeed be a great way of life. These two towns are also within a half hour of Boston and have lots of great services (that means higher taxes, however).

Holden, Rutland, Princeton, Mass. -- These towns are close to Worcester (not the greatest city), but offer great New England small town life and charm. All three towns feel safe and cozy. They are also centrally located, so it would be easy to travel to many great parts of New England.

Essex, Conn. -- One of the great small towns in New England (and perhaps the United States, according to some), with a quaint downtown, gorgeous views of the Connecticut River, and a truly relaxed feel. Some great neighborhoods here!

Woodstock ad Pomfret, Conn. -- Incredibly quiet, unspoiled and close enough to built-up towns and cities (Putnam, Worcester, Mass.) so you're not totally isolated. This is true New England with its rolling hills, village greens, country stores, etc.

Portland, Maine -- An interesting, revitalized city with old Victorian Homes, tree-lined streets and the great Old Port Exchange, an area with terrific restaurants and stores. Great views of the ocean can be found here, too. If you like living in the city, this is a worthy place to live. If not, surrounding communities like Cape Elizabeth, Yarmouth, Falmouth and South Portland have fine neighborhoods.

Boston, Mass. -- The "Hub of the Universe" offers a walkable city with lots of charm, history and plenty to do. Like Portland, it's a great place to live if you like living in the city. Beacon Hill, although incredibly expensive, is the place to live with it's fine brownstones and tree shaded streets. If you like the suburbs, I'd recommend looking at some of the small towns in nearby Norfolk County -- in between Boston and Providence, R.I., another worthy city that became world class seemingly in a few years (the Brown University area and Benefit Street are wonderfully charming and historic). Some towns in Norfolk County to consider are Norfolk, Walpole, Medfield, Millis, Medway, Sharon, Wrentham and Foxboro (home of the New England Patriots; people don't know that the town has a lovely village green and some superb neighborhoods). Living in this area gives you the best of both worlds, Boston,Providence and some peace and quiet in these relatively relaxing New England communities (although obnoxious, generic housing developments seem to be ruining the appeal of Walpole).

Keene, N.H. -- A sweet "college town" with an appealing and wide Main Street, an old-time movie theater, low crime, nice parks, a golf course, plenty of services (a big medical center) and really pleasant, tree-lined neighborhoods with a great mix of old and new homes. We considered moving here a while back. It's a very livable city (population 22,000) that really feels like a small town.

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Q: If you had to choose five New England restaurants specializing in great regional seafood, what would they be?

A: 1. Legal Seafoods (26 locations throughout New England and beyond)

2. The Daily Catch (323 Hanover St., Boston, Mass., 617-523-8567)

3. Docksider (14 Sea St, Northeaster Harbor, Maine, 207-276-3965)

4. The Dolphin (12 Washington St., Natick, Mass., 508-655-0669)

5. George's of Galilee (250 Sand Hill Cove Rd., Narragansett R.I., 401-783-2306)

We recommend reading the "Best Seafood Restaurants in New England" article for further information.

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Q: Where are the best places to vacation in the mountains and at the ocean in New England?

A: For mountains, you can't go wrong in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, and the Green Mountains in Vermont. They are generally regarded as the premier mountain destinations, full of scenery, attractions, events and recreation. As for the ocean, we recommend Cape Cod in Massachusetts, the southern Maine coast, Acadia National Park in Maine, and South County in Rhode Island. Please note that the cold ocean temperatures in Maine aren't as conducive to swimming as the warmer waters in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

All information on the aforementioned New England destinations can be accessed in the New England travel library or the best destinations in New England section.

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Q: Where can I go for antique shopping in New England?

A: Putnam, Conn., has a high concentration of antique stores in its quaint, old-fashioned center. Located in the quiet northeastern section of Connecticut, Putnam is also close to classic, unspoiled New England "village green towns" like Pomfret, Brooklyn and Woodstock. We also like Norwood, Mass.' downtown, which features several nice antique stores. Here, you'll also find a vibrant downtown with several restaurants and great independently-owned shops. It's not a vacation spot, but one of the better Boston suburbs when it comes to down towns.

Also, you could just drive down any country road in Vermont and discover great antique stores! The state is loaded with antique shops.

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Q: How do I know where to stay in New England? All the lodging advertisements look so appealing.

A: Don't be fooled by a hotel's appealing name. It could cost you your vacation.

One of the most important decisions you will make on your New England vacation is where to stay. The choices are many and sometimes the hype can be misleading. You may see the words "mist," "ocean," "mountains" of "sea view" on the lodging businesses name but that does not mean it near the ocean or mountains. Sometimes, you end up on a commercial strip a few miles from where you really want to be. How disappointing it is to expect an ocean view and end up with views of the wrong nautical kind -- Long John Silver's or a Red Lobster.

We recommend checking our lodging section for reviews of places we've stayed. No lodging reviews will be posted on our site that fail to meet our criteria. On this page, we also have access to hundreds of New England hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfasts with descriptions, photographs, ratings and the chance to make reservations online. It's a wonderful resource to ensure you make the right choice when staying in New England.