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Postcard
Picture-Perfect New England Towns
In this world of faceless, cookie cutter residential and commercial development, be rest assured that there a few New England communities left with integrity when it comes to preservation and an idyllic "look" from another generation
Shelburne
Falls, MA (photo by Eric H.) They ruined our town! How many times have you heard that phrase from local residents who don't like McMansion neighborhoods with no sense of place, homes where people proudly lived being torn down in favor of "essentials" like day spas and luxury car dealerships, and faceless strip malls that have stripped away the uniqueness of our communities? While no community is immune from this disturbing and soulless trend, we have a few places left in New England Shelburne Falls, MA -- This small town in the Berkshire Mountains foothills has a classic look -- a tree-shaded downtown, an independent book store, coffee shop, drug store, ice cream parlor and more community-oriented memories from yesteryear. It's a happy place where hippies and rednecks can peacefully co-exist. Shelburne Falls also has a few tourist drawing cards: the Bridge of Flowers, a walking path leading over a bridge of spectacular flowers, and the glacial pot holes at the Shelburne River that are seemingly deeper than our country's financial deficit. Stockbridge, MA -- This place looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting because... well... this is where he spent his latter years painting. It's an absolutely beautiful town with a leisurely feel (sometimes marred by overstressed New Yorkers driving like maniacs) and a simple layout plan: a classic inn (The Red Lion), local market with a luncheonette, one of the oldest libraries in Western Massachusetts, a few pleasant shops and restaurants, mansions and stately old homes, and enough culture to keep things lively (The Berkshire Theater Festival, Norman Rockwell Museum). Stockbridge looks like the kind of place where an entire community gathers to hold hands and sing Christmas carols around the village green -- the ultimate testimony to a "real" new england town. Stockbridge is beautifully situated in a valley with close proximity to some nice mountain views, courtesy of the Berkshires. Woodstock, VT -- No, this isn't the Woodstock -- that out of control 1960s concert -- that contributed to our moral decay, but rather a quaint little town that perhaps best represents the postcard picture-perfect New England town. With a covered bridge at the downtown and well-maintained big, old homes surrounding the classic village green, this is the type of town you see in those feel-good, old-fashioned movies. Although there's a growing number of upscale art and boutique shops, Woodstock is a place that doesn't exclude anyone because of its timeless qualities of rest, relaxation, and an overall slower unhurried pace that, when combined with the surrounding moutnain and rural scenery makes this one of the best places to visit in New England. Bristol, RI With a red, white and blue median strip leading to a tree-lined downtown of service-oriented shops (that also keep tourists attracted to the downtown), Bristol is really a pleasant little place to be by the coast -- and one that is, for many, superior to some heavily promoted nearby tourist communities. Big on architectural preservation and community spirit (its July 4th celebration is known as one of America's best) visiting Bristol is highly recommended. There are plenty of restaurants downtown (Some with excellent, fresh-off-the-boat seafood), a scenic bike path leading several spectacular miles to Providence, and the amazing Colt State Park with lots of recreational opportunities and perfectly manicured landscapes and the picture-perfect panoramic Narragansett Bay views majestically created by Mother Nature that define this one-of-a-kind 464-acre gem. Hanover, NH Some college towns have become so smug and caricatures of their once great self that they're simply unbearable and best avoided. Hanover, on the other hand, remains true in its traditional Ivy League ways with the renowned Dartmouth College and a pleasant mix of shops and restaurants and tree-lined streets that help create a friendly town that just feels authentic. Hanover looks great, is near some top notch ski destinations in the winter and hiking, swimming and other recreation opportunities during the summer. Downtowns really don't much better than Hanover because it simply stays within its roots without having to resort to generic trends like constructing sterile buildings, bringing in sterile businesses, or attracting sterile people. It's a town of diversity, great minds, a town vision and, ultimately, a wonderful place to walk, meet friendly locals, and admire New England the way it should be.
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