USA Today Travel recently wrote a terrific travel article entitled “51 Scenic Hikes,” recommending “awe-inspiring treks” in the United States. To no surprise, New England received some mention, including Devil’s Den Preserve in Weston, Conn., Gulf Hagas Gorge in the North Woods of Maine, Blue Hills Reservation just south of Boston, Mass., Mount Chocorua in the White Mountain of New Hampshire, the Cliff Walk in Newport, R.I., and the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell, Maine.

I have hiked Mount Chocorua and the Cliff Walk and can tell you that both of these scenic treks are worth the visit for very different reasons. The 3.5 mile Cliff Walk in Newport, R.I., affords many spectacular beach, ocean, cliff side and Newport mansion views along the eastern shore, while Mount Chocorua has incredible views of New Hampshire mountains, including the vast and truly scenic Presidential Ranges (featuring Mt. Washington, the highest point in New Hampshire at 6,288 ft.).

I can hardly wait to visit the other recommended places in this article! For the time being, we strongly encourage you to check out the article — the writers, journalists and other media types that recommend these hikes nicely “walk you through” these scenic destinations.