Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to New England! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to New England.
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Covered bridges, waterfalls, quaint towns, lobsters, fall foliage and lighthouses…swimming holes, historic ballparks, fishing villages, clam shacks, and dairy farms. New England offers much to attract travelers. It is a place of deep history and immeasurable beauty, luring millions of visitors each year from all over the world. But where should YOU go in New England? There are a lot of attractions to choose from, and so I have constructed this page to expose you to the most significant attractions and natural wonders of this magnificent region.
If you want to visit New England for the first time, and you have TWO full weeks to spend, here are a few suggested itineraries:
Southern New England (2 weeks)
✮ Start in Boston, MA
✮ Boston, MA - 2-3 nights
✮ Cape Cod with day trips to Provincetown and the two islands (Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard), MA - 6-7 nights
✮ Providence, RI - 1 night
✮ Newport, RI - 2 nights
✮ Mystic, CT - 1 night
✮ Finish in Boston, MA
Northern New England (2 weeks)
✮ Start in Boston, MA
✮ Boston, MA - 2-3 nights
✮ Portland and the southern ME coast - 1-2 nights
✮ Bar Harbor / Acadia National Park, ME - 4-5 nights
✮ North Conway / White Mountain National Forest, NH - 3-4 nights
✮ Finish in Boston, MA
Northern New England + Vermont (2 weeks)
✮ Start in Boston, MA
✮ Boston, MA - 2-3 nights
✮ Portland and the southern ME coast - 1-2 nights
✮ Bar Harbor / Acadia National Park, ME - 3-4 nights
✮ North Conway / White Mountain National Forest, NH - 2-3 nights
✮ Stowe or Burlington, VT - 2 nights
✮ Finish in Boston, MA
Take note that New England includes six states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Some folks (especially those from other areas of the country) may be surprised to learn that New York is not considered part of New England.
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10 GREAT ATTRACTIONS IN EACH NEW ENGLAND STATE |
Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in New England? Here are my selections for 10 great attractions or experiences in each of the New England states, listed in no particular order:
Connecticut
✮ Stay at (or near) Mohegan Sun, one of the best resort casinos in the U.S. outside of Las Vegas; concerts/shows are great there too
✮ Visit Gillette Castle State Park and explore a stone castle that looks like a medieval fortress
✮ Cycle one of Connecticut's excellent rail trails (e.g. Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, Farmington River Trail, Airline State Park Trail, etc.)
✮ Visit the excellent Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic
✮ See retired PEZ candy dispensers at the PEZ Visitor Center in Orange
✮ Go for a picnic and see a set of great waterfalls at Kent Falls State Park
✮ Head to Lake Compounce & Crocodile Cove, the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States
✮ Eat some of the best pizza you've ever had in New Haven
✮ Hit the beach at Hammonasset Beach State Park
✮ Visit the various museums of Yale University in New Haven
Maine
✮ Explore the great city of Portland, especially the Old Port district
✮ Head to Bar Harbor and explore the rocky coastline of Acadia National Park
✮ Go hiking in Baxter State Park
✮ Explore the southern coastline and its many fine beaches (e.g. Long Sands Beach, Ogunquit Beach, Old Orchard Beach)
✮ Go whitewater rafting on the Kennebec River with Northern Outdoors or another local guide service
✮ Visit some of Maine's 65 lighthouses
✮ Hit the slopes at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry or Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley
✮ Hike to Moxie Falls, one of the best waterfalls in New England
✮ Ride a snowmobile on some of Maine's 14,000 miles of trails
✮ Sail some of the Maine coastline
Massachusetts
✮ Tour the historic city of Boston, one of the most walkable cities in the U.S.
✮ Spend a week enjoying the beaches, towns, and other attractions of Cape Cod
✮ Take a ferry to visit the upscale islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
✮ Explore the museums, nature parks, and quaint small towns of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts
✮ Attend the Big E in Springfield, one of the largest country fairs in the U.S. (typically held in mid-to-late September)
✮ Try some fried claims and other great seafood in the towns of Ipswich and Essex
✮ Go antiquing at the Brimfield Antique Show in Brimfield (3x per year)
✮ Visit the outstanding Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
✮ Cycle the 25-mile paved Cape Cod Rail Trail
✮ Catch a ballgame at Fenway Park in Boston
New Hampshire
✮ Stay in Conway or North Conway and explore various parts of the exceptionally scenic White Mountain National Forest
✮ Take a hike in Franconia Notch State Park near Lincoln and Franconia
✮ Walk, shop, and dine in downtown Portsmouth
✮ Hike Mt. Monadnock, one of the most climbed mountains in the world (make parking reservations in advance!)
✮ Take the kids to Story Land and/or Santa's Village, two of the best theme parks for young children in the U.S.
✮ Climb through boulder caves at the Lost River Gorge or the Polar Caves
✮ Drive, hike, or take a cog railway to the top of Mt. Washington
✮ Seek out some of New Hampshire's 50+ covered bridges
✮ Hit slopes at one of many great ski areas found in the central and White Mountains regions of the state
✮ Drive the famous Kancamagus Highway (NH-112) during fall foliage (early October) between Lincoln and Conway
Rhode Island
✮ Relax on quaint and scenic Block Island for a few nights
✮ Cycle the 14.5-mile East Bay Bike Path, one of New England's best paved rail trails
✮ Walk the famous 3.5-mile Cliff Walk in Newport and then head to the area surrounding Thames Street for many shops, restaurants, and bars
✮ Take a guided tour of one (or several) of Newport's historic mega-mansions
✮ Attend a WaterFire bonfire event in downtown Providence
✮ Drive Ocean Drive, Rhode Island's most famous and best scenic drive
✮ Hit the beach at Narragansett Town Beach
✮ Eat all-you-can-eat seafood at the Nordic in Charlestown
✮ Join a sailing tour in Newport
✮ Attend either the Newport Folk Festival or the Newport Jazz Festival, or both
Vermont
✮ Stay in or near Stowe and enjoy its hiking trails, paved bike path, waterfalls, shops, and restaurants
✮ Ski Killington Resort, the largest ski resort in Vermont and one of New England's best
✮ Drive as much of VT 100 / Route 100 as possible in early October to see prime fall foliage
✮ Explore Burlington, one of America's favorite medium-sized cities
✮ Visit the Shelburne Museum, an outstanding American history museum with several buildings (and a steamboat) full of exhibits
✮ Hike a portion of the 270+ mile Long Trail
✮ Take a factory tour at Ben & Jerry's in Waterbury
✮ Find some of Vermont's secret swimming holes
✮ Go mountain biking on the Kingdom Trails in East Burke
✮ Walk around Woodstock, one of New England's prettiest towns
If I were asked to recommend just five places to visit in New England, I would include the following:
✮ Boston (MA) - I recommend first-time visitors spend a minimum of 2-3 days
✮ Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park (ME) - I recommend first-time visitors spend a minimum of 4-5 days
✮ Cape Cod with day trips to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard (MA) - I recommend first-time visitors spend a minimum of 6-7 days
✮ North Conway & White Mountain National Forest (NH) - I recommend first-time visitors spend a minimum of 4-5 days
✮ Stowe (VT) - I recommend first-time visitors spend a minimum of 3-4 days
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, including each of the New England states, click here.
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| Cliff Walk, Newport, RI | |
Minute Man Nat. Historical Park, MA | |
Nubble Light, York, ME | |
BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN NEW ENGLAND
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There any many great small towns and cities scattered throughout New England that can serve as a base camp for your travels and adventures. The towns and cities listed below all offer excellent accommodations, great food, and access to exceptional nearby attractions. These are my favorite towns and cities in New England:
Connecticut
✮ Essex - a small town known for its historic buildings, harbor views, and tourist area with boutique shops
✮ Mystic - a small town known for its lively downtown and major tourist attractions (e.g. Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport Museum)
✮ Simsbury - a small town known with an attractive downtown area; access to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and Talcott Mountain SP
✮ Woodbury - a small town known as the "antique capital of Connecticut"; the town has many historic buildings
Maine
✮ Bar Harbor - a beloved small town that serves as the gateway to Acadia National Park; has a very lively downtown area (in season)
✮ Bethel - a small town close to the Sunday River Resort ski area and also the hiking trails and waterfalls of Grafton Notch State Park
✮ Boothbay Harbor - a small coastal town that has a lively waterfront area with boutique shops and art galleries; "classic seaside Maine"
✮ Camden - a historic small town with great ocean views and a lively downtown area; gateway to Camden Hills State Park
✮ Farmington - a small town with a historic downtown area that has several boutique shops
✮ Freeport - a small town that offers "the best weekend of shopping in New England"; L.L. Bean flagship store is here, plus 100+ other stores
✮ Kennebunkport - a small and charming coastal town with many boutique shops and seafood restaurants; good beaches
✮ Lubec - a very small town that is the easternmost municipality in the contiguous U.S; close to great nature parks and a famous lighthouse
✮ Monhegan Island - a small and rocky island accessible by boat; a "car-free and care-free island" with cliffs, ocean views, and hiking trails
✮ Ogunquit - a small beach town with boutique shops and art galleries; it has a vibrant art & theatre scene plus great coastal walks
✮ Old Orchard Beach - a small beach town with seaside amusements, family-fun attractions, and a beach pier; close to Funtown Splashtown
✮ Portland - a medium-sized city with a lively historic district and many innovative restaurants and boutique shops; TONS of breweries
✮ Rangeley - a small town close to excellent hiking (e.g. the Bigelows), waterfalls (e.g. Smalls Falls) and skiing/snowboarding (e.g. Saddleback)
✮ York - a small town with several beaches and seaside amusements; the start of scenic coastal drives; not far from Ogunquit
Massachusetts
✮ Boston - a major city with exceptional historical sites (e.g. Colonial/Revolutionary War) and public parks; one of U.S.'s most walkable cities
✮ Cambridge - a medium-sized city with many boutique shops, art galleries, and ethnic restaurants; home of Harvard University and MIT
✮ Chatham - a small seaside town with beaches, boutique shops, and lighthouses; gateway to Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Edgartown - a small and upscale island town on Martha's Vineyard; many white-clapboard colonial homes, boutique shops, and restaurants
✮ Falmouth - a coastal town with boutique shops, a rail trail, and the famous Nobska Lighthouse; gateway to Martha's Vineyard (island)
✮ Great Barrington - a small town with boutique shops and good restaurants; access to the Appalachian Trail and close to Bash Bish Falls
✮ Lenox - a small town that is home to Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; has a tourist area with boutique shops
✮ Nantucket - a small and upscale town on Nantucket Island; has boutique shops, cobblestone streets, beaches, and interesting whaling history
✮ Newburyport - a small coastal city with an upscale historic district, great harbor views, and maritime history; cycle the Clipper City Rail Trail
✮ Northampton - a small city with a lively historic district with many shops and restaurants; access to two excellent rail trails nearby
✮ Oak Bluffs - a small and upscale coastal town on Martha's Vineyard (island); has boutique shops and the famous "gingerbread" houses
✮ Plymouth - a small coastal with boutique shops and strong colonial/pilgrim history (e.g. Plymouth Rock and the Plimoth Patuxet Museum)
✮ Provincetown - an extremely walkable, gay-friendly small town with boutique shops, restaurants, art galleries, boat tours, and nightlife
✮ Rockport - a small artist colony-type town with boutique shops and a scenic harbor; go hiking in Halibut Point State Park
✮ Salem - a small city with a lively downtown area; the city is famous for its witch history/museums and massive Halloween events in October
✮ Stockbridge - an exceptionally quaint small town with a famous inn (Red Lion Inn) and historic architecture; famous for Norman Rockwell
New Hampshire
✮ Conway/North Conway - a large and lively mountain town with access to exceptional outdoor recreation (e.g. the White Mountains)
✮ Hampton Beach - New Hampshire's liveliest beach town; has good surfing and several seaside amusements, shops, and restaurants
✮ Hanover - a quaint small town with a historic downtown; the home of Dartmouth College; has access to the Appalachian Trail
✮ Jackson - a small town with excellent hiking, downhill skiing/snowboarding; X-C skiing, waterfalls, and family-friendly attractions
✮ Keene - a small city with a lively historic downtown full of shops and restaurants; Mt. Monadnock is in nearby Jaffrey
✮ Lincoln/Woodstock - a pair of small mountain towns with access to exceptional outdoor recreation (e.g. the White Mountains)
✮ Meredith - a small town on Lake Winnipesaukee that has a small but lively tourist area; the world's largest arcade is nearby (Funspot)
✮ Portsmouth - a small city with a popular historic downtown area that has many shops and restaurants; visit the Strawberry Banke Museum
Rhode Island
✮ Narragansett - a coastal town known for its beaches (e.g. Narragansett Town Beach) and as the gateway to quaint and scenic Block Island
✮ New Shoreham - an upscale and quaint town on Block Island with miles of beaches, good on-street cycling, and some shops and art galleries
✮ Newport - a small city famous for its lively tourist areas, historic mansions, beaches, and Cliff Walk; also the "sailing capital of the World"
✮ Providence - a large city famous for its historic districts, colonial architecture, Italian restaurants, creative culture, and river bonfire events
✮ Westerly - a small coastal town with several tourist shops, restaurants, and beaches; the "Watch Hill" area is best but parking is limited
Vermont
✮ Brattleboro - a small town that has a lively historic downtown area with several shops, restaurants, and art galleries
✮ Burlington - a medium-sized city on Lake Champlain that is famous for its hip/eclectic college-town atmosphere, breweries, bike paths
✮ Manchester - an upscale small town with a lively downtown that has several shops and restaurants; a famous fly-fishing destination
✮ Middlebury - a small college town with an attractive historic downtown area; several breweries; access to Green Mountain National Forest
✮ Stowe - an awesome small ski town with great scenery, hiking, and skiing/snowboarding; has a nice paved bike path; close to many breweries
✮ Woodstock - a quaint small town with many Federal and Georgian-style homes; has a lively downtown area with shops and restaurants
My favorite small towns/small cities in New England are:
✮ Bar Harbor, Maine
✮ Manchester, Vermont
✮ Mystic, Connecticut
✮ Newport, Rhode Island
✮ North Conway, New Hampshire
✮ Provincetown, Massachusetts
✮ Stowe, Vermont
My favorite medium-sized cities in New England are:
✮ Burlington, Vermont
✮ Portland, Maine
✮ Portsmouth, New Hampshire
My favorite ski towns in New England are:
✮ Bethel/Newry, Maine
✮ Jackson, New Hampshire
✮ Lincoln/Woodstock, New Hampshire
✮ North Conway/Conway, New Hampshire
✮ Stowe, Vermont
My favorite beach towns in New England are:
✮ Block Island (RI)
✮ Ogunquit (ME)
✮ Old Orchard Beach (ME)
✮ Provincetown (MA)
✮ Westerly/Watch Hill (RI)
✮ York/York Beach (ME)
My favorite major city in New England is, of course, Boston.
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
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| Newport, RI | |
Mystic, CT | |
North End district, Boston, MA | |
WHAT IS NEW ENGLAND FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that New England is famous or well-known for:
✮ beaches
✮ breweries
✮ colonial history / pilgrim
✮ clam chowder
✮ covered bridges
✮ fall foliage
✮ fishing / fishing harbors / ice-fishing
✮ forests
✮ fried seafood (e.g. fried clams)
✮ healthcare institutions
✮ higher education (e.g. universities and colleges)
✮ hiking trails
✮ lakes and ponds
✮ lighthouses
✮ lobsters
✮ maple syrup
✮ moose
✮ professional sports
✮ Revolutionary War history
✮ rocky / rugged coastlines
✮ sailing
✮ ski/snowboard resorts
✮ snowmobiling
✮ waterfalls
Click here if you'd like to learn what other U.S. states are famous for.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN NEW ENGLAND
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In addition to having one official national park, New England has many other federally-managed parks and properties, including:
National Parks
✮ Acadia National Park (ME) - a beautiful coastal park, popular with hiking, climbing, sea-kayaking, biking & horseback riding
National Forests
✮ Green Mountain National Forest (VT) - a 400,000-acre forest in southwestern and central Vermont
✮ White Mountain National Forest (NH/ME) - a 800,000-acre forest in northern New Hampshire and the western Maine mountains
National Recreation Areas
✮ Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (MA) - historic forts, remote beaches and island camping
✮ Cape Cod National Seashore (MA) - beautiful & wild beaches
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks
✮ Adams National Historic Park (MA) - preserves the home of Presidents of the United States John Adams and John Quincy Adams
✮ Boston National Historic Park (MA) - collection of historic sites that display Boston's role in the American Revolution
✮ Lowell National Historic Park (MA) - historical sites related to textile manufacturing in the city during the Industrial Revolution
✮ Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (VT) - beautiful forests, hiking trails, carriage roads, and mansion tours
✮ Minute Man National Historic Park (MA) - Revolutionary War-era sites and historic buildings; dirt jogging and hiking paths
✮ Roosevelt Campobello International Park (ME) - preserves the house and surrounding landscape of the Roosevelt family summer retreat
✮ Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site (NH) - preserves the home, gardens, and studios of one of America's foremost sculptors
✮ Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (MA) - 1600s site of the first integrated ironworks in North America
✮ Springfield Armory National Historic Site (MA) - world's largest collection of historic American firearms
✮ Touro Synagogue National Historic Site (RI) - oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States
✮ Weir Farm National Historic Site (CT) - one of two sites in the National Park Service system devoted to the visual arts
Many travelers that want to visit Acadia National Park will fly into Logan Airport in Boston and then drive up into Maine. Here are some suggestions for places to see/stop along the way:
✮ Eat some fried claims in Ipswich or Essex, MA
✮ Walk around downtown Newburyport, MA
✮ Walk around downtown Portsmouth, NH
✮ Visit Ogunquit and Oqunquit Beach, ME
✮ Visit Old Orchard Beach, ME
✮ Walk around the 'Old Port' section of downtown Portland, ME
✮ Shopping and dining in Freeport, ME
✮ Visit Boothbay and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, ME
✮ Visit Camden and the nearby Cellardoor Winery, ME
For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
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STATE PARKS IN NEW ENGLAND
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New England has several hundred state parks. Here is a list of what I believe are the premier state parks in the region:
Connecticut
✮ Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam - tour an eccentric medieval-style castle
✮ Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison - visit one of the best beaches in Connecticut
✮ Kent Falls State Park, Kent - see one of the top waterfalls in CT; the park offers great picnicking; falls are visible from the west side of US-7
Maine
✮ Baxter State Park, Millinocket - hiking, backpacking, mountain climbing/scrambling, camping, canoeing, wildlife viewing
✮ Camden Hills State Park, Camden - hiking, camping, scenic drive, scenic views
✮ Grafton Notch State Park, Newry - hiking, backpacking, waterfalls, scenic drive, scenic views
Massachusetts
✮ Bash Bish Falls State Park, Mt. Washington - hike to the most dramatic waterfall in Massachusetts; start your hike in Taconic State Park in NY
✮ Mount Greylock State Reservation, Lanesborough - state highpoint; excellent hiking, backpacking, and backcountry skiing trails; lodge on top
✮ Natural Bridge State Park, North Adams - contains the only natural white marble arch in North America; beautiful white marble dam
✮ Nickerson State Park, Brewster - outstanding camping, fishing, and biking paths; connects to the finest rail trail in MA (Cape Cod Rail Trail)
✮ Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, Sutton - towering cliffs and small caves; children (6+ is recommended) will have an amazing time here
New Hampshire
✮ Crawford Notch State Park, Harts Location - outstanding hiking and backpacking; scenic driving (US 302); campgrounds and waterfalls
✮ Franconia Notch State Park, Lincoln - geological attractions, hiking, backpacking, scenic driving, camping, waterfalls, snowmobiling
✮ Monadnock State Park, Jaffrey - hike/scramble up one of the most climbed mountains in the world; campground
✮ Mount Washington State Park, Sargents Purchase - hike or drive to the highest point in New England; amazing backcountry skiing and views
Rhode Island
✮ Arcadia Management Area, Hope Valley - RI's largest recreation area with boating, fishing, hiking, and a small waterfall (Stepstone Falls)
✮ Beavertail State Park, Jamestown - holds one of the finest lighthouses in New England; one of the best views in Rhode Island
✮ Colt State Park, Bristol - the "gem" of the Rhode Island state park system; shorelines and great paved walking and biking paths
✮ Fort Adams State Park, Newport - historic fort and panoramic views of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay; summer music festivals
Vermont
✮ Camel's Hump State Park, Duxbury - undeveloped state park with excellent (but challenging) hiking trails to the best mtn summit in Vermont
✮ Mount Ascutney State Park, Windsor - great hiking trails to scenic views and waterfalls; a hang-gliding hot spot; campground with lean-tos
✮ Quechee State Park, Quechee - Vermont's most famous canyon; trails lead up and down the river
✮ Smugglers' Notch State Park, Stowe - narrow passage through the Green Mountains; access to great hiking and some boulder caves
If I had to choose five favorite state parks in New England, I would include the following:
✮ Baxter State Park, Maine
✮ Crawford Notch State Park, New Hampshire
✮ Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire
✮ Mount Greylock State Reservation, Massachusetts
✮ Mount Monadnock State Park, New Hampshire
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
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| Bash Bish Falls State Park, MA | |
Baxter State Park, ME | |
Branbury State Park, VT | |
BEST WATERFALLS IN NEW ENGLAND
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New England has thousands of natural waterfalls. Here is a list of many of the finest waterfalls in New England:
Connecticut
✮ Buttermilk Falls, Plymouth
✮ Campbell Falls, Norfolk
✮ Chapman Falls, East Haddam
✮ Dean's Ravine Falls, Canaan
✮ Enders Falls, Granby
✮ Kent Falls, Kent
✮ Wadsworth Big Falls, Middlefield
Maine
✮ Angel Falls, Township D
✮ Dunn Falls, Andover North Surplus
✮ Grand Falls, T3R4
✮ Gulf Hagas, Bowdoin College Grant East
✮ Little Wilson Falls-Upper Falls, Elliotsville Township
✮ Moxie Falls, Moxie Gore
✮ Smalls Falls, Township E
Massachusetts
✮ Bash Bish Falls, Mt. Washington
✮ Campbell Falls, New Marlborough
✮ Chapel Falls, Ashfield
✮ Doane's Falls, Royalston
✮ Goldmine Brook Falls, Chester
✮ Race Brook Falls, Sheffield
✮ Tannery Falls, Savoy
✮ The Cascade, North Adams
✮ Twin Cascades, Florida
✮ Wahconah Falls, Dalton
New Hampshire
✮ Alpine Cascades, Gorham
✮ Ammonoosuc Ravine, Sargents Purchase
✮ Arethusa Falls, Harts Location
✮ Beaver Brook Cascades, Woodstock
✮ Beaver Brook Falls, Colebrook
✮ Bridal Veil Falls, Franconia
✮ Crystal Cascade, Pinkhams Grant
✮ Diana's Baths, Bartlett
✮ Dry River Falls, Cutts Grant
✮ Falls on the Basin-Cascades Trail (aka 'The Basin'), Lincoln
✮ Falls on the Falling Waters Trail, Lincoln/Franconia
✮ Falls on the Flume-Pool Loop, Lincoln
✮ Garfield Falls, Pittsburg
✮ Glen Ellis Falls, Jackson
✮ Ripley Falls, Harts Location
✮ Sabbaday Falls, Waterfall Valley
✮ Silver Cascade, Harts Location
✮ Thirteen Falls, Franconia
Vermont
✮ Barlett Falls, Bristol
✮ Bingham Falls, Stowe
✮ Bolton Potholes, Bolton
✮ Buttermilk Falls, Ludlow
✮ Falls of Lana, Salisbury
✮ Glen Falls, Fairlee
✮ Hamilton Falls, Jamaica
✮ Lye Brook Falls, Manchester
✮ Moss Glen Falls, Granville
✮ Moss Glen Falls, Stowe
✮ Old City Falls, Strafford
✮ Texas Falls, Hancock
✮ Thundering Brook Falls, Killington
✮ Warren Falls, Warren
For a listing of all known waterfalls in New England, visit the New England Waterfalls and/or World Waterfall Database websites.
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| Moss Glen Falls, Granville, VT | |
Screw Auger Falls, Gulf Hagas, ME | |
Kent Falls, CT | |
BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN NEW ENGLAND
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in New England:
Connecticut
✮ Litchfield Hills Scenic Drive - a 46-mile paved route from Litchfield to North Canaan via Warren, Kent, and Cornwall; mostly along US-7
Maine
✮ Bold Coast Scenic Byway - a 147-mile paved route from Milbridge to Eastport via Cherryfield, Jonesport, Machias, Culter, Lubec, & Whiting
✮ Grafton Notch Byway - a 21-mile paved route from Newry to Upton using ME 26 through Grafton Notch State Park
✮ Katahdin Woods and Waters Scenic Byway - a 89-mile paved route that connects the southern and northern entrances of Baxter State Park
✮ Moosehead Lake Scenic Byway - a 49-mile paved route from Jackman to Greenville using ME 6 and ME 15
✮ Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway - a 78-mile paved route from Solon to the Canadian border using US-201
✮ Park Loop Road, Acadia National Park - a seasonal 27-mile paved loop (driven clockwise) within the national park on Mount Desert Island
✮ Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway - a 35-mile paved loop from Rumford to Madrid via Rangeley using ME 17, ME 16, and ME 4
✮ Schoodic National Scenic Byway - a 27-mile paved route in the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia National Park
✮ US-1A / Shore Road - a 10-mile paved route from York Harbor to Ogunquit via York Beach
Massachusetts
✮ Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway / US-2 - a 35-mile paved route from Greenfield to North Adams in northwestern MA
✮ Mount Greylock Scenic Byway - a seasonal 16-mile paved route that drives to the summit of Mt. Greylock, which is the highpoint of MA
✮ Route 6 on Cape Cod - a 25-mile paved route from Orleans to Provincetown on the upper tip of Cape Cod
New Hampshire
✮ I-93 through Franconia Notch - a 17-mile paved route from Lincoln to Franconia
✮ Kancamagus Highway/NH-112 - a 50-mile paved route from Lincoln to Conway
✮ Lake Winnipesaukee Loop - a 62-mile paved loop around Lake Winnipesaukee that travels along a variety of different roads and highways
✮ Mount Washington Auto Road - a seasonal 8-mile paved toll road off NH 16 that climbs (steeply) to the summit of Mount Washington
✮ NH-16 through Pinkham Notch - a 22-mile paved route from Jackson to Gorha
✮ US-302 through Crawford Notch - a 35-mile paved route from Twin Mountain to the attractive downtown area of North Conway
Rhode Island
✮ Ocean Drive - a 10-mile paved route that travels near the ocean in Newport using several different streets
Vermont
✮ Auto Toll Road, Stowe - a seasonal 4.5-mile dirt/gravel road that climbs up most of Mt. Mansfield; you can continue on foot to the summit
✮ VT-100 - a 217-mile paved route along the spine of the Green Mountains; this is Vermont's most scenic drive; many attractions are en route
✮ VT-108 - a seasonal 18-mile paved road from Stowe to Jeffersonville through Smuggler's Notch; don't miss Bingham Falls and Sterling Pond
The most scenic drive in New England is arguably the Kancamagus Highway, which travels from Lincoln to Conway in the White Mountain region of New Hampshire. This 56-mile drive is almost completely free of commercial development and it features several excellent scenic vistas with marked parking areas. There are many hiking trailheads along this road as well, including short walks to three great waterfalls: Lower Falls, Rocky Gorge and Sabbaday Falls. There is also a neat suspension bridge a short walk from the Lincoln Woods parking area. This road is open all year, but it is perhaps most spectacular during the first two weeks of October, which is prime fall foliage season. I would advise against driving this road during a snowstorm.
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN NEW ENGLAND
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Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in New England:
Connecticut
✮ Air Line State Park Trail
✮ Farmington Canal Heritage Trail
✮ Farmington River Trail
✮ Hop River State Park Trail
✮ Pequonnock River Trail
Maine
✮ Eastern Promenade Trail
✮ Eastern Trail
✮ Kennebec River Rail Trail
Massachusetts
✮ Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
✮ Cape Cod Canal Rail Trail
✮ Cape Cod Rail Trail
✮ Columbia Greenway Rail Trail & Southwick Rail Trail
✮ Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Path
✮ Minuteman Bikeway
✮ Nashua River Rail Trail
✮ Norwottuck Rail Trail
✮ Province Lands Bike Trail
✮ Shining Sea Bikeway
New Hampshire
✮ Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail
✮ Derry Rail Trail
✮ Franconia Notch Recreation Path
✮ Londonderry Rail Trail
✮ Nashua River Rail Trail
✮ Northern Rail Trail
✮ Presidential Range Rail Trail - take note that some sections of this trail are not well-maintained
✮ Windham Rail Trail
Rhode Island
✮ Blackstone River Greenway
✮ East Bay Bike Path
✮ Washington Secondary Bike Path
✮ William C. O'Neil Bike Path
Vermont
✮ Island Line Rail Trail / Colchester Causeway
✮ Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
✮ Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail
✮ Stowe Recreation Path
For detailed information on all known rail trails in New England, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN NEW ENGLAND
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There are a good amount of notable amusement parks in New England. Here are the premier amusement parks of New England:
Connecticut
✮ Lake Compounce & Crocodile Cove, Bristol - the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the U.S.
✮ Quassy Amusement and Waterpark, Middlebury
Maine
✮ Aquaboggan Water Park, Saco
✮ Funtown Splashtown USA, Saco - the largest amusement park in Maine; includes both an amusement park and a sizable water park
✮ Palace Playground, Old Orchard Beach - the largest beach-front amusement park in New England; also has small roller coasters and rides
Massachusetts
✮ Cape Cod Inflatable Park, West Yarmouth - one of the largest inflatable parks in the U.S.
✮ Davis Farmland, Sterling - an agricultural theme park with live animals, giant corn maze, and more
✮ Edaville Family Theme Park, Carver - fantastic for young children!
✮ Six Flags New England, Agawam - the largest theme park in Massachusetts; the best rollercoaster park in New England
✮ Water Wizz of Cape Cod, East Wareham - the largest outdoor water park in southern New England
New Hampshire
✮ Canobie Lake Park, Salem
✮ Santa's Village, Jefferson - fantastic for young children!
✮ Story Land, Jackson - fantastic for young children!
✮ Water Country, Portsmouth - the best outdoor water park in New England
✮ Whale's Tale Waterpark, Lincoln
Vermont
✮ Jay Peak Pump House, Jay - a giant, year-round, indoor water park
✮ Santa's Land USA, Putney
In my opinion, there are currently no notable amusement parks in Rhode Island.
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BEST MUSEUMS IN NEW ENGLAND
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New England has an awesome assortment of museums. Some of the finest museums in New England include:
Connecticut
✮ American Clock & Watch Museum, Bristol
✮ Connecticut Science Center, Hartford
✮ Danbury Railway Museum, Danbury
✮ Dinosaur State Park & Museum, Rocky Hill
✮ Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam
✮ Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington
✮ Mark Twain House & Museum, Hartford
✮ Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, Mashantucket
✮ Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic
✮ New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain
✮ New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks
✮ New England Carousel Museum, Bristol
✮ PEZ Visitor Center, Orange
✮ Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk
✮ Submarine Force Library & Museum, Groton
✮ Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds, Old Lyme
✮ Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford
✮ Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven
✮ Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven
Maine
✮ Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick
✮ Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville
✮ Cole Land Transportation Museum, Bangor
✮ Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland
✮ Fort Knox Historic Site, Prospect
✮ Maine Lighthouse Museum, Rockland
✮ Maine Maritime Museum, Bath
✮ Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit
✮ Owls Head Transportation Museum, Owls Head
✮ Portland Museum of Art, Portland
✮ Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
✮ Victoria Mansion, Portland
Massachusetts
✮ Adams National Historical Park, Quincy
✮ Amazing World of Dr. Suess Museum, Springfield
✮ Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield
✮ Battleship Cove, Fall River
✮ Boston Children's Museum, Boston
✮ Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Boston
✮ Clark Art Institute, Williamstown
✮ Hammond Castle Museum, Gloucester
✮ Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield
✮ Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge
✮ House of the Seven Gables, Salem
✮ John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library, Boston
✮ MASS MoCA, North Adams
✮ Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
✮ Museum of Science, Boston
✮ New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford
✮ Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge
✮ Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge
✮ Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
✮ Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Plymouth
✮ Springfield Armory National Historic Site, Springfield
✮ Whaling Museum, Nantucket
✮ Whydah Pirate Museum, West Yarmouth
✮ Worcester Art Museum, Worcester
New Hampshire
✮ Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury
✮ Children's Museum of New Hampshire, Dover
✮ Currier Museum of Art, Manchester
✮ Enfield Shaker Museum, Enfield
✮ New Hampshire Telephone Museum, Warner
✮ Strawberry Banke Museum, Portsmouth
✮ USS Albacore Museum, Portsmouth
✮ Wright Museum of WWII, Wolfeboro
Rhode Island
✮ Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, Bristol
✮ Breakers, The, Newport
✮ Elms, The, Newport
✮ International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, Newport
✮ Marble House, Newport
✮ National Museum of American Illustration, Newport
✮ Newport Art Museum, Newport
✮ Newport Car Museum, Portsmouth
✮ Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark, Pawtucket
✮ Providence Children's Museum, Providence
✮ Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art (RISD), Providence
✮ Rosecliff, Newport
✮ Rough Point Museum, Newport
Vermont
✮ American Precision Museum, Windsor
✮ Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock
✮ Hildene, Manchester
✮ Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park, Woodstock
✮ Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich
✮ Rock of Ages Visitor Center & Quarry Tours, Barre
✮ Shelburne Museum, Shelburne
✮ Vermont Marble Museum, Proctor
✮ Vermont Toy Museum, Quechee
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| Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA | |
Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT | |
USS Constitution Museum, Boston, MA | |
BEST DAY HIKES IN NEW ENGLAND
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New England has thousands of miles of hiking trails, and there is great hiking to be found across the region. Here are some of the best day hikes in New England:
Connecticut
✮ Bear Mountain Trail, Mount Riga State Park
✮ Kent Falls, Kent Falls State Park - hike a short but steep path that brings you to additional waterfalls that you can't see from the picnic area
✮ Mount Frissell, Mount Washington State Forest - the southwest shoulder of this mountain is the highest point in Connecticut
✮ Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve trails
✮ Sleeping Giant State Park trails
✮ Talcot Mountain State Park trails
Maine
✮ Beehive Trail, Acadia National Park - very steep with some iron rungs and lots of exposure!
✮ Borestone Mountain, Borestone Mountain Audubon Sanctuary, Northeast Piscataquis
✮ Baldplate Mountain, Grafton Notch State Park
✮ Bigelow Mountain, Bigelow Preserve & Flagstaff Lake Public Lands
✮ Bold Coast, Culter Coast Public Reserved Land, Cutler
✮ Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park
✮ Camden Hills State Park trails (e.g. Bald Rock Mountain, Mount Battie, etc.)
✮ Dunn Falls, Appalachian National Scenic Trail
✮ Gulf Hagas
✮ Katahdin, Baxter State Park - the #1 hiking destination in Baxter; generally opens in mid-June; parking permits/reservations are required
✮ Marginal Way, Ogunquit
✮ Mount Abraham, Mount Abraham Ecological Reserve
✮ Mount Blue, Mount Blue State Park
✮ Moxie Falls, Moxie Falls Scenic Area, Moxie Gore
✮ North & South Brother, Baxter State Park
✮ Owl, The, Baxter State Park - parking permits/reservations are required and are difficult to obtain
✮ Pleasant Mountain, Pleasant Mountain Preserve
✮ Precipice Trail Loop, Acadia National Park - generally opens in mid-August; very steep with iron rungs/ladders and lots of exposure!
✮ Puzzle Mountain, Mahoosuc Public Reserved Land
✮ Rumford Whitecap, Rumford Whitecap Mountain Preserve
✮ Sargent and Penobscot Mountains, Acadia National Park
✮ Table Rock Loop, Grafton Notch State Park - do this counter-clockwise! very steep with some moderate rock scrambling
✮ Traveler Mountain, Baxter State Park - as challenging as Katahdin, but no parking permits/reservations are required
✮ Tumbledown Mountain, Tumbledown Public Lands
Massachusetts
✮ Bash Bish Falls - relatively easy hike from Taconic State Park in New York to Massachusetts' most dramatic waterfall
✮ Blue Hills Reservation trails - close to Boston and offers good views of the city in the distance
✮ Freedom Trail, Boston - 2.5-mile walk within the city of Boston that passes more than a dozen historical sites; the best walking tour in Boston
✮ Monument Mountain - fun hike to scenic views in the southern Berkshires
✮ Mount Greylock State Park trails - the highpoint of Massachusetts; hike to the summit or to one or several of the parks waterfalls
✮ Mount Holyoke Range State Park trails - some of the best trails and views in Central Massachusetts
✮ Mount Race & Race Brook Falls - hike uphill to five scenic waterfalls and also lovely views of the Berkshires
✮ Mount Wachusett State Reservation - more than 15 miles of hiking trails; the Harrington Trail has some of the best views in Central MA
✮ Mount Watatic - moderately challenging mountain hike feature open scenic views; one of the best hikes within 90 minutes of Boston
✮ Great Island Trail - hike to wild and remote beaches on Cape Cod
✮ Halibut Point State Park trails - hike to rocky coastlines and old quarries
✮ Middlesex Fells Reservation trails - close to Boston and offers great views of the city; more than 100 miles of hiking trails
✮ Pleasant Valley Sanctuary trails - hiking trails to seasonal waterfalls and scenic views
✮ Purgatory Chasm State Reservation trails - fun rock scrambling and boulder caves; very popular with families
✮ Walden Pond State Reservation trails - walk around the beloved lake where Henry David Thoreau lived for 2+ years; parking lot fills up early!
✮ Ward Reservation - 10+ miles of hiking trails through forests and open fields; scenic views, including the Boston skyline in the distance
New Hampshire
✮ Arethusa Falls - hike to one of NH's tallest and arguably most beautiful waterfall; access via US 302
✮ Artists Bluff - short but steep hike to one of the best scenic views in NH; a fall foliage classic; access via Cannon Mountain parking area
✮ Baldface Loop - hard but rewarding hike/light rock scramble in Evans Notch; 10+ miles round-trip; swim in Emerald Pool at the end
✮ Diana's Baths - fun pools and potholes; parking is very limited; near North Conway
✮ Flume Gorge - waterfalls and gorges on a 2-0 mile loop in Franconia Notch; reservations required
✮ Franconia Ridge Loop/Mt. Lafayette/Mt. Lincoln - hard but incredible hike in Franconia Notch
✮ Glen Ellis Falls - gorgeous waterfall near Mt. Washington; access via NH 16
✮ Lonesome Lake - beautiful remote lake near Cannon Mountain; access via hike from Franconia Notch
✮ Mount Adams - hard climb to open 360-degree view summit; access via US 2 in Randolph
✮ Mount Cardigan - moderate hike to awesome views in central NH
✮ Mount Chocorua - classic hike off the Kancamagus Highway (NH 112)
✮ Mount Kearsarge - moderate hike to excellent views in central NH; parking may require reservations/permits
✮ Mount Major - moderate hike to stunning views of Lake Winnipesaukee
✮ Mount Monadnock - one of the most hiked mountains in the world; located in Jaffrey in the southwestern corner of NH
✮ Mount Pemigewasset - one of the best moderate day hikes near Lincoln; same trailhead as the Flume Gorge
✮ Mount Washington - highpoint of New Hampshire; you can drive, hike, or take a cog railway up to this summit; the hike is difficult
✮ Mount Willard - amazing views of Crawford Notch; parking can be a challenge
✮ North & Middle Sugarloaf - moderate hike to beautiful open ledges
✮ Pawtuckaway State Park trails
✮ Sabbaday Falls - pretty falls off the Kancamagus Highway (NH 112)
✮ Welch & Dickey Loop - fun hike near Waterville Valley
✮ West Rattlesnake - relatively easy hike to wonderful views of Squam Lake; limited parking
Rhode Island
✮ Beavertail State Park trails, Jamestown
✮ Black Point Trail, Narragansett
✮ Cliff Walk, Newport
✮ Napatree Point Conservation Area, Westerly
✮ Rodman's Hollow Nature Preserve, Block Island
✮ Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge trails, Middletown
Vermont
✮ Bingham Falls, Mount Mansfield State Forest, Stowe - short hike to a beautiful waterfall; hike requires descending a steep rock staircase
✮ Camel's Hump, Camel's Hump State Park, Duxbury - several challenging trails elevate you to Vermont's best undeveloped mountain summit
✮ Hamilton Falls, Jamaica State Park, Jamaica - moderate hike to one of Vermont's best waterfalls
✮ Killington Peak, Green Mountain National Forest - hike up to scenic views on one of Vermont's 4000-footers
✮ Lye Brook Falls, Green Mountain National Forest - moderate hike to one of Vermont's best waterfalls
✮ Mount Abraham, Green Mountain National Forest - great views from one of Vermont's 4000-footers
✮ Mount Ascutney, Mount Ascutney State Park, Windsor - moderately hike to scenic views from a observation platform
✮ Mount Elmore, Elmore State Park, Elmore - great views from a firetower (hike required)
✮ Mount Hunger, C.C. Putnam State Forest, Stowe - moderately challenging hike to one of the best views in the state
✮ Mount Mansfield, Stowe - the highpoint of Vermont; several challenging trails lead to the summer (most difficult = Hell Brook Trail)
✮ Mount Philo, Mount Philo State Park, Charlotte - scenic views of Lake Champlain Valley and the Adirondack Mountains of NH
✮ Mount Pisgah, Willoughby State Forest, Sutton - stunning views of Lake Willoughby, Vermont's prettiest big lake
✮ Sterling Pond, Smugglers' Notch State Park, Stowe - moderate hike to a beautiful remote pond
✮ Stowe Pinnacle, C.C. Putnam State Forest, Stowe - great moderate hike to scenic views of the town of Stowe; Stowe's best moderate day hike
✮ Stratton Mountain & Stratton Pond, Green Mountain National Forest - challenging day hike to scenic views and a remote pond; can be backpacked
✮ Sunset Ledge, Breadloaf Wilderness - hike the Long Trail to gorgeous views; moderate rock scrambles required
✮ Wheeler Mountain, Willoughby State Forest, Sutton - stunning views from rock ledges
To find more hikes in New England or to learn more about the hikes I've listed above, I recommend purchasing hiking guidebooks on Amazon (or from your local retailer). Another option is using alltrails.com, but you have to be very careful when using that website as its information is often wrong or incomplete. Published hiking guidebooks will likely always be significantly better than the information you find online.
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| Katahdin, Baxter State Park, ME | |
White Mountain National Forest, NH | |
Precipice Trail, Acadia NP, ME | |
BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN NEW ENGLAND
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New England offers several outstanding backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in New England include:
Connecticut
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Mohawk Trail
✮ Natchaug State Forest trails
✮ Nipmuck Trail
✮ Pachaug State Forest trails
✮ Tunxis State Forest trails
Maine
✮ 100-Mile Wilderness of the Appalachian Trail
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Baxter State Park trails
✮ Bigelow Mountain
✮ Camden Hills State Park trails
✮ Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land
✮ Deboullie Public Reserved Land
✮ Grafton Notch Loop
✮ International Appalachian Trail
✮ Maine Huts & Trails lodges
✮ Other trails in Maine Public Reserved Lands
Massachusetts
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Midstate Trail
✮ Monroe State Forest
✮ Mount Greylock State Reservation
✮ Mount Washington State Forest
✮ Tully Trail
New Hampshire
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Cohos Trail
✮ Franconia Ridge / Franconia Range
✮ Great Gulf Wilderness
✮ Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway
✮ Pemigewasset Wilderness ("Pemi Loop")
✮ Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness
✮ Presidential Range Traverse
✮ Thirteen Falls
✮ Wild River Wilderness
✮ Wildcat-Carter-Moriah Range
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN NEW ENGLAND
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New England offers many excellent adventures, including these classics:
Connecticut
✮ Backpacking the Appalachian Trail
✮ Backpacking the Nipmuck Trail
✮ Cycling the Air Line State Park Trail
✮ Cycling the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail
✮ Cycling the Farmington River Trail
✮ Cycling the Hop River State Park Trail
✮ Cycling the Pequonnock River Trail
✮ Day hiking some of the 800+ mile Connecticut "Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails" system
✮ Day hiking Bear Mountain
✮ Day hiking Mount Frissell
✮ Hot air ballooning in Woodstock
✮ Mountain biking the Case Mountain Recreational Area
✮ Mountain biking the Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
✮ Mountain biking the Rockland Preserve Singletrack
✮ Paddle-boarding in Mystic
✮ Rock climbing Chatfield Hollow
✮ Rock climbing Ragged Mountain
✮ Sailing in Mystic
✮ Skydiving in Killingly
✮ Tubing the Farmington River
✮ Whitewater kayaking directly below the Great Falls of the Hoosatonic River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Housatonic River
Maine
✮ Appalachian Mountain Club remote lodges
✮ Canoeing the Allagash Wilderness Waterway - a 92-mile canoe trip that normally takes 5-8 days; one of the best canoe trips in the U.S.
✮ Canoeing the Saco River
✮ Canoeing the St. Croix River
✮ Backpacking the 100-Mile Wilderness - it takes most backpackers 8-10 days to complete this famous section of the Appalachian Trail
✮ Backpacking the Appalachian Trail
✮ Backpacking in Baxter State Park - stay in one of dozens of remote lean-tos
✮ Backpacking the Grafton Notch Loop
✮ Backpacking on Maine Public Reserved Lands
✮ Day hiking Bigelow Mountain
✮ Day hiking Katahdin in Baxter State Park
✮ Day hiking the Beehive in Acadia National Park
✮ Day hiking the Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park - generally opens for the season in mid-August
✮ Day hiking Traveler Mountain in Baxter State Park
✮ Day hiking Tumbledown Mountain
✮ Float plane into a remote sporting camp
✮ Ice fishing on any one of Maine's hundreds of lakes (e.g. Moosehead Lake)
✮ Mountain biking the Blackstrap Hill Preserve in Falmouth
✮ Mountain biking the Bond Brook Recreation Area in Augusta
✮ Mountain biking the Carrabassett Valley Trail network
✮ Mountain biking the 45-plus miles of carriage roads of Acadia National Park
✮ Mountain biking the Nordic Heritage Sports Center in Presque Isle
✮ Mountaineering up Katahdin in Baxter State Park in winter
✮ Rock climbing in Camden Hills State Park
✮ Rock climbing the Clifton Crags
✮ Rock climbing on Mt. Desert Island
✮ Sea-kayaking the Maine coastline
✮ Sailing the Maine coastline
✮ Skiing at Sunday River Resort
✮ Skiing at Sugarloaf
✮ Skydiving in Lebanon
✮ Snowmobiling on some of Maine's 14,000-plus miles of trails
✮ Stay at one or several of the AMC Maine Wilderness Lodges
✮ Stay at one or several of the Maine Huts & Trails Lodges
✮ Whitewater rafting the Dead River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Kennebec River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Penobscot River
Massachusetts
✮ ATV/ORV-ing Beartown State Forest
✮ ATV/ORV-ing Pittsfield State Forest
✮ Backcountry skiing Mount Greylock - e.g. Thunderbolt Trail
✮ Backcountry skiing Mount Watatic
✮ Backpacking the Appalachian Trail
✮ Backpacking the Midstate Trail - 92 miles from the RI border to the NH border; several overnight shelters are available for use
✮ Backpacking Mount Greylock State Reservation
✮ Backpacking Mount Washington State Forest
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Charles River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Concord River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Ipswich River
✮ Cycling the Ashuwillticook Trail Trail
✮ Cycling the Cape Cod Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Mass Central Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Minuteman Bikeway
✮ Cycling the Nashua River Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Shining Sea Bikeway
✮ Day hiking the Bay Circuit Trail
✮ Day hiking Mt. Greylock
✮ Day hiking Mt. Race / Race Brook Falls
✮ Day hiking Mt. Watatic
✮ Hot air ballooning in Worthington
✮ Ice climbing at Auburn Ice Canyon
✮ Mountain biking Lynn Woods Reservation, Lynn
✮ Mountain biking Thunder Mountain Bike Park, Charlemont
✮ Rock climbing Crow Hill in Leominster State Forest, Leominster
✮ Rock climbing Quincy Quarries, Quincy - a popular climbing stop (top-roping style)
✮ Sailing the Charles River
✮ Sky diving in Marstons Mills, Orange, or Pepperell
✮ Surfing Cisco Beach on Nantucket Island
✮ Surfing Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester
✮ Whitewater rafting the Deerfield River
New Hampshire
✮ ATV/ORV-ing in Jericho State Park near Gorham/Berlin
✮ ATV/ORV-ing in Pittsburg
✮ Backcountry skiing near Cannon Mountain/Mittersill
✮ Backcountry skiing on Cardigan Mountain
✮ Backcountry skiing the Sherburne Ski Trail on Mt. Washington
✮ Backcountry skiing Tuckerman's Ravine on Mt. Washington
✮ Backcountry skiing other areas in/around the White Mountain National Forest
✮ Backpacking Mahoosuc Notch (aka the "hardest mile on the Appalachian Trail")
✮ Backpacking the Appalachian Trail
✮ Backpacking the Cohos Trail
✮ Backpacking the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail
✮ Backpacking the Pemi Loop
✮ Backpacking the Presidential Range (aka a "Presidential Traverse")
✮ Backpacking to one or several of the AMC High Huts
✮ Backpacking to one or several of the RMC shelters
✮ Backpacking to other areas in the White Mountain National Forest
✮ Boulder caving at the Lost River Gorge (tourist attraction)
✮ Boulder caving at the Polar Caves (tourist attraction)
✮ Canoeing the Androscoggin River
✮ Canoeing the Saco River
✮ Canoeing the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Cliff jumping from swimming holes in the White Mountain National Forest
✮ Cycling the Kancamagus Highway/NH-112
✮ Cycling the Nashua River Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Northern Rail Trail
✮ Day hiking the Baldface Loop
✮ Day hiking Cardigan Mountain
✮ Day hiking the Franconia Ridge Loop/Mt. Lafayette/Mt. Lincoln
✮ Day hiking Mount Chocorua
✮ Day hiking Mount Monadnock
✮ Day hiking Mount Washington
✮ Driving up Mt. Washington (the tallest peak in New England)
✮ Hot air ballooning in Chester
✮ Ice climbing Arethusa Falls
✮ Ice climbing on Cathedral Ledge
✮ Mountain biking at one of NH's ski resorts
✮ Mountain biking the Highland Mountain Bike Park
✮ Rock climbing on Cannon Cliff
✮ Rock climbing on Cathedral Ledge
✮ Rock climbing on Mt. Washington
✮ Rock climbing in Rumney (e.g. sport climbing on Rattlesnake Mountain)
✮ Snowmobiling on any of NH's 7,000 miles of trails
✮ Surfing at Hampton Beach
Rhode Island
✮ Bouldering in Lincoln Woods State Park
✮ Cycling the Blackstone River Bikeway
✮ Cycling the East Bay Bike Path
✮ Cycling on the roads/streets of Block Island
✮ Cycling the Washington Secondary Bike Path
✮ Helicopter tours in Newport
✮ Horseback riding in Arcadia Management Area
✮ Horseback riding in Goddard Memorial State Park
✮ Mountain biking Big River Management Area
✮ Mountain biking in Diamond Hill State Park
✮ Mountain biking in Lincoln Woods State Park
✮ Parasailing in Newport
✮ Sailing in Newport
✮ Skydiving in Middletown (near Newport) or Smithfield
✮ Surfing at Sachuest Beach
✮ Surfing at Narragansett Town Beach
Vermont
✮ Backcountry skiing in Bolton Valley
✮ Backcountry skiing in Willoughby State Forest
✮ Backpacking the Appalachian Trail
✮ Backpacking the Long Trail (the entire 272-miles or one of 15 commonly defined sections of it)
✮ Backpacking the Lye Brook Wilderness / Stratton Pond
✮ Bouldering in Smuggler's Notch State Park
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Connecticut River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Lamoille River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Missisquoi River
✮ Canoe/kayak camping in Green River Reservoir State Park
✮ Cross-country skiing the Catamount Trail
✮ Cross-country skiing the Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Craftsbury
✮ Cross-country skiing to the huts of the Vermont Huts Association
✮ Cross-country skiing Timber Creek
✮ Cycling the Island Line Rail Trail / Colchester Causeway near Burlington
✮ Cycling the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Stowe Recreation Path
✮ Day hiking Camel's Hump
✮ Day hiking Mount Mansfield
✮ Dog-sledding in Eden Mills
✮ Driving around and searching for some of Vermont's many covered bridges
✮ Driving around and searching for some of Vermont's many secret swimming holes
✮ Hang-gliding in Ascutney State Park in Windsor
✮ Hot air ballooning in Essex
✮ Ice climbing in Lake Willoughby State Forest / Mount Pisgah
✮ Ice climbing in Smugglers' Notch State Park
✮ Kayaking Lake Champlain in or near Burlington
✮ Mountain biking the Bolton Valley Resort trails
✮ Mountain biking the Green Mountain Trails near Pittsfield
✮ Mountain biking the Killington Resort trails
✮ Mountain biking the Kingdom Trails & Mount Burke (in the "Northeast Kingdom" region)
✮ Mountain biking the Mount Snow Bike Park
✮ Rock climbing the Bolton Crags
✮ Rock climbing Deer Leap in Killington
✮ Sailing Lake Champlain in/near Burlington
✮ Snowmobiling in the Northeast Kingdom
✮ Snowmobiling in Plymouth
✮ Whitewater rafting the West River
✮ Whitewater kayaking the White River
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| Camel's Hump, VT | |
Penobscot River, ME | |
Norwottuck Rail Trail, MA | |
BEST SKI RESORTS IN NEW ENGLAND
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New England has more than 70 skiing areas/resorts. Here is a list of the premier ski areas in the region:
Maine
✮ Saddleback Mountain - 68 trails; 2,000ft vertical drop; 4,120ft summit
✮ Sugarloaf - 162 trails; 2,820ft vertical drop; 4,234ft summit
✮ Sunday River Resort - 135 trails; 2,340ft vertical drop; 3,140ft summit
Massachusetts
✮ Berkshire East Mountain Resort - 45 trails; 1,180ft vertical drop; 1,840ft summit
✮ Jiminy Peak - 45 trails; 1,150ft vertical drop; 2,380ft summit
New Hampshire
✮ Attitash Mountain Resort - 68 trails; 1,750ft vertical drop; 2,350ft summit
✮ Bretton Woods - 98 trails; 1,500ft vertical drop; 3,100ft summit
✮ Cannon Mountain - 97 trails; 2,180ft vertical drop; 4,080ft summit
✮ Loon Mountain - 61 trails; 2,100ft vertical drop; 3,050ft summit
✮ Mount Sunapee - 67 trails; 1,510ft vertical drop; 2,743ft summit
✮ Wildcat Mountain - 48 trails; 2,112ft vertical drop; 4,062ft summit
Vermont
✮ Jay Peak, Jay - 81 trails; 2,153ft vertical drop; 3,968ft summit
✮ Killington Ski Resort - 155 trails; 3,050ft vertical drop; 4,241ft summit
✮ Mount Snow Ski Resort - 86 trails; 1,700ft vertical drop; 3,600ft summit
✮ Okemo Mountain - 119 trails; 2,200ft vertical drop; 3,344ft summit
✮ Smugglers Notch - 78 trails; 2,610ft vertical drop; 3,640ft summit
✮ Stowe Mountain - 116 trails; 2,160ft vertical drop; 3,719ft summit
✮ Stratton Mountain - 99 trails; 2,003ft vertical drop; 3,875ft summit
✮ Sugarbush Resort - 111 trails; 2,600ft vertical drop; 4,083ft summit
My favorite ski resort in New England is Sugarloaf in Maine. It's a monster-sized resort, but it never feels that crowded to me...probably a result of it being located more than four hours from Boston. All trails at Sugarloaf ultimately lead back to just one base area, which contrasts to most other big mountains that have multiple base area. You can also ski-in, ski-out to several hotels and many condo rentals. Oh, and the terrain at Sugarloaf is fantastic.
Bretton Woods has the finest tree-skiing in New England, but the resort hasn't received enough snow to keep much of these glades open the last few winters.
Snowboarding is still banned at Mad River Glen in Vermont, one of only three remaining resorts in the U.S. that still ban the sport.
Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont is the most expensive resort in New England, and it has the look and feel of one of the ultra-posh ski resorts of the West.
The best place to learn how to ski in New England might be King Pine in Madison, New Hampshire. The beginner ski area is simply perfect, with an extremely low angle of descent that helps avoid intimidating new skiers. The lift lines and crowds never seem too bad to us here either, even on most weekends.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN NEW ENGLAND
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in New England:
Connecticut
✮ hot dogs / deep fried dogs - e.g. Riley's Hot Dog in New Britain, Frankies in Waterbury, or Blackie's in Cheshire
✮ ice cream parlors
✮ new england clam chowder
✮ steamed cheeseburgers - e.g. Ted's Restaurant in Meriden
✮ white clam pizza - e.g. Frank Pepe Pizzeria in New Haven
Maine
✮ blueberry pies
✮ fiddleheads
✮ fried clams - e.g. Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery, The Clam Shack in Kennebunk
✮ lobster - e.g. Thurston's Lobster Pound in Bernard (near Bar Harbor)
✮ lobster rolls
✮ Moxie (soda)
✮ needhams
✮ ployes
✮ popovers - e.g. Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park
✮ potatoes
✮ red snapper hot dogs
✮ whoopie pies
Massachusetts
✮ beach pizza - e.g. Christy's in Salisbury
✮ boston creme pie
✮ fried clams - e.g. Clam Box in Ipswich, J.T. Farnham's in Essex
✮ indian pudding
✮ lobster / lobster rolls
✮ new england clam chowder
✮ roast beef sandwiches - e.g. Nick's Roast Beef in Peabody
New Hampshire
✮ beach pizza - e.g. Christy's in Hampton, NH Beach Pizza in Salem
✮ fried clams - e.g. Pop's Clam Shell in Alton Bay, The Beach Plum in Portsmouth
✮ lobster / lobster rolls
✮ maple syrup
✮ pancake houses / pancake parlors - e.g. Polly's Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill, Parker's Maple Barn in Mason
✮ poutine
Rhode Island
✮ calamari (e.g. Rhode Island style)
✮ clam cakes
✮ coffee milk
✮ dynamite sandwich
✮ frozen lemonade - e.g. Del's Lemonade
✮ johnnycakes
✮ snail salad
✮ stuffies (stuffed quahogs)
Vermont
✮ cheddar cheese apple pie
✮ cremees (maple-flavored soft serve ice cream) - e.g. Devyns Creemee Stand in Swanton
✮ maple syrup / maple sugar
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in New England (or any U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in New England (or any U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY NEW ENGLAND INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about New England:
Major Airports:
Logan Airport (Boston, MA)
T.F. Green (Providence, RI)
Manchester-Boston (Manchester, NH)
Bradley (Windsor Locks, CT)
Burlington (South Burlington, VT)
Portland (Portland, ME)
Take note that you can also fly into either one of New York City's two airports and then drive to New England. There are also several smaller/regional airports in New England, including Bangor (ME), New Haven (CT) and Hyannis (MA).
Largest Cities:
Boston, MA (675,647), Worcester, MA (206,518), Providence, RI (190,934), Springfield, MA (155,929), Bridgeport, CT (148,654)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-84, I-89, I-90, I-91, I-93, I-95
State Highpoints:
CT: Southwest shoulder of Mount Frissell (2,380') - a moderate hike is required
MA: Mount Greylock (3,489') - you can drive to the summit (in season); you can also hike to the top from one of several trailheads
ME: Katahdin (5,269') - a challenging hike is required (and parking permits/reservations are required)
NH: Mount Washington (6,288') - you can drive or take a cog railway to the summit (in season); you can also hike to the top
RI: Jerimoth Hill (812') - a short and easy hike is required
VT: Mount Mansfield (4,395') - a challenging hike is required, unless you drive the auto road (in season) and take a shorter hike to the top
Professional Sports Teams:
MLB: Boston Red Sox
NBA: Boston Celtics
NFL: New England Patriots
NHL: Boston Bruins
WNBA: Connecticut Sun
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
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MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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