New England
New England, the birthplace of America, is filled with rich history, cultural attractions, fascinating cities, scenic villages, and outdoor adventures at every turn. Discover white sand beaches, lighthouses, brilliant fall foliage, expansive lakes, panoramic mountain views, and dockside restaurants with delicious seafood chowder, lobster and blueberry pie.
Boston, MA
For all intents and purposes, Boston is the oldest city in America. And you can hardly walk a step over its cobblestone streets without running into some historic site. The Freedom Trail winds its way around the city center, connecting 16 historically significant sites, from the country’s oldest public park to a Revolutionary War battle site. Boston is also arguably America’s greatest walking city, and it’s easy to stroll its historic districts, see a museum or three, and grab dinner on the waterfront within one day. The options are endless: view masterpieces of art that span millennia at the Museum of Fine Arts, sample gourmet treats from the newly opened Boston Public Market, or get some fresh air hiking around the Boston Harbor Islands. A well-rounded trip to Boston integrates the classic with the contemporary.
The Berkshires, MA
Nestled within the rolling Appalachian Mountains, the Berkshires extend from the highest point in Massachusetts – Mt Greylock – southward to the Connecticut state line. The Berkshires used to be known as America’s Lake District, reminiscent of the English Lake District, with low rolling hills, miles of deep green forest, and glistening lakes. It’s a spot that has drawn artists and writers, like Hawthorne, Melville, and Thoreau, and attracted world class art collections, like the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) and The Clark Art Institute. And then there is Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Few places in America combine culture and country living as deftly as the Berkshire hills – as well as miles of hiking trails and acres of farmland.
Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket, MA
Cape Cod and the nearby islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard are the perfect escape for those looking for a weekend getaway. The Cape and Islands boast miles of ocean beaches, sand dunes, seafood restaurants, art galleries, and lovely villages. Cape Cod is buzzing with activity. The Cape Cod National Seashore includes 27,000 acres of jaw-dropping beaches and landscapes. Martha’s Vineyard holds appeal for those looking to escape the crowds. The perennial lure of Martha’s Vineyard is the beaches, captains’ houses, lighthouses and special history of every town. Nantucket is the quietest choice of the bunch with one main town, a quaint, cobbled village loaded with shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. The entire island is accessible by bicycle, perfect for exploring the island’s windblown, starkly beautiful dunes and moors. While the Cape and Islands have their unique character, all have a strong links to their maritime history expressed via picturesque lighthouses and maritime festivals.
Middle Coast of Maine, ME
Lobster traps and clam shacks, crashing waves on granite shores and the tide lapping on the beach, these are images of coastal Maine. The Middle Coast of Maine runs north between Portland and Bar Harbor including the popular seaside harbor towns of Boothbay Harbor, Camden, Rockport, and Rockland and Acadia National Park. As you work your way up the Maine coast, each peninsula on Maine’s dramatic coast deserves at least a day to explore the quaint, out-of-the-way seaside villages, colonial homes, artist galleries, seaside farms, lighthouses, and lobster shacks with a view. Outdoor enthusiasts love the scenic rocky and rugged coastal terrain perfect for hiking, biking, kayaking or sail boating. To top it all off, this region is home to one of the nation’s most beloved parks, Acadia National Park. The only national park in all of New England, Acadia offers unrivaled coastal beauty and activities for both leisurely hikers and adrenaline junkies.
White Mountains, NH
At the heart of Northern New Hampshire sit the tough, wind-driven and ancient White Mountains. The vast landscape encompasses nearly 800,000 acres of rocky, forested terrain, more than 100 waterfalls, dozens of backcountry lakes, and miles of clear brooks and cascading streams. Put simply, the White Mountains are northern New England’s outdoor recreation capital, perfect for intrepid kayakers, mountaineers, rock climbers, thrill-seeking skiers, mountain bikers, bird-watchers, and backpacking hikers. If you’re looking to hike the White Mountain National Forest, the Appalachian Trail provides unparalleled views along the Presidential Range. Hikers can rest in a series of mountain huts that provide everything from dinner and breakfast to pillows and wool blankets. All this adds up to some of the best hut-to-hut hiking outside of Europe. If your idea of fun doesn’t involve steep hikes or icy dips in mountain streams, you will still enjoy the scenery via spectacular drives.
Green Mountains, VT
The Green Mountains of Vermont, the state’s namesake, are the oldest and highest mountains in the state. Gently rolling and thickly forested, the range runs the entire length of Vermont from the Massachusetts border to the boundary of Quebec, Canada. Quaint villages dot the region, blessed with New England charm: white steepled churches, covered bridges, and Colonial homes puffing smoke from their chimneys on crisp autumn evenings. The 370,000-acre Green Mountain National Forest that gives Vermont most of its outdoor pleasures has nearly 500 miles of trails, including the Appalachian/Long Trail and the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail, riveting through the mountains, affording hikers spectacular views and a passageway to and along the Appalachian Trail.