Winter in downtown Walpole, MA (photo by Eric H.)

For some New Englanders, the best New England getaway in the winter is going to Florida.

Not me, no way!  Looking at it from a totally objective viewpoint, we have it all here in New England, no matter what time of the year. New England does get mighty cold in the winter, but the opportunity to experience a great New England

winter vacation is there for the brave vacationer or traveler who likes doing things differently. So, you don't have to escape to Florida to enjoy a winter vacation.  You don't even have to follow the New England winter crowd to go skiing, although that activity is highly recommended. There is life beyond what the naysayers and travel promoters want you to think.

Before getting into the particulars, I have an interesting story about not following the "travel pack." Please stay with me during this long-winded travel experience.  Many years ago, I went on one of those "paid for" vacations to Florida and the Bahamas where all I had to do was "attend a timeshare presentation where you are under no obligation to buy anything."  Thank goodness for that, I thought, as the "paid for" vacation was getting mighty expensive, given all the hidden costs.  Well, anyway, the slick but toothless salesman in a Hawaiian shirt proceeded to show us the "Florida way of life."  We started off with a casserole with peas (now that's how I always envisioned Florida, eating a pea casserole) and then a boat tour with a beauty contest. It was more surreal than enjoyable, even to a then-single person like me as the contestants looked like something out of the Addams Family and the decrepid boat was almost ready to sink). The vacuous and generally unctuous sales talk about... I don't remember... was getting unbearable and nauseating. The salesman slapped my back so many times that I was almost stooped over like Montgomery Burns in The Simpsons.  When it came to the presentation, this increasingly annoying sales person enthusiastically showed me catalogues of time share places.  They all looked like ratty residences, certainly not worth the $2,000.00 down payment that we could only do at that time and no other  -- one of those one-time specials, no doubt. 

When the smiling salesman asked what I thought of the properties, I said, "You know, these are OK but they all look pretty generic to me. I always like the unique places ... like the Adirondack Mountains in New York.  I really love Old Forge and Lake Placid.  Do you have any timeshares there?"

This is when the smile left the regional salesman's face.  He yelled, "GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!"

Thanks for sticking with me through this harrowing yet enjoyable experience. The point is that "the good life" can be anywhere you like. It can be the park down the street, the beach an hour away, the all inclusive resort with mud wraps and $18 hamburgers, or just eating a peanut butter sandwich on your private deck. In New England, the winter, for example, doesn't have to be just about skiing, snowshoeing or skating.  We have an innate, natural beauty here in New England -- so many communities are wonderful to look at in the white snow and the wonderful four season things to do within those towns and cities.

Here are some reasons why I like living in the New England winter:

Going to a historic, rustic New England restaurant with a roaring fireplace and great New England fare.  The 1761 Old Mill in Westminster is a great example with a covered bridge, pond, Mill dam, expansive front porch and inside woodem beams, old floors and great regional food like fresh baked pecan rolls, roast duck, chicken vegetable pie, roast prime rib and a phenomenal apple crisp.  It makes one feel good all over being in such a quaint, charming place -- with a good heating system.
The 1761 Old Mill Restaurant, 69 State Road East, Westminster, MA. Tel.  (978) 874-5941

Attending a New England "village green" event is a nice way to take in the New England way of life in the winter.   Especially popular during holiday tree lighting ceremonies,  people in their community come together at th town common for some entertainment, hot chocolate or apple cider, various fun and games, and a chance to reconnect with their fellow neighbors (in the small town in which we live, everyone seems to know each other). It can be really cold, but the townsfolk tend to warm up the town through community spirit and welcoming visitors as if they lived there.

Visiting the ocean during the height of a New England winter might seem slightly odd to the uninitiated, but it's an amazing experience.  It seems while everyone else in the world is on a cruise where you are told when to have fun or looking through time share catalogues at a Florida timeshare, it's especially nice to share with your significant other a place you can call your own.  It doesn't matter that there are no trees to block the cold and wind or that half of the ocean town is shut down. On the contrary, it's nice to find a place that's open, have some good food and conversation and marvel at the sea's beauty, albeit with a different personality than in the summer. The few people that choose to vacation by the sea in the winter tend to bond with other like-minded visitors, strike up wonderful, memorable conversations, and generally act less rushed than in the summer tourist season. The innkeepers are glad to see you do, as some seem to be pretty lonely judging from the non-stop conversations about anything and everything.  Some places to visit:  Kennebunkport, Maine, York, Maine, or any town on Cape Cod.

Anywhere you are in New England, it's ultimately just nice to look at the snow from a warm home or inside destination, take a refreshing walk, drive to the downtown and take a sidestreet to a scenic country road, say hello to your fellow neighbor, go out for an occasional meal at a nice restaurant and get plenty of rest in anticipation of a more active spring, summer and fall season.  It might not sound like much to, say, someone trying to sell timeshares in a warmer climate, but I'll take this way of life any day. There's just something so real, authentic and purposeful living four seasons where one season gives you incentive to look forward to the next.  For those visiting New England in the winter, I believe our nice traditions and attractions, welcoming natives, and a chance to take the travel road less taken is indeed a joyous and highly recommended vacation experience. I am confident that a catalogue of lifetime memories is better than a catalogue of generic timeshares and painful presentations with pea casserole on the side, any day!