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Have a question
about visiting New England? Ask the VisitingNewEngland.com experts
for all your New England trip planning needs! Please feel free
to send in your
question about visiting New England -- Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont!
"If we don't
have the answer (unlikely), we'll find it for you!" -- Best
regards, the "news hawks" at VisitingNewEngland.com
Q: We would like to find a
special place to take our twin sons in late August for their
13th birthday breakfast or brunch. We will be staying in Danvers
and would like restaurant recommendations in Salem or Marblehead
or somewhere not too far from Danvers. We are interested in good
food, a good ambience or a scenic view, something unique
for their special day. They are "sharing" the rest
of their birthday (afternoon and evening) with their cousin's
wedding, and so breakfast/brunch is the only time that we will
be able to celebrate their birthday alone.
A: The Landing Restaurant
in Marblehead, Mass., the Lyceum Bar and Grille in Salem, Mass.,
and the 1640 Hart House in Ipswich, Mass., offer Sunday brunches
(always call ahead to make sure the brunches are still part of
their businesses). The Landing has nice views of Marblehead Harbor.
The Lyceum is located in the heart of historic downtown Salem
in a 19th century building where Alexander Graham Bell made his
first phone call. The 1640 Hart House is located in a quaint,
antique restaurant/tavern setting. The Hart House has been serving
food since the 1700s, and has recently been remodeled. It's a
charming place to dine.
The
Landing Restaurant at Marblehead Harbor 81 Front St. at State St., Marblehead,
Mass., Tel. 781-639-1266
Lyceum
Bar and Grille,
43 Church St., Salem, Mass., Tel. 978-745-7665
1640
Hart House, 51
Linebrook Rd., Ipswich, Mass., Tel. (978) 356-1640
Q: I am planning a trip to
the New England area at the end of July and the first week of
August. What is the weather like around that time of the year.
I'm a southerner where it's hot from Apr/May to Nov.
A: It depends what part of
New England you are going to, but generally count on day temperatures
in the 70s and 80s, with some days in the 90s. Nights usually
cool off into the 60s and sometimes in the 70s. The ocean provides
seabreezes in some areas that cool things off a bit at day and
night, while the mountains usually cool off more at night. You
can also count of some humid days.
Q: Our family is considering
taking our annual vacation to New England next
August. There seems to be so much to do, we need help. We are
considering
driving from area to area taking in as much as possible and spending
at
least a week if not two. Is there a resource we can use that
will give us
some idea where to start and where to go from there to maximize
our trip?
A: You've come to the right
place -- VisitingNewEngland.com -- to plan your New England vacation.
We recommend first looking at our top
destinations and travel
library pages to identify the best places to visit in New
England. Also valuable is the scenic
drives page, which lists destinations that people envision
what New England should look like. Once you find the destinations
that appeal to you most, we suggest you go to the lodging
section of VisitingNewEngland.com to browse lists of lodging
establishments (with descriptions and great photos) in your chosen
destinations. You can make reservations online, with many rates
at guaranteed lowest rates.
That is general advice. If
we had to choose an itinerary for two weeks of vacation in New
England, we take the following route:
Start in Boston, Mass., a
cultural, historical and very fun city that could easily take
up two weeks of vacation. It is the "Hub of the Universe,"
a walkable city with a remarkable retaining of history mixing
with some very breathtaking modern leanings. We strongly recommend
visiting Faneuil Hall, a restored historical set of buildings
housing over 100 specialty shops and restaurants. The North End
has a wonderful Italian flavor in the streets and in the restaurants.
Museums like the Museum of Fine Arts, Gardiner Art Museum, Museum
of Science and Children's Museum are world-class, in nature.
Newbury Street looks like scene out of a European city. The Swan
Boat rides in the Boston Public Garden provide a scenic oasis
with this bustling city, And of course, there's Fenway Park --
be sure to catch a game, if the Sox are in town in this unique,
small intimate ballpark featuring the legendary "Green Monster"
wall. This is all just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to
visiting Boston!
Don't forget visiting Lexington
and Concord, Mass., about a half-hour west of Boston by taking
Route 2 west. Home of the American Revolution, we strongly recommend
taking the tours and admiring the proud. old homes and buildings
that grace these two beautiful towns. Plus, there's plenty of
shopping, dining and lodging opportunities, as well as visiting
Walden Pond in Concord -- a pleasing respite where one can swim
and also take a 45 minute walk around the pond. It is the former
home of that famous misanthropic author, Henry David Thoreau.
From Boston, travel an hour-and-one
half north on Route 93 north to Route 495 east to York, Maine,
to experience the ultimate family fun, with great ocean beaches,
classic rocky Maine coastline, wonderful lobster dinners, great
lodging choices, and a zoo/ amusement park that is extensive
and entertaining. From the York area, go back on Route 95 south
for 10 minutes to Portsmouth, N.H., a small historical port city
with interesting little shops, fine restaurants, wonderful sea
captain's architecture in the homes, and loads of coastal character,
perfect for those who like to walk but not too much. From Portsmouth,
take Route 16 north into New Hampshire where, in a few hours,
you'll end up in the White Mountains featuring some spectacular
mountains (like Mt. Washington), myriad family attractions, great
scenery, fresh mountain air and neat towns like North Conway,
Lincoln and Woodstock.
From Woodstock, take Route
93 north into Vermont and then Route 15 east through beautiful
green Vermont countryside for an hour until you reach Route 100
south which leads to Stowe. One of Vermont's most scenic, appealing
villages, Stowe has plenty of attractions and truly epitomizes
the small town appeal of Vermont. It's like being in a Currier
and Ives setting, although there is a commercial strip leading
away from the Village. From Stowe, take Route 100 south to Route
89 south to Route 91 south for about three hours until reaching
the "Green Mountain" community of Brattleboro in southern
Vermont. Laid back with lots of hippies and ex-New Yorkers, this
is a Grateful Dead kind of town with plenty of unique shopping,
dining and diverse lifestyles that lends character and a bunch
of characters to this sleepy, but vibrant town. Nearby towns
like Weston and Londonderry are worth exploring -- unspoiled,
beautiful and full of friendly locals. The famed Vermont Country
Store is located in Weston and is worth a special trip.
From Brattleboro, take Route
91 south for two hours through Massachusetts and into Connecticut.
South of Hartford in the middle of the state, take Route 9 south
to Essex Conn., located on the Connecticut River and recognized
as one of the best small towns in America. It is a true walker's
haven, with sidewalks meeting with historical buildings, cozy
taverns, views of the water and some of the nicest concentration
of homes in New England. Not too far from Essex are classic New
England towns like Deep River, Old Saybrook, Old Lyme and Haddam
-- old-fashioned, traditional New England type towns that Hollywood
likes to capture in any movies made about New England (although
re-creations of these towns take place sometimes in places other
than New England). Enjoy the village greens, lack of development,
scenery and tall white steeples rising above the sleepy towns.
From Essex and vicinity, take
route 9 south to Route 95 north through the seaport towns of
Mystic, Conn., Watch Hill/Westerly, R.I., and then 45 minutes
north to Providence, R.I., a medium -sized city experiencing
a remarkable revitalization. From the colorful Italian streets
of Federal Hill to the elegant brownstone, Ivy League neighborhoods
of Brown University, Providence feels like a complete city. There's
the mile of colonial houses on Benefit Street juxtaposed against
a rapidly growing skyline. Providence Place Mall, one of the
biggest malls in New England shines its modern leanings against
the architecturally old world aura of the State House. Providence
also offers some of the best restaurants in New England (Al Forno,
Pot Au Feu) and a plethora of high quality hotels and inns. Providence
is a world class city for several blocks, with expansion of that
greatness on the way.
From Providence, take route
195 east for a few minutes to Route 114, going through charming,
coastal towns like Barrington and Bristol. Eventually, you'll
end up in Newport, replete with spectaculars mansions, shopping
to last a lifetime, unbeatable harbor and ocean views (Easton's
Beach is a great summer destination with its warmer New England
waters and plenty of sand), and an incredible variety of attractions.
From Newport, take Route 138
north to Route 195 east to Route 25 to Cape Cod (about an hour's
trip to the entrance to Cape Cod). What a perfect way to end
your New England vacation, with the gentle summer breeze as a
catalyst to enjoy the legendary beaches, seafood dinners and
ultimate relaxation in beautiful villages like Chatham, Brewster,
Barnstable and Yarmouth (on Route 6A) Truro, and Eastham.
We also recommend checking
the Dec. 27 and 22, 2006, parts of this page, for other great
places to visit in New England!
Q: If you had to pick three
downtown that represent New England at its best, what would they
be?
A: To us, a great New England
town retains its sense of history, has a village green, predominantly
locally owned stores, and tree-lined side. Additionally, we would
prefer towns that remain peaceful, and don't sell out to the
"souvenir/outlet store/Housing development. With that in
mind, we think of the five following towns as best representing
New England:
1. Guilford, Conn. This peaceful
town on the southern Connecticut coast centers around one of
the largest village greens in New England. A limited number of
pleasing locally-owned stores and a great concentration of well-maintained
colonial homes make Guilford a great place to stop. It's more
a day trip than an overnight stay as the town focuses on its
residents, both tourists -- that means there aren't a lot of
gift stores and places to stay in town. Just because it's not
a lodging destination doesn't mean its not worth a visit, however.
Those who truly want a taste of authentic New England should
strongly consider parking their cars, taking in the historic
aura, walking the trip-back-in-time downtown and resting on a
park bench in the oasis of the wonderful village green. As you
can see, there's not a lot to do here, and that is precisely
the point of visiting this wonderful downtown.
2. Hanover, N.H. -- With Dartmouth
College and its grand old examples of architecture, beautiful
tree-lined streets, remarkable, large old homes and a good amount
of local places to shop, Hanover seems like perhaps the most
complete version of a true, historic New England town. The spirit
of a college town never takes away from the historic feel and
vice versa. The result is a vibrant community that sure looks
good, all wrapped up in colonial splendor, people with strong
opinions and a commitment to never letting the town deteriorate
into a generic, faceless community, like so many towns in New
England have sadly become. Hanover is the real deal, so get a
cup of coffee at the local coffee shop, talk with the locals
and treat your eyes to one of New England's best maintained towns.
3. Concord, Mass. -- Home
of the American Revolution, this western Boston suburb is one
of the few communities in the area that has held onto its roots.
What that means is the town center has grown with the times and
looks great with its mix of old town buildings, museums, churches
with tall white steeples rising above the trees, the great "Village
Green" Monument Square, real neighborhoods with splendid
colonials and Victorians and a refreshingly relaxed feel. The
shops can get a little precious and expensive, at times, but
there are still enough family-oriented businesses to avert the
town from becoming an obnoxious retail center. Plus, if you ever
get tired of the downtown -- which is unlikely -- you can take
a nice ride through the country roads leading from the downtown
to historic Walden Pond or one of the many local farm stands.
There are many more true New
England communities like Pomfret, Conn., Litchfield, Conn., Essex,
Conn., Stonington Borough, Conn., Old Lyme, Conn., Northeast
Harbor, Maine, Deerfield, Mass., Hollis, N.H., Keene, N.H., Wolfeboro,
N.H., Bristol, R.I., Wickford Village, R.I., Brattleboro, Vt.,
Weston, Vt., and Waits River, Vt.. For more information on these
and other New England towns, please visit our "Top
New England Communities" section.
Q: I'm interested in moving
to New England after retirement. Any recommendations on where
to live?
The Sunapee, N.H. region --
It's beautiful with Mt. Sunapee and the gorgeous Sunapee Lake
providing the splendor. Nearby New London is a wonderful little
residential mountain/lake town with enough to do (shops, restaurants,
recreational opportunities), but the chance to unwind with every
c New England country sunrise and sunset.
Lexington-Concord, Mass. --
Expensive, but both towns have real character and lots of history.
A walk to the center of each place, or to Walden Pond, Old North
Bridge, Minuteman Park or down a tree-lined residential street
would indeed be a great way of life. These two towns are also
within a half hour of Boston and have lots of great services
(that means higher taxes, however).
Holden, Rutland, Princeton,
Mass. -- These towns are close to Worcester (not the greatest
city), but offer great New England small town life and charm.
All three towns feel safe and cozy. They are also centrally located,
so it would be easy to travel to many great parts of New England.
Essex, Conn. -- One of the
great small towns in New England (and perhaps the United States,
according to some), with a quaint downtown, gorgeous views of
the Connecticut River, and a truly relaxed feel. Some great neighborhoods
here!
Woodstock ad Pomfret, Conn.
-- Incredibly quiet, unspoiled and close enough to built-up towns
and cities (Putnam, Worcester, Mass.) so you're not totally isolated.
This is true New England with its rolling hills, village greens,
country stores, etc.
Portland, Maine -- An interesting,
revitalized city with old Victorian Homes, tree-lined streets
and the great Old Port Exchange, an area with terrific restaurants
and stores. Great views of the ocean can be found here, too.
If you like living in the city, this is a worthy place to live.
If not, surrounding communities like Cape Elizabeth, Yarmouth,
Falmouth and South Portland have fine neighborhoods.
Boston, Mass. -- The "Hub
of the Universe" offers a walkable city with lots of charm,
history and plenty to do. Like Portland, it's a great place to
live if you like living in the city. Beacon Hill, although incredibly
expensive, is the place to live with it's fine brownstones and
tree shaded streets. If you like the suburbs, I'd recommend looking
at some of the small towns in nearby Norfolk County -- in between
Boston and Providence, R.I., another worthy city that became
world class seemingly in a few years (the Brown University area
and Benefit Street are wonderfully charming and historic). Some
towns in Norfolk County to consider are Norfolk, Walpole, Medfield,
Millis, Medway, Sharon, Wrentham and Foxboro (home of the New
England Patriots; people don't know that the town has a lovely
village green and some superb neighborhoods). Living in this
area gives you the best of both worlds, Boston,Providence and
some peace and quiet in these relatively relaxing New England
communities (although obnoxious, generic housing developments
seem to be ruining the appeal of Walpole).
Keene, N.H. -- A sweet "college
town" with an appealing and wide Main Street, an old-time
movie theater, low crime, nice parks, a golf course, plenty of
services (a big medical center) and really pleasant, tree-lined
neighborhoods with a great mix of old and new homes. We considered
moving here a while back. It's a very livable city (population
22,000) that really feels like a small town.
Q: If you had to choose five
New England restaurants specializing in great regional seafood,
what would they be?
A: 1. Legal Seafoods (26 locations
throughout New England and beyond)
2. The Daily Catch (323 Hanover
St., Boston, Mass., 617-523-8567)
3. Docksider (14 Sea St, Northeaster
Harbor, Maine, 207-276-3965)
4. The Dolphin (12 Washington
St., Natick, Mass., 508-655-0669)
5. George's of Galilee (250
Sand Hill Cove Rd., Narragansett R.I., 401-783-2306)
We recommend reading the "Best Seafood Restaurants in New England"
article for further information.
Q: Where are the best places
to vacation in the mountains and at the ocean in New England?
A: For mountains, you can't
go wrong in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire,
and the Green Mountains in Vermont. They are generally regarded
as the premier mountain destinations, full of scenery, attractions,
events and recreation. As for the ocean, we recommend Cape Cod
in Massachusetts, the southern Maine coast, Acadia National Park
in Maine, and South County in Rhode Island. Please note that
the cold ocean temperatures in Maine aren't as conducive to swimming
as the warmer waters in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
All information on the aforementioned
New England destinations can be accessed in the New
England travel library or the best
destinations in New England section.
Q: Where can I go for antique
shopping in New England?
A: Putnam, Conn., has a high
concentration of antique stores in its quaint, old-fashioned
center. Located in the quiet northeastern section of Connecticut,
Putnam is also close to classic, unspoiled New England "village
green towns" like Pomfret, Brooklyn and Woodstock. We also
like Norwood, Mass.' downtown, which features several nice antique
stores. Here, you'll also find a vibrant downtown with several
restaurants and great independently-owned shops. It's not a vacation
spot, but one of the better Boston suburbs when it comes to down
towns.
Also, you could just drive
down any country road in Vermont and discover great antique stores!
The state is loaded with antique shops.
Q: How do I know where to
stay in New England? All the lodging advertisements look so appealing.
A: Don't be fooled by a hotel's
appealing name. It could cost you your vacation.
One of the most important
decisions you will make on your New England vacation is where
to stay. The choices are many and sometimes the hype can be misleading.
You may see the words "mist," "ocean," "mountains"
of "sea view" on the lodging businesses name but that
does not mean it near the ocean or mountains. Sometimes, you
end up on a commercial strip a few miles from where you really
want to be. How disappointing it is to expect an ocean view and
end up with views of the wrong nautical kind -- Long John Silver's
or a Red Lobster.
We recommend checking our
lodging section
for reviews of places we've stayed. No lodging reviews will be
posted on our site that fail to meet our criteria. On this page,
we also have access to hundreds of New England hotels, motels,
inns, and bed and breakfasts with descriptions, photographs,
ratings and the chance to make reservations online. It's a wonderful
resource to ensure you make the right choice when staying in
New England.
Please feel free
to send in your
question about visiting New England!
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Find
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The New England Lodging
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and make reservations online at New England's best hotels, inns,
bed and breakfasts and motels.
New England lodging page
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