The Top 30 Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend New England Travel
Ideas
Swan Boats of Boston in Boston, Mass.
by Eric Hurwitz. Updated 12/02/16.
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No "Freebird" or "Stairway to Heaven" number one finishes
here, or the drone of counting down 500 songs over the holiday weekend
-- just the top 30 best New England
Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend New England summer travel
destinations, counting down to number one! Some destinations like
Hyannis, MA., Watch Hill, RI, Old Orchard Beach, Maine and Newport, RI,
have a live wire, seaside feel, while places like Old Lyme, Conn.,
Jackson, NH, Northeast Harbor, Maine, and Deerfield, MA, offer rest and
relaxation in more tranquil, quiet settings. Whatever the case, here
are our top 30 Memorial Day to Labor Day vacation destinations --
places that just feel right to visit at the beginning of summer:
30. Bristol, RI -- In simple
terms, Bristol is a great waterfront town, one of the most appealing in
New England. Surrounded by Mount Hope Bay to the east and Narragansett
Bay to the south and west, Bristol features breathtaking water views
and an "all-American" ideal downtown featuring wonderful local shops,
inns and restaurants. Nearby Colt State Park, affords amazing views of
the Narragansett Bay and a terrific place to walk or bike (the great
East Bay Bike Path). Bristol is close to famous Newport, RI, and
wonderfully revitalized Providence, R.I., making it a perfect
foundation for your Rhode Island vacation. Book a room in Bristol
29. Scituate, MA -- This South
Shore Boston, MA, suburb offers seaside Cape Cod charm without going
over the "bridge" and the traffic that goes with it. Scituate offers
small beaches, a beautiful lighthouse at Scituate Light, a wonderful
downtown with locally-owned stores, and terrific seafood restaurants
like the Mill Wharf (with a splendid view of Scituate Harbor). Book a room in Scituate
28. Jackson, NH -- Hiking,
biking, canoeing, kayaking, waterfalls, mountain streams, covered
bridges make Jackson a terrific natural summer place. Close proximity
to all Mt. Washington region activities, and plenty of charming inns
and bed and breakfasts to stay result in Jackson being a clear choice
for those looking for a quiet quintessential New England community in a
wonderfully relaxing mountainside region. Book a room in Jackson
27. Old Lyme, CT -- This quiet
coastal Connecticut town has little going for it except beautiful, old
New England homes, access to the coast and relaxing walks along
non-commercial Main Street. That's enough for us. The Bee and Thistle
and Old Lyme in are renowned local, historic inns. Book a room in Old Lyme
26. Deerfield, MA -- Deerfield
boasts about a mile of historic Main Street homes and the prep school
presence of famous Deerfield Academy. It's close to other interesting
western Massachusetts communities and college towns like Amherst and
Northampton. Like Old Lyme, this is an ideal place if you like peace
and quiet. If you're looking for lots of things to do, however, go
elsewhere, although the mammoth Yankee Candle Factory a few miles from
the Main Street provides the ultimate gift shopping experience in a
building that is more like a shopping mall. Book a room in Deerfield
25. Hampton Beach, NH -- A
fantastic Atlantic Coast beach, arcade games, weekly fireworks
displays, 80 free summer concerts, restaurants and shops highlight this
bustling southern New Hampshire resort town. Not always clean and with
too many clothing challenged "show-offs," Hampton Beach might not be
for everyone, but there is something for everyone. You can find your
own quiet spot, or go with the loud crowds. Hampton Beach has been a
long time favorite New England vacation destination; millions of
visitors through the years can't be wrong. For many, a Memorial Day
excursion to Hampton Beach is a way of life and a validation that
summer has begun. Book a room at Ashworth by the Sea in
Hampton Beach
24. North Conway, NH -- It
isn't what is used to be with all the outlet stores coming into town,
but North Conway still remains one of the most beautiful settings in
New England, courtesy of an amazing Main Street view of Mt. Washington
(highest elevation in New England at 6,288 ft.). There's still plenty
of small town charm and close proximity to the significant amount of
natural and theme park attractions in the White Mountain region.
There's also no shortage of restaurants with around 100 choices,
ranging from pizza to new American. Book a room in North Conway
23. Plymouth, MA -- Plimoth
Plantation, Plimoth Rock and other pilgrim-related attractions combine
with some nice ocean beaches and seafood restaurants to make Plymouth a
recommended southern New England destination. "America's hometown" has
witnessed a tremendous turnaround in its downtown section -- now filled
a pleasant mix of locally-owned shops, galleries, boutiques, and
restaurants. Book a room in Plymouth
22. Litchfield, CT -- With
almost a collegiate feel -- with no college -- Litchfield is a favorite
"New Yorkers" destinations with its tree-lined streets, fine but
limited restaurant scene and a quiet, historic aura blessed with a
pretty town common. Litchfield, from many profiles, is the epitome of
true New England. Book a room in Litchfield
21. Hanover, NH -- The ultimate
college town, thanks to the esteemed Dartmouth College. A community
vibrancy and many restaurants, walking destinations and arts and
entertainment opportunities make Hanover a nice place to visit. It's
near the Vermont border and not too far from the southwest regions of
the White Mountains. Book
a room in Hanover
20. Ipswich, MA -- This small
North Shore Massachusetts town features Crane's Beach, one of the great
ocean beaches on the Atlantic Coast. Famous Rockport and Gloucester are
nearby. Book
a room in Ipswich
19. Hyannis, MA -- Commercial,
loud and full of youths and families, Hyannis may not be your relaxing
Cape Cod getaway but its quite fun with its plethora of beaches, ice
cream, miniature golf, candle and cranberry-fueled gift shops and
nightlife. Just a few minutes away on Old Route 6A, you have the chance
to unwind in classic Cape Cod communities like Yarmouthport, Barnstable
and Sandwich. Book
a room in Hyannis
18. Rye, NH -- Traditional
motels,seafood stands and public ocean beaches mix with spectacular
ocean homes on the impressive New Hampshire seacoast. Rye is near other
great New England vacation destinations like Portsmouth, NH, Hampton
Beach, NH, and York, Maine. Book a room in Rye
17. Watch Hill, RI (Westerly) --
Watch
Hill Beach, in Westerly, delivers the seaside family beach setting that
prospective New England travelers envision. Safe, scenic and seemingly
always sunny, the beach is surrounded by a charming village of shops
(candy, books, beachwear, arts and crafts, boutiques, etc), seafood
restaurants, a magnificent carousel and enough ice cream places to
bring out the best in summer. The neighborhoods boast fine old sea
captain's homes. Book a room in Westerly
16. Stockbridge, MA -- Norman
Rockwell called Stockbridge "the best of America, the best of New
England," and it's easy to see why. Stockbridge is picture-perfect with
its wide Main street, tree-lined neighborhoods, great flower displays,
proud homes, fresh air and community hospitality. This is the perfect
Berkshire Mountain town, perfect for relaxation and a stroll down one
of the Northeast's most pleasant Main Streets. Book a room in Stockbridge
15. Freeport, Maine -- The
ultimate outlet store town, with L.L. Bean leading the way. Over 170
outlet stores should be enough to keep the most dedicated, obsessed
shopper busy, but we remind you please not to forget the nearby
spectacular Maine coastline. Freeport is not too far from Portland, a
great waterfront city, and the well-maintained historic communities of
Bath, Brunswick as well as picturesque Boothbay Harbor. Book a room in Freeport
14. Old Orchard Beach, Maine --
A large ocean beach, boardwalk with shops and restaurants, an amusement
area with rides and games and endless souvenir shops make Old Orchard a
crowded, fun-filled Maine vacation destination for the family. It can
be, as one friend said, "a drain on society" with somewhat of a crude,
bonehead crowd, but it's generally safe... and so much fun! Book
a room in Old
Orchard Beach
13. Centerville, MA -- The
relaxing Craigsville Beach and the amazing Four Seas Ice cream Stand
(canatalope ice cream, anyone?) is enough to start anyone's Cape Cod
Memorial Day Weekend. Centerville is near the commercial mecca of
downtown Hyannis, but shares little of its commercialism. It is, in
fact, a peaceful Cape Cod destination that you would come to expect
from a previous generation. Book
a room near
Centerville
12. Kennebunkport, Maine --
Former president George Bush, Sr., lives here; he couldn't have picked
a better location. Kennebunkport's downtown might just be the best for
a small Maine town -- full of great little shops, historic and majestic
inns and bed and breakfasts, and terrific seafood restaurants. It looks
like Maine here (you'd be surprised how many Maine towns have lost that
special look due to over-commercialism). From popular ocean beaches
downtown to the quiet seaside of Goose Rocks Beach on the outskirts,
Kennebunkport is a near-perfect coastal Maine vacation destination. Book a room in Kennebunkport
11. Burlington, VT -- Blessed
with amazing views of Lake Champlain, Burlington is a big, fun college
town (University of Vermont and several others) with enough arts and
entertainment, a four block pedestrian shopping area, and enough
mountain and lake scenery to keep visitors coming back and residents
permanently residing in what is called a "mini-San Francisco" by some.
With a restaurant scene worthy of bigger cities and scenic places to
walk reminiscent of a peaceful small vacation town, Burlington brings
together the best of urban and small town New England. Book a hotel in Burlington, Vermont
10 Newport, RI -- A high
concentration of spectacular mansions and an even higher concentration
of shops and restaurants make Newport a famous, appealing ocean
vacation spot. It's bit hectic downtown, but the outskirts near Fort
Adams State Park are just as peaceful as ever -- a true representation
of a relaxing New England coastal experience. Book
a room in Newport
9. Portsmouth, NH -- Forget
about what author Bill Bryson says about Portsmouth being
unforgettable. This small southern New Hampshire seacoast city has so
much going on that it makes you wonder why you should bother with some
of the bigger cities. Mixing the traditional with the chic, Portsmouth
has a nice downtown with old-time stores, trendy shops, an amazing
concentration of old sea captain's homes, Prescott Park by the harbor
and historic, outdoor museum Strawberry Banke.This is New Hampshire's
oldest seacoast neighborhood where one can experience Portsmouth life
from the late 1600s to the 1950s. Add a spirited community feel, some
terrific seafood restaurants (the Oar House) and a safe feel, and
you'll see why Portsmouth has become an "A" list New England travel
destination. Book a room in Portsmouth
8. Lexington-Concord, MA --
Home of the Revolutionary War, this period of history can be seen in
the town commons, old, historic homes, museums and guided tours. We
prefer Concord as it's a little less suburban, has some beautiful
countryside and offers the great Walden Pond for swimming and
hiking. Book a room in Concord
7. Stowe, VT -- Often thought
of as a great skiing destination, Stowe, Vt., is also a wonderful
summer place to vacation. Attractively tucked away between Mt.
Mansfield and other spectacular mountains and hills, Stowe has a high
concentration of dining, lodging, shopping and recreational
opportunities. At times, Stowe looks overly commercial outside the
200-year-old downtown village with its myriad shops, but let's face it
-- the mix of gift and art shops, restaurants (like the great casual
Shed), and motels, inns and bed and breakfasts are of such high quality
that they serve a valuable purpose. There's no obnoxious, hokiness
here. Downtown, the site of a general store, a church rising above the
trees and the local coffee shop bring out the best in small-town New
England living, although some say it is more reminiscent of a
mountainside European Village. Close by in Waterbury is the Ben and
Jerry's Ice Cream headquarters, where the tour is fun and free samples
are available. Cold Hollow Cider Mill is another highlight, also in
Waterbury. They make cider the old-fashioned way with a rack and cloth
press built in the 1920s. Cider is not the only attraction at this
legendary attraction as a bakery (including delicious homemade donuts),
Green Mountain Coffee, Vermont-made wines and a toy store are just a
few of the thousands of items found at this delightful roadside
building. On the north side, a ride through the rugged, scenic notch
into Jeffersonville, will have your car twisting and turning into high
elevations that provide some unforgettable forested, rocky scenery.
This is just the tip of the iceberg in Stowe; it is a place to do lots
of things, or just relax and do nothing within a peaceful environment.
That is the beauty of Stowe. Book a room in Stowe
6. Rockport, MA -- Rockport has
done a great job of retaining its New England flavor by refusing to
become too over commercial. That leaves you with a quaint New England
town, flavored by the renowned artist colony at Bearskin Neck, some
fine ocean beaches and seafood restaurants that represent the best of
New England. Rockport is part of the vacation oriented North Shore
featuring nearby Salem, Gloucester, Marblehead, and Essex. Rockport can
stand on its own as a vacation destination, or as part of a total
package. Book
a room in
Rockport
5. Lincoln-Woodstock region, NH
-- The beautiful White Mountains provide the scenery and tourist
attractions like the Flume Gorge, Clark's Trading Post (with live
trained bears), the Loon Mountain gondola, the Mt. Washington cog
railway, Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway and Hobo Railway make this
region a clear preferred family destination. Famous and beloved lodging
like the Indian Head, Woodward's, Jack O'Lantern and Loon Mountain
Resort provide the perfect foundation to this traditional favorite
travel destination. Book
a room in Lincoln
4. Boston, MA -- An amazing
array of the old and the new, Boston is one of America's great cities.
The historic Freedom Trail leads the way to old Italian neighborhoods
(North End), upscale European-like shopping and residential districts
(Newbury Street), the Swan Boats of Boston boat rides in the Boston
Public Garden (pictured at top of page), the restaurants and stores at
wonderfully restored
Old Faneuil Hall, Fenway Park (the Boston Red Sox), upscale Beacon Hill
with its great brownstones, and about a million other attractions so
vast that even a lifelong Bostonian will never get to full experience. Book
a room in Boston
3. Block Island, RI -- Block
Island resembles Martha's Vineyard, but without the overwhelming crowds
of expense. Block Island may have a busy-- and necessary downtown
filled with shops, lodging and dining but once you're past this
section, it's all unspoiled terrains with green land and incredible
ocean views from the clay cliffs. There's plenty of beach space for
families. The Nature Conservancy has designated as "one of the 12 last
great places in the Western Hemisphere." It's the perfect place to bike
or use a motor scooter to view the wonderful natural settings. Book a room at Block Island
2. Northeast Harbor, Maine -- A
peaceful haven from some of the more commercial hustle and bustle of
Acadia National Park, Northeast Harbor is a true vacation getaway.
Situated on a beautiful Maine harbor, Northeast Harbor also has a
quaint little downtown with a grocery store, a few restaurants and
clothing and antique stores. It feels tucked away in the middle of
nowhere, but is just minutes from all of Acadia's major scenic
attractions. It is our preferred choice when seeking a natural,
peaceful vacation in Acadia National Park. Book
a room in
Northeast Harbor
1. York Beach, Maine -- If the
Beach Boys were East Coast born, their hit single "Fun, Fun, Fun" would
have been dedicated to York Beach, Maine. Two fine family-oriented
ocean beaches (Short and Long Sands), a zoo and amusement park (York
Kingdom) a dizzying array of souvenir shops, a salt water taffy store
(Goldenroad's), great seafood restaurants, the famous Nubble Lighthouse
and Dunn's Ice Cream stand (with its blueberry ice cream) make York
Beach a must when visiting New England. It has the best vacation feel
of any New England destination, balancing relaxation with enough fun
things to do. This is the ultimate place to walk the beach, eat
lobster, and admire the rocky Maine coast. What more could you ask for
in New England? Book
a room in York
Beach
Short Sands Beach, York Beach, Maine
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Eric
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