Hlliard's House of Candies is perfect for yummy Valentine's Day gifts

Article and photo by Eric H.

Please put away the thought of buying a drug store bought chocolate sampler for your significant other. A better idea would be to explore the treasure trove of romantic places to visit during Valentine's Day or any other day in New England.

Whether it's a romantic dinner at an out-of-the-way country restaurant, or an overnight at a quaint New England lodging establishment, you're sure to find romance with a New England flair in the six state region.

Some ideas, in search of romantic New England destinations:

Hilliards House of Candies in Easton, MA, has a lot of heart when it comes to Valentine's Day gifts.

The landmark candy shop, located in a large, charming Victorian home, in quaint North Easton, MA, offers an incredibly attractive and varied display of Valentine's Day gifts. Chocolate teddy bears, milk chocolate made to look like a dozen roses, and gift baskets are just a few of the items that will melt your significant other's heart. Some places just seem to throw out a "vanilla" display as an afterthought; Hilliards, on the other hand, has created what is almost like a museum-like layout of artists displaying their lovingly-crafted Valentine's goodies.

Standing the chocolate test of time since 1924, Hilliards is not just about Valentine's Day. If you believe in a daily dose of chocolate, there's no better place to be than Hilliard's as the made-on-the premises chocolates (and a whole boatload of other candies) will have you feeling good all over. Here's a sample of what Hilliards offers: chocolate chewies, crisp and crunchies, caramel, fresh roasted nuts, pecan patties, fruit slices, penny candy, truffles, fudge, bark, and toffee and brittles, Hiliards also features a seasonal ice cream parlor. The ice cream is made on the premises with flavors like chocolate brownie madness, vanilla chunky chip and cherry cordial with chunks of hand dipped chocolate cherry cordials!

We heartily recommend visiting Hilliard's, but if you don't live in the region you can visit the Hilliards Web Site to place an order or 10.

Hilliards is one sweet place. You'll sure to fall in love with this candy and ice cream destination at first sight -- and taste!

Hilliards House of Candies
316 Main St. (Rte. 138)
North Easton, MA
508-238-6231 ~ 1-800-286-853 

Romantic dining by the sea

Mill Wharf Restaurant, Scituate, MA -- The Mill Wharf Pub and Restaurant offers one of the best harbor views we've experienced at a New England restaurant and seafood that is about as good as its gets in New England The lobster stew is undeniably top-notch, a savory mix of abundant lobster chunks and a splendid cream base. The broiled scallops are perfectly prepared and a recent special, the shrimp risotto with an Asian sauce, validated the chef's ambitious and intuitive nature -- a dish that wanted you coming back for more. Of course, there's lobster, cod, and haddock -- all expertly prepared. The atmosphere at night, with its large dimly lit dining room with great hardwood floors and the lovely Scituate Harbor sunsets, make for one of the most memorable dining experiences in the northeast.

Mill Wharf Restaurant, 150 Front St., Scituate, MA. Tel. (781) 545-3999.

You would have to have marbles in your head not to like this place

Marblehead, MA-- may be located only 20 miles north of Boston but it feels like another universe. With one of the prettiest harbors in New England and streets made for walking, Marblehead transcends your assembly-line quaint town that typically offers phony stores, high prices and lots of attitude. Not that Marblehead doesn't have elements of that with its antique and curio shops, but there's a true working class, sea-captain's feel in a relaxing setting. Because Marblehead is located on a peninsula, it feels like your own discovery. Although we haven't been to the Harborlight Inn, that establishment is generally regarded as one of the more romantic places to stay in New England -- the perfect foundation for this special oceanside town.

Marblehead Chamber of Commerce

62 Pleasant Street

Marblehead, MA 01945

Phone: 781-631-2868

Go to the mountains for New England romance romance

Smuggler's Notch Resort , in Jeffersonville, Vt., has more activities in its all-inclusive community than a summer camp for hyperactive people, but many people just come here to do nothing but to marvel at the majestic mountains and breathe in the fresh Vermont air -- and of course, the great skiing choices right at your doorstep. Built for romantics just as much as for families, the Smuggler's Notch Resort offers great condo-like accomodations and spectacular views within its comfy notch setting. It is no doubt a wonderful place to spend a romantic weekend-- Vermont is inherently romantic -- like one big valentine -- and Smuggler's Notch Resort represents that feeling about as well as any place in Vermont.

Smugglers Notch Resort

4323 VT 108

Jeffersonville, VT

Phone: (802)644-8851

Reservations: 1-800-451-8752

If you don't have acrophobia, the Top of the Hub is the perfect romantic place for dinner

The Top of the Hub is located on the 52nd floor of Boston's Prudential Building. This classy, finely appointed restaurant offers such fine panoramic views that you sometimes forget that you might be looking at Chelsea of Everett. Seriously, the infinite views on a clear night are memorable at this New American establishment that offers excellent food and fine adult beverages. You'll feel like you're on top of the world, literally and figuratively at this special place for your sweetheart.

Top of the Hub

800 Boylston Street

Prudential Tower-52nd Floor

Boston, MA 02199

Tel. (617) 536-1775

Summer at Cape Cod is for tourists. Winter is for lovers.  

Cape Cod is a great place, but sometimes the summers can be truly annoying with the awful traffic leading to the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges, the case-of-beer slovenly weekend warriors or the tense, ruin-it-for-everyone Joe Pocket-Protecter types, the overcrowded beaches and too many precious candle shops with equally precious people. The winter is a different story, as the crowds disappear making Cape Cod seem like you have Cape Cod all to yourself. The winters don't get too cold, so walking the desolate beaches, having dinner in less crowded and more relaxed restaurants, and walking through the salt-air tinged villages without Joe Sixpack and his loud car stereo ruining the mood result in what one would expect from Cape Cod. A great place to start is along the "real Cape Cod" along charming Route 6A. Towns like Yarmouthport, Sandwich and Barnstable offer a true Cape Cod state of mind, with a top pick being the Daniel Webster Inn, of Sandwich, for your lodging and dining pleasure.

Browse the following communities (which include the communities mentioned above) for your romantic Cape Cod lodging destination:

Chatham, Cape Cod, MA

Falmouth, Cape Cod, MA

Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA

Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, MA

Nantucket, Cape Cod, MA

For more information, visit the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce Web Site

Mmmm...The land of chocolate!

We'd like to live in Hebert's Candy Mansion, in Shrewsbury, MA -- there's no better place for incredible chocolates, confections, roasted nuts, delicious fudge and taffy. Since living in the charming mansion isn't a viable option, visiting this landmark to buy the amazing cholocates (always use plural here) would bode well with your significant other, and certainly not just for Valentine's Day. Chocolate is a year-round treat!

Hebert's Candy Mansion

575 Hartford Turnpike (Rt. 20)

Shrewsbury, MA 01545

Tel. (508) 845-8051

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