New England— the birthplace of America — is best known for its small towns, brilliant fall foliage and coastal landscapes. As one of the oldest settled regions in the country, New England has a rich history to discover.
Do you know which states make up New England? The 6 states are: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire! With so many unique towns spread from the coast to the mountains, it may be hard to decide where to head in New England. Our list will help you narrow down the places that you must visit!
10. Mystic, CT
The village of Mystic is one of New England’s most charming towns. Take a stroll through the marinas of Mystic Seaport to view the tall ships. Check out the Mystic Seaport Museum. It is the largest maritime museum in the United States. Nearby is the town of Groton which is sometimes referred to as the "Submarine Capital of the World," due to the long-standing history of submarines in the town, and the fact that Groton has one of the largest submarine bases in the world.
If you are looking for something the whole family will love, visit Mystic Aquarium; they have beluga whales! Then head to the one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants that make Olde Mistick Village special. Mystic offers plenty of dining options especially seafood dishes. In downtown Mystic try The Mariner which has a delightful happy hour before 6pm. Order their chilled peel and eat shrimp at a reduced price and choose from their variety of cocktails. Or if you are a fan of the film Mystic Pizza starring Julia Roberts, you can eat at the restaurant from the movie!
9. Lake Winnipesaukee, NH
Lake Winnipesaukee is a popular family destination and can best be enjoyed during the summer months. On a beautiful clear day you can even spot Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States. Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire! If you are seeking adventure, then this place is for you. At the lake, you can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing and even ziplining! Weirs Beach is a fantastic spot with waterslides, boardwalks and arcades.
If you want to enjoy panoramic views of the lake, buy tickets for the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. It is located in the village of Meredith, NH at the northern end of Lake Winnipesaukee. The area is surrounded by three mountain ranges, making for spectacular sights. You can also head to the nearby city of Laconia, home to a drive- in movie theater, called Weirs Drive-In that the whole family will love. In the winter months, you can hit the ski slopes at Gunstock Mountain Resort.
8. Bar Harbor, ME
Experience the salty ocean breeze in Bar Harbor, a seaside town in Maine famous for its New England charm and lobster industry. It is the best known town on Mount Desert Island situated on the sparkling Frenchman Bay.
One of Bar Harbor’s main attractions is definitely Acadia National Park. Take in the views of Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain in Acadia National Park as well as the tallest along the eastern coast of the United States.
The town of Bar Harbor has a lovely town pier and boardwalk along the bay overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. To get your lobster fix, try Stewman's Lobster Pound! For adventure, head out on a boat tour, go fishing, jump in for a swim, or try water skiing. If you are visiting during winter months, enjoy cross-country skiing and the Park Loop Road which has 27-miles of snowmobile trails.
7. Guilford, CT
The town of Guilford truly captures the essence of New England’s shoreline beauty and historical past. This small town was established in 1639, making it older than our country! The historical Town Green is aligned with locally owned shops and quaint restaurants.
There are many historic homes here dating back to the early 1600’s. One home in particular, the Henry Whitfield House, now a museum, is the oldest dwelling house in Connecticut and the oldest stone house built by English settlers in North America. It was constructed in 1639. Head to the Guilford Docks for an epic view of a charming red stilt house on Grass Island.
This shoreline town also offers oceanfront dining, and great seafood restaurants like The Place, where you dine on top of tree stumps. At this outdoor cafe, they cook your seafood over an 18-ft fire. Guilford is only about 15 minutes away from New Haven. New Haven is home to Yale and amazing local pizza joints that you must try. We believe New Haven pizza is better than New York pizza. New Haven pizza is perfectly cooked in a coal-powered brick oven. New Haven’s dough has a longer fermentation process whereas New York-style pizzas are built with quick-rise dough to form a foldable crust.
6. Burlington, VT
Burlington is Vermont’s largest city, but it is by no means a big city. It manages to have a small town feel that makes you immediately feel welcomed. The city is clean and takes a lot of initiative to be eco-friendly. University of Vermont has a scenic, sprawling campus here.
This beautiful town in the Green Mountain state houses Lake Champlain. Enjoy a cruise on the lake or take in the views along the lake in any of the Adirondack chair swings. If you visit during winter months, there are plenty of ski slopes and resorts nearby. Two great ski resorts that we frequent each winter are Stowe and Mt. Snow. They have phenomenal trails and cozy lodges.
Our favorite area of downtown was around Church and College Street. This pedestrian-only walkway stretches for about half a dozen blocks with several local shops and restaurants along the way. We always make an effort to stop in for brews and food at The Vermont Pub & Brewery. Vermont is home to several craft breweries and this one is the oldest. Burlington is home to Magic Hat Brewing Company and their famous #9 ale that is sold all over the United States. Our favorite beer available in Burlington is made by Alchemist Beer and is called the Heady Topper. It is brewed nearby in Waterbury, Vermont which also happens to be home to Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. You can tour the original ice cream shop and sample a variety of flavors. Our favorite part of the tour was the Flavor Graveyard, where retired ice cream flavors were laid to rest.
5. Westerly, RI
Summer in New England, means it’s time to hit the beach! Westerly is home to our favorite spot to spend a hot summer day- Watch Hill. Parking your car cost about $20 but it is worth it because it is a short, easy walk to the beach and to the cute downtown. The waves here are amazing and no matter how old you are you should pack a boogie board because it is honestly a complete blast. After an afternoon of riding the waves and soaking in the sun, we recommend you walk from the beach to the little shops, carousel and most importantly the ice cream shop.
At this beach, you can see the yellow hotel, Ocean House, which opened in 1868 and was one of the filming locations for Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. If you view the hotel from the street, you will see guests playing croquet on the lawn in their polos and khakis. Beyond the hotel, this beach has gorgeous views of sand dunes. From the beach you can also see the vacation home of superstar Taylor Swift that sits up high on the cliffs.
4. Nantucket, MA
Take the ferry to Nantucket for a seaside escape. This picture perfect island is only miles away from Cape Cod! From soft sandy beaches, to buttery lobster rolls, boutique shops, and charming cottages, Nantucket is breathtaking. Nantucket’s historic charm is complete with cobblestones streets and stunning cottages. As you walk along the streets you will see lovely, colorful hydrangea flowers that are perfectly landscaped. Looking to grab a quick bite? Salty Dog Cafe is the place for a filling lunch before or after hitting the beach! If you have a sweet tooth like us, then you need to head to the Juice Bar ice cream shop. All flavors are homemade in house and absolutely to die for.
To view Sankaty lighthouse, stroll the Sconset Bluff Walk. Along the way you may stumble upon a local farmer’s market, the Sconset Market. Sconset has a nice beach that tends to have a smaller crowd compared to other beaches in the area. Our best beach experience was at Jetties Beach. We rented a sailboat and had a blast cruising around the ocean.
3. Newport, RI
Newport has a lot of beauty. We recommend taking a picturesque walk alongside the Atlantic Ocean on the city’s beautiful Cliff Walk. The walk is 3.5 miles long and the views are exceptional. After your walk, head downtown to Thames Street for many dining options and fun shops. History buffs should walk around the largest and most complex coastal fortification in the US, Fort Adams. It was constructed between 1824-1857 and active through WWII. The fort was designed to mount an impressive 468 cannons and house 2,400 troops!
The city of Newport is best known for its historic mansions and rich sailing history. It is sometimes referred to as the "Sailing Capital of the World." The yacht-filled harbor hosted the America’s Cup, a renowned annual sailing regatta, for many years.
Many of Newport’s mansions have been converted into museums which offer amazing tours inside the historic homes. They are remnants of the lavish lifestyles of America's wealthiest industrialists in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Of all of Newport's famous homes, The Breakers mansion is one of the most striking summer cottages. Commissioned in 1893 by railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt II, The Breakers was inspired by palaces in northern Italy and designed with a Renaissance-style.
2. Ogunquit, ME
Ogunquit means “beautiful place by the sea” in the Abenaki Indian language. This shoreline town sure lives up to its name. Lined with sandy beaches and dramatic rocky cliffs, this sea-side town is picture perfect. If you are looking to swim or just relax in the sun, Ogunquit Beach is truly an oasis. About 10 minutes away, discover the Nubble Lighthouse, which sits atop a large rock island a few hundred feet off shore in York.
Take a 3-mile walk along Marginal Way, a shorefront pedestrian walkway that connects Ogunquit village to Perkins Cove. Perkins Cove is the most charming fishing village you will find. There are many delightful shops and even a manually operated pedestrian drawbridge you can discover!
Stop in for a bite at one of the waterfront bistros for a bowl of chowder or lobster roll. Maine lobster is so good that we must mention it twice on this list. At the Lobster Shack you can enjoy lobster, steamers, lobster rolls, clam chowder, all in a casual atmosphere. The lobsters are caught by local lobstermen and wait in tanks filled with ocean water pumped straight from Perkins Cove. It honestly could not be any more fresh or delicious.
1. Cape Cod, MA
Cape Cod is a popular weekend getaway spot on the East Coast for beautiful beaches and colorful sunsets. The peninsula is located just an hour from Boston, MA, making for lots of traffic but the miles of coastline you are rewarded with is worth the wait. With over 60 magnificent beaches to explore, there are so many hidden pockets of serenity and beauty throughout Cape Cod.
In addition to beaches, there are several historic lighthouses to discover. The Nauset Lighthouse is a historic landmark in Eastham and is situated next to Nauset Light beach along the Cape Cod National Seashore. This seashore offers forty miles of pristine sandy beach and marshes. Sip on a pina colada in the sand dunes and play Escape (The Piña Colada Song) by Rupert HolmesIf. In this hit song he mentions the iconic dunes of the cape.
For an unforgettable experience with giants of the deep, book a whale watching tour! Many visitors book a tour with Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch. If you are looking to explore some of Cape Cod’s most historical places, you should check out the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum. Dating back to 1892, the Pilgrim Monument was built by the Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Association to honor the Provincetown landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620.
One piece of history that is even fun for kids is the existence of penny candy stores along the Cape. Our favorite for old time delights is the 1856 Country Store. This is a great spot for Cape Cod saltwater taffy. Cape Cod also has eclectic art galleries, fun shops, and amazing restaurants to enjoy making it a great spot to enjoy for the weekend or even a whole summer! There are several cottages available for rent during the summer months.
New England offers an assortment of experiences ranging from fresh lobster to a slice of pizza that rivals any spot in New York, to green mountain escapes, relaxing seasides and historical landmarks.
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