Wickedly Festive Things To Do In New England In Winter
Winter is one of the best times to be in New England. The area is a wonderland of snow-covered mountains and perfectly decorated, charming towns. Whether you are looking for an active, historical getaway, or a Christmasy escape, New England is the place to experience winter. Here are the best winter activities in New England and the best winter New England getaways.
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This Polar Express train ride in North Conway or Lincoln, New Hampshire, is closest your family will get to visit Santa at the North Pole, short of an actual trip there.
We have visited many Polar Express train rides, but this was the most magical and will make even the most skeptical of children believe. A trip here is a must-do at least once for your family. And to make the deal even better, New Hampshire is one of the best places in New England for winter vacation getaways.
Read on for more about things to do in Lincoln, NH.
Liverpool: Maritime Mercantile City
Visitors to Liverpools Maritime Mercantile City can venture throughout the docklands and historic center.
The area relates the story of UK development throughout the preceding centuries, including the mass movement of emigrants to the United States, immigrants from northern Europe, and of the slave trade. Maritime Mercantile City is also the home to significant civic, commercial, and public buildings such as St. Georges Plateau.
Based on the recent drive for modernization, however, the area has been bestowed with the accolade of an endangered World Heritage Site, being one of only two such sites within all of Europe.
Go Night Tubing In Littleton Ma
Sledding or tubing on any old snowy hill can be a chilling experience, but when you visit a place designed to make it as fun and easy as possible, like Nashoba Valley Tubing Park in Littleton, Massachusetts, its a whole different ball of snow. Part of the Nashoba Valley Ski Area, the tubing park has 18 lanes and four lifts to get you back up to the top of the hill without the hike. In a time of year when it gets dark way too early, being able to take advantage of the illuminated slopes is a game-changer.
Where to stay: Historic Concord, MA, is only 15 minutes away and is home to important landmarks like Walden Pond and the real house where Little Women was written and set. Concords Colonial Inn dates back to 1716 and has a tavern on-site that recalls the way people from the early days of New England would have traveled.
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Take In A Lively Summer Stock Theatre Performance
New England is home of fantastic art and culture, and a region where theatre is alive and well. Summertime is a great season when the stages are bustling.
Some of the best theatre venues around New England include Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT and Weston Playhouse in Vermont.
Swim Outdoors On A Wintry Day
TripSavvy / Kim Knox Beckius
You may find this hard to believe, but you can swim outdoors in New England even in the dead of winter. Taking a dip with snow around you may sound insane, but many hotels and resorts keep their pools extra heated just for that very reason, such as the Hawk Resort in Vermont. After a day of skiing at Sunday River Resort in Maine, you can also take a dip in one of the heated swimming pools at the various hotels on the premises.
If you don’t really care for the swimming part, you can also skip the pool entirely and just head straight to the jacuzzi.
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Cape Cod National Seashore
The Cape Cod National Seashore is a pristine marine environment that consists of 40 miles of beautiful white sandy beaches, tranquil ponds, swampy marshes, wild cranberry bogs, and hiking and biking trails. Established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, the Cape Cod National Seashore offers a variety of activities, including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, and ranger-guided activities such as lighthouse tours, snorkeling, and yoga classes. Other activities include four-wheel driving on the beach, camping, and corridor fishing, and there are two visitors centers, namely the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham and the Province Lands Visitor Center in Provincetown, both of which are open year round.
Fun day trip ideas close to me, things to do this weekend, small towns, best weekend getaways: South Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Day trips
Acadia National Park Me
Recommended by Ale of Sea Salt & Fog
Located on the rocky northeastern shore of Maine, Acadia National Park is a stunning wonderland of beautiful ocean views, charming lighthouses, and all-around New England charm.
Getting to Acadia is an easy, scenic 4.5-hour drive from Boston, or 3 hours from Portland, Maine. The park is easily accessed from the town of Bar Harbor, where youll want to spend the night.
One of the best things to do in Acadia is to watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain. In the early morning light, the sun lights up the mountain and the horizon in beautiful shades of pink and purple. The views here are unlike any other, and are worth braving the morning chill for.
Acadia also has miles of carriage roads that you can hike, bike, and even ski on in the winter. Easy hikes here include going to Witch Hole Pond, where you can spot dragonflies in the meadows. You find some of the best hikes on the East Coast in the park.
During sunset, head over to Jordan Pond. The pond here is flanked by deep green rolling hills. After the sun goes down, frogs come out to play.
You cant visit Maine without seeing a lighthouse, and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is as charming as they come. Watch the sunrise or sunset from the rocky shore, youll have waves lapping at your feet.
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Cruise The Mohawk Trail
Leisure driving as a pastimeaka Lets hop in the carcan trace its start back to 1914, when Massachusetts lawmakers designated a 63-mile stretch of Routes 2 and 2A as the nations first scenic byway and named it the Mohawk Trail. More than a century later, its ability to bring motorists into the landscape is as appealing as ever. Youre in a small town then passing through farmland then cresting a mountain then rambling beside a river. Its no I-90, and, refreshingly, thats kind of the point.
Mount Katahdins Knife Edge Trail offers jaw-dropping view for those brave enough to hike it .
Jerry Monkman/Ecophotography
Eat Your Way Through An Economy
Its a country store staple: a big block of cheddar on the counter, kept under glass and divvied up into wedges. If you track your own households cheddar consumption, you may find that it adds up to five pounds between September and March. Conveniently, Vermont cheddar comes in hefty portions, from the three-pound brick of waxed Cabot sharp to choose-your-own-adventure cuts of Grafton clothbound.
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Notch The Holy Trinity Of Class Field Trips
Like countless New England schoolchildren before you, go tramping down dirt roads to an era when blacksmiths still ply their trade, dinner is cooked over an open hearth, and indoor plumbing is not yet a thing. Spanning the 1600s to the 1800s, the living history museums Plimoth Patuxet and Old Sturbridge Village and Mystic Seaport make unforgettable classrooms for kidsand terrific playgrounds for history-loving adults.
Visit The Flavor Graveyard At Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream Factory
In Waterbury, Vermont, you can see where some of the tastiest ice cream is produced. The Ben & Jerrys Factory offers tours of the ice cream process , but the highlight of your visit might be the Flavor Graveyard.
You can pay your respects to flavors of years past, which include ones that werent so popular and ones dearly missed .
We recommend visiting Waterbury on your way to Stowe, Vermont.
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Eat Popovers At Jordan Pond House In Acadia National Park
During your visit to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park you simply must stop at Jordan Pond House.
During a recent visit to Acadia, we arrived at Jordans at 11am to find a massive line. We got in fairly quickly, and then dined on 4 glorious popovers. These puffy, light pastries are beyond description. Theyve been making popovers here since the 1800s. Go and have them!
London: Madam Tussauds Wax Museum
Madam Tussauds is a famous waxworks museum created by the wax sculptress Marie Tussaud.
The first Madam Tussauds museum, which opened in 1884, is located on Allsop Street, Marleybone, London, though there are now a variety of other branches within different cities around the globe.
The museum hosts lifelike figures, including royal people, film stars, sports stars, models, and infamous murderers.
A large section of the basement, known as The Chamber of Horrors, features historical characters from the French Revolution such as Robespierre, Marat, King Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette, all of whom were modeled by Ms. Tussaud herself upon their death or execution.
The museums opening times vary depending on the season but in general the doors are open between 9.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
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Where: New Haven And Rocky Hill Connecticut
Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven will fascinate young and old alike. The museums halls are filled with exhibits on Native Americans, local birds and mammals, the Earth and its solar system, and gems and minerals. The centerpiece, however, is the Great Hall of Dinosaurs, which houses a room-filling skeleton of a brontosaurus and several other reconstructed dinos. To get to the source, however, head north to Rocky Hills Dinosaur State Parkone of North Americas largest dinosaur track sites. Estimated to be 200 million years old, the tracks are protected under a geodesic dome, where they can be viewed.
INSIDER TIPVisitors can cast a dinosaur footprint to take home May through October, but the park doesnt provide all the supplies. Call ahead to find out what youll need to bring.
Hike New Englands Highest Mountain Mount Washington
The trails are part of the Appalachian Trail. If you cant physically climb Mount Washington, you can take the cogwheel railroad up and down or drive your car. The peak of this mountain, the tallest east of the Mississippi River, has seen the highest recorded wind speeds in the world, not in a storm.
If you dont feel up to as big of a peak, but still want to climb a mountain try Mount Tumbledown,Mount Monadnock, or Mount Major.
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See The Leaves Via Zip Line
In northern Vermont, the Lodge at Spruce Peak offers studios and multi-bedroom suites at the lodge itself, or neighboring private residences and mountain cabinsall in the thick of Vermont fall foliage. Get a birds-eye view of the New England fall colors from the hotel’s zip line , its aerial treetop adventure course, or even by hot air balloon. Its also possible to zip line through the leaves as a just a day trip from Bostonjust head to Gunstock Mountain Resort in the heart of New Hampshires Lakes Region just an hour and forty-five minutes north of Boston by car.
White Mountains New Hampshire
The White Mountains is a range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and encompassing a 750,000-acre national forest. The highlight is stately Mount Washington, the northeasts highest peak. Take vacationing in New England to new heights as you climb the famed Mount Washington Auto Road, a steep 7.6-mile drive nicknamed the Road to the Sky, which has been an attraction since 1861.
New Hampshire State Parks confirms that on a clear day, views from the mountains 6,288-foot summit extend as far as 130 miles and take in Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Quebec, and even the Atlantic Ocean.
Myriad popular towns dot the White Mountain region, including Laconia, North Conway, Lincoln, and countless more. Each shares a visceral beauty and plenty to do for adventurers, but all of them have their own distinct small-town personality. One of the best ways to take it all in is via the legendary Kancamagus Highway, a 34-mile National Scenic Byway full of jaw-dropping natural wonder and wildlife.
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Things To Do In Rhode Island
The mansions of Newport are a sophisticated choice when it comes to vacationing in Rhode Island.
Even the accommodations in the area are luxe!
But Rhode Island is more than elegant mansion homes. Head to Providence for a lively New England city.
Interested in arts and culture, good food, and a fun nightlife?
Providence will deliver. And like the rest of New England, it doesnt skimp on the history.
RI is also a state which offers a lot of beachside fun.
The sandy beaches of Narragansett fill with tourists each summer, and those who arent sunning themselves on the shore can get active with kayaking, sailing, deep-sea fishing, or wildlife tours.
If this part of Rhode Island isnt secluded enough, you could head out on the ferry to Block Island.
Like the islands off of Massachusetts, Block Island is a coastal resort spot that is much beloved.
Dont forget to visit: The Beavertail Lighthouse, the 3rd oldest lighthouse in North America
Bake A Fresh Apple Pie After Visiting An Apple Orchard
Getting outside is good for the soul, and apple orchards smell heavenly. For your efforts, you will be rewarded with healthy snacks for the following weeks. Look for an apple orchard near you, or check out a few of my favorites:
- In North Kingstown, RI, Narrow Lane Orchard has a small orchard with well-marked apples and peaches and a level hiking trail.
- Belkin Family Lookout Farm in Natick, MA, features a more extensive orchard with a train ride into the fields and a childrens play area.
- Dame Farm, Johnston, RI, also has gorgeous pick-your-own flower fields.
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Pay Your Respects To The Old Man Of The Mountain
Take a waterfall-crowned hike through Flume Gorge or a high-flying tram ride up 4,000-foot Cannon Mountain, but on your visit to New Hampshires Franconia Notch State Park be sure to leave time to visit Profiler Plaza, the site where the Old Man of the Mountains craggy visage once looked out over the notch.
Put Yourself Into A Painting By Wyeth Hopper Or Homer
A jaunt along the New England coast can be a scavenger hunt for art lovers, since many of the scenes immortalized by big-name painters are still recognizable today: from the huddled seaside cottages of Edward Hoppers Corn Hill in Truro, Massachusetts, and the pounding surf captured by Winslow Homer at Prouts Neck, Maine, to the sweeping field and weather-beaten farmhouse in Andrew Wyeths Christinas World, set on a property in Cushing, Maine, that along with the painting itself is now part of Rocklands Farnsworth Art Museum.
Bostons Swan Boats have been gliding around in the Public Garden since Rutherford B. Hayes was in the White House.
Emily Kan
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The Best Of Rhode Island
Rhode Island is not only the smallest state in New England, it’s the smallest in the U.S. Yet, for its size, it’s not hard to spend five days or more seeing the sights.
From Newport to Providence, Rhode Island packs a lot into a little space. You can enjoy Newport’s Cliff Walk or spend a day on Misquamicut Beach in Westerly. Take a ferry to Block Island or a gondola ride on the Woonasquatucket River in Providence. The Roger Williams Park Zoo is a popular destination as are Bristol’s Blithewold Mansion and Gardens.
Fans of lighthouses definitely want to book a stay at the Rose Island Lighthouse. There are only two bedrooms available, but you can also apply to be “Keeper of the Week.”
If you’re around during the holiday season, be sure to check out the opulent Newport mansions decorated for the season.
Experience The Ocean Cliffs On Maines Bold Coast Trail
No, you dont really have the entire Gulf of Maine to yourself on the Bold Coast Trail. It just seems that way on this pristine and oftentimes solitary 10-mile trek along beautifully rugged ocean cliffs in Cutler.
Cant decide between mayo or warm butter for your roll? At McLoons in South Thomaston, you can have it both ways.
Amy Traverso
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Attend A Town Meeting
These are a New England institution. According to Wikipedia: A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States principally in New England since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government. Perhaps you can catch one during your visit?
Eat Fried Clams At Woodmans And Jt Farnhams
As the story goes, fried clams were invented in 1916 by Lawrence Chubby Woodman of Essex, Massachusetts, when he threw some battered bivalves into the hot oil at his potato chip stand. Essex has since become the nations fried clam capital, and there are prime examples to be had at Woodmans and J.T. Farnhams, which both offer views of the Essex River salt marshes where some of the worlds best clams are raised.
For more than 100 years, Bostons Fenway Park and its notorious Green Monster have been thrilling baseball fans young and old.
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