Drive The Kancamagus Highway
In New Hampshire, there is an extremely scenic drive called the Kancamagus Highway . It stretches 34 miles from Conway to Lincoln, with lovely views and great places to stop.
You may want to drive the Highway in fall to appreciate the vibrant foliage, but this is a busy time of year. Also be aware that the Highway closes during the winter.
PS: Hanging out in North Conway for a bit? Consider renting gear from REI for a fun outdoor experience!
Top Things To See And Do In Burlington One Of The Coolest Weekend Getaways In The Northeast
Fromstrolling and shopping to enjoying a beer or two , heres what to doin Burlington, Vermont.
ChurchStreet Marketplace
Home to many shops, restaurants, and bars, Church Street is one of Americas most lively public spaces. This quaint pedestrian zone was inspired by the Strøget . When venturing down Burlingtons acclaimed Church Street, be sure to make some room for Champlain Chocolates and a craft beer.
BurlingtonFarmers Market
EverySaturday, Burlingtons finest farmers congregate in town for the BurlingtonFarmers Market. Here, youll have a taste of some of Vermonts freshest andmost delicious produce, meats, and treats. Its a great way to support thelocal community while trying some incredibly delicious food.
Pub crawland/or brewery tour
If youhavent gotten the gist already, Burlington is known for its craft beer scene.There are many fantastic microbreweries in town that youll want to try,including Foam Brewers, Zero Gravity, and Switchback Brewing Company. Whenyoure at dinner, always ask for a locals recommendation on the best beers totry .
BurlingtonBike Path
Renting bikes or segways is a great way to get around Burlington. Theres a nice path that connects Waterfront Park and Battery Park to Appletree Point, offering scenic views of the lake and the parks that skirt around it. Most of the path is flat, well-maintained, and perfect for a bike ride.
Boatcruise on Lake Champlain
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.
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Get Away From It All At Saint
A Cornish, New Hampshire, gem, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park is one of the least-visited national parks in Americaa fact youll find hard to believe as you wander the tranquil former estate of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, whose works include the stirring memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, the nations first civic monument to the heroism of Black soldiers.
More than 800 varieties of fragrant blooms fill the rose garden in Elizabeth Park, in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Michael Piazza
The Best Of New Hampshire
TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove
New Hampshire offers visitors many scenic drives, a little beach, a good dose of mountains, and a few attractions you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a fun state and one that is definitely worth some of your time.
The state has just 13 miles of seacoast, but they make the most of it. Hampton Beach is the premier spot and it’s been rated one of the best beaches in the U.S. You can hang out on the beach, stroll the boardwalk, and have fun in the old-fashioned arcades or do a little shopping. Be sure to see which act is playing at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, it’s an intimate spot to see your favorite musicians.
Driving up the coast on Route 1, you’ll come across a few coastal towns and hidden beaches. Rye Harbor has wonderful rocky beaches that are typical of New England. Just before you hit Maine, you’ll come across Portsmouth, the biggest town on the seacoast. It’s fun to stroll through and has a nice mix of boutiques and restaurants and entertainment venues.
Off the coast, you’ll get to experience the most scenic highways and byways New England has to offer. Route 112 is the Kancamagus Highway, which runs right through White Mountain National Forest. Leaf-peepers consider it a must in autumn, but it’s a great drive year-round.
If you hop over to Route 3, you’re bound to see a moose. The stretch from Pittsburg, New Hampshire to Canada is known as “Moose Alley” and this is your best chance to spot one of the giants of the north.
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Stop By Sherlock Holmes Castle
In Connecticut, you can visit a castle that once belonged to Sherlock Holmes. Well, not exactly.
Gillette Castle was once home to William Gillette, well known for playing Sherlock Holmes onstage and in a 1916 silent film. This fabulous and impressive building attracts 300,000 visitors each year who come to tour the castle and grounds. Visiting a castle is definitely one of the coolest things to do in New England!
Visit The Birthplace Of Classic American Literature
Since Mark Twain is famed for his tales of the Mississippi, it may be surprising to learn that some of his most productive years were spent in Hartford, Connecticut. The mansion where he spun his yarns about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn is now The Mark Twain House & Museum thatfrom the speaking tubes in the walls to the billiard room that served as his officeoffers a fascinating glimpse of the author. If the Gilded Age is more your speed, set your course for Lenox, Massachusetts, and the elegant estate known as the Mount, where Edith Wharton wrote The House of Mirth and Ethan Frome. After touring it, find a place on the manicured grounds to sit with a good bookits literally what the place was made for.
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Experience Sol Lewitts Colorful Wall Drawings At Mass Moca
Presented across nearly an acre of wall space, this Connecticut artists dizzyingly vibrant wall drawings could only be contained by a museum like Mass MoCA, the former industrial complex in North Adams, MA, thats now one of the countrys most ambitious museums.
Fields of potato blossoms hint at the harvest to come in Aroostook County, Maine.
Jonathan Kozowyk
Things To Do In Connecticut
Mystic and the Mystic Seaport are definitely a favorite in Connecticut.
This open-air museum introduces you to the ship-focused lives of the past, with tours, exhibits, and even impressive sailing ships to climb on board and explore.
Museum-lovers will enjoy CT.
Wherever your journey within the state, many museums and historic homes await. In bigger cities such as Hartford and New Haven , youll also be presented with a choice of art galleries and other educational sites.
Further to the north and west, there are beautiful natural areas of Connecticut.
The state parks and country towns are a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities, and many visitors find peace and quiet there every year.
The Litchfield Hills is one such area of CT which can meet those requirements, with opportunities for cycling, fishing, and laid back scenic drives.
Dont forget to visit the casinos.
Some of the most exciting casinos east of Vegas are found here, and its worth a quick stop into Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun to try your luck.
Love fall? Heres our guide to things to do in the USA in October.
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North Conway New Hampshire
It doesn’t matter what season it is, North Conway and New Hampshire’s White Mountains have activities for everyone. Downtown North Conway is lined with quirky shops that have everything from penny candy to locally handcrafted items, just as fun to explore as they are to shop. There are several excellent restaurants, cafés, and ice-cream shops to choose from as well, and it is easy to spend an entire day just exploring the village on foot.
Right in the center of town, you will also find the main depot for the Conway Scenic Railroad, a top tourist attraction in the area. There are several train tours available, each narrated with fascinating facts about the train and the region and providing unparalleled views and photo-ops of the Mount Washington Valley. The train operates from April through the end of foliage season, with a special series of runs in December for the family-favorite “Polar Express” train ride.
Another top attraction in North Conway is Cranmore Mountain, a four-season resort that offers a myriad of outdoor activities all year long. In the winter, guests can enjoy 56 trails, with nine lifts for skiing and snowboarding, as well as areas for snowshoeing, tubing, and other winter sports. In the summer, the whole family can play at the Aerial Adventure Park, home to the Mountain Coaster, a zipline, bungee trampoline, scenic lift rides, and much more.
Set Off On A Famous Foliage Drive
Smugglers Notch. Acadias Park Loop Road. The Mohawk Trail. When it comes to the A-listers of New England foliage roads, you owe it to yourself to see what all the fuss is about. Take the Kancamagus Highway: Sure, this 34-mile stretch of Route 112 between Lincoln and Conway, New Hampshire, can be jammed with cars and RVs on a brilliant autumn day, but the payoff is undiminished. Up and up you go, to 2,860 feet, with a scattering of lookouts where you can pull over for views of the Mad River Notch and the chance to linger among all those White Mountain peaks.
Cape Neddick Light on Nubble Island in Maine.
Dreamstime
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Things To Do This Weekend At A New England Inn
If youre looking for things to do this weekend in New England, look no further than a luxury inn to treat yourself to a relaxing getaway.
New England is known for its spectacular scenery and quaint villages add a luxury New England inn to the mix, and you have all the makings of a great weekend getaway. After a long week, theres nothing like treating yourself to some new scenery, easygoing activities and, best of all, peace.
Your list of things to do this weekend in New England has just gotten shorter. Here are six luxury New England inns to consider when you need a little rest and relaxation.
Grace White Barn Inn & SpaKennebunk, Maine
Located in one of Maines most charming towns, the White Barn Inn & Spa is a longtime New England favorite. Stay in a suite within the main house or in one of the private cottages. Cooking classes, afternoon tea and spa treatments are just a few of the guest amenities. And the namesake barn houses a AAA Five Diamond restaurant that turns out dishes like Maine lobster springs rolls and prosciutto-wrapped rabbit loin. Kennebunkport, the coastal town not far from the inn, has shops and art galleries for you to enjoy when youd like to leave the Inn for a bit.
Inn at Hastings ParkLexington, MA
Francis Malbone HouseNewport, RI
Grace Mayflower Inn & SpaWashington, CT
Pitcher InnWarren, VT
Adair Country InnBethlehem, NH
to plan and book your New England getaway with AAA.
Boston Harbor Cruises For Sightseeing & Special Events
Popular Cruises on the Northern Lights:
- Brunch Cruise on the Northern Lights – Savor a delicious 3-course brunch on this relaxing sightseeing cruise around Boston Harbor
- Boston Harbor Cruise on Northern Lights – Soak up Boston’s unique sites and rich history on this comfortable sightseeing cruise around the Harbor – perfect friends and family experience! Refreshments are available for purchase at the bar
- Northern Lights Sunset Cruise – Grab a refreshments from the bar and then relax as you watch the sun set on this sail around the Harbor, just in time to catch the USS Constitution fire its cannons as the sun dips down past the horizon
- Sunday Evening Jazz Cruise on Northern Lights – End your weekend on the perfect note by grooving to live jazz as you watch the ever-changing sunset colors as the sun sets behind Boston’s city skyline
Sails on the Adirondack III
- Adirondack III Day Sail – Enjoy cool breezes and the afternoon sun on this relaxing sightseeing sail around Boston Harbor and the Inner Harbor Islands
- Adirondack III Sunset Sail – Relax as the setting sun turns the sky brilliant colors
- Adirondack III 90-Minute Mimosa Day Sail – Soak up the sun on this afternoon sail through the Inner Harbor and Harbor Islands with drinks available for purchase at the bar
Labor Day Fireworks Cruises on September 1
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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
Witness The Running Of The Lambs At Sturbridge Village
Old Sturbridge Village is a worthy New England attraction. This living history museum recreates daily life in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
In spring, the newborn lambs make the village extra special, and at the end of the day you can watch the running of the lambs as both lambs and sheep run across the common to be fed at the barn.
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Immerse Yourself In American Literary History In Concord
Concord, Massachusetts has enormous historical significance, but its also an important place for many notable literary figures.
Explore museums, libraries, graveyards, and homes that played roles in the lives of figures like Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott. Read more: Top Things to Do in Concord, MA
Go Off The Beaten Path To A Cult
For our money, the best kind of beer run is the one that can double as a day trip. For fresh air and fresh suds, the reigning mecca is Hill Farmstead, a multi-award-winning brewery in tiny Greensboro Bend, Vermont, built on land thats been in founder Shaun Hills family for generations. Another rural gem: Kent Falls Brewing in Kent, Connecticut, a farm-based setup where you can not only score ales and IPAs but also some just-laid eggs.
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Delight In The Hidden Beauty Of The Farm Coast
Farmers and fishermen share a landscape of meadow, barns, and sea that stretches from Tiverton down to Little Compton in Rhode Island, then veers east to nudge into Massachusetts. Dotted with farm stands and historic villages, this region remains one of those under-the-radar spots that travelers discover and wonder why it took them so long.
Squam Lake Nature Science Center
Squam Lake Nature Science Center, commonly referred to as the SLNSC, is the premiere environmental education center of Holderness, New Hampshire, originally opened to the public in 1969. The science center, which is northern New England’s only Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited institution, strives to advance ecological understanding throughout New Hampshire and use the outdoors as a classroom for continuing education for visitors of all ages. Center visitors can explore the facility’s natural areas and stroll along its animal exhibit trail, which showcases animals such as black bears, mountain lions, river otters, bobcats, and raptors. Educational Squam Lake cruises are also offered, along with gorgeous landscaped gardens at the facility’s Kirkwood Gardens.
23 Science Center Rd, Holderness, NH 03245, Phone: 603-968-7194
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New Hampshire Moose Tours
Did you know that moose are the largest of all the deer species? The males can be recognized by their antlers which can spread up to 6 feet from end to end and can weigh up to 1200 pounds! If you want to learn more about these majestic creatures, sign up for a White Mountain moose tour. Their guides will take you out on a night ride to get up-close-and-person with these animals.
Six Flags New England
Need another amusement park in your life? Head over to the town of Agawam, Massachusetts where you’ll find Six Flags of New England. There are tons of rides to check out, from high-speed thrills to low-key family rides. Don’t forget to check out the Hurricane Harbor Waterpark while you’re there! From large pools and lazy rivers to multi-passenger rafting adventures, there’s bound to be something for everyone over at this corner of the park! There’s also tons of dining and shopping options to enjoy. Talk about a full day!
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