Quaint New England Towns

Start

Although many visitors know about Boston’s rich history and its role in the Revolutionary War, they may not be aware of the city’s world-class museums, numerous universities and abundant shopping opportunities. Begin your exploration of the city on The Freedom Trail with its 16 historic stops, includingthe famous Old North Church and the Paul Revere House. Spend anafternoon (or a day) enjoying the Museum of Fine Arts’ extensive collectionor the eye-opening exhibits at the Museum of Science. For a more intimateexperience, visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum or the Nichols House Museum. Walk across the Charles River on the Longfellow Bridge or take the“T” (subway) to Cambridge to explore the ivy-trimmed campus of Harvard University and nearby cafés and bookstores. Shoppers will enjoy areas suchas Newbury Street in the Back Bay (high-end boutiques in restored brownstone houses), Copley Place (a two-level mall with top brand-name stores)and the famous Faneuil Hall Marketplace (100-plus shops and pushcarts aswell as 50 restaurants, pubs and food vendors). Sports fans should plan to watch a Boston Red Sox baseball game (April through October) and take a tour of Fenway Park, the oldest Major League Baseball park in the country. Ifthe weather is nice, stroll through the Boston Common and take a ride on one of the famous Swan Boats in the Public Garden.

Accommodation: Boston, Massachusetts

1h32min / 144km

Head north along the scenic New England coast through Massachusetts. Infamous for the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, Salem is a colourful city with a rich maritime heritage, Victorian architecture and fascinating stories that span nearly 400 years. Continue through Manchester-By-The-Sea, Massachusetts (made famous by the award-winning 2016 movie of the same name) and historic Rockport, Massachusetts, an inspiration to painters since legendary American painter Winslow Homer spent two summers in this area (1873 and 1880). After exploring charming Rockport, head to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Settled in 1623, Portsmouth’s historic past and cultural strengths make it an attractive destination. It’s also a gateway to New Castle, one of New Hampshire’s smallest towns and home of the Fort Constitution Historic Site. After exploring the fort, depart for Maine, where your first stop is Ogunquit, named by the Abenaki tribe, meaning ‘beautiful place by the sea’. Enjoy the vintage feel of this charming place, stroll among quaint buildings or explore the Marginal Way ocean path. The final stop today is Kennebunkport, Maine, located along the Atlantic Ocean and Kennebunk River. Settled in the 1600s and a long-time ship building centre, the city’s resident sea captains built fine mansions here; some of these original homes are now lovely inns.

Accommodation: Kennebunkport, Maine

2h7min / 174km

Today’s first stop is Old Orchard Beach. Here, you can enjoy seven miles (11 kilometres) of sandy beach and Old Orchard Beach Pier, stretching more than 500 feet (150 metres) over the Atlantic Ocean. Continue north to the historic seacoast city of Portland with its funky galleries, one-of-a-kind shops, diverse restaurants and many lighthouses (six within 30 minutes’ drive of the city – among them, Portland Head Light, one of the most photographed in the USA). Here, take time to explore the Arts District and Old Port historic district. As you continue through the mid-coast region of Maine, past quaint New England cottages and quiet coves, be sure to stop at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Bristol. The lighthouse itself is beautiful and the unusual rock formations bordering the structure make this a fabulous photo spot as well. Rockland, known as the ‘Gateway to Penobscot Bay’, is a classic working harbour town and home to galleries, craft shops, fine dining and the Maine Lighthouse Museum with its fine collection. The final stop today is in Camden, where locals say ‘the mountains meet the sea’. A culinary mecca, Camden features charming little streets, huge schooners and locally owned art galleries, making it the perfect destination to overnight.

Accommodation: Camden, Maine

1h43min / 124km

Follow the scenic shoreline of Penobscot Bay to Lincolnville in the heart of the Maine coast. This off-the-beaten-path place is a perfect spot to enjoy breathtaking views of the bay. Next, visit the picturesque town of Blue Hill to enjoy a laid-back and charming getaway. In addition to its historical architecture and shipbuilding roots, Blue Hill is also a gateway to Acadia National Park. Today’s final stop is Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, featuring elegant Victorian architecture, and situated between the blue waters of Frenchman Bay and the woodlands of Acadia National Park.

Accommodation: Bar Harbor, Maine

3h29min / 294km

Before travelling inland, take the morning to explore Acadia National Park, known for its rugged beauty. Expect to see glorious mountains and abundant wildlife, and hear the thunder of crashing waves. Steep slopes rise above the rocky shore, including Cadillac Mountain, which at 1,529 feet (465 metres) is the highest peak on the U.S. Atlantic Coast. Travel east to Bethel, one of Maine’s popular mountain villages, and a hub of outdoor activities from skiing in winter to hiking and biking in summer. The walkable city centre has everything visitors need.

Accommodation: Bethel, Maine

1h2min / 80km

Take a full day to explore the White Mountains of New Hampshire. First, travel to Gorham and join Highway 15 (Three Rivers Scenic Drive) which will take you past Mount Washington and the mountain pass known as Pinkham Notch. (Adventurous visitors will want to stop to take the cog railway or drive to the summit of Mount Washington – known as ‘the home of the world’s worst weather’. Here, you can visit the weather station and Extreme Mount Washington museum.) Outdoors lovers won’t want to miss Pinkham Notch, a stunning natural landmark created by glaciers, erosion and rivers, and separating three mountain ranges. Take the opportunity to hike trails that accommodate all skill levels or relax on a Gondola ride and enjoy the views in Wildcat Mountain Ski Area. The journey ends in North Conway in the heart of Mt. Washington Valley, home to nearly 100 stores, fine art galleries, locally made crafts, restaurants, pubs and live entertainment.

Accommodation: Conway, New Hampshire

3h13min / 297km

From North Conway, explore more of the White Mountains, taking the scenic Kancamagus Highway, and planning a photo op at Albany Covered Bridge along the way. Next, stop at Flume Bridge, a covered bridge open to autos, on your way to spectacular Franconia Notch State Park with its many trails, aerial tramway, wildlife watching and other recreational activities. Journey through Hanover, New Hampshire, home to Dartmouth College, and on to Woodstock, Vermont, which is full of quintessential New England charm, with a village green, covered bridge and historic architecture. Continue to Londonderry at the gateway to the Green Mountains.

Accommodation: Londonderry, Vermont

1h45min / 144km

Today, explore Vermont’s Green Mountains National Forest, beautiful in all seasons. Autumn is the most colourful time of year here, due to the brilliance of the changing foliage, but this area has something for outdoor enthusiasts year-round. Enjoy pastoral views as you travel along Route 7a through Manchester and Bennington, Vermont, where you should stop to photograph the beautiful covered bridges before arriving in North Adams, Massachusetts for lunch. Continue to Stockbridge, home to the Norman Rockwell Museum, well worth a visit for its extensive collection of the beloved American illustrator’s original works.

Accommodation: Stockbridge, Massachusetts

2h8min / 200km

From Stockbridge, travel south to the Connecticut coast and Westport. The waterfront has a row of attractive red brick buildings, and the area enjoys some of the prettiest scenery in the state, making this a good stop for a picnic or a stroll through town. Further along the coast, stop at Old Saybrook, famous for being the home of Katharine Hepburn (and now home to The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center). Filled with impressive architecture and many remarkable buildings (including historic manor houses and the Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse), this is a perfect stop for lunch. Continue on to Mystic, an attractive seaside village with a rich heritage. Originally one of the area’s most important seaports, its history has been preserved at the Mystic Seaport, one of the country’s largest maritime museums. Visit Main Street, many delicious seafood restaurants, quaint shops and the famous Mystic Pizza restaurant, made famous in the 1988 movie.

Accommodation: Mystic, Connecticut

2h3min / 195km

Take Highway 1 to Narragansett, Rhode Island, known for its sandy beaches, and then take Highway 1a along the coast and across the Jamestown Bridge to Newport, one of the USA’s original playgrounds for the rich and famous. Newport retains a luxurious charm and many of its Gilded Age mansions are open to the public for tours. If you are tennis fan, also check out the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport. Next, drive to charming Cape Cod, where your day’s journey ends.

Accommodation: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

1h14min / 113km

The beach towns of Cape Cod could easily entertain visitors for several weeks or more. Do some research before your trip to determine what community best suits your style, from the bustle and fun of Falmouth on the Lower Cape, to the flower-adorned cottages of Orleans and the dune-swept beaches of Eastham and Truro on the Outer Cape. Busy Provincetown, an LGBT-friendly city at the tip of the Outer Cape, offers eclectic shops, galleries and restaurants, as well as natural beaches and stellar whale watching. The Cape’s scenic out islands – Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket – can be reached via ferry or small plane.

Summer is high season on Cape Cod, and the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn offer quieter experiences. After your visit to Cape Cod, drive to Plymouth, ‘America’s hometown’, where the Pilgrims landed in 1620 in search of a home and religious freedom. Plimoth Plantation is a must-visit – a fascinating, interactive view of the life of the early American colonists in a harsh land. Depart Plymouth and continue to Boston, where your journey will end.

Accommodation: Boston, Massachusetts