Top 20: New England

bzukowsk
Jan 29, 2021
5 min read

New England is full of old traditions and new beginnings. It is home to the USA’s colonial beginnings and revolutionary patriotism but also the home of many Native Nations since time immemorial. The rugged coastline of Maine and New Hampshire’s White Mountains are imposing symbols of American wilderness - an idea proselytized by the regions transcendentalist writers like Thoreau or Whitman. Yet many of these ideals stem from the quaint, centuries-old villages between Appalachian valleys, from the Green Mountains in Vermont to the Quiet Corner of Connecticut. You’ll also find real winter up here. And mild, comfortable summer temperatures. Spring brings an explosion of life while autumn brings forth the leaf peepers from urban corridors. But don’t forget about your inner foodie - Maine is world renowned for its lobster rolls; New Haven has the country’s best apizza; Rhode Island has Stuffies; Poutine becomes commonplace near the Canadian border; and you can get fresh seafood just about anywhere. From Boston’s revolutionary pride to centuries-old whaling ports, the sparkling waters of Lake Champlain to rugged corners of Maine, New England demands further exploration.

Boston

Bostonians like to refer to their city as, “The Cradle of Liberty”. Many leaders of the American Revolution resided in and around Boston. Today, you can walk the Freedom Trail to visit historic sites associated with American independence from Britain. There are numerous historic markers and colonial buildings but there’s also plenty of museums, restaurants, and other activities to visit in the area. Plus their professional sports teams have been pretty decent in recent memory.

Acadia National Park

New England's only National Park, it protects a portion of Maine's rugged shoreline. Hike, bike, tour by car or get some lobster rolls in Bar Harbor.

Newport, Rhode Island

Once one of the wealthiest locations in the United States, there are still enormous mansions, many of which offer tours to the public. Check out The Breakers (Vanderbilt's summer home) and Rough Point. Eat a stuffie (a quahog filled with stuffing, baked on a half shell) while you're there.

Salem, Massachusetts

The infamous home of "witches". Judge for yourself in historical reenactments of the Salem witch trials. Read The Crucible for more thought-provoking commentary on the accused and the accusers.

White Mountains, New Hampshire

They are the most rugged U.S. stretch of mountains east of the Mississippi. Hike, bike, climb, and drive the many routes through the National Forest. The Presidential range is especially captivating. (Not Without Peril is a good book to read).

Stowe, VT & the Green Mountains

The Green Mountains run north to south through nearly all of western Vermont. If you like hiking, try the Long Trail. Stowe is famous for its skiing, food (i.e. Ben and Jerry's ice cream), and beer (i.e. The Alchemist).

Portland, Maine

A foodie's city. Of course, lobster rolls and oysters, but there are also Canadian influences on poutine. It is the beer capital of Maine, try the nearby Allagash Brewery. Finally, a little known fact, many nearby residents live on the small islands of Portland's harbor. You can book cheap passage on the daily mail ferry to each island every morning.

Burlington, Vermont

Vermont's largest city is a cultural capital of food, beer, and bed and breakfasts. It is also located on the shores of Lake Champlain.

Northeast Kingdom

Vermont's three most northern counties are unified in their own little subculture. They are known as The Northeast Kingdom or The Kingdom. The Kingdom is a patchwork of farms and forest, set alongside the Canadian border. Stop in at small time breweries and diners, but don't forget to check out the bizarre Museum of Every Day Life.

Walden Pond

The setting of Henry David Thoreau's landmark book, Walden. Transcendentalism still influences American ideology today. Check out other places associated with writers like Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson.

New Haven

Pizza capital of the U.S. Get yourself a pizza from Sally's, Frank Pepe's, or Modern Pizza, and many other pizzerias. Want to learn more? Check out here!

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse & Coastal Maine

The eastern most point in the continental United States. Catch a beautiful view of this lighthouse at sunrise. Continue down the coast for more small towns and rocky shorelines - stop in to get yourself a lobster roll. Maine’s most famous crustacean is chopped up, served with butter bread. From Bar Harbor to Kennebunkport and beyond - you can’t miss it.

Mount Katahdin

Mt. Katahdin is the northern terminus of the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail. It is Maine's highest point. Baxter State Park and its most famous mountain are a haven for outdoor recreation and solitude. Katahdin is closed most months of the year and permits are tough to get, so plan ahead.

Berkshires, Massachusetts

Massachusetts' small but rugged mountains offer plenty of recreation opportunities - including 90 miles of the Appalachian Trail, dozen of ski runs, as well as numerous lakes and rivers. Check out the good food, craft brewing, and artistry of Pittsfield and Great Barrington.

Lake Champlain and Lake George

These lakes are the border between Vermont and New York. They offer world class boating in the summer. You can find everything from wineries and breweries to rustic cottages on its shoreline.

The Whaling Capitals of New Bedford, Nantucket Island, & Martha’s Vineyard

Hermann Melville's 19th century classic novel, Moby Dick, illuminates American whaling culture in colonial America. Visit the New Bedford Whaling Museum or other coastal historic sites to learn more. However, whaling was a large part of Native cultures here for centuries. The Wampanoag, Pequot, Narragansett, and many more Tribes have all harvested whales for millennia. They continue to carry on traditions today from Nantucket Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and the coastal mainland. These maritime ecological relationships will continue only if we can learn to live with the whales.

Plymouth Settlement

The site of the first British colony in modern day New England. The Wampanoag were critical to survival of the early colony. But stories like the first Thanksgiving are largely misconstrued from their original truths. Disease, inter-Tribal politics, and violence played significant roles in the newly established colonial-Tribal relations. The impending genocide is rarely discussed in full, but the colonial site still offers a historical perspective of village life in the 1600s.

Cape Cod National Seashore

Cape Cod is a seaside getaway for those in search of maritime ecosystems and wildlife. Much of the cape is protected by Cape Cod National Seashore.

Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island's state capitol is home to coastal New England vibes. There is good food and a vibrant art community.

National Basketball Hall of Fame

The National Basketball Hall of Fame can be found on the MA-CT border in Springfield, MA. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the sports history and interactive games.

Appalachian Trail

Over 750 miles of the Appalachian Trail crosses Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. Some of the regions best hiking is located on or near the Appalachian Trail, including locations like the White Mountains, the Green Mountains, the Berkshires, and Mount Katahdin.

Check out these stories about New England:

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Find some more places to see, food to eat, and books to read throughout the United States!

Or check out these photos of the United States!