New England

• 🌍 Boston — Capital since 1630, in a variety of ways Boston finds itself in the center of it all. Explore the Freedom Trail and Quincy Market, or catch a game at baseballs "shrine"; Fenway Park. Art lovers might head for the Museum of Fine Arts, while gastronomes will find no dearth of options throughout this "city of neighborhoods".
• 🌍 Burlington — Stroll Church street to find eclectic eateries and old world charm. From here, grab a cone at Ben & Jerry's before wandering the shores of Lake Champlain in search of the perfect brewery. The prolific green infrastructure on offer here is thanks in part to Bernie Sanders, one time city mayor.
• 🌍 New Haven — Best known as the home of Yale University. The city center has been called the "Nine Square Plan" since 1640, give or take. Today, it packs in a dizzying array of shops and restaurants. Don't leave without trying the coal-fired apizza, claimed to be the world's best.
• 🌍 Portland — The go-to "Downeast" destination for dining and drinking. Surprises abound in these historic neighborhoods, you might even spot a Sasquatch. The incredible beaches, views, and amenities available from Peak's island are often overlooked.
• 🌍 Providence — Anchored by Brown University and RISD, Providence supports a booming arts scene and creative economy. Stroll the riverfront on summer nights to partake in WaterFire, a free public art installation. In the morning, wake up with a coffee milk from your favorite doughnut shop.
• 🌍 Newport — "Walk the Cliffs" and take in the "cottages"; summer homes where Gilded Age titans would put on ostentatious displays of wealth. Coincidentally, sports with an aristocratic air are popular here. Tennis, sailing, and cycling all have strong roots in the area. Additionally, many historic buildings remain and tourists love the colonial-era scale of the town.
• 🌍 Provincetown — This calm harbor served as the Pilgrims first landing site in the new world. Much has changed since 1620, but the beauty of the beaches, the ocean and its sealife have remain constant. An artist colony since at least 1940, it's also a wildly popular destination for the LGBTQ+ community.
• 🌍 Salem — Location of the infamous 1692 Salem witch trials, many finely preserved 17th and 18th century buildings remain. Boasting great transit options, the world class Peabody Essex Museum, and a variety of attractions; Salem packs in the tourists all year long. It gets pretty spooky here the last weekend in October.
• 🌍 Stowe — This four-season resort town holds the nickname: "Ski Capital of the East". Options abound for outdoor activities, as you're basically sandwiched between Smugglers Notch, Mt Mansfield and CC Putnam state forests. Relax in the evenings with fantastic food and some of the best pints one can find stateside.

• 🌍 Acadia National Park — The only National Park in New England, Acadia is perhaps the most dramatic example of a glaciated coastal landscape. Dizzyingly high granite domes swoop down into the Atlantic, where surf crashes over rocky beaches. First inhabited by the Wabanaki people, visitors have considered this place special for at least 12,000 years.
• 🌍 Baxter State Park — Mount Katahdin looms over this massive wilderness area. Tallest peak in New England, Katahdin functions as the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Those who visit must be self sufficient, as within the park there is no electricity, running water, or even pavement.
• 🌍 Cape Cod National Seashore — "Escape to the Cape" and explore nearly 40 miles of protected beachfront real estate. Ponds, beaches, lighthouses, and scenic wooded trails all make for top attractions. Established in 1961, which is quite recent for the area. As such, you'll find quite the range of grandfathered in virtu sprinkled around.
• 🌍 Green Mountain National Forest — These federally protected mountains are Vermont's namesake. Okemo and Stratton are some of the larger ski resorts here. Popular thru-hiking routes include the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail. Arduous, but immensely rewarding.
• 🌍 Litchfield Hills — Distinctly rural, the agrarian communities here are set amongst rolling hills and seem to be almost frozen in time. Surprisingly, the terroir supports quality viticulture, and you'll find a variety of wines available throughout the region.
• 🌍 Minute Man National Historical Park — Walk the 5 mile "Battle Road Trail" and follow in the footsteps of local silversmith Paul Revere. The trek culminates at Old North Bridge, where "the shot heard round the world" was fired in the opening salvo of what would become the Revolutionary War. British residents are welcome, nowadays. Next: Cool off at Walden Pond, three miles south.
• 🌍 Mount Washington State Park — Get your official "This Car Climbed Mt. Washington" bumper sticker here! Fantastic views, an alpine climate, and mile after mile of pristine hiking trails. Railfans can ride the steep and historic Cog to the top. Extreme skiers can try their luck shredding Tuckerman Ravine in the spring.
• 🌍 Nantucket — Once the capital of a global whaling empire, today Nantucket is a charming seaport town. The entire island is a designated National Historic Landmark District; due to its wealth of cobblestone streets and well-preserved historical artifacts and architecture.
• 🌍 White Mountain National Forest — Sprawling over 1,200 square miles, visitors will find a full range of outdoor activities on offer. Bag some peaks hiking the strenuous 22 mile "Presidential Traverse", but contact the Appalachian Mountain Club and plan ahead. For a more accessible route, drive the 34-mile Kancamagus Highway. One of New England's finest "leaf-peeping" locations.

There's an expression in New England: "If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes." The expression refers to the often changing weather of short periods of time. New England's location on the upper eastern side of North America's continental climate, assures a varied weather picture much of the year. While summer weather is normally the most stable time of the year, late fall, winter and early spring can bring quick changing weather conditions. Coastal areas of New England's are somewhat modified by the influence of the ocean, thus temperature extremes are more moderate. In the winter months, Northern New England winters can be especially harsh — if you plan to visit between December and mid-March, be prepared for freezing temperatures, wicked winds, and chills that take a couple of cups of coffee to dent. "Dress warmly" is an understatement — in northern New England. The best advice, is to dress in layers that include an outer layer to block the wind, plus a sweater or jumper to be removed when exerting oneself. Generally, the only areas of New England that are somewhat comfortable in the winter are the southern portions of Connecticut , Rhode Island, and far eastern Massachusetts, where the lower latitude and elevation is modified by the oceanic location. For the visitor prepared for cold weather, northern New England's deep snows and crisp air can be exhilarating, and the three northernmost states boast much of the best skiing east of the Rockies.

The month of May can be New England’s best-kept secret. In southern Vermont you will find off-season rates in many historic inns, but as noted local Robert Frost once so eloquently put it, "Nature's first Green is Gold." The area is bursting with daffodils, tulips & lilacs and the temperatures are mild with cool nights, just perfect.

New England summers can range from mild to hot and tropical. In northern and central areas (and along the coast of New Hampshire and Maine), summer high temperatures are often in the comfortable 70's F and nights fall into the upper 50's. Once much south and west of Boston, summers can be hot and tropical, with high temperatures into the middle 80's F (and sometimes 90's F) and sultry weather with late day thundershowers. The beach season is normally June through September (more tied to the school calendar than the weather), while points south of Cape Cod (mostly Rhode Island and Connecticut) have a beach season from late May through early October. Most warm weather tourist destinations have a season from mid-May to mid-October. Areas right along the shoreline are often cooler and more temperate than inland areas on the hottest summer days.

New England shines during autumn. New England foliage is world-renowned for displays that rival pyrotechnics for their intense colors, rapid appearance, and equally rapid disappearance. Peak season ranges from early September at the farthest north points of Maine to early November for Southern Connecticut. Combine that with local festivals, hay rides, fresh-pressed apple cider, and fruit harvesting, and you have the recipe for a wonderful time.

Many tourists visit New England for its nautical charm or history, however Boston, one of America's great urban centers, is the de facto capital of New England as well as the official capital of Massachusetts. Its metropolitan area stretches across four states, comprises the metropolitan areas of the second- and third-largest cities in the region, Providence and Worcester, and includes more than half of New England's population. But even beyond Boston's furthest reaches, New Englanders worship the city's pro sports teams (though championship wins by the Red Sox and Patriots in 2018 mean you'll find fans of either team in many place), and gravitate toward its center for a taste of big-city amenities. Once down into Connecticut, the pull of New York City and the middle Atlantic region reduces the influence of Boston, and the pro sports teams and culture is a big tourist attraction. The City of New Haven, is home to Yale University, as well as one of the most popular cities on the East Coast for different types of cuisine.

As in upstate New York, many New England towns grew up around textile mills or other kinds of factories. When those industries relocated and/or shut down during the 1900s, several of those towns fell into a depression, where many remain.

Similarly, several formerly booming whaling ports like New Bedford, Massachusetts had to rebuild their economies, with varying success, when the industry collapsed. The history of New England's many commercial fisheries is brutally illustrative, with both happy and sad stories, of the necessity of sustainability.

As in the rest of the U.S., English is the de facto official language. Some areas with large Hispanic populations might have a majority speaking Spanish, but most have at least basic English skills (and these are off the tourist path). French is also spoken in the northern parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, near the Quebec/New Brunswick borders. In some areas, French-speakers are in the majority. There is a rich French-Canadian heritage in Biddeford, Maine, northern Rhode Island, and Manchester, New Hampshire's largest city. Though the demographics are changing, it is still possible to find shops that cater to French speakers and churches that conduct Mass in French. In truth, though, not much is done to accommodate visitors who do not speak English.

Along with Southerners, New Englanders have a reputation for a distinct flavor of English speech. This is an overly broad generalization. The accents of Senators Kennedy and Kerry are rarely heard. The typical "pahk the cah in Hahvahd Yahd" Boston accent prevails in eastern Massachusetts, but is losing ground even there. There are some distinctive vocabulary words. "Bubbler" refers to a drinking fountain. Carbonated sweet drinks called "pop" in other parts of the United States and Canada are called "tonic" or "soda" in New England. "Wicked", an adjective interchangeable with "very", is frequently used by young New Englanders, though the once-common phrase "wicked pissah", meaning "excellent", has faded considerably and is used primarily by either the older generation or misled tourists. A relatively common New England traffic intersection not encountered much elsewhere in the United States would be called a "roundabout" in the United Kingdom, but is called a "rotary" in New England. When given directions on how to exit a "rotary" the driver would be instructed to "bang a right" in Boston. Large clams are called "quahaugs" in southern New England. In Maine an inland vacation home is called a "camp" while one on the coast is called a "cottage." Mainers also add the definite article "the" to the official names of roads, but not streets or avenues; and the tree that others might call an aspen is called a "popple" by Mainers.

Many of the cities of Southern New England has a significant Hispanic population (mostly made up of Puerto Ricans, though it is possible to meet people from the entire Latin American region), so it is possible to meet people who speak Spanish. There are also people of Portuguese descent on and around the Buzzards Bay coast of Southern Massachusetts and neighboring parts of Rhode Island who speak Portuguese.

It is possible to visit New England without an automobile. Doing so requires the visitor to study schedules very carefully, purchase tickets in advance when possible, limit visits to one or two destinations, and keep in mind that local public transportation operates infrequently, if at all, at night, on weekends, and during the middle of the day. The visitor may also sign up for a group tour by bus or cruise ship. Bus tours and cruise ships visit all the major tourist destinations, if only to drive by with expert commentary by tour guides. Group tours do have the advantage of eliminating all worries about destinations, lodging, and meals, although they have inflexible schedules, offer virtually no opportunity to meet local people, and perhaps too much acquaintance with one's fellow passengers. Travelers interested in an urban experience will find that Boston is one of the most walkable major cities in the U.S., with an extensive public-transit system; many visitors find it easier to navigate without a car.

There are many historical sights in New England, including many colleges, universities, monuments and architecture. Yale University in New Haven and Harvard University and MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts are destinations, offering a variety of interesting museums, as well as nonstop cultural activities. Throughout the region there are small college towns, such as: Kingston Rhode Island; Storrs, Hamden, and Middletown Connecticut; Amherst, Northampton, and Williamstown Massachusetts; Burlington and Middlebury Vermont; and Brunswick, Waterville, and Orono Maine; that offer cultural diversions.

New England was important to Early United States history. Historical events are re-enacted at several collections of historical buildings: Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Ledyard, Connecticut for Native American history; Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts for early European settlement; Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut for maritime history; Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts for early 19th century history; Shelburne Museum just south of Burlington, Vermont; and Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts as well as many other locations. New Hampshire offers colonial-era re-enactments and revitalized buildings at Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth and the Fort at No. 4 in Charlestown.

Newport offers visitors the unique opportunity to experience two different historical eras. The small Rhode Island city is known for its extensive collection of intact colonial architecture, one of the largest in the country. But it's even more famous for its jaw-dropping oceanfront mansions, many of which are open for tours, that were built by some of America's most prominent families in the Gilded Age of the late-19th and early-20th centuries.

New England is the cradle of the Industrial Revolution; and while most manufacturing has been decommissioned and automated, it is a great place for industrial tourism, and the first leg of the American Industry Tour. Stop in some of the historical mill towns like Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire that have been revitalized.

In its small area New England packs a lot of natural beauty. Highlights would include: pastoral villages with white-steepled churches throughout rural New England; sandy beaches and moorlands along the southern coastal area of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and adjacent islands; the more rugged rocky coast and cliffs of Maine; the nearly alpine scenery of Vermont, northern New Hampshire, and western Maine; and dense forests everywhere. Treasuring bucolic vistas has in part led to a prohibition on billboard advertising throughout Vermont and in many towns in other states.

While the first thing on most visitors minds is the excellent seafood, New England has legions of other high quality options. Many travellers find a fine Italian meal in Boston's charming North End an unforgettable experience. Another culinary heavyweight is Burlington, where celebrated microbreweries rub shoulders with sit-down affairs serving elevated French, Mediterranean, and Southern cuisines. The other big dog at the table is Providence. Featuring innovative pop-ups, laid back beer halls, erudite French classics, ethnic fusion cuisine, and everything in between. Your most difficult choice here will be deciding where to eat.

Some of New England's finest chow can be found along Maine's rugged coastline. The state is famous for its lobster and blueberries and with good reason. Portland is the undisputed heavyweight champion of Maine's gastronomic options. Its 500+ restaurants rake in countless accolades, stars, and awards annually. Don't be afraid to explore further afield; however, gems abound in smaller villages. Discover the seafood you seek in places like Biddeford, Brunswick, Camden, and Bar Harbor to name but a few.

Head to New England's northern reaches to sample some Acadian fare: meat pies, poutine, sugar shacks and the like. The influence is stronger in French-speaking areas, and becomes quite powerful as you cross the border into Quebec. To the south, you can find strong Portuguese flavors in places like the SouthCoasat and eastern Rhode Island.

Boston is known for its drinking establishments known locally as bars or taverns or pubs, including the Cheers bar of TV fame. (See the section in the Boston article.) New Haven is home to hundreds of bars and restaurants, and has a thriving scene including the Playwright, the largest Irish Pub on the East Coast, a huge space holding two thousand people built out of church parts salvaged from Ireland. In addition, several other cities in the region have an active nightlife. Microbreweries and wineries are also located throughout the region, and many can be visited by travellers.

Be aware that New England states have strict laws on driving while under the influence of alcohol. Some New England police departments enforce these laws by stopping traffic near popular bars and interviewing drivers, or by stationing unmarked police cars in or near the parking lots of popular establishments.

Types of stores that sell alcohol for off-premises consumption vary from state to state. Generally, wine and beer may be purchased in groceries and convenience stores but harder liquors may only be available from retail liquor stores known locally as "package stores" or "packies". While former "Blue Laws" prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays in Massachusetts and Connecticut, many those laws have since been repealed. However, some cities and towns remain "dry" or do not allow for the sale of alcohol. Other New England states have slowly repealed such alcohol sales bans, but be aware of this odd tradition.

New England is Dunkin Donuts country. Although it has donuts in the name, this is a coffee chain. They are easy to find all over New England, especially southern New England where you are probably within a mile of several locations at once. For those unfamiliar with it Dunkin Donuts (sometimes referred to as "Dunk's" or "Dunkies") is a fairly barebones experience. If you want fancier coffee, most towns will have a few locally owned coffee shops as well.

New England is one of the safest regions of the country overall. Crimes rates are low and the rule of law is strictly enforced. Having said that, it does not mean that New England is a stranger to crime. All of the region's towns and cities, regardless of their size, have areas that should be travelled with caution at night. Larger cities are the best-known for crime because of media publicity, but most crimes in big cities occur among rival gang members and are drug- or alcohol-related. Random acts of violence can happen anywhere, even in smaller towns. It is also best not to hitchhike.

Furthermore, as with other areas of the country, take care while driving. You are 200 times more likely to be injured or killed in a car accident than in any random act of violence. Particular areas to use caution are small, winding roads away from major interstates where cars can travel erratically and at high speeds. Hikers leaving an automobile at trail heads in remote areas should take care not to leave valuables in the vehicle.

As in the rest of the U.S.A., 911 can be dialed for emergencies, even from pay-phones.

Dangerous wild animals are hardly a concern in New England. During May and early June, hikers may want to avoid thick woodlands in northern New England or risk being plagued by hordes of tiny black flies. The best time for hiking is September and October, when cold nights have suppressed insect activity. That said, however, there are many trails with locations exposed to wind and sunshine and minimal contact with biting and stinging insects. There are rare encounters with poisonous snakes in southern and western parts of New England, but hardly any deaths. During warmer months, simply watch your step to avoid treading on a copperhead or timber rattlesnake, especially when stepping over fallen trees or larger rocks or clambering up onto sunny spots sometimes favored by a resting snake. The hiker will encounter no poisonous snakes in Maine or northern New Hampshire. The most dangerous animal likely to be encountered by a hiker in New England is the deer tick, a tiny creature no more than about 2 mm in diameter. Deer ticks carry Lyme Disease, which can engender severe medical symptoms in the victim. The best defense against the deer tick is to use insecticides and wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Wild turkeys, bears, and coyotes abound in New England but almost always avoid humans. Deer and, in northern New England, moose can be dangerous to motorists speeding along dark roads in rural areas. These animals are large and their massive bodies can go right through the windshield when struck by a smaller automobile. The best defense is to drive slowly through moose and deer crossing areas and watch carefully for animals stepping into the road.

Some types of knives are illegal in some states in New England: this concerns mostly some types of spring knives, "butterfly" knives, knuckle knives and the like — possessing such knives is an offense. Knives that are intended as weapons are restricted to persons over 18.

Firearms are strictly controlled in southern New England. Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are all Constitutional-carry states. It is practically impossible to legally carry a gun in public in Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island unless you are a law enforcement officer, although after Bruen v NYSRPA this should be changing shortly. The rate of gun ownership is below the U.S. average in every New England state; of the six least-gun-owning states in the country, three are in New England. Still, gun culture is strong in many rural areas, particularly in Vermont. "Fake" firearms may not be carried in public if they resemble real guns. CO₂ and air guns are relatively easy to acquire. If the police find any kind of weapon or firearm on you, you will appear highly suspicious.

Bow and arrow do not legally count as weapons while crossbows do, but you're certain to get stopped by police openly carrying either. Hunting is only legal with firearms or employing birds of prey and requires a license with rather strict requirements for environmental and animal welfare reasons.

Travellers continuing north to Canada may take Interstate 89 North from Burlington to Montreal. Or head east on Maine state highway 9 from Bangor to Atlantic Canada.

• Mid-Atlantic — Ranging from New York to Washington, D.C., the Mid-Atlantic is home to some of the nation's most densely populated cities, its most historically significant sites, rolling mountains and seaside resorts.
• New York City — As the largest city in America (nothing else even comes close), it's hard to overstate the draw of quintessential American landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and Central Park. Visitors skipping the iconic skyline, diverse neighborhoods, world-class food, events and music do so at their own peril.
• Quebec — Densely populated along the St. Lawrence River, this region is like a small European country hiding inside North America. French-speaking Quebec is famously known as a "distinct society". Top destinations include the World Heritage-listed old town in Quebec City, and Montreal; Canada's second-largest city and cultural capital.
• New Brunswick — Canada's only province with both English and French as official languages. While the province covers a land area the size of Ireland, there are only 780,000 inhabitants (2020), most of them along the coasts and in the Saint John River valley. The inland consists of sparsely populated forest.
• Nova Scotia — Connected to New England by ferry in summer, Nova Scotia has plenty to offer. Beaches, history, rugged wilderness parks, a mix of Celtic, Acadian French, and Indigenous cultures. As a peninsula exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, Nova Scotia has a more maritime climate than mainland Canada, with mild winters and cool summers.