Sugarloaf Mountain (Maine)
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Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the great skiing and snowboarding destinations east of the Rocky Mountains. Located in Carrabassett Valley in central Maine, there are over 1,200 acres of accessible trails for riders, and it is the only place in the northeast with lift-serviced above-the-tree line skiing.
In addition to winter activities, the resort area offers year-round fun for the entire family. There is a top-tier golf course, mountain bike trails, zip lining, festivals, and even moose tours if you’re into that sort of thing. There’s also a free public transportation system that services the main resort.
Newport, Rhode Island
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Newport, Rhode Island is a great place to visit to see how the upper crust of the country’s smallest state spend their leisure time. Set at the mouth of Narragansett Bay, Newport offers fantastic sailing tours of the area. You can also visit the “Gilded Age Mansions” which are among the most impressive summer “cottages” that the 19th-century elite built in the area.
There are plenty of fine dining options in downtown Newport, as well as plenty of ritzy shops to visit to fill your credit cards or empty your bank account. And if you’re lucky, your visit may line up with one of the many Regattas in the bay. Who doesn’t love a Regatta?
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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Beautiful, picturesque Portsmouth, New Hampshire is a perfect destination for a quick two-day vacation. The historic downtown area is full of quaint places to rest your head and puts you within walking distance of plenty of great restaurants, art galleries, museums, and historic New England architecture. You can just as easily book a nice afternoon of whale watching as you can enjoy a beer at one of the many local breweries. You should also take time to explore one of the handful of nearby islands, like Pierce Island and Four Tree Island, for more stunning views of the surrounding area.
Bar Harbor, Maine
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Bar Harbor, Maine is the jewel of Mount Desert Island and offers visitors a peak at some of the most stunning sights in all of New England. Kayaking and sailing tours are readily available to explore the beauty of the coastline and you can even hitch a ride on a lobster boat for a true Maine experience. They pack so much into this small island town there’s more than one haunted ghost tour.
Bar Harbor also acts as a gateway from Acadia National Park, one of the most visited national parks in all of the United States. There are a dizzying amount of hiking trails and campsites.
Salem, Massachusetts
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There’s more to Salem, Massachusetts than just the infamous witch trials with its surrounding historical sights and spooky ancillary tourism industry, though there’s certainly a lot of that to experience if that’s the big draw for you. One of the oldest settlements in the United States, Salem is located in the northeastern part of the state and has a wide array of colonial-era historical sites to visit as well. One standout is the Salem Maritime National Historic Site which is home to the Friendship, a fully operational restored sailing vessel.
The small city is easily accessible from Boston and can be a nice extra day diversion to tack on to a trip to the Commonwealth.
Martha’s Vineyard
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Arrive by ferry or plane to Martha’s Vineyard, located a few miles off the coast of Massachusetts, and explore this classic summertime New England tourism destination. Beaches, biking, bowling, boating. Fishing, festivals, food, farmer’s markets. There truly is something for everyone.
You can visit active farmland, play a round of golf, and check out one or two beautiful New England lighthouses all in the afternoon. Excellent dining and shopping are to be expected, but there are also plenty of places for the kids too like Ryan Family Amusements in Oak Bluff with a massive arcade, laser tag, and much, much more.
Mount Washington
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Located in New Hampshire among the White Mountains, Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States. The summit of the mountain is a state park with vistas that, on a clear day, can give visitors a view of four or five nearby states and occasionally into our continental neighbor to the North. Within the state park, the Mount Washington Observatory operates a museum that is an absolute must-visit.
Be warned — the mountain is known for its erratic weather. Even in the summer months, it can be in the mid-50s at the top. Don’t forget to pack a sweater.
Provincetown, Massachusetts
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Provincetown is located on the northern tip of Cape Cod. In addition to being known as a favorite destination of LGBTQ+ visitors, Provincetown also stands as the oldest continuous artist colony in the country. It’s perfect for a fall visit, though there is always something to do year-round.
As you’d expect from an old art colony, there are plenty of active galleries to visit, as well as an impressive art museum. Provincetown has also become something of a destination for foodies, with plenty of excellent places to grab a bite. It is a unique gem in an otherwise same-y feeling Cape Cod.
Mystic, Connecticut
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If you’re even remotely interested in the history of sailing and whaling in New England, Mystic, Connecticut should be on your short list of small towns in New England to visit. Mystic is home to the largest Maritime museum in the United States which hosts replica ships to board and a recreated 19th century fishing village to explore. Mystic has stunning sights to see, including some unique lighthouses and bridges, and plenty of local shops and restaurants to visit. You can also enjoy one of the many boat tours that will take you up and around the Mystic River and Long Island Sound.
Boston, Massachusetts
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A no-brainer destination for anyone visiting New England for the first time. In addition to being one of the most walkable cities in the United States, it also arguably has more American history per square block than anywhere else in the country. For anyone interested in revolutionary history, the Freedom Trail is a must — there are guided tours you can sign up for, though you could also simply follow the literal trail through the city and find plenty of interesting sights on your own. The North End neighborhood is a standout — Boston’s Little Italy, has some excellent food and drink, especially if you’re willing to explore off of the main strip and down one of the many narrow, winding side streets.
