New England Vacations Online Guide

Newport Rhode Island off the Beaten Path Destination Spots

2009-07-10T20:18:00.007-05:00

I’ve already written about the more well known Newport Rhode Island destination spots but today I’ll share some less-visited gems with you.These “off the beaten path” destinations include family summer destinations, museums, churches, and schools. Newport has a special place in New England and the nation’s history, and a walk around this small city uncovers the significant influence it has had on

Wolfeboro, New Hampshire – The Quiet Side of Lake Winnipesaukee

2009-06-22T17:04:00.004-05:00

The village of Wolfeboro sits on the quiet side of Lake Winnipesaukee in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.The eastern shore of New Hampshire’s largest and deepest lake makes a perfect getaway destination.It doesn’t receive the commercial attention the western shore towns get from tourism and visitors, and the residents probably appreciate it.However, if daytime is not so busy, at night it is a

Salem, Massachusetts – So Much More Than Just Witches

2009-06-12T22:57:00.003-05:00

It seems every Halloween the focus of attention in New England turns to Salem, Massachusetts and its historical past of witches and the macabre. Today I thought I’d visit it as a summer destination for you.Historically Salem was one of New England’s busiest ports in the 18th and 19th century with wharves and ships crowding the harbor area.Although many of the wharves have long gone the remaining

Charlestown Neighborhood – Feeding the Revolution

2009-06-04T22:45:00.003-05:00

The Boston neighborhood of Charlestown is visited by thousands of tourists each year as the northern terminus of the Boston Freedom Trail.But it also has a rich and colorful history outside the revolutionary era.This is the fourth in the series of visitor’s guide to Boston’s neighborhoods, and today I’ll be highlighting Charlestown.There are 23 neighborhoods comprising Boston, Massachusetts but

Boston’s Back Bay – A Reclaimed Neighborhood

2009-05-20T20:33:00.005-05:00

This is the third in the series of visitor’s guide to Boston’s neighborhoods, and today I’ll be highlighting the Back Bay.There are 23 neighborhoods comprising Boston.But most of these neighborhoods fall outside the average visitor’s spots to visit. In previous posts I’ve covered Beacon Hill and the North End.Today I’ll be talking about the Back Bay neighborhood. Back Bay together with Beacon

Quick Guide to Beacon Hill in Boston, Massachusetts

2009-05-15T20:31:00.003-05:00

This is a quick tour guide to Beacon Hill in Boston Massachusetts – a historic neighborhood near Boston Common and a popular destination for visitors.This is the second piece in my series on Boston neighborhoods - in my last post I covered Boston’s North End. Today we tackle the most picturesque of the neighborhoods – Beacon Hill.Beacon Hill is residential with most of the red brick buildings

Boston’s Historic North End – a Quick Tour Through the Neighborhood

2009-05-06T22:17:00.004-05:00

Boston’s Historic North End attracts visitors with its old world charm, Paul Revere’s House, the famous Old North Church, and its Italian restaurants and bakeries.A tour of Boston is not complete without a visit to the North End, and there are various ways of experiencing the neighborhood. Boston’s Freedom Trail passes through sections of the North End as it takes you to Paul Revere’s House and

Cape Cod Maritime Days for 2009

2009-04-27T21:24:00.003-05:00

For the last 16 years Cape Cod Maritime Days has celebrated the link to the ocean this peninsular has recorded since the pilgrims first stepped foot on its shores in 1620.Henry David Thoreau traveled through the outer Cape in the 19th century when it was wild and its shoals were notorious for shipwrecking. He was struck with wonder at both the beauty and harshness of the sea. A sea that provided

Here's Hoping for Some Cheer for Valentine's Day in New England

2009-01-20T19:18:00.005-05:00

I have a fellow writer that posted recently about ideal gifts for Valentine's Day in New England and it made me wonder about the economy and whether this is another holiday that will disappoint retailers, especially Boston florists.With the Internet driving many shoppers looking for gifts for Valentine's Day online, and ordering flowers through web sites, many florists earn their bread and butter

Hot Toys in New England this Holiday Season

2008-12-12T08:03:00.004-05:00

Well, maybe "hot toys" is pushing it a bit this year. After all New England is as impacted by the recession - can I say that word for sure? - as anywhere else. But this holiday season people will still buy presents, and though we may forgo buying presents for other adults, we usually don't stop present purchasing for babies and kids.But this year there definately isn't as much money floating

Where to Stay in New England Resource

2008-06-24T21:41:00.008-05:00

I’m consistently asked by people planning a New England vacation to recommend a resource they can use that offers a wide choice and good rates for lodging in New England. After choosing your destinations, lodging becomes the next important decision you’ll need to make. And like the New England destinations the wide variety of choices can be overwhelming. New England accommodation includes:

Big List of Boston Museums

2008-05-16T13:07:00.009-05:00

There are over forty major museums in the Boston area and a number of small niche museums as well. This is my attempt at pulling together in one place a list of them all to help people discover some things to do in Boston on a trip for the weekend or a week’s vacation. I’ve included popular Boston Museums within a 50-mile radius and which you can get to within an hour’s drive of downtown

Mattatuck Museum Opens New History Museum

2008-04-13T14:09:00.006-05:00

Connecticut's Mattatuck Museum has just unveiled a new $2 million history exhibit.Here are the details:From Colonial times to the age of technology, past and present come alive in the new $2 million exhibit Coming Home: Building Community in a Changing World, opening at the Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center in Waterbury, Connecticut on May 9. The exhibit tells the story of all the people

Six Reasons to Choose New England Vacations

2007-12-26T16:30:00.001-05:00

This is my first post since late August and I'm writing this post during the New England holiday break.Life has been insane!I got flooded with requests and questions during the fall foliage season, and then I spent the last few months completing my new eBook on New England vacation and trip planning - in fact I believe there is no other eBook on New England and so it's a first. It will be going

Here’s a Place to Plan Your New England Fall Foliage Trip

2007-08-20T20:18:00.001-05:00

I just got back from our summer vacation which we spent traveling around the northeast. Initially, we had warm days and mild nights, but towards the end we noticed cooler days and a distinct chill in the air at night.For me this is both bad and good news.The bad news is that it signals summer is fading fast and I just love the shorts and t-shirt weather, and hate to see it go. The good news is

Plum Island Massachusetts – Best Kept Secret

2007-06-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

Plum Island is one of those great little places in Massachusetts that nobody has heard of unless you live close by. The island is named for the hundreds of beach-plum bushes growing everywhere.Its spring in New England and the weather and ocean are warming up. If you live anywhere within striking distance of a coast in the region then your thoughts are probably turning towards the beach. And Plum

The Freedom Road Rally Comes to New England

2007-06-03T07:24:00.000-05:00

If you’re traveling along the backroads of New England between June 3rd and June 9th and happen to see a motorcade of antique cars, then there’s a good chance you’ve discovered the...Freedom Road Rally as it passes through New England states on the journey of a lifetime.This annual event is a fun experience and a rare chance for antique car owners to participate in a touring road rally, and also

Golden Road Bike Tour in the Maine North Woods

2007-05-09T21:12:00.000-05:00

History is being made this year.For the first time tour bikes are being allowed on the famous Golden Road in the north woods of Maine.The Golden Road is the name given to a logging road that takes you into remote regions around Baxter State Park.Normally you pay a fee to access the road as it winds through private lumber company land.This is a working road, with traffic consisting of very large

Take a Peek at What’s Blooming in New England

2007-05-01T20:15:00.000-05:00

Spring in New England passes all too fast for residents. We seem to go from bitter cold snowy day’s nights to sweltering hot days in the twinkle of an eye… and miss the drawn-out springs of the northern cities in Europe such as London and Paris.But our adaptive fauna copes well with the sudden changes and makes the most of the growing season by bursting into show at the first glint of warmth.With

Quick Tips New England Vacation Planner

2007-04-25T18:11:00.000-05:00

This time of year I’m overloaded with questions and requests for help in planning New England vacations for people. Here’s four basic questions to ask yourself that will help you plan…How many days do you have for your vacation?If you’re flying in to Boston or another regional airport allow the first day to pick up your car and drive to your destination. Take time to settle into your

Blue Hills Reservation – the Outdoor Playground on Boston’s Doorstep

2007-04-11T19:21:00.000-05:00

Just a 30-minute drive from the crowded waterfront attractions of downtown Boston is one of the best-kept secrets of this city – Blue Hills Reservation.The park consists of 22 hills and 125 miles of trails covering an area of 7,000 acres.Blue Hills Reservation is open year round from dawn to dusk, and offers the following activities: non-motorized boating, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback

Spring Fly Fishing in Connecticut

2007-04-05T21:28:00.000-05:00

While many parts of northern New England are still locked in snow and ice, places in Southern New England are enjoying the spring thaw.While officially spring came to the northern hemisphere nearly two weeks ago, April is when I feel it’s really arrived for trout fishing in Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills.The Cornwall area on the Housatonic River is one of the finest trout streams in New

How This Year’s Boston Travel Show Can Save You a Truckload of Money…

2007-03-14T18:10:00.000-05:00

This year’s Boston Travel Show sponsored by The Boston Globe is crammed full of information to not only help you choose your next vacation but to save you gobs of money on it as well.You can turn a small entry fee into a windfall if you take the trip to the show seriously.I look forward to this event each year, and not just because I’m a travel writer, but because as a consumer of vacations

Here’s Some Late Winter New England Outdoor Activities…

2007-03-06T20:05:00.000-05:00

The Boston Red Sox are in spring training and I’ve just spent the weekend in Virginia where two of the days were a balmy 68 degrees… so does this mean its time to leave our cabins in New England for some outdoor activity?Well maybe. New Englanders know that at this time of year we can get a nice warming trend or be snowed-in by a major northeaster storm.For those willing to be adventurous and

Darwin at the Museum of Science in Boston

2007-02-22T20:44:00.000-05:00

Contrary to popular belief, Charles Darwin didn’t formulate his theories on evolution until after his voyage in HMS Beagle. And he took nearly twenty years in a painstakingly slow and scientific process to formulate and document his thoughts and views that culminated in his book “The Origin of Species.”All this was done back home in Down House, England, and surrounded by his note books.It’s a