The historic heart of America, New England, has some of the best, most diverse sites and scenery in the whole country. There are the sandy, white beaches, dense forests and majestic mountain ranges, that all contribute to New England’s charm and ambience. While many people just think of Boston when pondering on New England, there is much more to do and see outside of Beantown. With so many great places to visit, it’s tough to highlight just a few. After much thought and deliberation, here are some of our favorite places to see, in the historic center of our country.
New Haven, Connecticut
Home to historic Yale University, New Haven has a younger, college-town feeling to it. New Haven’s “Little Italy” might not be the same as New York’s, but it’s still fun to see and experience. Right in the middle of the Yale community is the historic Chapel Street. Take a stroll down the road and you’ll see boutique shops, local dining and art museums. Chapel Street is a local favorite amongst college students and full-time residents, as well. If you’re looking for something more nature oriented, the New Haven Green is just right for you. It’s a great place to sit and relax, or to go and see a concert. It’s surrounded by Yale’s buildings and the downtown businesses, but it somehow feels so secluded at the same time. You’ll want to put New Haven on your New England to-do list.
Portland, Maine
Portland might be the prettiest city in the entire state of Maine. With the might of the Atlantic crashing against Portland’s rocky coast, the scenery is flawless. You can visit the Portland Sea Dogs baseball team—affiliate of the Boston Red Sox—in their clean, cozy stadium. Eat a hot dog or two, spit some sunflower seeds and enjoy America’s pastime, in one of America’s coolest cities. After the game, you can visit beautiful Casco Bay. It’s an isolated, calm cove, and even offers boat rides to nearby Peaks Island. Some people have even called Casco Bay the “Jewel of the Maine Coast”. Once you get to Portland, you won’t want to leave.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is one of the best places in the country to experience all four seasons. No matter when you go to Portsmouth, you’ll have fantastic scenery and plenty of outdoor activities awaiting you. One of the most popular places to go in Portsmouth is Hampton Beach. It’s definitely one of the more popular beaches in the region. There is warm water and boat-loads of clean, white sand to play in. Another local hotspot is Peirce Island, on the south side of Portsmouth. On Peirce Island, you’ll be treated to great views of the local bridges, the naval shipyard and the picturesque Piscataqua River. Peirce Island also boasts outdoor swimming, and walking/running trails, all over the island. Hotels in North Conway, New Hampshire are great places to stay, if you want to visit Portsmouth. It’s an hour and a half drive, but it’s very scenic and it will help you get an inside view of New England, especially in the autumn. It’s also in the White Mountains, which is one of the best places to go hiking and biking in the region.
Vincent Stokes is an outdoor enthusiast and an experienced world traveler and works to promote pride in homegrown travel destinations. You can also connect with Vincent on G+ or twitter (@TravelingGlobal).