Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York
Let's start with Maine, one of my favorite states in the union. Take a trip to Bar Harbor and spend a day whale watching. There is nothing quite like seeing one of these enormous mammals up close and personal! Endulge your taste buds with fresh lobster at the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland and don't miss the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport or shopping at the outlets in nearby Kittery. Maine has beautiful autumns and some of the best sunrises in the country. Be sure to get to the top of Cadillac Mountain, in Acadia National Park, the tallest mountain on the eastern coast of the United States, for a sunrise you won't forget!
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is truly a four season state! Winter brings the New Hampshire Sanctioned Snow Sculpting Competition & Invitational in Jackson. This three-day Festival showcases three-member teams made up of amateurs and professionals who sculpt columns of snow ten feet high and four feet in diameter. The finished sculptures will amaze you! Take an old-fashioned train excursion on the Conway Scenic Railroad through the Mt. Washington Valley and surrounding White Mountains ~ breathtaking during the autumn months! Enjoy a stay at the Mount Washington Hotel and Resort rated one of the "Top Ten Resorts Your Kids Will Love" by SKI Magazine. Mount Washington Resort offers the most ski and snowboard terrain in New Hampshire plus one of the most extensive cross country ski networks in New England. During Summer, you can mountain bike, fish and hike on the surrounding trails! Take a deep breath of that mountain air and leave your worries behind...there's no room for anything but pure bliss here!
Vermont
Vermont shines in autumn when the leaves turn and the chilly nights encourage snuggling in one of the many B & B's that dot the countryside. The Waybury Inn in Middlebury became famous because of the Bob Newhart Show. The show, which aired from 1982 through 1990, gave the inn world-wide recognition. Visitors to Vermont can't miss two of my favorite ice cream makers, Ben and Jerry! Located in historic Waterbury, they give factory tours daily. A visit to the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe will have you singing "...the hills are alive"! Along with their music weekends, there is hiking, nature trails, and skiing in abundance on their 2,400 acres. And no visit to Vermont would be complete without a taste of their famous maple syrup and Vermont made cheese. The Cabot Cheese Creamery located in Cabot produces a wide range of award winning cheeses. They offer factory tours and free samples! To sample Vermont's famous maple syrup, visit the Bragg Farm near Montpelier. Every weekend during March and April, enjoy a bit of a local favorite...sugar on snow! They also have an ice cream parlor and gift store, and are open year round. A visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Rutland will take you back to the kinder, gentler America. A display of Rockwell's entire career works spans a period from 1911 until his death in 1978. Bristol is the home of Vermont Biking Tours, and a great way to explore Vermont's back roads, covered bridges and historic towns. Motorists are extremely polite in this bike-friendly state, so take a day tour or spend a week on two wheels!
Massachusetts
A trip to Massachusetts wouldn't be complete without a stop at a few important historic landmarks. Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, is the site of the landing of the first pilgrims after their stop at Provincetown in 1620. Nearby Plimouth Plantation will give you a real taste of what living in 1627 was like for those first new residents to our country. Salem, most widely known for the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, was also the birthplace and home of author Nathanial Hawthorne who was born there in 1804. Hawthorne penned the famous novel "The Scarlett Letter" while working in Salem at the Custom House, which is still open to the public today. In Boston, every December 16th, a reenactment of the famous Boston Tea Party takes place in Boston Harbor. Due to damage from fire, the Museum is currently closed for renovations, and is expected to reopen in the Fall of 2008. Boston is a "must-see" city, especially for history buffs. Birthplace of John Quincy Adams, and home of Paul Revere, Boston has enough history to fill a week's vacation! Start with the 2.5 mile walking tour, the Boston Freedom Trail and relive the story of the American Revolution. The Massachusetts State House, Faneuil Hall, and Old North Church are just a few of the many historic sites in Beantown. Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are all popular summer resort areas, so if you want to visit them, its best to go during the shoulder seasons in spring and fall. The temperatures can be quite comfortable and you will not have to fight the crowds for beach space or that exceptional restaurant! A visit to Nantucket's Whaling Museum will take you back to the days when a vast majority of Nantucket's men were out to sea for months, and even years at a time. The museum also contains the entire skeleton of a 46 foot sperm whale, which washed up onto Nantucket's shore in 1998. And while you are visiting Massachusetts, have yourself a slice of Boston Cream Pie, the state's official dessert!
Massachusetts Video Travel Guides
Connecticut
Connecticut has some breathtaking shorelines, sunny beaches and interesting museums.....Bridgeport is home to the Barnum Museum, home of the world-famous circus impresario, Phineas Taylor Barnum. Built in 1892, the house holds circus memorabilia along with exhibits showcasing 19th century life. Hartford, the state's capital, is also home to the Mark Twain House and Museum. The famous author lived in this elaborate Victorian style mansion during the period between 1874 and 1891, and where he is thought to have written his stories about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. The nineteen beautifully furnished rooms contain many of the author's personal belongings. Located in a 184 acre park overlooking the Connecticut River, Gillette Castle in East Haddam, was built during the period of 1914 to 1919 by William Gillett, a famous actor during his time. The castle is filled with secret passages, hidden compartments and exotic wood and stonework. An active lighthouse during the late 1800's and into the early 20th century, the Sheffield Island Lighthouse in Norwalk is one of the best examples of the style of living lighthouse keepers knew. Visitors can ferry to the island and tour the 10 room lighthouse and keeper's home as well as explore the adjacent Stewart B. McKinney U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge. Cheshire hosts the Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum. Full of fun, this museum has a collection of over 80,000 pieces of TV, cartoon and advertising collectibles and memorabilia. If casino action is more your style, stop in or stay at either the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville or the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket. Gamblers can enjoy thousands of slot machines, table games, fine dining, entertainment, golf and plenty more! Groton visitors can board the world's firt nuclear-powered submarine at the USS Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum. The only submarine museum operated by the U.S. Navy, it contains many artifacts, documents and photographs related to submarine history. In Mystic Seaport, you can stroll through the re-created 19th century coastal village, explore maritime exhibits and see working demonstrations of 19th century maritime trades. Mystic Seaport also plays host to Chowderfest ~ a nod to the celebrated New England specialty ~ every Columbus Day weekend!
Rhode Island
Spend a bit of your Christmas season at Blithewold, the Naragansett Bay garden estate built in 1896 by Augustus and Bessie Van Wickle. Left upon her death, for public enjoyment by daughter Marjorie, the estate is managed by Save Blithewold, Inc. Teas, live concert performances and wreath making workshops, are only a few of the special events being held at the estate during the season. Where is penny candy still a penny? At the Brown & Hopkins Country Store, reported to be the oldest country store in continuous operation in the United States! Built in Chepachet in 1799, current owners Liz and Scott Mcintyre, carry on the stores tradition by carrying primitive and country home accessories, gourmet specialties like Vermont cheeses and reproduction furniture. If bicycling is your sport of choice, you will enjoy a smooth, flat paved trail with a bay view! The East Bay bike path runs from Providence to Bristol, and its 14.5 miles will take you through coves, marshes and through picturesque state parks. Enjoy the smell of the salt air without worrying about sharing the road with cars! If you are an America's Cup fan, you will want to visit the Herreshof Marine Museum and America's Cup Hall of Fame in Bristol. The Herreshoff's constructed eight consecutive winners of the America's Cup from 1893 to 1934. The Museum is home to historical artifacts and photos all dedicated to the "Golden Age of Yachting". Newport is of course, home to miles of beautiful coastline. Boating and beaching are terrific summer options. But Newport also boasts opulent mansions, classic architecture, history and its cobblestone streets offer plenty of old-world charm! A stay in Newport is a must for those looking for a true east coast experience!
New York
New York state has a tremendous amount to offer the explorer, starting with the "Big Apple", New York City. First time visitors will want to see all the sights....the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Central Park, the Staten Island Ferry, the Empire State Building and Times Square. Visitors find it easy to catch one of the red double-decker tour buses which allow you to hop on and hop off at stops throughout Manhattan Island. Outside of the city, recreational activities are abundant throughout the state. Named one of the Top 100 Campgrounds in the nation, Letchworth State Park is renowned as the "Grand Canyon of the East". Located in the western half of the state, the park boasts waterfalls, hiking, biking, snowmobiling and cross country ski trails whitewater rafting, kayaking, hot air ballooning and much more. Nature, history and performing arts programs are also part of the park's offerings. Even today, millions of visitors from around the world continue to pay homage to the grandeur of Niagara Falls. Just a short drive from Buffalo, the falls offers spectators several different views, including the legendary Maid of the Mist boat tour. Ferrying you to the base of Horseshoe Falls, you get close enough to feel the spray on your tour-issued raincoat! And did you know, Niagara is rapidly growing into the Wedding Capital of Canada? Make a stop in nearby Buffalo, the state's largest city after New York City. Famous for its chicken wings first made here in 1964, crowds will descend here every Labor Day Weekend for the National Buffalo Wing Festival! Home to both the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains, both areas boast every kind of recreational activity you can imagine! The Adirondack Mountain region has the largest hiking trail system, with destinations ranging from mountain peaks to quiet meadows...truly something suitable for every hiking enthusiast!