New England is a colloquial term that defines a general area in the United States. It is made up of the states Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. If you are planning to visit the New England region sometime soon, then you should consider yourself lucky.
This part of North Eastern America holds so much natural beauty, history, and fun activities. There is a good chance that you could be there for a month and still not do everything you want to do! If you are trying to narrow down that list of yours, then look no further. Here are the top four things you should do while you are in New England.
1. Visit a National Park
National Parks are swaths of land in different states that represent something really special. These sections of protected land are taken care of by the government and thus make great destinations for hiking, biking, kayaking, and much more. New England is quite an outdoorsy part of America, in part due to its many beautiful National Parks.
One of these such parks is Acadia National Park. Acadia is famous worldwide for its amazingly pristine evergreen forests, mountain peaks, and seashore vistas. Another one is Cape Cod National Seashore Park, which is located in the popular Cape Cod area where everyone from politicians to Taylor Swift spends their off time relaxing by the Atlantic Ocean. And, perhaps the most dangerous and most intriguing, is White Mountain National Forest. While it is not technically a National Park itself, this area of forest around White Mountain is very popular for climbers, mountaineers, skiers, and Appalachian Trail hikers, as it represents nearing one of the two termini of the hike. You don’t have to be an outdoor sports pro to enjoy a nice hike at one of these spots. Pack a lunch and enjoy!
2. Spend Time at Sea
One thing this region is popular for is its easy access to the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Because of this, an activity such as taking one of the many fantastic new england cruises, taking a kayak out in a safe part of the ocean, or taking a sailing lesson is super easy and tons of fun.
Something like a cruise is a good option if you want to spend your downtime relaxing and seeing the beauty of New England from the sea while also having scheduled stops where you can explore each area as you come across it.
3. Eat Local Cuisine
When you think of New England food, there are certainly a few key dishes that come to mind. Lobster rolls are a delicacy and range in quality and price depending on where you are! The core recipe is freshly caught lobster from a local port, a delicious bread roll, and fresh toppings. Another classic is clam chowder, which is exactly what it sounds like. It is salty, fishy, and warming. It makes the perfect meal after a chilly fall hike. Although ice cream itself did not originate here, the famous company Ben & Jerry’s got its start in Vermont. In other words, ice cream should be on your New England food list.
4. Take a Ghost Tour
Due to its history, there have been countless ghost sightings across the region. There have been so many that some areas are popular for their ghostly sightings and offer tours of their most haunted places. Some good cities to get spooky in are Boston, Salem, New Haven, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Burlington, and Mystic. If you are really feeling adventurous, try out a haunted boat tour.
As you can tell, New England is an incredible destination for anyone at any time of year. From National Parks to marine voyages to ghost tours, you will always be doing something fun while also enjoying the unique culture of this area. Enjoy your trip and don’t forget to bring a sweater, because the weather can change fast!