NEW ENGLAND STATE OF MIND
Explore more of these great states before or after your cruise from the Northeast.
BECAUSE I’VE LIVED IN NEW England for more than 20 years, people looking for pre- or post-cruise advice often ask me what my favorite destination is in the region. That’s a tough one. After all, New England is officially made up of six states — Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island — and while they are neighbors, about the only thing they have in common is world-class scenery and an obsession with the Red Sox.
Each state has its own unique personality, charm, and geography, from the rocky beaches of Maine to the picturesque mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, the only state not bordering the Atlantic coast.
Sure, cruisers sailing in and out of Boston or New York can cut a swath through the entire region — an especially popular tactic during autumn leaf peeping season —but my best advice is not so much which states to visit, but rather to pick just one or two, and slow down and smell the ocean.
Each state has its own unique personality, charm, and geography, from the rocky beaches of Maine to the picturesque mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont.
MASSACHUSETTS
Hit the Beach: Cruisers out of Boston who have time to explore beyond Beantown can get their beach fix both north and south of the city. Head to four-mile-long Crane Beach on the north shore with its acres of sand dunes, or join the throngs heading south to Cape Cod, where you can take your pick of beach towns, from Hyannis to the ever-lively Provincetown.
Food and Drink: Don’t even think of skipping the fried clams at Woodman’s restaurant in Essex, where the original owner is reputed to have invented the iconic dish nearly a century ago.
Got Kids? Plimoth Plantation, just over 40 miles south of Boston, re-creates the lives not only of the early pilgrims, but also Native Americans who were here before us.
From the Water: Hop on a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, an island whose charms have wooed the Clintons and the Obamas among other A-listers, or to Nantucket, known locally as the Grey Lady because of the fog that often shrouds her from the sea.
Edutainment: Join tours guided by state rangers to the Boston Harbor Islands, easily accessible from the city’s waterfront, enlivened by tales of derring-do and even a few ghost stories dating from the Revolutionary War.
CONNECTICUT
Hit the Beach: The 200-plus-acre Sherwood Island State Park on the shore of Long Island Sound offers beach access, picnic grounds, and scenic marshes.
Food and Drink: Wine lovers can follow the Connecticut Wine Trail, which wends through tiny towns and rural areas, including Litchfield Hills and River Valley, tasting vintages that make the most of the state’s microclimate.
Got Kids? Get up close with penguins, Beluga whales, toothy alligators, and sharks at the Mystic Aquarium. Or go back in time at Mystic Seaport, which transports visitors to the 19th century through a collection of historic sailing ships and restored antique dwellings, brought to life by costumed characters depicting daily life of the early seafarers.
From the Water: Hop aboard a vintage sailing ship from Mystic for a day cruise during the warmer months.
Edutainment: Westport, a colonial town less than 50 miles from New York City, offers an entire menu of homes on the National Register of Historic Places.
MAINE
Hit the Beach: Maine’s beautiful seacoast is not known for its sugar-fine sand. In fact, you’re more likely to be picking your way across a bed of rocks, but don’t let that deter you. The popular beach town of Ogunquit, for example, boasts great views and a network of charming shops, restaurants, and oceanfront walking paths.
Food and Drink: There is great lobster throughout New England, but Maine is the mother lode. Look for roadside eateries with wooden picnic tables, tanks of live crustaceans, and paper napkins. If the word “cuisine” is on the menu, give it a miss.
Got Kids? Rare Bengal tigers, pygmy goats, and camels are just a few of the attractions at York’s Wild Kingdom in the pretty resort town of York. The park also offers rides for
kids 36-inches tall and up, including bumper boats and a bouncy castle. From the Water: Indulge your inner sailor aboard a lobster vessel, go sea kayaking, or swim in Echo Lake, all near Bar Harbor. Edutainment: With a collection that ranges from Winslow Homer to Andy Warhol, the Portland Museum of Art has played a role in transforming the city into a magnet for young artists, who in turn attracted notable chefs and microbreweries.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Hit the Beach: There are a half-dozen public beaches to choose from, but Hampton Beach is the state’s most famous thanks to a mix of award-winning water quality and fun activities. Boogie boarding, summer fireworks, movies on the beach, and outdoor concerts? It’s all here.
Food and Drink: Farmers’ markets are big in New Hampshire, where you can not only get fresh produce, dairy, and baked goods, but often be entertained by cooking demos and live music.
Got Kids? Mt. Washington Valley has many family-friendly attractions. Story Land and Santa’s Village are two old-time, hugely popular theme parks, and local ski mountains are open in summer with lift-assisted bike trails and alpine sledding. From the Water: Cruises out of Portsmouth range from explorations of the harbor to open-sea excursions to the Isles of Shoals to sunset wine cruises. Edutainment: Fans of outdoor, living museums can wander through 10-acre Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth’s historic waterfront district for a mix of antique buildings, kids’ activities, and lush gardens.
RHODE ISLAND
Hit the Beach: Head to Narragansett Bay for your choice of inviting beaches, or board a ferry for a day at tony Block Island. Food and Drink: Don’t miss the johnnycakes, a kind of corn meal pancake made from a historic recipe, at Gray's Grist Mill in scenic Little Compton. Got Kids? Roger Williams Park is both a zoo and a historic museum, and best of all, it’s right in the city of Providence. From the Water: Boating runs the gamut from sightseeing cruises to kayaking and even gondola rides from Providence. Edutainment: The Breakers, the most famous of the Newport mansions, was the home of the Vanderbilts and draws crowds of visitors every year.
VERMONT
Hit the Beach: Vermont may not be on the ocean, but it has plenty of waterfront along Lake Champlain, where you have a number of beaches to choose from, including the popular North Beach.
Food and Drink: Trendy restaurants are cropping up in touristy towns like Stowe and Manchester, but a local favorite will always be maple syrup, straight from the trees. Debate rages about whether Grade A or B is best, but you’ll never go back to grocery store brands once you’ve tried the real thing.
Got Kids? Vermont Teddy Bear and Ben & Jerry’s offer factory tours and, in the case of the latter, the all-important ice cream tastings.
From the Water: Echo Lake in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom may be chilly, but it’s a magnet for visitors looking for a day of swimming, boating, and fishing.
Edutainment: The Shelburne Museum is an outdoor attraction with historic buildings, thousands of exhibitions, a vintage train, and even the steamboat Ticonderoga, reassembled on land.