Jen Rose Smith - Moon New England

Lincoln Woods State Park in Blackstone Valley.

With a landscape steeped in history, New Englands geography is a map of American nostalgia.

The six northeastern states have shaped generations of artists and philosophers, whose work took on the contours of its rolling farmland, pebbled beaches, and ancient mountains. This is where Thoreau and Dickinson rambled and wrote, and scenes glimpsed from a car window resemble the canvases of Winslow Homer or Edward Hopper.

Their New England is still aliveand remains startlingly wild. Each winter, New Hampshires high peaks are buffeted by some of the most powerful weather on earth, while noreasters sweep along the rugged coast with its deep coves and rocky peninsulas. For visitors, that wildness can be an enticing surprise. Imagine yourself ticking off summits in the Green Mountains, paddling into the surf breaks that line Rhode Islands southern coast, or watching for moose in Maines vast backwoods.

The people are equally inviting. In the maple groves of Vermont and the oyster farms of Massachusetts, locals still harvest the bounty of forests and fisheries. And in New Englands towns and cities, a new generation of creatives is bringing youthful energy to unexpected places. Artists, musicians, chefs, and brewers are reinventing New England traditions for the 21st century. This thrilling blend of fresh takes and old ways is a standing invitation to explore.

tugboats in Portsmouth

the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford

Acadia National Park: Catch Americas first sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, then find a million tide pools in this historic national park (

Massachusetts Art Museums: From Bostons Museum of Fine Arts (), Massachusetts features some of the countrys best collections.

Fall Foliage: The changing colors spread from north to south; chase them from Vermonts extravagant maple forests to the muted hues of Cape Cods sand dunes ().

Cape Cod National Seashore: World-class beaches are just the beginning at this stunning preserve, where pine barrens, rolling dunes, and miles of sand are surrounded by water on all sides ().

Newports Mansions: Late 19th-century architecture in Newport recalls the days of robber barons, railroads, and over-the-top style ().

Hiking New Hampshires White Mountains: Hike through a rocky landscape of summits, valleys, and plants found nowhere else ().

The Freedom Trail: Follow in the footsteps of rebels, redcoats, and Americas founders on this historical trail in Boston ().

Maine Lobster Feasts: Whether youre dining on reinvented lobster rolls or sitting down to a traditional feast, these crustaceans are quintessential New England ().

Cycling Block Island: Just seven miles long from tip to tail, this Rhode Island escape is easy to explore on two wheels, and the islands conserved land make it a bird-watchers delight ().

Skiing and Snowboarding in Vermonts Green Mountains: Choose your mountainVermonts peaks offer some of the finest skiing and riding in the region, complete with great food and beer for aprs snow ().

Where to Go

Boston

You might contest the claim that this is the Hub of the Solar System, but Boston is certainly the hub of New England, and the regions leading city is fascinating to explore. Even as narrow brick lanes gave way to glassy towers, Boston grew up around its historyRevolutionary-era graveyards line busy streets, actors in 18th-century costume walk the Freedom Trail, and immigrant communities erupt with civic pride at festivals and parades. Even if youre making a beeline for New Englands beaches and mountains, Boston offers tempting diversions: catch