Lonely Planet New Englands Best Trips

WELCOME TO NEW ENGLAND

New England is one of Americas best road-tripping regions; steeped in history and culture, chock-full of culinary and architectural delights and crisscrossed by scenic byways from the ancient Appalachians to the shores of the mighty Atlantic.

The trips in this book embrace the thrill of the open road, taking in both well-known travel hot spots and off-the-beaten-track treasures. Come cruise the fabled coastlines of Maine and Cape Cod, the White Mountains spectacular granite summits and the fiery fall foliage of the Berkshires and Green Mountains. From historic sites like Plimoth Plantation and Nantucket to big cities and contemporary art museums, these trips traverse pumpkin patches and cranberry bogs, red barns and white-steepled churches, covered bridges and lighthouses.

Along the way, sample cuisine from the best clam shacks, lobster joints and farm-to-table eateries, and stay at cozy B&Bs, vintage hotels and classic roadside motels. And if youve only got time for one trip, make it one of our seven Classic Trips, which take you to the very best of New England. Turn the page for more.

New Hampshire Kancamagus Hwy
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NEW ENGLAND HIGHLIGHTS

New Englands best sights and experiences, and the road trips that will take you there.

Cape Cod National Seashore

The outer edge of Cape Cod is a collage of sand dunes, salt marshes and seaside forest, home to prolific bird and marine life. Since the 1960s, this wild world has been preserved under the auspices of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Drive along the shoreline on Trip 4: Cape Cod & the Islands , stopping to climb historic lighthouses, swim at wind-whipped beaches and stroll along scenic boardwalks.

Trips

Cape Cod National Seashore Salt marshes on the coast
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Fall Foliage

New England is radiant in autumn, when mountainsides burst into a mosaic of red, gold, orange and crimson leaves, juxtaposed against verdant meadows and granite crags. On Trip 2: Fall Foliage Tour or Trip 15: Vermonts Spine: Route 100 , drive through vivid streamers of seasonal foliage stopping to chug fresh-pressed cider before the earth goes to sleep under a thick blanket of snow.

Trips

Fall Foliage White Mountains
RUDY MAREEL/SHUTTERSTOCK

Acadia National Park

The Precipice. The Beehive. Thunder Hole. Is this a James Bond movie or Acadia National Park? The dilemma on Trip 26: Acadia National Park : stop to explore or keep on driving? Park Loop Rd, with its gentle curves and crafted viewpoints, was designed with drivers in mind. It tugs you forward. But the adventures pull you sideways. So drive it twice first without stopping, then again to explore.

Appalachian Trail

The AT traverses 14 states and more than 2100 miles. Five of those states and 730 of those miles are in New England. Trip 7: Berkshire Back Roads offers access to the lush slopes of western Massachusetts; Trip 20: White Mountains Loop hits New Hampshires majestic granite peaks; and Trip 28: Great North Woods traverses the Great North Woods of Maine.

Trips

BEST BEACHES

Hammonasset Beach A long pine-backed beach set amid salt marshes and meadows.

Ellacoya State Park Family fun on the shores of New Hampshires favorite lake.

Sand Beach Ponder the Milky Way over the Atlantic at an evening ranger talk.

Westons Beach Kayak, canoe or tube your way to this sandy bend along Maines Saco River.

Lighthouses

More than 60 lighthouses pepper Maines coast, with dozens more in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Their historic importance is evident on Trip 25: Maritime Maine , which curves past fishing villages, ports and maritime museums. But their vital connection to local lives doesnt truly grab you until you visit on a fog-thick morning, with foghorns wailing and waves smashing against the rocks.

Trips

Lighthouses Portland Head Light
JOE DUBE/500PX

Newport Mansions

Newports natural beauty has long attracted wealthy holidaymakers. As early as the 18th century Manhattans society families flocked here for relaxing escapes, purchasing generous parcels of land and erecting sumptuous summer mansions. On Trip 9: Rhode Island: East Bay , take our walking tour down ritzy Bellevue Ave and admire Italianate palazzos, French chteaux and English manors, cloned from steeple to cellar.

Trips