Smith - Moon Maine, Vermont & New Hampshire

Ogunquits Marginal Way.

Imagine yourself in New England: walking a dirt road lined with brilliant maple leaves, watching a rocky shoreline from a slender lighthouse, or beside a white-steepled church on a village green.

All lined up along the international border, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire claim a lions share of the regions most iconic scenes. And while there are vibrant cities to explore hereespecially the thrumming coastal hub of Portlandthe spirit of the three states lies in their small towns, mountains, and the seemingly endless coastline.

Drive the shore of New Hampshire and Maine to see lobster traps piled high, as locals line up at summertime seafood shacks. Vermonts back roads lead to maple sugar shacks and dairy farms, and rivers in all three states invite swimming on warm afternoons.

Winter storms blanket the high mountains in deep drifts of snow, so travelers willing to brave the cold are rewarded with great skiing and riding, or can bundle up for a trip through the hills by horse-drawn sleigh.

And while all of New England lights up in the fall, the varied terrain in the northern states means even more dramatic contrasts and gorgeous foliage. Whether youre looking for outdoor adventures, farm-to-table dining, or the perfect autumn drive, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire offer a lifetime of escapes.

tugboats in Portsmouth

Killington Peak

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

Fall Foliage: The changing colors spread from north to south; chase them from Vermonts extravagant maple forests to the fiery hues of New Hampshires White Mountains ().

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

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

Skiing and Snowboarding in Vermonts Green Mountains: Choose your mountainVermonts peaks offer some of the finest skiing and riding in the region ().

Burlingtons Breweries: Vermont has more breweries per capita than any other state, and many of its award-winning craft beers (and ciders!) are only available locally ().

Where to Go

Vermont

Rolling hills rise into the peaks of the Green Mountains, a forested landscape that enfolds apple orchards, sugar maples, and dairy farms. Life in Vermont is defined by the seasons: Sugarmakers boil sap into maple syrup in the early spring, fall foliage ignites the trees, and winter brings skiers for New Englands finest skiing and riding. Not that its all maple syrup and cheddarthe offbeat state has a culture all its own, from its insistently liberal values to circus schools, cutting-edge craft beer, and endless opportunities for outdoor adventures.

fall foliage and the Stowe Community Church in Stowe, Vermont

New Hampshire Seacoast and Lakes Region

Despite a fierce culture of independence, the Granite States not entirely insulated from the outside worldNew Hampshire extends a slender arm of land to the ocean that shouldnt be overlooked. Easily walkable and fun to explore, Portsmouth is among the finest destinations in New England for an immersion in colonial and maritime history, while Hampton Beach is a whirlwind of tanning oil, fried dough, and cruising crowds. Just inland, the forested landscape is webbed with a vast network of lakes, from the hyped-up vacation towns on Lake Winnepesaukee to quiet Squam Lakes, where silent mornings are broken only by the sound of calling loons.

The White Mountains

Bare rocky peaks emerge from the forest in the rugged heart of the state, where the Presidential Range sets the stage for Mount Washington, the tallest mountain in New England. The fierce alpine zone is home to tiny flowers found nowhere else on earth, but its surprisingly easy to reach: by car, wood-powered railway, or on foot, following one of the steep tracks that wind through the Whites. Its not all sweaty adventures, though, since historic hotels, swimming holes, and one of the regions most