Ray Bartlett - New England Trips

Ray Bartlett began travel writing at 18 by jumping a freight train for 500 miles and selling the story to a local newspaper. Two decades later he is still wandering the world with pen and camera in hand. He has been published in USA Today, the Denver Post, Miami Herald, and other newspapers and magazines, and recently appeared on PRIs The World. His Lonely Planet titles include Japan, Mexico, Yucatn, and Korea. More about him can be found at his website, www.kaisora.com. When not travelling, he surfs, writes fiction, drinks way too much coffee, and burns way too much midnight oil.

Gregor Clark lives in Vermont. After six previous Lonely Planet assignments in Europe, South America and California, exploring his beloved home state with family has been a dream come true. Favorite new discoveries include Derbys Haskell Opera House and West Rutlands Carving Studio.

Born in the San Francisco Bay Area and currently based in Philadelphia with his wife and their five cats, Dan Eldridge is the author of a travel guide to Pittsburgh, and the founding editor of Young Pioneers magazine. Dan has written about Turkey and Thailand for Lonely Planet, and his journalism has appeared in the Daily Telegraph, Houston Chronicle and Paste, among other publications.

After spending his childhood summers collecting starfish along the Maine coast, Brandon perfected his pahk the cah Bostonian drawl while attending Harvard University. When hes not writing his way across the globe, Brandon still calls New England home.

Why is our travel information the best in the world? Its simple: our authors are independent, dedicated travelers. They dont research using just the internet or phone, and they dont take freebies, so you can rely on their advice being well researched and impartial. They travel widely, to all the popular spots and off the beaten track. They personally visit thousands of hotels, restaurants, cafs, bars, galleries, palaces, museums and more and they take pride in getting all the details right, and telling it how it is. Think you can do it? Find out how at lonelyplanet.com.

Taylor Brown A Cape Cod native living in Chatham, Taylor Brown is a professional clam digger who also works as an accessory designer, and as a vintage clothing online retailer. Visit www. sweetwatervintage.etsy.com and .

Chef Harry Chef Harry is the creator and host of PBS Chef Harry and Friends. He is a regular contributor on NBCs Today Show, and the KTLA-CBS Food Guru in Los Angeles and the Fox Food Guru in Nashville. He has authored five books, and is currently the Culinary and Creative Director for Heritage Trail Vineyards and Winery. His expertise on the Connecticut wine industry is shared

Stephanie Elsener As a lover of the lakes, mountains and fresh air, the Lakes Region was the ideal spot for Stephanie to be raised. Currently traveling the world and spending more time in her husbands native Switzerland, she still keeps a warm place in her heart for NH and the Lakes Region, which she shares .

Silas Finch Originally from Massachusetts, Silas Finch is a found-object sculptor based in New Haven, CT. Finch uses cast-off and discarded metals and leathers to build a diverse cast of .

Lissy Heminway Lissy, founder of Vermont Dog Sledding (.

Melissa Jenks Melissa was raised in Thailand and has travelled solo since she was eleven. Lately, shes hiked the Appalachian Trail (see

Daniel Kany An art historian, author, foodie and co-founder of the Gallery Association of Portland Maine, Daniel grew up in central Maine and attended nearby Bowdoin College. His contemporary art gallery specializes in international glass art (.

Kimberly Keefe A Newportite through and through, Kimmies been hobnobbing with the best of em for as long as she can remember. She is currently in medical school with plans to become a doctor, but took time out to show us the mansions of Newport .

Charlotte Clews Lawther Charlotte is an Acadia National Park ranger and naturalist. Shes worked for the park for three years and grew up in nearby Blue Hill. Shes been coming to the park all her life to hike, swim and eat popovers (learn more at .

Matthew Perry Visual artist Matthew Perry is cofounder and Artistic Director of the Vermont Arts Exchange ( he uncovers the arts renaissance in Vermont.

David Webber David is the Farmers Market Coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, working with local communities to set up and promote farmers markets. David is a Massachusetts native and enjoys traversing the Massachusetts countryside, enjoying the local bounty area farmers provide. He helps us out with the best farmers markets to visit .

NEW ENGLAND ICONIC TRIPS

New England. Those two words immediately bring to mind a cacophony of images. Craggy coastline, dotted with lighthouses. Lobsters, fresh from the sea, served up on rustic tables with boiled corn and potatoes. The spectacular display of autumnal color along a quiet Vermont country road. History-rich Ivy League campuses, buzzing with creativity and a thirst for knowledge. New England is indeed all these things, but its also greater than the sum of its parts. Its these tangible sights, sounds and tastes, but its also a feeling the emotion of this special place brought to life by artists and writers so inspired by this legendary landscape.

The following chapter is a collection of trips that encompass the best of New Englands best. Grouped together, they create unique vignettes that will twist and turn you through the scenic roads, making stops for the best food and drinks along the way, and possibly inspiring you to pick up a paintbrush, dust off your typewriter, or even reenroll in college. Somehow, the northeastern corner of the country has that effect on folks.