By Tanya M. Williams
There is much to love about the Northeast region of the United States. From rural farmlands and scenic beaches to some of the country’s most fascinating cities, the question isn’t what to do, but what not to do. And while one could easily spend an entire vacation in Boston or New York City, it is worthwhile to venture beyond these cities’ limits, where charming towns, picturesque landscapes, and a bounty of outdoor activities await.
Should you be traveling in autumn, by all means hop in a car and follow the foliage. From late September through October, the region’s hillsides transform into a spectacular sunset of dappled color as it descends from north to south. If you have not yet experienced New England in the fall, it is not to be missed. Head for Lake Champlain in late September, or New Hampshire’s White Mountains in early October and take plenty of film, you won’t be sorry.
Speaking of outdoor pursuits, whether your love is skiing, hiking, or beachcombing, opportunities to reconnect with nature are endless. Boasting a coastline of 3,000 miles and the stunning Acadia National Park, Maine is a stellar destination for outdoor activities of all kinds. Though coastal waters are generally too cold for swimming, kayaking, whale watching, and hiking options are abundant. If you make it to Acadia, be sure to summit Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunrise – it’s the first place to see the sun come up in the U.S.
Skiers, backpackers, and campers appreciate Vermont and New Hampshire’s mountainous regions, the Green and White Mountain ranges, respectively. For those who like to rough it, the White Mountains boast access to the Appalachian Trail for hiking expeditions as well as a handful of ski resorts which keep the lifts running year-round for high-elevation hiking and biking. For those who’d like a massage to wind down the day, Stowe, Vermont sits at the foot of Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest mountain, and offers first-class resorts and restaurants in addition to downhill and cross-country skiing, rollerblading, hiking, and golfing.
If your idea of a vacation is to spend as much time on water as on land, then you could do worse than to find yourself in Rhode Island. This tiny state boasts 400 miles of coastline, and is actually comprised of 30 tiny islands, all situated on the lovely Narragansett Bay. Kayaking, fishing, scuba diving, and swimming are readily available, and state parks provide access to many of the best beaches. Summertime brings a host of music festivals to town including Ben & Jerry’s Folk Festival and the August Jazz Festival. But if you’re looking for quiet, spring and fall are your best bet.
For culinary enthusiasts, the Northeast is a gold mine. With New York’s Hudson Valley, Vermont’s fabulous cheeses, and Maine’s abundant lobster one could easily spend two weeks venturing from town to town, frequenting bed and breakfasts and sampling local fare, visiting cheese makers and U-Pick farms, meeting the locals and gleaning their picks for the best lobster roll joint or maple syrup stand in town. Memorable restaurants, from hometown diners to upscale bistros, are plentiful, making planning your vacation from meal-to-meal a delightful and satisfying experience. Vegetarian cooks will find their way to Ithaca, New York, home of the famed Moosewood Restaurant. Exceedingly popular with locals and tourists alike, the restaurant lives up to its reputation, turning out tasty and substantial meals and indulgent vegetarian and vegan desserts.
Need to feed your mind as well as your belly? New England is an excellent place to brush up on U.S. history. Far more than just the Boston Tea Party, this region is home to Paul Revere’s famous ride, the Seneca Falls Convention, and a countless number of Revolutionary War battles, not to mention Plymouth Rock. Museums and historical markers dot the landscape, providing visitors with educational opportunities along the way.
If history isn’t your forte, the area is equally rich in art and music. From Providence’s RISD Museum of Art to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Connecticut, art aficionados will get their fill of everything from classic to contemporary work. One of the country’s most impressive collections of modern art is found at the Albright-Knox Museum in Buffalo, New York. Abstract artists from Picasso to Pollack are featured as well as works by Rothko, Warhol, and Rauschenberg. Music festivals, from the mostly classical Tanglewood Music Festival held each August in the Berkshires to Labor Day Weekend’s Bluegrass Festival in Bruinswick, Maine, give visitors a chance to hear dozens of talented performers in a handful of days.
With so much to see and do, you won’t have time for the city. And nor, I dare say, will you miss it.
May/June 2004
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