A Holiday Travel Guide For New England Coast Destinations

If you're looking to visit the New England Coast, how much you will enjoy your vacation will really depend on what you know about this region and what you expect. Are you going as a sightseer raring to take in the famous New England views? Are you there as a summer tourist, eager to taste the fleeting New England summer? Or are you going as a visitor who would like to know more about the areas where a good part of American history began? Here's a holiday travel guide you might find useful for New England Coast destinations:



Getting to know the sea

It would be really difficult to imagine the New England Coast without the sea. After all, it is the sea that defines and shapes this region. Many of the areas here were, at one time or another, involved in the seafaring trade. Drop by Mystic in Connecticut, where you'll find the Seaport Museum of America and the Sea. Everything you want to know about the sea, you'll probably find in these places.



Newport

Newport is a city and an island onto itself. If you want a taste of 19th century architecture, this is the place to be. Some of the most famous mansions in the U.S. can be found here, built by some of the nation's richest families.



Massachusetts

The coast of Massachusetts, particularly the north shore, is a famous stomping ground for many summer tourists. This part of the New England Coast is where you'll find Cape Cod, looking like a flexed muscle on the map.



No visit to the New England Coast will ever be complete without going to Cape Cod, one of the most popular locations for summer vacations for both high-profile and low-profile personalities. Go ahead and comb the beach for shells and starfish and see a movie at the local drive-in theater. If you can, try to rent out a boat so you can cruise around the Gloucester Harbor and check out local lighthouses and other landmarks.



New Hampshire

New Hampshire, in spite of its popularity as a ski town, is still a favorite during summer, spring and especially fall, when the leaves start to show fiery colors. Check them out up close by railway along the side of Mt. Washington. The view at 6,000 feet is spectacular.



On more level ground, though, you could explore the towns at New Hampshire for its ice sculptures in Hanover's Dartmouth College or check out the Hopkins Center for the Arts and the Museum of Art. New Hampshire is also an excellent place to enjoy the local cuisine. For a few souvenirs, there's Portsmouth with its numerous antique shops selling everything from knick-knacks to furniture.



Maine

You could opt to visit Vermont before you head off to Maine but if you prefer the coast, then go directly to this famous region and its rough and rugged coastline. Maine is the place to be if you're traveling along the New England Coast and want a long stopover. It offers everything from fishing and boating to lobster trapping and seal watching. And of course, the beach is gorgeous and well-maintained. Check out Red Jacket and Old Orchard beaches, among others.



Maine also has some of the most famous lighthouses in the New England Coast that you should never miss. If you prefer to take a tour on four wheels, head for the central area and enjoy a rugged yet scenic drive to major lakes and attractions. Visit any of Maine's numerous parks and if you're a horror novel fan, you might want to head straight for Acadia National Park. You'll pass by Bangor, where author Stephen King lives.