Call it the luck of the Irish: On St. Patrick’s Day 2022, the ubiquitous Vermont ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s announced that its Dublin Mudslide flavor had returned from the dead. The news not only delighted fans of the long-discontinued Irish-cream-based concoction, but also gave hope to others still pining for pints of flavors gone but not forgotten. 

Founded in Burlington in 1978, Ben & Jerry’s has debuted hundreds of flavors over the decades. And while some become staples — like Cherry Garcia, still going strong after nearly 40 years — the vast majority eventually melt away. Wavy Gravy. Dastardly Mash. Peanut Butter and Jelly.

Their memory lives on, however, at the company’s Flavor Graveyard. An actual fenced-in plot set on a hill overlooking Ben & Jerry’s original Waterbury factory, it offers ice cream fans the chance to pay tribute to more than 30 discontinued flavors. Opened in 1997, this bite-sized Boot Hill is lined with headstones made of real granite (since the original resin ones tended to “disappear”) and featuring epitaphs affectionately crafted by Ben & Jerry’s copywriters (Wild Maine Blueberry / From the land of the puffin, / Now when we crave you / We turn to the muffin).

A digital version of the Flavor Graveyard also lives on the Ben & Jerry’s website, along with articles like “The Five Stages of Flavor Grief” and a tongue-in-cheek video of a funeral — complete with hearse and mourners — for the flavor What a Cluster (2011-2014).

But nothing beats a pilgrimage to Waterbury for true die-hards. And who knows? Thanks to the guided factory tours that come complete with samples, anyone bereaved by the loss of a favorite ice cream might just discover a new flavor to fill that hole in their heart, and of course, their stomach.

The post Delicious Chills Await in This Vermont ‘Flavor Graveyard’ appeared first on New England.

Atlantic Canada stirs the appetite with its exhilarating sights and imaginative culinary scene. In these four provinces—New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island—seafood is abundant, farms are plentiful, and wineries, cideries, distilleries, and breweries season the landscapes. You will be hungry, too, after paddling beautiful coastlines, hiking seaside cliffs and forested peaks, or strolling endless beaches keeping watch for whales, seabirds, and the occasional iceberg.

From New England, this culturally rich region is easily accessible via plane, car, or high-speed ferry. To tantalize you, we’ll take you on a whirlwind tour of memorable culinary adventures. Consider this a mere sprinkling of the ways an Atlantic Canada vacation will fill your plate.

Taste the Tides: Fine dining on the ocean floor in Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick

Attached to Maine and easily accessible with 17 U.S. border crossings, New Brunswick is known for its 60 coastal and inland lighthouses, the warmest saltwater beaches north of Virginia, and outdoor adventures in vast, untouched wilderness. You may be familiar with the Flowerpots: towering rock formations eroded by the world’s highest tides in the Bay of Fundy. Now imagine dining in their midst, on the ocean floor, just six hours before 45 feet of water rushes in.

“We showcase southeastern New Brunswick’s local products, including wines,” Chef Anthony Seamone says. The Taste the Tides culinary team forages for fiddleheads, dandelions, garlic scapes, and samphire greens. The salt comes from the waters around Cape Enrage.

It’s an intimate experience, limited to 24 guests at a time, who begin to bond on a guided, interpretive walk before descending to their Castle Cove dining expanse. A glass bowl displaying natural finds awaits on each table, and at the meal’s end, the chef thanks each guest with a surprise message in a bottle.

Feed your New Brunswick travel dreams at tourismnewbrunswick.ca.

Roots, Rants, and Roars: Eat, drink, and make merry in Elliston, Newfoundland

Fly or road trip to Newfoundland, where friendly locals “screech in” newcomers with cod kissing and rum. The third weekend in September is a foodie’s delight. Roots, Rants, and Roars brings acclaimed North American chefs to Elliston, the “Root Cellar Capital of the World.” Chef Nick van Mele of the Grounds Café at Murray’s, a former Cod Wars winner, calls the food festival “a beautiful experience for chefs who care about highlighting local ingredients” and for those who attend.

Judging the Cod Wars is a tasty task for festivalgoers, with six chefs’ cod dishes vying for supremacy. “Cod is Newfoundland’s backbone,” van Mele says of the fish’s place in local history, culture, and lore.

He loves The Hike, which features tasting stations, local libations, traditional music, and art installations along a coastal route. The festival wraps with a family-style feast featuring seven courses by seven chefs. “It’s held by the beach and feels off the grid; you live in the moment with others who love the rugged environment and Newfoundland ingredients.”

Plan an indulgent Newfoundland & Labrador trip at newfoundlandlabrador.com.

Vintage Vino Tours: Sip in style at Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley wineries

Nova Scotia, easily reachable via The CAT ferry from Bar Harbor, Maine, conjures images of the Cape Breton Highlands, South Shore beaches, Halifax’s maritime-history sites, and Annapolis Valley vineyards. On his private Vintage Vino Tours, Brennan Fitzgerald chauffeurs guests from vineyard to vineyard in vintage automobiles, weaving in stories about Canada’s Original Wine Region. “It’s the birthplace of North America,” he says. “We have been cultivating grapes here for over 400 years, but only in the last few decades have our wineries garnered international recognition for the quality of their wines. We make fantastic white and award-winning sparkling wines.”

Whether motoring in a 1947 Ford Super Deluxe or a 1952 Pontiac Chieftain, dining among the vines is always an option. “The slower pace of traveling in a vintage car adds to the experience,” Fitzgerald notes.

Each season has its pluses. “Spring is stunning; it’s quiet and relaxed, and the flowers are gorgeous,” Fitzgerald says. Summer is vibrant, and in the fall, he recommends adding farms, orchards, and markets brimming with produce to your custom-tailored tour. “The grapes are ready, the wineries are alive with activities, workers are harvesting, and grapes are changing color”—that’s bliss.

Explore Nova Scotia’s flavorful nuances at novascotia.com.

The Table Culinary Studio: Heavenly, hyperlocal fare in rural New London, Prince Edward Island

On Canada’s Food Island—the land of Green Gables, famed oysters and mussels, red sands and soil, and rare moving dunes—Chef-Owner Derrick Hoare and Executive Chef Hunter Guindon create a divine, seven-course tasting menu at The Table Culinary Studio. Remarkably, no dish served inside this handsomely restored church is repeated during the mid-May through late September season.

“We create the menu backwards,” Hoare says. He and Guindon scour the island, visiting farms, wharves, and foragers to find the best products. “Then we write our menu to feature the freshest foods available,” he says. For ingredients that can’t be sourced on the island, Guindon creates substitutes such as rhubarb for lemon, the little barbs on alder trees for black pepper, or daylily buds for capers.

In the dining space, which seats 27, Guindon appears periodically to explain the whats, whys, and hows of eating sustainably. “The pleasure for us is sharing a little bit of PEI through food, the island vibe, and the atmosphere in the church with guests from around the world.”

Cook up an escape to Prince Edward Island at tourismpei.com.

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Maine’s 2024 fall season is packed with exciting events, with various experiences that celebrate the state’s vibrant autumn traditions. Between the Common Ground Fair, the Fryeburg Fair, and more than one pumpkin festival, there’s something for everyone—from culinary delights and live music to outdoor adventures and family-friendly activities across the state.

Common Ground Country Fair

Hosted by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, this get-together at the fairgrounds in Unity highlights Maine’s rural and agricultural traditions with animal exhibits, cooking demos, blacksmithing, farm and fiber marketplaces, tasty food, and kids’ programming. Headed to a different part of the state? Check out a master list of Maine Agricultural Fairs.

Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta

A giant pumpkin contest, pumpkin parade, pumpkin drop —perhaps you’re detecting a theme? Don’t miss the great pumpkin boat regatta finale.

Trails End Festival

This family-friendly, annual Maine fall festival started 15 years ago in celebration of the Katahdin region, the Appalachian Trail’s end. The festiva offers fun for the whole family including face painting, hiking, a chili cook-off, vendors, a parade, and games. A festival-favorite event is the Rubber Duck Race!

Blue Hill Fair

This “down to earth” fair was the model for the one in E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, and to this day, a special tent holds all the animals from the book (which was written in nearby Brooklin). The rides, farm exhibits, and fair foods that Charlotte and Wilbur’s human friends enjoyed are here, along with sheepdog trials that draw competitors from all over.

Cumberland County Fair

Turning 150 this year, southern Maine’s biggest fall festival packs in events as diverse as truck and tractor pulls, a rodeo, a demolition derby, nightly fireworks, and 10 live-music acts spanning blues to bluegrass and everything in between. And who needs pies when there’s a burrito-eating contest?

Boothbay Fall Foliage Festival

Boothbay’s fall event takes place on handsome four-acre town green, done up as a “vintage village” featuring art exhibits, food trucks, booths selling local crafts, live music, and a children’s corner. Take a ride on a steam-powered train at Boothbay Railway Village, and visit the adjacent antique car museum.

Farmington Fair

Central Maine’s big September event delivers the expected—a lively midway, tractor and horse pulls, lots of good fair chow—plus events including harness racing, an ugly veggie contest, and a “Drag Your Neighbor” competition, where you can floor your ride without getting a speeding ticket.

Fryeburg Fair

Since its start in 1851, western Maine’s harvest fest has grown into an eight-day celebration of the region’s farms, gardens, foods, and crafts. Midway rides and oxen pulls, calf and pig “scrambles,” and an anvil-throwing contest vie for popularity with midway rides and a farm museum, and the Woodsmen’s Field Day draws loggers from across the U.S. to test their mettle.

Harmony Free Fair

Yes, it’s free. And for a town with fewer than a thousand folks, Harmony stages a surprisingly big event. Along with local music acts and traditional agricultural and animal exhibits, the accent is on friendly competition, with tournaments in volleyball, cornhole, arm wrestling, horseshoes, skillet and hammer throwing, and even cribbage. And it all ends with a big Labor Day parade.

New Portland Lions Fair

Up near Skowhegan, far from the “old Portland,” the local Lions pair their midway, food booths, and agricultural attractions with plenty of lively competitions, such as wrestling matches, a demolition derby, and a kids’ “eel race,” done on hands and knees with participants holding on to their teammates’ ankles.

The post 10 Fun Maine Fall Events For 2024 appeared first on New England.

The little pocket of rural New Hampshire known as the Monadnock Region just might be the best and least-crowded foliage destination in New England. From Keene’s college campus bustle to Peterborough’s Our Town charm, it’s a destination full of family fun, good food, and beautiful scenery. If you’re planning a visit (and you should!) you can find the best things to do, eat, and where to stay in our guide to New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region.

See more of the Monadnock Region in fall in the 2024 Yankee Magazine feature, Small Towns, Big Color.

Best Dining in the Monadnock Region

Brewbakers: Cozy-boho coffee shop bustling with Keene State College students and locals; top-notch breakfast (and lunch) sandwiches along with house-roasted coffee. Keene; brewbakerskeene.com

Flag Leaf Bakery: Open Fridays and Saturdays only—but no one complains when they get their hands on fragrant whole-grain loaves and their sweet or savory pastries of choice (like caramel cruffins plumped with Earl Grey pastry cream). Antrim; flagleafbakery.com

Harlow’s Pub: Rib-sticking fare, New England beers on tap, and atmosphere to the nth degree, thanks to wall-to-wall local artifacts and memorabilia. Peterborough; harlowspub.com

Harrisville General Store: Founded in 1838 and renowned today for fresh-made sandwiches and salads with uniquely local flavor (it’s a lunchtime favorite of Yankee staff). Harrisville; historicharrisville.org/general-store

Hilltop Café: Casual, creative farm-to-table food to enjoy in an 18th-century farmhouse or out on its lawn, where the view spans woodlands, fields, and resident farm animals. Wilton; thehilltopcafe.com

Luca: A dining landmark on Keene’s Central Square for more than two decades, serving up flavors from Europe’s sunniest lands. Keene; lucakeene.com

Orchard Hill Breadworks: French, olive-rosemary, home-style multigrain, cinnamon-raisin, cornmeal pumpkin, and more, all naturally leavened and baked by artisans’ hands. East Alstead; orchardhillbreadworks.com

Parker’s Maple Barn: Specializing in pancakes and waffles ideal for soaking up house-made maple syrup. And their maple frappe? Simply impossible to say no to. Mason; parkersmaplebarn.com

Pickity Place: An entrancing backstory awaits at this historic cottage—along with a gourmet restaurant, a gift shop, English-style gardens, and the Little Red Riding Hood Museum. Mason; pickityplace.com

Post & Beam Brewing: Small-batch craft beers in an array of styles (sip like a local with the “Our Town” New England IPA), plus the tasty presence of Blackfire Farm’s pizza truck every weekend through the fall. Peterborough; postandbeambrewery.com

The Restaurant at Burdick’s: Widely known foodie hot spot, thanks to its elegant dining room and French-inspired menu (filmmaker and local resident Ken Burns is a fan). Walpole; 47mainwalpole.com

Yahso Jamaican Grille: This is the reason why Caribbean cuisine—jerk chicken, banana fritters, tender braised beef oxtail—deserves a place among college-town staples. Keene; yahsojamaicangrille.com

Best Shops & Attractions in the Monadnock Region

Alice Blue: No cookie-cutter fashion in sight at this women’s clothing shop that brings relaxed sophistication to country living. Peterborough; Facebook

Alyson’s Orchard: PYO paradise that offers 50-odd varieties of apples and heart-stopping views from its hilltop perch. Walpole; alysonsorchard.com

Bowerbird & Friends: Eclectic independent boutique that’s stylish inside (vintage furniture and decor) and out (plants and garden accessories). Peterborough; bowerbirdfriends.com

The Colonial Theatre: Beautifully restored, smartly revitalized, and ready for its second century of anchoring the region’s performing arts scene. Keene; thecolonial.org

Frye’s Measure Mill: Water has powered the Frye’s mill since 1858, turning the belt-driven machinery that artisans still use to create classic trays and round or oval boxes true to Shaker design. Wilton; fryesmill.com

Hannah Grimes Marketplace: Brimming with the work of 250-plus local artists and makers, housewares, and home decor as well as New England–made foods. Keene; hannahgrimesmarketplace.com

Harrisville Designs: Beautifully links Harrisville’s mill-town heritage to the present by continuing the tradition of spinning 100-percent-virgin-wool yarn. Harrisville; harrisville.com

The Maple Station Market: Sprawling farm market, deli, and maple showcase all rolled into one. The maple doughnuts (dusted in sugar and so fresh they’re still warm) are heaven. Temple; bensmaplesyrup.com

Mariposa Museum: A celebration of the richness of cross-cultural encounters, from Swedish folk singers to Indian shadow puppetry. Peterborough; mariposamuseum.org

Toadstool Bookshop: One of New England’s best indie booksellers and an essential stop for local-interest reading. Peterborough & Keene; toadbooks.com

Best Fall Events in the Monadnock Region

Ashuelot Concerts: World-class chamber music made even sweeter by intimate small-town venues. See website for dates and locations. ashuelotconcerts.org

Keene Pumpkin Festival: Come for the giant tower of jack-o’-lanterns, stay for the Halloween-y fun. 10/12; pumpkinfestival.org

Monadnock Art Open Studios Tour: A can’t-miss cultural event spanning half a dozen towns and 10 times as many painters, sculptors, and other artists. 10/12–10/14; monadnockart.org

Monadnock International Film Festival: Three days of eye-opening indie films—regional, national, and international—at venues in Keene and Jaffrey. 10/4–10/6; moniff.org

Best Places to Stay in the Monadnock Region

Chesterfield Inn: Historic, elegant—and dog-friendly, too. The on-site restaurant is a local fine-dining landmark. West Chesterfield; chesterfieldinn.com

Cranberry Meadow Farm Inn: Luxurious eight-room B&B with miles of hiking trails practically on the doorstep. Peterborough; cranberrymeadowfarminn.com

The Inn at East Hill Farm: Family-friendly, farm-tastic stay that counts Mount Monadnock among its closest neighbors. Troy; east-hill-farm.com

The Inn at Valley Farms: One of the state’s most romantic stays, set on an 18th-century working farm. Walpole; innatvalleyfarms.com

The post Guide to New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region | Eat, Stay, Play appeared first on New England.

Sometimes people belong to a place so deeply, they can’t imagine being anywhere else. Maybe it’s land where generations of their ancestors put down roots, or maybe it’s somewhere they’ve spent their whole lives searching for—either way, explaining exactly what that place means to them can prove elusive.

A few years ago, three women who shared a deep love of Maine and boundless creativity set out to show in words and photographs how the homes we choose not only reflect who we are, but also tell the story of a place that, to us, is unlike any other. Maura McEvoy, Basha Burwell, and Kathleen Hackett traveled the state’s back roads and waterways to produce The Maine House, which they said was inspired by “our desire to record the Maine of our childhoods, a Maine that is swiftly vanishing.” Offering an intimacy not unlike that of looking through the family album of someone you have just met, the book struck a chord with readers around the world.

This year, its sequel, The Maine House II (Vendome 2024), continues the trio’s quest. They drove thousands of miles, rowed or were ferried by fishermen, knocked on countless doors, and made new friends, all in pursuit of the question: What makes a house a Maine house? And beyond that, they wanted to show the indefinable qualities that—to paraphrase Burwell describing her own cottage—make a home our ballast, anchor, and compass.

In putting together their sequel to The Maine House, the authors looked for properties that have been preserved, restored, and sensitively expanded to show how vital it is “to rescue Maine’s quirky architectural history if we are going to preserve its singular nature, one that goes hand in hand with reverence for the land.” Fittingly, the home profiles are arranged by what type of land they occupy: inshore, inland, and island.

Inshore: The Falls at Crockett Cove

Nestled into evergreens on the rocky shore of Maine’s Deer Isle, the Falls at Crockett Cove is among a handful of cottages that survive from the nearly 50 that were designed or renovated in this area by Emily Muir, a self-taught architect and modernist pioneer. Built in 1968, the property has been restored and updated, but current owners Carolyn and Ray Evans have taken pains to honor Muir’s vision: painting cabinets in original colors, matching new flooring to the old. “What was important to her is now important to me,” Carolyn tells the authors.

Inland: Panther Pond

The Maine tradition of rustic family cabins known as summer camps lives on at Panther Pond, a birch-accented structure that reposes on its namesake lake in the state’s southern interior. It was built in 1907 by Robert Treat Whitehouse, whose wife, Florence Brooks Whitehouse, was a noted author, artist, and suffragist. Florence’s great-granddaughter, Anne Gass, is among the group of siblings who are now the property’s caretakers, and when she’s at the camp, Anne often thinks of the women who came before her: folding towels on the bed just as she does now, or turning the kids loose to spend all day in the woods.

And as with previous generations, Anne and her siblings often invite guests here. But whether newcomers are asked back depends on the amount of pioneer spirit they bring to staying in a 117-year-old lodge, where a chipmunk might hop onto your bed. Wildlife is a fact of life here, as is the rough-hewn decor that’s so old that Anne doesn’t even know where it came from. “What she does maintain, however,” the authors write, “is that it will never change.”

Island: The Lighthouse

“There is beauty and dignity in leaving things as they are,” the authors write. “And, perhaps, nowhere is that more compelling than in the lighthouse where Jamie Wyeth lives through all four seasons.” That lighthouse—Tenants Harbor Light, built in 1857 on an island in southwestern Penobscot Bay—was bought in 1978 by Jamie’s father, famed artist Andrew Wyeth, himself the son of another art legend, N.C. Wyeth. Jamie carries on the family legacy as a distinguished painter in his own right, although in making this lighthouse his home, he knew he would be living and working in a place that was among his father’s favorite subjects.

“My father pretty much painted it all,” Jamie says, adding jokingly, “I thought maybe I’d paint the bugs.” But instead he found endless inspiration in the island, the water, and especially the gulls that are his constant companions. “I could live four lifetimes and not scratch the surface of what this place offers up to me every day.”

The post Scenes from “The Maine House II”: Inshore, Inland, and Island Cottages appeared first on New England.

RHODE ISLAND CLASSIC DINING

DINER
Jigger’s Diner, East Greenwich

Shoehorned between larger buildings on East Greenwich’s scenic Main Street, this baby-blue Worcester diner car has been lovingly restored. All-day-breakfast and lunch dishes here have distinctly Rhode Island touches. Try the cornmeal johnnycakes or one of the dozen-each versions of eggs Benedict and omelets. Meaty torpedo sandwiches are daily lunchtime specials, along with healthy salads. Rhode Island coffee milk is the beverage of choice. jiggersdiner.com

ITALIAN
Angelo’s, Providence

Owned by the same extended family from the beginning, this classic red-sauce restaurant celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024. Angelo’s prides itself on being the “workingman’s” Italian eatery, serving basic fare at affordable prices. Start with the unique meatballs-and-fries combo, introduced during the Great Depression to give customers a little extra starch in their diets. The main show features endless combinations of pastas and sauces, plus traditional favorites such as braciola and stewed veal with peppers. angelosri.com

PORTUGUESE
O Dinis, East Providence

A top gathering spot for East Providence’s Portuguese-American community (and those in the know), this neighborhood eatery is worth a detour. Experience authentic Portuguese cuisine like steamed littleneck clams in white wine and garlic, spicy chouriço sausage, grilled salted cod, and pan-seared sirloin steak in a beer and garlic sauce. Monday-night patrons are serenaded by Portuguese crooners, singing songs from the old country. odinisrestaurant.com 

SEAFOOD SHACK
Evelyn’s Drive-In, Tiverton

There are two compelling reasons to visit this enduring Rhody food stand: its authentic eastern Rhode Island seafood and the tranquility of Nanaquaket Pond. Evelyn’s has been offering both since 1969. Start with broth-based Rhode Island clam chowder and puffy clam cakes. Then move on to a plate of deep-fried clams or calamari. For those feeling adventurous, there’s lobster chow mein, an Evelyn’s original. Sunsets on the water are a better finale than dessert. evelynsdrivein.com

RHODE ISLAND CLASSIC LODGING

FAMILY RESORT
Newport Harbor Island Resort, Newport

Newport’s most prominent hotel has lived several lives, and it’s being reborn again this year thanks to a $50 million makeover that showcases local artists. Rooms and public spaces are freshly dressed in organic materials and a subdued, floral-inspired color palette. You’ll also find a newly launched restaurant that recalls Goat Island’s past as a center for manufacturing torpedoes for the U.S. Navy—helping to restore a sense of place to a resort that’s just a short bridge away from one of America’s most historic seaports. newportharborisland.com

GRAND HOTEL
Ocean House, Watch Hill

There will always be echoes of 1868 at this lemon drop–colored Victorian overlooking the tumbling sea. But since the historic hotel was rebuilt in 2010, it’s achieved a level of modern luxury unequaled in New England. Yes, it costs a pretty penny to stay, particularly during the summer high season, when beach cabanas, yachting adventures, and rounds of croquet are on offer. But you don’t need a room key to nab a table on the veranda for drinks and local oysters. Just toss on a swishy sundress or crisp slacks, and go live the life. oceanhouseri.com

HISTORIC INN
General Stanton Inn, Charlestown

After nearly three centuries of feeding and sheltering travelers along the Boston Post Road—including George Washington and some other guests who supposedly stuck around as ghosts—the General Stanton Inn was feeling its age by the time history-loving husband-and-wife team David and Jackie Moore bought the landmark. Before reopening in 2022, they trimmed down to 14 guest rooms and added niceties like air conditioning and private baths while retaining ceiling beams and other 18th-century elements. The attached tavern, refocused on locally sourced seafood, was named a top South County restaurant within a year of its debut. thegeneralstantoninn.com

RHODE ISLAND CLASSIC ACTIVITIES

BEACH
Misquamicut Beach, Westerly

Three miles of soft sand and a moderate offshore break for bodysurfing are the draws: Many ocean lovers take up residence for a night, week, or month in modest oceanfront hotels and vacation rentals within a wagon tote of the shore. Seafood restaurants, beach bars, and music venues like the Windjammer and Paddy’s, plus an old-school amusement park, round out the quirky scene, along with a full calendar of events that includes drive-in movies, classic car shows, a free concert series, and full-blown festivals to open and close the summer season. misquamicut.org

FREE ATTRACTION
WaterFire, Providence

The Capital Center district has literally grown up around WaterFire since Barnaby Evans staged his first fiery art installation 30 years ago. Providence Place Mall, residential high-rises, and restaurants have risen along the rivers and cove basin where dozens of bonfires flicker on select “lighting” nights, accompanied by an ethereal musical score. There’s no charge to immerse yourself in the romance of it, but you may want to splurge on a tour by gondola or flat-bottomed boat, or support local food and craft vendors. waterfire.org

HISTORIC STROLL
North Burial Ground, Providence

For more than 300 years, thousands of people from all walks of life have been interred at this 110-acre resting place set in the undulating hills north of downtown Providence. There are dozens of pathways meandering through the grounds, ideal for invigorating, enlightening strolls among a vast array of tombstones and other monuments. Events and tours occur throughout the year, bringing a hallowed public property to life and stirring inspiration from those who came before us. providenceri.gov/parks/north-burial-ground

2024 Best of Rhode Island: New & Buzzy

RHODE ISLAND NEW & BUZZY DINING

BAR
Myrtle, East Providence

This funky neighborhood bar opened its doors last fall and has been a godsend to locals and out-of-towners alike. Myrtle is equal parts watering hole, music venue, and thrift shop—all passions of the owners, who blend the three businesses under one roof. The bar specializes in serving locally made spirits and Portuguese wines; there is live jazz, rock, or folk music nearly every night; and a side room is loaded with vintage garb for sale. givemyrtle.com

COFFEE HOUSE
Audrey’s Coffee House and Lounge, South Kingstown

Check out Audrey’s if you like your latte served with a side of romance and reality TV. Owners Jared Haibon (a Rhode Island native) and Ashley Iaconetti (who has 1.2 million Instagram followers) met on season 2 of Bachelor in Paradise, fell in love, married, had kids, and opened Audrey’s together in 2021. As you might expect, the branding, social media, and viewing-party game at this bright and inviting gathering space are all on point, but you don’t have to be a celebrity stalker to appreciate the big menu of hot and cold coffee drinks, served alongside breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Evening’s “After the Final Rose” menu features cocktails, charcuterie, and flatbreads. audreysri.com

DELI
Maven’s Delicatessen, Pawtucket

This newcomer wows with authentic Jewish food and a true deli atmosphere. The long, cavernous room is lined on one side with tables and booths for noshing and on the other by a deli counter stocked with meats, salads, and baked goods, including bialys and several types of bagels. The cured corned beef and pastrami, latkes, matzo ball soup, and homemade kugel complete the full-on New York–style deli experience. mavensdeli.com

FRENCH POLYNESIAN
The Kitchen @ Surf Shack, Narragansett

A native of Côte d’Ivoire and graduate of Rhode Island’s own Johnson & Wales culinary school, chef Momo Camara has burst onto the scene with a sneakily sophisticated menu that’s not what you would expect at a beach shack that’s also a six-room B&B. As you sip a frothy purple cocktail (that’s ube extract giving the coconut cream and tequila a summery hue), agree to share an assortment of small and main plates with your surfboard-shaped-table mates. Polynesian-inspired head-on prawns, local clams tossed with udon noodles and spicy Szechuan chili sauce, and a Japanese take on mussels frites are a good place to start. surfshacknarragansett.com

RHODE ISLAND NEW & BUZZY LODGING

VINEYARD B&B
Shepherd’s Run, South Kingstown

Wake gently with the sun, and find breakfast bites almost too pretty to eat. Stretch by swimming laps or in yoga class. Wander through a walled garden or among the vines. Order a charcuterie tower and a flight of estate wines. Retreat to the softness of your room for a snooze. If it all sounds like a Tuscan villa escape, you’re not wrong (just about 4,000 miles off). This winery and 26-room destination inn awaits in South County, where beaches and seafood beckon, too. Stay in the gracious stone manor or in contemporary rooms fashioned out of a former girls’ boarding school. shepherds.run

RHODE ISLAND NEW & BUZZY ACTIVITIES

FAMILY ATTRACTION
Dragons & Mythical Creatures, Providence

This spring and summer, Roger Williams Park Zoo will be home to an amazing display of life-size animatronic creatures from myths around the world. Dragons from European and Asian folklore, as well as mermaids, squidlike krakens from Scandinavia, and other legendary creatures, come to life in this walk-through exhibit containing more than 60 luminescent beings. Step right up, buy a ticket (zoo admission not included), and prepare to be wowed by this entertaining, limited-run experience. rwpzoo.org/dragons

GROWN-UP FUN
Level99, Providence

This isn’t some ’80s shopping mall arcade. Located atop the Providence Place Mall, Level99 is an escape room on steroids with 50 teamwork-oriented mental and physical challenges with distinct themes. The difficulty level is set just high enough to keep you coming back until you solve them all. Some are straight brainteasers, while others include elements of ropes courses and obstacle course races, such as dodging a swinging set of cartoony giant axes. The biggest surprise? Excellent food and local beer at Night Shift Kitchen & Tap, including some of the best Detroit-style pizza east of the Motor City. (In Massachusetts? There’s a Level99 at the Natick Mall.) level99.com

MUSIC VENUE
In Your Ear, Warren

Owner Chris Zingg’s record store, founded in Providence in 1985 and relocated to Warren’s Market Street in 2008, is still a hit with audiophiles. Bin divers now have a second vast collection of new, used, and collectible LPs and CDs to browse at the new In Your Ear on Child Street, where there’s also a bar and restaurant offering live music and, when bands aren’t playing, a chance to spin your newly acquired vinyl on the sound system. A pending 180-seat theater promises to add to the aural ecstasy. iye.com

PUBLIC ART
Trolls at Ninigret Park, Charlestown

Famed Danish artist and environmentalist Thomas Dambo is set to install two of his beloved troll sculptures in scenic Ninigret Park just in time for summer visitors. These much-larger-than-life figures bring a sense of whimsy and wonder to Rhode Island for all to see, free of charge, anytime the park is open. Dambo makes his sculptures out of reclaimed natural materials and uses local volunteers to help build them and give them local character. southcountyri.com

2024 Spotlight: Summer Weekend in Newport, Rhode Island | Travel Guide

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MASSACHUSETTS CLASSIC DINING

BYOB RESTAURANT
Black-Eyed Susan’s, Nantucket

The glass rental fee is steep, so BYOG in addition to toting your favorite bottle of vino to this island restaurant, beloved for more than 30 years. Devotees who spent all of 2022 fearing for the intimate eatery’s life were delighted to reclaim their patio tables and stools overlooking the open kitchen when experienced new owners (Orla and Michael LaScola of The Proprietors) reopened the doors last summer. Chef Todd Edwards is back in the saddle, resurrecting favorites like tuna tartare while interjecting dishes that marry local seafood with flavors from afar. blackeyedsusansnantucket.com

COCKTAILS
The Baldwin Bar/The Baldwin & Sons Trading Co., Woburn

You can’t swing a bar spoon in Boston these days without hitting a Ran Duan project. Just since 2018, the superstar mixologist has launched Blossom Bar and Ivory Pearl, both in Brookline, and Birds of Paradise in Brighton—each uniquely themed, all quickly acclaimed. But his creative roots lie in the ’burbs, where a 20-something Duan first gave his parents’ Sichuan restaurant a creative spin on the classic tiki lounge (the Baldwin Bar), then took things to the literal next level with a more refined second-floor bar (the Baldwin & Sons Trading Co.). Whether you opt for the freshest of tropical libations downstairs or the clever, cutting-edge creations upstairs, rest assured you’re catching Duan’s original buzz. thebaldwinbar.com

FRIED CLAMS
Woodman’s of Essex, Essex

This 110-year-old restaurant makes a very credible claim as the birthplace of the fried clam, so you know where to start your order. But don’t stop there. The clam chowder is terrific, and you can’t go wrong with the Down River Combo (a mix of fried clams, shrimp, scallops, and fish). There’s also an extensive menu of food made to be gluten-free—a process the kitchen takes very seriously. woodmans.com

LIVE-MUSIC RESTAURANT
The Dream Away Lodge, Becket

After a period of closure and uncertainty, a rollicking farmhouse at the edge of a deep woods is once again adding to its musical legend. Made famous when Bob Dylan and pals Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, and Allen Ginsberg stumbled upon it in 1975, the Depression-era brothel and speakeasy that Mama Maria Frasca transformed into the Dream Away is everything that faithful fans recall from their twisted-road travels to its front-porch door. The bar is a psychedelic light show; dinner is an eye-popping display of local Berkshires bounty. Polish off dessert in time to nab a cushion or couch seat in the living room, where the evening’s talent might be a local combo, a literary voice, a touring recording artist, or even Arlo’s daughters. thedreamawaylodge.com

MASSACHUSETTS CLASSIC LODGING

BOUTIQUE HOTEL
The Porches Inn at Mass MoCA, North Adams

In a region prized for its arts scene, the Porches Inn drops you smack-dab in the middle of it. Its 47 guest rooms are located in a cluster of artfully converted Victorian row houses across from contemporary art colossus Mass MoCA, which opened 25 years ago. Inn guests can score two free tickets to the museum or to the Clark Art Institute, which is just a short drive from the heralded Williams College Museum of Art. Back at your home away from home, amenities are at your fingertips, including a generous breakfast spread to start your day and a luxurious sauna and pool to help you finish it. porches.com

HAUNTED HOTEL
Hawthorne Hotel, Salem

At nearly a century old and gracious as ever, the Hawthorne Hotel is the perfect home base during visits to Witch City all year, not just at Halloween, thanks to its location right downtown. Just be sure to keep your eyes and ears alert for things that go bump in the night: The hotel is rumored to be haunted. (Your pet can come along to protect you.) hawthornehotel.com

HISTORIC INN
Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, Sudbury

There are no TVs in the guest rooms, but who needs them? The History Channel’s prime-time lineup pales next to the immersive thrills of America’s oldest continuously operating inn, opened in 1716. Depending on when you go, you may see locals in breeches and tricornes practicing their musket skills; meanwhile, a replica of an 18th-century grist mill churns out vintage photo ops as well as flour for the inn’s baked treats. The two oldest of the 10 rooms look much as they would have a few centuries ago—good enough for the inn’s purported ghost, apparently. With its wood-beamed ceiling and expansive fireplace, the 1707 Old Bar is the place to order a “Coow Woow” (purported to be the fledgling nation’s first cocktail) and drink it all in. wayside.org/dine-stay

SEASIDE RESORT
Wequassett Resort & Golf Club, Harwich

At just a year shy of its 100th birthday, Cape Cod’s premier beach, pool, and golf resort is showing off new tricks under new ownership. This was the first winter season the property did not shutter, bolstering the Cape’s efforts to sustain a year-round workforce and tourism economy. We have to admit, though: Summer’s still the time to experience this magical spot on Pleasant Bay at the crest of its energy and elegance. Between morning walks and evening s’mores, there’s a daily menu of curated activities with a real sense of place. Grab a pastry to go at The Sill, a new bakery inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s penchant for swiping pies from neighbors’ windowsills. Go clamming or fishing. Sip wine on a sunset sail. Dine indoors or out on beautifully plated seafood at Twenty-Eight Atlantic. You’ll sleep knowing you’ve made the absolute most of your Cape getaway. wequassett.com

MASSACHUSETTS CLASSIC ATTRACTIONS

CANDY STORE
Richardson’s Candy Kitchen, Deerfield

Celebrating 70 years, Richardson’s makes the kid inside everyone squeal, regardless of actual age. Purveyors of original-recipe fudge and nostalgia-loaded penny candy like malt balls, spearmint leaves, sour belts, butter rum sticks, and Dad’s root beer barrels, they’re best known for handmade chocolates such as a dozen varieties of nut-studded dixies (many folks would call them turtles) and, in June, chocolate-dipped strawberries. richardsonscandy.com

CONCERT VENUE
Tanglewood, Lenox

If classical music were a sport, the Boston Symphony Orchestra would be hanging championship banners from the rafters of the Koussevitzky Music Shed, the main open-air venue at the orchestra’s summer home in the Berkshires. Purchase a lawn pass book, and it brings the cost of seeing 11 concerts down to just $22 apiece. Lawn tickets for most orchestral concerts are free for children under 18, making this the ideal place to show young students who’ve just picked up an instrument at school where practice and dedication can take them. This year, the BSO will honor Tanglewood founder Serge Koussevitzky’s 150th birthday, but it’ll be James Taylor’s 50th anniversary of performances at the venue that will fill every inch of the lawn with picnicking 3rd and 4th of July revelers. Once you’ve experienced a concert under the sun or stars in this glorious green setting, it will become your own annual tradition. tanglewood.org

FACTORY TOUR
Old Schwamb Mill, Arlington

Since 1864, the wood turners in this unassuming red clapboard building have crafted exquisite oval and circular picture frames, which today can be found in major museums the world over and in prestigious collections at Buckingham Palace, the White House, the Vatican, and the like. Located on the oldest continuously operating mill site in the country, Old Schwamb has served dual purpose as a living history museum since 1970. It hosts a diverse lineup of exhibitions and is open for free tours (donations accepted) and shopping on Tuesdays and Saturdays. oldschwambmill.org

FREE FAMILY FUN
Harvard Alpaca Ranch, Harvard

Load everybody up for a country-roads drive to this sweet farm. You’ll pet the herd and hear these gentle animals’ cute humming on a free tour with a knowledgeable guide. Advance reservations and donations are appreciated, as are purchases. The soft goods in the Alpaca Shop—everything from socks to yarns to stuffed animals—are touchably irresistible. harvardalpacaranch.com

2024 Best of Massachusetts: New & Buzzy

MASSACHUSETTS NEW & BUZZY DINING

CHEAP EATS
Rubato HK Café, Quincy

Newly minted James Beard Award semifinalist Laurence Louie offers a taste of modern Hong Kong. The fun, mostly small-bites menu features fluffy bolo baos (sweet buns) stuffed with fried chicken or barbecued pork, stuffed French bread with condensed milk and cookie crumbs, congee, and a terrific baked pork chop with tomato sauce and fried rice. rubato-food.com

FARM STAND
The Farmstead Creamery at High Lawn Farm, Lee

Part farm store (you can buy fresh milk and cheese), part food boutique (pick up locally made charcuterie, bread, honey, and jams), and part scoop shop (the homemade ice cream is some of the best in New England), the Farmstead Creamery is our dream of a country store. Browse the shelves, then enjoy a cone at a picnic table while taking in the view of pasture, rolling hills, and the farm’s signature hexagonal clock tower. highlawnfarm.com

JEWISH/MIDDLE EASTERN
Lehrhaus, Somerville

This welcoming tavern serves modern takes on Jewish foods from across the diaspora—and offers classes on everything from Jewish sci-fi and fantasy to Hebrew calligraphy. With chef Michael Leviton in the kitchen, the menu is a delightful mix of mac-and-cheese kugel, bourekas (savory pastries), smoked fish spreads, and terrific fish-and-chips. lehr.haus

TASTING MENU
Nightshade Noodle Bar, Lynn

Chef-owner Rachel Miller has kept her restaurant small, focused (it’s tasting menu–only, though you can choose the number of courses), and consistently noteworthy since opening just before the pandemic. Miller takes her inspiration from French and Vietnamese cuisine, with an emphasis on seafood and noodle dishes, but that can mean shrimp toast with white sesame, Cajun shrimp bisque, or handmade noodles with caramelized garlic sauce. nightshadenoodlebar.com

WATER-VIEW DINING
The Homeport Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Menemsha

Long beloved for its stunning sunset views, the Homeport has found new life in the hands of seasoned restaurateur Seth Woods. Try the steamed mussels with coconut and ginger, the bass and clam chowder, the stuffed quahogs, or the seared scallops. Or let them prepare a takeaway clambake with all the fixings. thehomeportmv.com

MASSACHUSETTS NEW & BUZZY LODGING

BERKSHIRES B&B
Granville House, Great Barrington

When a great chef is told, “Just make what you’d like,” it can yield delights that the diner never thought of. In the same way, Granville House (opened in 2020 by two former New York restaurant pros, as it happens) feels like an irresistible expression of what owners Terry and Terri Coughlin like best. Classic vinyl records, from Nina Simone to the Sex Pistols. Eclectic stacks of food, music, and art books. A sassy mix of vintage and modern decor, with nods to Terry’s travels in Italy and highlights from his autograph collection (yes, that’s a Star Wars lunch box signed by Mark Hamill). All set in a renovated 1825 house, this is as personal—and memorable—as a B&B gets. granvillehouseinn.com

COASTAL STAY
Addison Choate, Rockport

Watch one video @addisonchoate on TikTok or Instagram, and you’ll already know that overnighting at this coastal B&B will be a playful treat. Marshall and Courtney Tulley have styled common spaces and seven rooms—including the two-floor Dog Watch suite with its pine floors, pops of turquoise and coral, and full kitchen—to wake up your imagination. After a bagged breakfast on the porch, you’ll be all fired up for the short walk to Bearskin Neck with your easel and paints or to Shalin Liu for a concert with an ocean view. addisonchoate.com

RESORT
Margaritaville Resort Cape Cod, Hyannis

Jimmy Buffett was no stranger to Cape Cod—the late singer name-dropped Buzzards Bay in his 1979 song “Volcano”—and this summer his Margaritaville Resorts brand puts its toes in New England sand. The former Cape Codder Resort, which already boasts a popular indoor water park, is getting a $30 million makeover for this summer’s reopening. The 272-room hotel will feature dining outlets such as the LandShark Bar & Grill and 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar. And plenty of palm trees, plus Cape-inspired artwork and decor. Fins up! margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-resort-cape-cod

MASSACHUSETTS NEW & BUZZY ACTIVITIES

CHEAP THRILL
Gillette Stadium Lighthouse Experience, Foxborough

How much would you pay to ascend the tallest lighthouse in America? What if the 22-story elevator ride also came with digital photos of your crew from two angles once you reached the 360-degree observation deck? Plus views of forested hills (particularly pretty in the fall), two city skylines (Providence and Boston), and the hallowed field where the Patriots play? The newest attraction at Gillette Stadium is definitely worth a fiver. Your kids 10 and under can join you for free. patriot-place.com/lighthouse

CITY VIEWS
View Boston, Boston

You’re not among the clouds, but you’re close when you ascend to the Prudential Tower’s 52nd floor, a completely reimagined use of the once-famed Top of the Hub restaurant and the two levels below it. The resulting $182 million overhaul is View Boston, an observatory, open-air terrace, and immersive virtual tour that whisks visitors through the city’s nearly two dozen neighborhoods. The on-site bar and restaurant, Stratus, will keep you looking and lingering, while metal sculptures made in partnership with the Perkins School for the Blind are designed to be touched, allowing those with visual impairments to experience the same landmarks the observatory overlooks. viewboston.com

HISTORY MUSEUM
American Heritage Museum, Hudson

The ground shudders; artillery blasts. You’re in a World War I trench, and this next-level-immersive museum is about to spark gratitude in your heart for those who have fought for Americans’ freedoms, from the Revolution through today. Opened in 2019, the 66,000-square-foot facility was designed to house Jacques M. Littlefield’s collection of massive armored vehicles, yet stories told by Vietnam POWs make an even bigger impression. For a premium, you can ride in a World War II–era tank or even learn to take the controls. americanheritagemuseum.org

IMMERSIVE ART MUSEUM
WNDR Boston, Boston

You know the rules when it comes to museums: Don’t touch the work. Unless you’re touring WNDR, a fully interactive space opened this year that beautifully marries art and technology. WNDR’s sister locales include Chicago and San Diego, but its Downtown Crossing home is its largest, and its immersive exhibits—from an infinity mirror room to a rolling simulated thunderstorm (you can leave your rain jacket at home)—offer up sensory experiences you won’t find at more traditional institutions. Watch for monthly WNDR After Dark events that add drinks and tunes to the mix. wndrmuseum.com

LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Samuel Slater Experience, Webster

If you haven’t heard of the man for whom this new historic attraction is named, you’re in for quite the introduction to the traitor-hero. Opened in 2022, this museum has artifacts, sure. But as you journey across the Atlantic with Slater, who smuggled secrets that launched America’s Industrial Revolution, it’s the multisensory effects that will wow you. Get ready to talk to holograms, hear the sounds of a re-created textile mill, design your own fabrics (maybe even register for a weaving course), and board a trolley for a virtual ride down Main Street in 1910, when Webster was a boomtown thanks to the Slater-built mills’ wild success. samuelslaterexperience.org

NOSTALGIC RIDE
Salisbury Beach Carousel, Salisbury

There was a time when no self-respecting New England beach town was complete without a merry-go-round, and a carousel is once again an essential part of Salisbury’s summer allure. Housed in a classically designed post-and-beam pavilion that was opened in 2023, the 1909 Looff-Mangels carousel—the town’s first since its original was sold off in the 1970s—enchants a new generation of sand-encrusted kids with 44 hand-carved horses; whimsical interlopers like goats, giraffes, and a zebra; and a pair of ornate chariots that accommodate riders with mobility limits. Rides are $4. Kiddos shorter than 42 inches ride free with an adult. salisburybeachcarousel.org

PLACE TO WALK
Moraine Farm, Beverly

In 1880, the famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted transformed 275 acres of worn-out farmland and a ridge of rocky glacial debris into a beautiful landscape of natural woodlands, ponds, meadows, and wetlands enhanced with carriage roads, hiking paths, lawns, and stone walls and terraces. Thanks to a recent acquisition by The Trustees, the core 76 acres of the former gentleman’s farm will open to the public in time for summer. Highlights also include connecting trails to the neighboring J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve, community gardens, and views of the Tea House and other elegant buildings composing the Estate at Moraine Farm, a popular wedding venue. thetrustees.org/place/moraine-farm

2024 Spotlight: Summer Weekend in Boston | Travel Guide

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NEW HAMPSHIRE CLASSIC DINING

AMERICAN
Pickity Place, Mason

A real 18th-century house, Pickity Place is reminiscent of the grandmother’s house in “Little Red Riding Hood”: somehow enchanted, sprinkled with magic dust, and with an ancient ash tree out front that adds just the right touch of fairy-tale foreboding. Illustrator Elizabeth Orton Jones, a longtime Mason resident, used the house as a model for her artwork in the 1948 Golden Book retelling of the story. Today it is a hot spot for gardeners, foodies, and anyone looking for inspiration and relaxation. There’s a gift shop, a gourmet restaurant, Old English gardens with brick paths perfect for exploring, and an herb shop in a rustic barn. Not to worry, though, the Big Bad Wolf is occupied elsewhere. pickityplace.com

SEAFOOD
Petey’s Summertime Seafood & Bar, Rye

Founded in 1990 by Petey Aikens Jr., this seaside staple has operated at its current Ocean Boulevard location for nearly a quarter century, serving steamed, broiled, and fried seafood in a casual setting. Nothing fancy here—you’ll be eating that cup of clam chowder in a paper bowl with a plastic spoon. (We recommend sitting at the bar.) Don’t be fooled by the “Summertime” in the name, as Petey’s is open year-round. It also ships fresh lobsters, steamers, mussels, and lobster meat “anywhere you want.” peteys.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE CLASSIC LODGING

MOUNTAIN VIEWS
Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods

While this historic hotel touts all the luxury you would expect from a world-class resort, its most prized attribute is its location. The simple pleasure of sitting on the hotel’s back porch and gazing at the Presidential Range—after a brisk hike at Arethusa Falls, say—trumps all the other amenities. In the summer, those include gondola rides, golf, horseback riding, mountain biking, and ziplining. omnihotels.com/hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington

RESORT
The NASWA Resort, Laconia

The Makris family has been hosting visitors on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee since 1935. Steeped in bright, rustic charm, their resort invites you to unplug from your busy life for a relaxing summer stay. Rooms, suites, and cottages offer private balconies, lake views, and wake-up service. Some are even pet-friendly. Amenities with local flair include a dock space for you to BYO boat, a private beach, kayaks and paddleboards, a bistro, and the “world-famous” NazBar & Grill, so a refreshing cold beer or tasty boat drink is never out of reach. Experience a piece of history and know that no matter if it’s your first visit or your 10th, you’ll always be treated like family. naswa.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE CLASSIC ACTIVITIES

BIKE TRAIL
Piscataquog Trail and Goffstown Rail Trail, Manchester and Goffstown

Take this 15-mile round-trip ride from Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester for an urban bike trek that crosses the Merrimack River on the east side and heads west toward Goffstown. You’ll pedal through tree-lined neighborhoods along the Piscataquog River and spy boaters gathering along the shores of Glen Lake. The trail ends at Goffstown, where restaurants like the Village Trestle will welcome you to refill your water bottle and stay for lunch (and a cold beverage) before your return trip. nhrtc.org

FAMILY ATTRACTION
Polar Caves, Rumney

Formed during the last Ice Age, the Polar Caves take you on a thrilling adventure into the distant past. There are nine granite caves to explore, each formed by boulders that were deposited by glaciers hundreds of thousands of years ago. The negative space left between boulders formed exciting passageways that are ready for you and your family to explore. Follow designated walkways through the illuminated caves, and don’t miss the animal park (even though there are no polar bears). polarcaves.com

HIKE
Mount Osceola, Grafton County

Named for an early-19th-century Seminole leader, this 4,340-foot peak near Waterville Valley offers a 6.2-mile round-trip trek with moderate difficulty for hikers of all ages and abilities. The popular trail is easy to access from I-93 at Tripoli Road in the south or from the Greeley Pond Trail northeast of the mountain. We recommend a post-hike celebratory beverage and bite at Gypsy Café in Lincoln. visitwatervillevalley.com/hikes/mount-osceola

MUSIC VENUE
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach

When Elvis Costello played the Casino Ballroom last summer, he made note of the iconic artists who have performed there over the past century, some of whose images adorn the walls, including Duke Ellington, Led Zeppelin, and U2. The venue along the Hampton Beach boardwalk books marquee musical acts like Joe Bonamassa and Bonnie Raitt and top-shelf comedians like Pete Davidson (all appearing this summer). casinoballroom.com

RAIL ADVENTURE
Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroads, Lincoln, Meredith, and Weirs Beach

During the 1880s, wealthy sightseers from Worcester, Lowell, and beyond took the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad to reach the White Mountains and their grand hotels in elegant fashion. The tradition continues with scenic rides along Lake Winnipesaukee and the Pemigewasset River. The Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroads system offers excursions from stations in Meredith, Weirs Beach, and Lincoln. Experience a taste of old New Hampshire aboard restored vintage cars and revel in the splendor of the changing seasons. Or, skip the trains and ride the rails yourself on a rail bike adventure tour. hoborr.com

2024 Best of New Hampshire: New & Buzzy

NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW & BUZZY DINING

AFRICAN
Maddy’s Food Hub, Concord

Warm aromas of jerk chicken intermingle with those of jollof rice (a flavor bomb of rice, tomatoes, chilies, and spices) in this authentic African restaurant, where Patty Sabol conjures East and West African cuisines. Savory combos of fried plantains and tender curried goat drift by. Whitefish draped with onions and peppers vies with African barbecue spareribs. The spices in the beans with snapper crackle with flavor. But that orange patty of jollof rice is like transport to other worlds. maddyfoodhub.com

BAKERY
Flag Leaf Bakery, Antrim

If the line snaking down the sidewalk isn’t hint enough, the relieved looks on those leaving with their aromatic bags is full testament to the power of masterful baking. Cheesy pull-aparts break into fragrant, buttery cloves; swirls of cruffins are dusted in sugar and plumped with Earl Grey pastry cream. Hearty whole-grain hearth loaves, including sourdough with cracked pepper and Parmesan, jostle alongside croissants, bialys, and jalapeño popper Danishes. Prepare to gain a pound on entry. Open Friday/Saturday. flagleafbakery.com

BISTRO
Muse Bistro, Keene

Sometimes you just need to sink onto a midcentury-modernish sofa strategically located on the sidewalk outside a stylish boîte serving tasty tapas. When that happens, you’ll be sorely tempted to order an icy sangria and pair it with crunchy fried goat-cheese croquetas, or a dish of citrus-garlic marinated olives, while watching the life of a college town stroll by. There are full-blown meals, too, served outside or in, like the Benten’s Bowl (a medley of seared ahi, radish, and cold soba noodles) and the barbacoa slow-roasted beef taco with lime crema. musekeene.com

ICE CREAM
Super Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem

It’s no secret we New Englanders love our ice cream, but we also love the unpredictable. This farm-to-cone discovery blends local cream with ingredients that read like poetry for the taste buds: cranberry gingersnap, coffee cardamom, Meyer lemonade pistachio, “swirly strawberry jam jam.” The “tiny batch made from scratch” ethos guarantees satisfaction. The ice cream flight of six cuts down on decision-making. A 2024 James Beard Awards semifinalist nod is the cherry on top. supersecreticecream.com

LOCAVORE SPOT
Rambling House Food & Gathering, Nashua

From the outside, this family-owned enterprise looks like a tiny Irish pub. Inside, time and space expand, with views of the Nashua River and its mill buildings. Nesting-doll style, there’s more to unpack. Four levels feature a craft brewery, a tasting loft, a cocktail bar, dining rooms, outdoor decks, and hearty dining options, like a starter of local mussels cooked in hard cider…a rugged shepherd’s pie oozing lamb and veggies from the family’s own Claddagh Hill Farm…a vegan stuffed acorn squash that’s a picnic in a gourd. All with brews that live up to the promise of that tiny pub storefront. ramblingtale.com

SPEAKEASY
CrowBar Hardware Store, Claremont

Remember the good old days of speakeasies? Of course you don’t, but the allure of past forbidden things reaches out irresistibly from behind boarded-up windows. “We will not confirm or deny that this location serves craft cocktails with an amazing menu,” states the CrowBar’s Facebook page. This “not” hardware store is an open secret—a switch and a bell gain you entrance to the glamorous retreat plucked from the Prohibition era. The vibe is Roaring Twenties; the crafted cocktails are anything but dated. Duck in for a citrusy French Blonde; stay for some local charcuterie. Facebook

NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW & BUZZY LODGING

BOUTIQUE HOTEL
The Artisan Hotel at Tuscan Village, Salem

Walking paths, firepits, a luxury outdoor pool, and a rooftop bar are all on offer at this sleek, 165-room boutique hotel, where guests can also duck into the on-site Tuscan Kitchen restaurant or the Caffé Artisan espresso bar. The surrounding Tuscan Village offers pedestrian-centric shopping, a lively beer garden, and La Scuola Culinaria, a cooking school where Mary Ann Esposito filmed the 30th season of Ciao Italia. Dabble in pasta-making, craft a cocktail, take your kids to pizza class. Seabiscuit ran here in 1935, when the 170-acre property was Rockingham Park, the legendary racecourse. A winner. theartisanhotelattuscanvillage.com

INDEPENDENT HOTEL
The Davenport Inn, Portsmouth

If the Davenport offered time-traveling tours of Portsmouth—the state’s first capital—it would whisk us back to its 1758 origins and the heyday of seafaring antics. Built by wealthy merchants, the handsome building at various times housed a silversmith and a boarding house, and it was the governor’s headquarters during the War of 1812. It wears its antiquity well, with a newly renovated layer of modern luxury. It is also happily berthed at the heart of this captivating city, not far from the Piscataqua River and all that history. thedavenportinn.com

GLAMPING SPOT
Alpine Garden Village and Winery, Bartlett

White Mountains, check. Hobbit houses, cabins, and treehouses, check. Handcrafted? Of course. Romantic? Off the charts. An on-site winery and a heated pool? Yes, please. This is glamping but at its tip-top best, redolent with charm. Owls hoot. Hiking and biking trails abound. The Conway Scenic Railroad chugs by. You’re in a cradle of scenery, where beauty comes to be born. alpinegardenglamping.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW & BUZZY ACTIVITIES

FAMILY ATTRACTION
Living Shores Aquarium, Glen

Who wouldn’t want to touch a stingray, explore tidepools, and marvel at otters? Next door to Story Land—that perennial favorite—this indoor year-round aquarium brings nature and its sea wonders to interactive life, with an emphasis on family fun and education. Opened in 2019, it is the state’s first aquarium, constantly morphing as new exhibits are added. livingshores.com

MAPLE EXPERIENCE
The Maple Station Market, Temple

If there is such a thing as a maple whisperer, it’s Ben Fisk. A fifth-generation sugarmaker, Fisk was 5 when he became obsessed with making syrup, winning Best in State when he was 15. His newly opened Maple Station—a 16,000-square-foot wooden-beamed emporium—offers shelves laden with Fisk’s own syrup, and treats made with his syrup including cotton candy, popcorn, and barbecue sauce. Other maple offerings run the gamut from Sudsy Cow Maple Cream soap to Vintage Maine Maple potato chips and Sap! maple seltzer. Don’t miss the fresh maple doughnuts—perfect halos dusted in sugar, still warm, the stuff of maple dreams. bensmaplesyrup.com

2024 Spotlight: Summer Weekend in the New Hampshire Lakes Region

The post 2024 New Hampshire Travel Guide | Best Restaurants, Hotels, & Things to Do appeared first on New England.

After you’ve gotten the bird’s-eye-view of our 2024 “Best Places to Live” towns, discover our editors’ picks for the best places to eat and things to do while you’re in New England.

Warren, RI: Up-and-Coming Food Town

Taste It: If we have to pick just one of Warren’s many worthy dining options, it’s Bywater, for its spicy crab pasta, $1 oyster nights, and fine aperitivo cocktails. bywaterrestaurant.com

Try It: Get your hands dirty at Mudstone Studios, where you can learn pottery skills like wheel throwing and hand building. Pet lovers can learn to sculpt animal portraits or make Fido’s food and water bowls. mudstonestudios.com

Inside Tip: Hope & Main hosts maker/farmers’ markets and community parties all year round, with live music, tasty bites, and drinks aplenty. makefoodyourbusiness.org

Resident Perk: A resident pass to the town beach is just $20 per year. townofwarren-ri.gov/town_government/departments/parks_and_recreation/warren_dog_park.php

North Conway, NH: Adventure Town

Taste It: Fuel up for the day at Frontside Coffee Roasters, then later enjoy live music, pizza, and beer at one of the state’s oldest microbreweries, Tuckerman, in Conway. frontsidecoffee.com; tuckermanbrewing.com

Try It: Have a pro from Cathedral Mountain Guides show you the ropes on a summer rock climb or an ascent of a frozen winter waterfall. cathedralmountainguides.com

Inside Tip: Just eight miles north of North Conway lies Jackson’s famous cross-country ski terrain, as well as the classic ski area Black Mountain, imbued with the region’s rich Alpine history. jacksonxc.org; blackmt.com

Resident Perk: When the White Mountain National Forest’s 1,200 miles of hiking trails is a backdrop to daily living, you can spend a lifetime exploring and never retrace your steps. fs.usda.gov/whitemountain

Marblehead, MA: Coastal Town

Taste It: The oyster appetizers at French/Mediterranean bistro 5 Corners Kitchen will keep you busy until the delectable cod with roasted cauliflower floats your way. 5cornerskitchen.com

Try It: There’s no better place to learn how to sail, either with the Marblehead rec department or private sailing schools. marblehead.org/harbors-waters/faq/how-can-i-learn-sail

Inside Tip: Climb the stairway to Old Burial Hill, the c. 1638 resting place of early residents, for stunning views of the harbor. oldburialhill.org

Resident Perk: Ice skating and pick-up hockey on frozen Redd’s Pond, the town’s former reservoir, make for a memorable winter day. marblehead.org/about-marblehead/pages/hidden-town-jewels

Manchester, VT: Culture Town

Taste It: Savor a vibrant little silo of salmon wrapped in spinach and phyllo at the Silver Fork, a tiny Caribbean/Euro-flavored boîte that’s been rated a top spot in the U.S. for date night. thesilverforkvt.com

Try It: In late spring, the garden at the historic Hildene estate is a riot of peonies waiting to be weeded by volunteers. Have a hankering for hawking instead? Raise your arm and sign up at Green Mountain Falconry School. hildene.org; greenmountainfalconryschool.com

Inside Tip: Orvis’s famous fly-fishing school offers free basic lessons. orvis.com

Resident Perk: Explore a shopping smorgasbord of high-end designer outlets, where Eileen Fisher rubs elbows with Ralph Lauren, and J. Crew nods to Armani. manchestervermont.com/shop

Brunswick, ME: College Town

Taste It: Ask any Bowdoin student for their favorite eatery, and chances are it’s Wild Oats Bakery and Café (especially popular: its vegetarian and vegan options). wildoatsbakery.com

Try It: Walk in the footsteps of Longfellow, Hawthorne, and Harriet Beecher Stowe on Bowdoin’s beautiful campus, then explore its hidden-gem Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum. bowdoin.edu

Inside Tip: Midcoast Maine growers congregate twice weekly from May to November on the town green; a Saturday winter farm market continues at the Fort Andross Mill Complex. brunswickfarmersmarket.com

Resident Perk: Bowdoin’s dining hall food is a perennial “best in the nation” winner, with cuisine from around the world and chef specials for students and local foodies alike. bowdoin.edu/campus-life/dining/index.html

Great Barrington, MA: Eco-Minded Town

Taste It: Prairie Whale owner Mark Firth raises pigs, sheep, and chickens, guaranteeing the provenance of such dishes as polenta with house-made sausage and poached egg. prairiewhale.com

Try It: Ski local at Ski Butternut, with 22 trails, tubing, a ski school, and $25 Friday passes. skibutternut.com

Inside Tip: The Berkshire International Film Festival takes over downtown for four days in early summer, but the BIFF is also a year-round resource that welcomes volunteers. biffma.org

Resident Perk: Your pick of Tanglewood (Lenox), summer home to the BSO; Jacob’s Pillow (Becket); and Berkshire Theatre Group (Stockbridge). Plus: music at Arlo Guthrie’s namesake center at the Old Trinity Church. bso.org; jacobspillow.org; berkshiretheatregroup.org; guthriecenter.org

Wickford, RI: Historic-Architecture Town

Taste It: Boats gliding to and from the marina set the scene at Wickford on the Water. Which to choose: the warm Wickford Lobster Roll or a taco packed with beer-battered fish, veggies, and mango salsa? wickfordonthewater.com

Try It: See those paddlers darting like minnows around the harbor? You can join them by renting a kayak or SUP from the Kayak Centre, which also offers tours and classes. kayakcentre.com

Inside Tip: Day-trippers can sail into town, tie up for a few hours, and stroll the tributaries of wobbly little streets that run, inevitably, down to the sea.

Resident Perk: A front-row seat to the Wickford Art Festival, the longest-running event of its kind in New England. wickfordart.org

Kent, CT: Remote-Work Town

Taste It: The Villager is the diner you want on your doorstep, where American and traditional Mexican fare merge and neighbors become friends. villagerkent.com

Try It: Sleep “aboard” a 19th-century baggage car turned cozy cottage. It’s one of the Kent Collection’s enchanting accommodations, perfect for overnighting while you scout real estate. kentcollection.com

Inside Tip: Philanthropist Anne Bass’s love for Kent, preservation efforts, and eye for natural beauty live on, particularly at Rock Cobble Farm. Find heirloom produce, flowers, plants, meats, and cheeses at its seasonal Community Farm Stand at Kent Barns. rockcobblefarm.com

Resident Perk: Like a scene from Gilmore Girls, town meetings here attract a crowd. Your voice will definitely be heard. townofkentct.org

St. Albans, VT: Revitalized Small City

Taste It: Born from a popular food truck, The Drake serves up a bounty of lunch and dinner options, craft cocktails, and local beers that, like the Main Street scene, will encourage you to linger. thedrakevt.com

Try It: Explore the grandeur of Lake Champlain with a pontoon boat rental from the St. Albans Bay Marina. stalbansbaymarina.com

Inside Tip: Discover a trove of books on Vermont history amid the 35,000 new, used, and rare titles at the Eloquent Page. theeloquentpage.com

Resident Perk: Locals get their swim on at the year-round City Pool at Hard’ack for half the entrance price that nonresidents pay. stalbansvt.myrec.com

Chester, CT: River Town

Taste It: The morning go-to is Simon’s Marketplace, a gourmet general store and central gathering spot. Come evening, order the melty cacio e pepe at Grano Arso, which raises comfort food to new heights. simonsmarketplace.net; granoct.com

Try It: Plunge into breezy Cedar Lake, just 2½ miles from downtown, or cast your line into Pattaconk Lake in Connecticut’s second-largest state forest, Cockaponset. chesterct.org/parks-recreation-commission/pages/parks; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Forests/Cockaponset-State-Forest

Inside Tip: Painter Leif Nilsson holds concerts in his Spring Street Studio & Gallery during winter; in summer, the music moves outside into his backyard. nilssonstudio.com

Resident Perk: Free music lessons, you say? Chester Fife & Drum Corps is always looking for more players to join its ranks. chesterct.org/about-chester/pages/chester-fife-drum-corps

Damariscotta, ME: Picture-Perfect Town

Taste It: Take a seat at Newcastle’s Shuck Station, and ask to taste the river. Some 80 percent of Maine’s oysters are grown in the clear, salty-sweet Damariscotta, and soon you’ll be served a dozen—three varieties—on crushed ice. theshuckstation.com

Try It: Register for Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust’s oyster gardening program, and learn to tend your own bivalves over the course of a two-year session. coastalrivers.org/oyster-gardening

Inside Tip: Furnish your place for a song at the Miles in Motion Thrift Shop. Deals are even wilder during summer’s third-Saturday rummage sales at the MMHL Drop-Off. facebook.com/mmhlthriftshop; mmhldropoff.com

Resident Perk: Enjoy The Lincoln County News home delivery for less than $4 a month, and know everything that’s happening (even this week’s divorces). lcnme.com

Exeter, NH: Walk-to-Everything Town

Taste It: At the casual cafe Laney & Lu, don’t miss the spiced-ginger-pear smoothie bowl. Meanwhile, hot-spot Otis features a five-course tasting menu, where a forkful of scallops is trimmed with fennel and orange. laneyandlu.com; otisrestaurant.com

Try It: Kayakers can launch into the Squamscott River from the town boat landing beside the Phillips Exeter boathouse.

Inside Tip: On Monday nights in July, Exeter blocks off the streets around the bandstand for concerts by one of the oldest brass bands in the country.

Resident Perk: In your backyard is the Louis I. Kahn–designed library on the Phillips Exeter campus, which is open to the public on select dates and draws architecture tourists from around the world. exeter.edu/academics/library/about 

The post 12 Best Places to Live in New England | Things to Eat, See, Do appeared first on New England.

With so many talented artists and creative, hardworking businesses in New England, it’s easy to simultaneously “shop local” and win at gift-giving this holiday season. Here are some of our editors’ favorite New England books, brands, and makers to consider.

AireCandleCo | Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Breathe easy and relax this holiday season with the help of hypo-allergenic, 100% beeswax candles. Made on Cape Cod, they come in heavenly scents like balsam fir, vanilla sage, and pumpkin pie, and give up to 50 hours of all-natural aroma.

Atlantic Soap Company | Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Discover the essence of Cape Cod with Atlantic Soap Company’s small-batch, handmade artisan soaps. Each beautiful bar has a custom bouquet of “scent notes,” and is made using locally sourced seawater and other quality ingredients like volcanic black sand, sea clay, and ocean-farmed sugar kelp.

Ben’s Sugar Shack | Temple, New Hampshire

Ben Fisk took a childhood interest in maple sugaring and turned it into sweet success with Ben’s Sugar Shack. Ben’s is one of New England’s top supplier of pure maple products, including syrup, candy, cream, and even cotton candy.

Mystic Knotwork | Mystic, Connecticut

Shop Mystic Knotwork for endless forms of classic nautical knotwork accessories and home decor, from bracelets and keychains to coasters and doormats.

Blake Hill Preserves | Grafton, Vermont

Offering “sweet, savory, spicy and jams for the modern pantry” from an English fruit preservatory in Vermont, Blake Hill Preserves is the award-winning source for mouthwatering jams, preserves, marmalades (and more!) in endless flavors and collections.

ChappyWrap | Maine

ChappyWrap may have started as a mother-daughter duo looking to recreate a beloved family blanket, but today the brand offers a large collection of reversible, washable woven blankets in multiple sizes – all featuring a plush, natural-cotton blend and a print for every style.

Cheap Old Houses: The Book

Fans of the popular Instagram feed and HGTV series of the same name will love this new book from founders Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein (a New England native). Brush up on what to know before for buying and restoring an historic house, and swoon over more than twenty home tours.

Farmhouse Pottery | Woodstock, Vermont

A modern heirloom pottery favorite for more than a decade, Farmhouse churns out authentically handmade pieces with something for everyone – from mugs, bowls, pitchers, and crocks to felted ornaments and thoughtfully curated gift sets.

Fat Toad Farm | Barre, Vermont

Handmade using a small-batch, traditional process, the award-winning goat’s milk caramel sauces from Fat Toad Farm come in eight luscious flavors, including original, salted bourbon, spicy dark chocolate, and cold brew coffee.

Frank Clegg | Fall River, Massachusetts

From a restored mill built in historic Fall River, Massachusetts, a team of specialized artisans handcraft some of the finest leather goods in America, including heirloom-quality belts, wallets, and bags ranging from versatile totes to handsome travel duffels.

The Golden Cod | Massachusetts

Pay tribute to New England’s cod fishing past with style. The Golden Cod works with local artists to create beautiful pendants, bracelets, crewnecks, and caps featuring the symbolic cod.

Ocean State Pepper Co. | Pawtucket, Rhode Island

A sampler set from Ocean State Pepper Co. is the perfect way to spice up a lucky someone’s life (or your own!). Each themed set contains five hand-blended seasonings for every kind of cook. Add the lighthouse pepper mill for an extra-special local touch.

Kiel James Patrick | Newport, Rhode Island

KJP is a year-round source for preppy New England-inspired apparel, jewelry, and accessories, but their line of bright and colorful holiday sweaters and tartan flannels have a timeless merry appeal that’s hard to resist.

Vineyard Vines | Stamford, Connecticut

With Martha’s Vineyard roots and a corporate headquarters in Connecticut, Vineyard Vines (marking 25 years in 2023) continues to be an iconic source of New England style, from sunny beach days to cozy fireside nights.

Figs & Ginger | Providence, Rhode Island

Along with a popular line of nature-inspired family and mother’s jewelry, Figs & Ginger makes beautiful vintage-style lockets and pendants in multiple sizes.

Lighthouse Keeper’s Pantry | Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Dream of beachy summer days on the Cape with the small-batch, locally-made pickles, jams, dressings, and sauces from Lighthouse Keepers Pantry. We love the unique flavors like cranberry ketchup, cranberry lime hot sauce, and citrus cinnamon blueberry jam.

Long Wharf Supply SeaWell Sweaters | Newburyport, Massachusetts

Shop sustainably when you support Long Wharf Supply, whose vintage-inspired SeaWell sweaters are made from recycled oyster shells and water bottles and support the reseeding of . With numerous styles to choose from (all named after New England’s historic maritime hubs, of course) there’s something to keep everyone on your shopping list cozy this winter.

MV Sea Salt | Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

A perfect stocking stuffer for the culinarian in your life, MV Sea Salt is hand-harvested from the pristine waters of Martha’s Vineyard and is “raw,” meaning it’s not dried at more than 115 degrees. The company refrains from using carbon fuels, instead using sustainable solar power, and the result is worth it – and sure to add a touch of coastal flavor to any dishes. 

Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

Gift a five-star escape for under $20 with this novel from New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand, whose tales of love, family, and secrets are always set against the backdrop of New England paradise. Or, better yet, snag tickets for the real Five Star Weekend at the Nantucket Hotel this January, which includes a full itinerary based on the novel and a special guest appearance by Hilderbrand herself.

Coastal Brahmin | Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Anyone missing summer will love this collection of Cape Cod-inspired hand block printed summer apparel and home linens. The quilted, reversible robes are an especially nice holiday gift.

GoodNow Farms Chocolate | Sudbury, Massachusetts

The chocolate-lover in your life will swoon over the award-winning offerings from GoodNow Farms in Sudbury, Massachusetts. A true bean-to-bar operation, all of the single-origin bars are made onsite, and range in flavor from bitter to sweet

Big Heart Little Stove by Erin French

Erin French’s newest cookbook, “Big Heart Little Stove,” invites you into the heart of her acclaimed Maine kitchen with dishes pulled from her family recipe box as well as from the menu at The Lost Kitchen. In addition to more than 75 recipes, French shares advice which feels especially relevant to holiday cooking, reminding cooks to start with the best ingredients you can find, keep it simple, and serve with love.

Herbs and Mylk | North Kingstown, Rhode Island

The handmade cold-pressed soaps from Herbs and Mylk are as beautiful as they are nourishing for tired winter skin. Containing no harsh chemicals, detergents, or unnecessary additives, each bar is infused with healing extras like organic butters, refreshing clays, and local milks. 

Finding Silver Pennies | Scituate, Massachusetts

When Danielle Driscoll began a blog to share her art and DIY home ideas, she had no idea the site would one day grow into a lifestyle brand. She now still maintains the blog, while also running an online shop where she sells prints, stationery, calendars, and tea towels featuring her watercolor paintings.

Placemats from Proper Table Co. | Boston, Massachusetts

The perfect “thank you” gift for the friend who always hosts, Proper Table Co’s classy linen-printed acrylic placemats were designed with drips and spills in mind and can easily be rinsed clean following a meal. The goal: Make dining in style a bit less exhausting.

Caramels from Red Kite Candy | Bradford, Vermont

Stuff stockings with a medley of these artisan Vermont caramels, which are delightfully soft, perfectly gooey, and flavored with premium ingredients from pure maple syrup to French sea salt.

Rugged Seas Dry Clutch | Portland, Maine

This Maine-based company transforms fisherman’s hauling pants (bibs) into totes, backpacks, and clutches ready to accompany you from the street to the sea. Many of their goods are waterproof, meaning peace of mind when you’re out on the water knowing that your phone and other items are safe and secure.

Sara Fitz | York, Maine

Dress up your presents this year with Sara Fitz’s whimsical wrapping paper, which features designs centered around New England iconography like lobsters, buoys, and hydrangeas. What’s better, if your recipient falls in love with this Maine studio’s designs you’ll have fodder for many future gifts. They also sell framed prints, wallpaper, and textiles!

Sh*t That I Knit | Boston, Massachusetts

Whether apres ski or around town, the perfect winter hat is key to a great winter day. This female owned and operated knitwear company creates sustainable sourced, handcrafted beanies, mittens, gloves, headbands, perfect for gifting and wearing all season long.

Stonewall Kitchen | York, Maine

It’s no secret that Stonewall Kitchen’s jams, spreads, and sauces make perfect stocking stuffers (especially these adorable miniature holiday jam jars!). Among many mail order offerings on their website, this Maine food brand also has a excellent gift section: From their “Taste of New England” assortment to their “Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary” basket, there’s certainly something for everyone on your list.

Swedish dishcloths from Sweetgum Home | Massachusetts

Though they are a New England-based company, these dishcloths take inspiration from Swedish dishcloths, which are essentially reusable paper towels and help to reduce household waste. Sweetgum sells Swedish dishcloths in a wide array of patterns, as well as tea towels, cutting boards, and other kitchen wares.

Vermont Flannel | Woodstock, Vermont

Keep your loved ones cozy this winter with Vermont Flannel’s timeless flannel shirts, which have been handcrafted in the Green Mountain State since 1991. In addition to their classic flannel shirts, they sell blankets, beanies, robes, and scarves – all perfect for bundling up as the temperatures drop.

Do you have a favorite New England brand, maker, artist or book? Let us (and everyone else!) know in the comments!

The post 2023 New England Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on New England.

No sports bring families together quite the way skiing and snowboarding do. Lifetime memories happen not only on the slopes but also in the lodges, as you sit together drinking hot chocolate and planning the next day’s trails. Parents don’t simply watch their children on these mountains, they join in the journey: the easy greens, the more challenging blues, then the steeper blacks and moguls and glades. With patience, practice, and good instruction, there’s no terrain that families cannot conquer together.

Finding the right Vermont ski area for your family depends on what you’re looking for. If you have younger kids, you might prefer a cozy mountain where every trail is visible from the main lodge; for teenagers, on the other hand, you may need a place with multiple lifts and more trails than anyone can do in a week. Fortunately, Vermont offers a veritable buffet of choices. Here are some favorites to get you started.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort | Jeffersonville, VT

For years, “Smuggs” has been the gold standard of family ski resorts. It strikes the perfect balance between a supportive learning environment for beginners (as young as 2½ in the “Little Rascals on Snow” program) and a choice of terrain for all ages and abilities. All-day instruction includes the use of GPS devices for young students so they can track their runs (and instructors can keep tabs in case they get separated). Smuggs also features a program geared to children with special needs. Best yet, this is a park-your-car-once resort, where everything you and your clan could want is right at the base village.

Jay Peak | Jay, VT

When you run a ski mountain in one of Vermont’s most remote regions, it helps to have the highest average snowfall in the East (roughly 350 inches of powder each year); glade runs that are considered among the best in the country; one of the longest vertical drops in the state; ski-out-your-door lodging; an ice skating rink; and, oh yes, an enormous indoor heated waterpark that is a bona fide kid magnet.

Stratton Mountain Resort | Stratton, VT

There may be no better mountain for families who want to ski together than Stratton. While new-to-the-sport skiers are often relegated (at least at first) to low slopes that offer scant views and few “oh my gosh” moments, the Mike’s Way green trail takes you from the summit of southern Vermont’s tallest peak, with spectacular views across to New York state, to the village with soft, easy turns that show you the joy of the sport.

Bromley Mountain | Peru, VT

There’s a special quality to a cozy mountain where the lodge feels like a home, and the mountain itself is a neighborhood where neighbors wave as you glide by. What makes this 47-trail resort especially popular with families is its south-facing slopes—Bromley’s known as “Vermont’s Sun Mountain” for a reason.

Okemo Mountain Resort | Ludlow, VT

Spread across two mountain areas, Okemo’s 121 trails have something for everyone: top-to-bottom winding greens, long intermediate groomers, steep blacks, and, for the acrobatic boarders, half-pipes. And then there’s a heated indoor pool with a splash pool and a frog slide for wee ones … and a heated outdoor pool where you can float and see snow drifting down … and a tubing park … and the Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster … and a heated six-person high-speed covered lift, so your family can ascend warm and comfy together. 

Mount Snow | West Dover, VT

Older children and teenagers who may be drawn to half-pipes and terrain parks have Carinthia — a mountain-face park that’s considered among the best in the Northeast — all to themselves. But even here, the younger ones and beginners have a space within the space: Grommet Park, which comes with its own chairlift and sized-down bumps and slides. Meanwhile, no-skills thrills await on Mount Snow’s tubing hill, one of the biggest in Vermont, with up to eight lanes of fun for the whole family.

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