Grab your Santa hat and embark on a festive journey through the enchanting holiday events of New England! From charming Christmas markets and dazzling light displays to cozy winter festivals and living history that celebrates the Christmases of yore, discover the region’s magical seasonal offerings. Join us as we unwrap the joy and warmth of New England’s holiday spirit. Gardens Aglow, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens In its ninth season, Gardens Aglow at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, ME, introduces fresh walking routes and scenic paths, unveiling new vistas and welcoming ba ..read more

Welcome to a winter wonderland in New England! Embrace the magic of snowy landscapes and charming towns as we explore the region’s idyllic getaways. From cozy cabins to mountain resorts, this blog is your guide to experiencing the enchanting beauty and warmth that New England offers during the winter season. Lake Morey Resort — Fairlee, VT Experience the charm of the family-owned Lake Morey Resort, nestled in the Vermont hills above the Connecticut River. Ideal for families and couples, this idyllic resort offers plenty of winter delights, including a 4.3-mile ice skating trail, glow skating ..read more

The history of New England is inexorably tied to the history of Irish Americans. Beginning in the 1600s, many Irish families immigrated to these northern colonies to fish, farm, work and live. Despite the persecution and discrimination they often faced, Irish Americans played a key role in making this country what it is today. Every March, cities across New England celebrate Irish culture and heritage during their St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Here’s a round-up of some of our favorites, and you can find more on our events calendar and list of fairs and festivals. Maine Portland St. Patrick’s ..read more

If you’re still looking for things to do over Halloween weekend 2022, look no further. Here are a few Halloween-themed events happening in every New England state, ranging from mildly spooky and family friendly to genuinely frightening (or boozy/adults only). Some take place over the weekend; others take place on Halloween Monday. Find more things to do on our events calendar. Maine The Brick Store Museum’s All Souls Walk. Take a stroll through Hope Cemetery and learn about the ghosts of Kennebunk’s past. Hope Cemetery dates back to the late 18th century and is located in the heart of dozens o ..read more

Portsmouth, New Hampshire was settled by Europeans in 1623; prior to 1623, this area along the Piscataqua River was home to Wabanaki tribal nations for millennia. In 2023 it will celebrate its 400th anniversary, along with a few other seacoast villages. Today Portsmouth is a sweet, old-fashioned, picture book type of city. Downtown, in particular, is home to winding streets, cobblestones, alleyways filled with flowers, patches of forest tucked behind museums, and quaint shops. It’s a wonderful place to spend the day. Here are a couple of our favorite Portsmouth attractions to add to your itine ..read more

One of the best ways to take in New England’s gorgeous autumn foliage is by gondola, or ski lift, or sky ride. This activity is great for a few reasons: the aerial view, the fact that you don’t have to walk or drive, and, because they are often hosted at ski resorts, the foliage in these areas (mountainous, rural) tends to be particularly dense and colorful. Here are a few of our favorite sky rides. The K-1 Gondola – Vermont Through October 15 Take a gondola to the peak of the highest mountain in Vermont that offers chairlift services: Mount Killington in Shelburne, the second-tallest mountain ..read more

Foliage season in New England is iconic. It can be otherworldly, awe-inspiring, and often rather fickle – the timing of its arrival and the vibrancy of the colors depend on a complicated slew of factors, including the length and temperature of a day, how much rain we received during the summertime, La Niña, et cetera. But luckily, there are ways to predict foliage conditions for the year, and some things, like what to pack, never change. Here is our guide for autumn 2022. Timing Maine is the first state to see peak fall foliage. By now, in mid-September, northern Maine will have already reache ..read more

In the foothills of the Berkshires, surrounded by baby mountain ridges and thick forest, the Connecticut River winds its way south through Massachusetts toward the Long Island Sound. This region is known as the Pioneer Valley, spanning the beautiful counties of Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin. Pioneer Valley was christened by travel writers in the 1920s and 30s who sought to advertise the area to the first generation of road trippers. Along the river in Franklin County, which comprises the upper Pioneer Valley, sit the towns of Deerfield, Greenfield, Shelburne Falls and, across the river, Mon ..read more

For the second summer in a row, Foxwoods Resort & Casino hosts its luscious outdoor entertainment, Green Gardens, a twilight immersion among banks of flowers, where guests relax in gauze-curtained private bungalows to enjoy music, delightful drinks and a lavish dinner. Green Gardens happens on the grass-covered Fox Tower Terrace, but guests may feel a bit like they have been whisked off to a Mediterranean villa, with natural beauty tumbling into the entertainment space from all sides, along with roving performers and tableside mixologists. Green Gardens repeats on September 2-3, 2002, from ..read more

About ten miles North of where the Connecticut River empties into the Long Island Sound sits the quiet, sleepy town of Essex. It’s all classic, quaint New England charm: the center of commerce, Main Street, is populated both by historical homes from the 18th and 19th centuries as well as shops, eateries, and the Connecticut River Museum. The residential neighborhoods that frame Main Street are made up of a mixture of mansions and charming cottages. In springtime, the morning air tends toward foggy and smells like old wood, moving water and lilac blossoms. It’s an excellent place to spend the d ..read more