From a glittering Atlantic coastline to lush forests and towering mountains, New England offers countless unforgettable sights and experiences. The region includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, and is truly unlike any other place in the country.
Here are 19 things you need to know before you travel to New England.
- Seafood is New England’s bread and butter. Heavy emphasis on the butter.
Flickr/Dan Dickinson If you haven’t cracked open a lobster claw and drenched it with molten butter while hanging out at a splintery picnic table within sniffing distance of the sea, you haven’t truly lived. New England is famous for seafood treats like fried clams, scallops and the almighty lobster roll. Opt for lunch at a roadside clam shack for cheap eats that are just as good, if not better, than anything you’ll find at a five-star seafood restaurant.
- For a cheap beach holiday, wait out the crowds and book for September.
Flickr/Patrick Tourist season can be brutal in parts of New England. If you can put off your vacation until after school starts, you’ll get a much better rate on hotels, flights and attractions in coastal New England. Depending on where in the region you’re headed, the weather is usually balmy through early September.
- If you prefer to skip the crowds all together, fall in New England is basically paradise on Earth.
Flickr/Howard Ignatius Cider mills, corn mazes, hot apple cider doughnuts, cobblestone streets, cozy taverns and spectacular foliage. You can expect to fall in love with autumn in New England. Peak leaf-peeping season is between mid-September and early October, so plan accordingly.
- Heaven help you if you confuse a downeaster with a nor’easter.
Flickr/Julie Gartman One is a massive storm with three times the area of a hurricane that brings freezing rain, snow and winds that will flay the skin from you. The other is a resident of eastern Maine. Or, if you’re a Billy Joel fan, a type of sailing boat. And if you want to get really technical, you might also take the Amtrak Downeaster from Boston to Maine.
- New England seriously does run on Dunkin’. Our love for it actually changed the English language.
Google Books Ngram Viewer Let me ask you this: donut or doughnut? Before Dunkin’ Donuts opened around 1950, most people were Team Doughnut. Today, “donut” is in the lead according to Google searches and quickly gaining ground in print media. The takeover began the same year that Dunks first opened in Quincy, Massachusetts. If you’re walking down the street on Monday morning and you’re not on your way to Dunks, you’re the odd man out.
- Boston is the de facto capital city of New England. And nobody calls it Beantown.
Flickr/Ran Allen This fact will always annoy the countless other incredible cities in the region. Places like Providence, New Haven, Portsmouth and Portland take pride in their unique local flavor and awesome attractions. Still, there’s no denying that Boston is the urban center of the region. Your Midwestern cousin might call it “Beantown,” but the sound of that word to Bostonian ears induces an hour-long cringe.
- However, “Bean boots” are standard New England winter wear.
Flickr/Dave Seidman L.L. Bean is based in Freeport, Maine and is known for their awesome outdoor clothing and recreation equipment. Any visit to New England will bring you face to face with the company’s iconic Duck Boot, flannel shirts and sturdy backpacks. Pick up a pair to keep your feet toasty through rain and snow.
- You need to be prepared for any and all types of weather.
Flickr/Clara S. One day it’s cold and snowy, the next you’re digging your shorts out of storage. New England is known for its unpredictable weather, so it’s best to come armed with outfits that could work well in a range of weather scenarios.
- Maine is really big. As in, the rest of New England could fit in Maine.
Flickr/ilirjan rrumbullaku If you’re looking to really and truly get lost in the woods, you’re going to want to head to Maine. It accounts for just under half the total acreage of New England and is filled with things like lobsters, gorgeous lighthouses and Stephen King.
- Connecticut has a special relationship with New York. And “Gilmore Girls.”
Flickr/Bob P.B. Plenty of people in this state commute to New York for work, resulting in a lot of “bedroom communities” populated by people who don’t know which team to root for in a Yankees vs. Red Sox game. If you’ve ever wanted to live out your Stars Hollow daydreams, the creators of “Gilmore Girls” were inspired by the real Connecticut towns of Washington Depot, New Milford and Kent.
- If you want to feel like an extra in “The Great Gatsby,” head to Rhode Island.
Flickr/Denis Bin The Newport mansions are spectacular Gilded Age marvels that give European palaces a run for their money. Seriously, just go.
- Hop the border to beautiful New Hampshire for cheap liquor and fireworks. Not to mention the most American license plates ever.
Flickr/Nicholas Erwin Buying alcohol in some New England states can seriously hurt your wallet. Crossing the border to New Hampshire for a cheap six pack is a time-honored tradition for Vermonters and Bay Staters. Similarly, when the Fourth of July rolls around, you can bet you’ll see a few out-of-state license plates in the parking lots of firework stores. The New Hampshire plates between them will proudly proclaim the state’s official motto and stance on liberty: “Live Free or Die.”
- There’s nothing like a scoop of Ben and Jerry’s and Del’s Frozen Lemonade on a sticky summer day.
Wikimedia Commons/Erricci8996 Ben and Jerry’s is a Vermont brand that’s known for its deliciously rich ice cream packed with zany mix-ins. Born in Rhode Island, Del’s is a heavenly combination of crushed ice, lemon and sugar that tastes just like school vacation and days by the lake.
- Speaking of sticky, Vermonters have a monopoly on that.
Flickr/Raffi Asdourian This small state generates nearly half of the nation’s maple syrup. There are over 1,500 sugar houses in Vermont churning out enough of the sweet stuff to put you into the sugar coma of your dreams.
- If you visit any major city in New England, it will feel like there are more colleges than parking spots.
Flickr/Thomas Autumn On the positive side, this translates to wicked smaht populations and great nightlife. On the less than sunny side, you might feel a little “mature” if you’re past school-age and hitting the town in Boston or Providence on a Saturday night. Counteract this phenomenon by booking a table at a restaurant most college kids could only dream of affording, or head slightly off the main drag.
- The Mount Washington Cog Railway will leave you breathless in the best way.
Flickr/Robert Linsdell This mountain-climbing cog railway was the world’s first and remains the second-steepest rack railway in the world. The three-hour round trip on this historic steam train will reward you with panoramic views of the White Mountains and all of the Northeast. It’s an unmissable attraction.
- The accent is a real thing. But no one thinks they have one.
Flickr/Andrew Kaszowski We don’t all sound like Mark Wahlberg, but it won’t take long for a visitor to notice a distinctly New England patter. Of course, there are many different flavors. The Italian car salesman from Rhode Island might sound totally different from the bartender in Southie, the professor in Vermont or the lacrosse coach from the Vineyard. You should expect some missing Rs in Eastern Massachusetts, Maine and parts of Rhode Island.
- Leave your pop at the door. New England is soda country.
Flickr/Jannes Pockele “Pop” is the sound your back makes when you’re shoveling out from yet another New England blizzard. Ask for soda if you want something sweet, cold and carbonated.
- Be aware that 10 out of 10 New Englanders have had a crush on Tom Brady at some point. Men, women and children included.
Flickr/WEBN TV Whatever your opinions of football and No. 12, you won’t get far in New England without running into a diehard Patriots fan who would happily donate his left kidney to the G.O.A.T. if asked.
New England is a gorgeous place to visit and there’s no time like the present to plan your next trip. What do you think everyone should know about spending time in New England?
Flickr/Dan Dickinson
If you haven’t cracked open a lobster claw and drenched it with molten butter while hanging out at a splintery picnic table within sniffing distance of the sea, you haven’t truly lived. New England is famous for seafood treats like fried clams, scallops and the almighty lobster roll. Opt for lunch at a roadside clam shack for cheap eats that are just as good, if not better, than anything you’ll find at a five-star seafood restaurant.
Flickr/Patrick
Tourist season can be brutal in parts of New England. If you can put off your vacation until after school starts, you’ll get a much better rate on hotels, flights and attractions in coastal New England. Depending on where in the region you’re headed, the weather is usually balmy through early September.
Flickr/Howard Ignatius
Cider mills, corn mazes, hot apple cider doughnuts, cobblestone streets, cozy taverns and spectacular foliage. You can expect to fall in love with autumn in New England. Peak leaf-peeping season is between mid-September and early October, so plan accordingly.
Flickr/Julie Gartman
One is a massive storm with three times the area of a hurricane that brings freezing rain, snow and winds that will flay the skin from you. The other is a resident of eastern Maine. Or, if you’re a Billy Joel fan, a type of sailing boat. And if you want to get really technical, you might also take the Amtrak Downeaster from Boston to Maine.
Google Books Ngram Viewer
Let me ask you this: donut or doughnut? Before Dunkin’ Donuts opened around 1950, most people were Team Doughnut. Today, “donut” is in the lead according to Google searches and quickly gaining ground in print media. The takeover began the same year that Dunks first opened in Quincy, Massachusetts. If you’re walking down the street on Monday morning and you’re not on your way to Dunks, you’re the odd man out.
Flickr/Ran Allen
This fact will always annoy the countless other incredible cities in the region. Places like Providence, New Haven, Portsmouth and Portland take pride in their unique local flavor and awesome attractions. Still, there’s no denying that Boston is the urban center of the region. Your Midwestern cousin might call it “Beantown,” but the sound of that word to Bostonian ears induces an hour-long cringe.
Flickr/Dave Seidman
L.L. Bean is based in Freeport, Maine and is known for their awesome outdoor clothing and recreation equipment. Any visit to New England will bring you face to face with the company’s iconic Duck Boot, flannel shirts and sturdy backpacks. Pick up a pair to keep your feet toasty through rain and snow.
Flickr/Clara S.
One day it’s cold and snowy, the next you’re digging your shorts out of storage. New England is known for its unpredictable weather, so it’s best to come armed with outfits that could work well in a range of weather scenarios.
Flickr/ilirjan rrumbullaku
If you’re looking to really and truly get lost in the woods, you’re going to want to head to Maine. It accounts for just under half the total acreage of New England and is filled with things like lobsters, gorgeous lighthouses and Stephen King.
Flickr/Bob P.B.
Plenty of people in this state commute to New York for work, resulting in a lot of “bedroom communities” populated by people who don’t know which team to root for in a Yankees vs. Red Sox game. If you’ve ever wanted to live out your Stars Hollow daydreams, the creators of “Gilmore Girls” were inspired by the real Connecticut towns of Washington Depot, New Milford and Kent.
Flickr/Denis Bin
The Newport mansions are spectacular Gilded Age marvels that give European palaces a run for their money. Seriously, just go.
Flickr/Nicholas Erwin
Buying alcohol in some New England states can seriously hurt your wallet. Crossing the border to New Hampshire for a cheap six pack is a time-honored tradition for Vermonters and Bay Staters. Similarly, when the Fourth of July rolls around, you can bet you’ll see a few out-of-state license plates in the parking lots of firework stores. The New Hampshire plates between them will proudly proclaim the state’s official motto and stance on liberty: “Live Free or Die.”
Wikimedia Commons/Erricci8996
Ben and Jerry’s is a Vermont brand that’s known for its deliciously rich ice cream packed with zany mix-ins. Born in Rhode Island, Del’s is a heavenly combination of crushed ice, lemon and sugar that tastes just like school vacation and days by the lake.
Flickr/Raffi Asdourian
This small state generates nearly half of the nation’s maple syrup. There are over 1,500 sugar houses in Vermont churning out enough of the sweet stuff to put you into the sugar coma of your dreams.
Flickr/Thomas Autumn
On the positive side, this translates to wicked smaht populations and great nightlife. On the less than sunny side, you might feel a little “mature” if you’re past school-age and hitting the town in Boston or Providence on a Saturday night. Counteract this phenomenon by booking a table at a restaurant most college kids could only dream of affording, or head slightly off the main drag.
Flickr/Robert Linsdell
This mountain-climbing cog railway was the world’s first and remains the second-steepest rack railway in the world. The three-hour round trip on this historic steam train will reward you with panoramic views of the White Mountains and all of the Northeast. It’s an unmissable attraction.
Flickr/Andrew Kaszowski
We don’t all sound like Mark Wahlberg, but it won’t take long for a visitor to notice a distinctly New England patter. Of course, there are many different flavors. The Italian car salesman from Rhode Island might sound totally different from the bartender in Southie, the professor in Vermont or the lacrosse coach from the Vineyard. You should expect some missing Rs in Eastern Massachusetts, Maine and parts of Rhode Island.
Flickr/Jannes Pockele
“Pop” is the sound your back makes when you’re shoveling out from yet another New England blizzard. Ask for soda if you want something sweet, cold and carbonated.
Flickr/WEBN TV
Whatever your opinions of football and No. 12, you won’t get far in New England without running into a diehard Patriots fan who would happily donate his left kidney to the G.O.A.T. if asked.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
