In Italian

New England on the road.

A special and unique journey offering the chance to discover a land rich in history, traditions, emotional paths, wonderful landscapes (well, yes, here you can find some surprising national parks, too) and gastronomic specialties.

New England on the road, feelings, colors, savors

The New England includes even 6 states: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. It can be easily travelled over thanks to a thick and convenient road network allowing to arrive everywhere in a half day, 5/6 hour max.

But since it is a land so rich in history, events – did you know the United States of America were materially “born” on a rocky rock of Massachusetts? – in curious small towns, parks and unique places (without mention the several experiences to try), it is almost impossible to visit it completely, I mean deepen, in only one journey. Unless you have a month in your hands, of course!

New England on the road: Vermont, Gold Brook Bridge

So the idea to create, according to my very personal experience, a 12 days itinerary throughout the New England on the road to discover the most wonderful sites and the locations not to miss.

A tour to which usually people combine a 2/3 days stay in the near New York (reachable in about 3,5 hours by car or easily by bus or train, too) or in Boston itself, a wonderful city, rich and variegate that never finishes to surprise.

New England road trip: welcome to Connecticut

New England on the road: practical info and tips

The itinerary begins and ends in Boston.

The capital of Massachusetts is the ideal city from where to start: both from a logistic point of view (the Logan Airport makes several daily direct flights from Europe) and from the historic-traditional point of view.

Boston, JFK Presidential Library & Museum

It’s better to rent the car the day when you leave for the on the road (so saving the general budget), since Boston can be visited comfortably on foot and by the transit. The near Cambridge, Columbia Point and Brookline, for example, can be reached easily in few stops by subway.

A journey to New England on the road is advisable – to enjoy fully of its natural wonders – from late in Spring to late in Fall.

New England on the road. Foliage in Vermont

The most fascinating season (and for this reason the most requested by the international tourism) is the Fall of Foliage without any doubt: the wonderful and charming Indian Summer, when forests, woods and alleys turn into the typical warm colors of the Fall, offering to visitors a view with no equals.

New England on the road, the itinerary

New England on the road, the itinerary

Day 1

Tour of the capital of Massachusetts.

Click here for the tour of the city and for places and unusual experiences to do in the city and its near neighborhoods.

Day 2 – from Boston to Portland, Maine – 250 km

Collect the car and leave northwards to Portland, in Maine.

Legs:

• Salem (Salem Witch Museum).
• Gloucester (typical fishermen village where several movies like “The perfect storm” by George Clooney were set).
• Kennebunkport (little and nice fishermen center, famous for its crawfish, antiques and local gift and fancy goods little stores).
• Arrival and stay over night in Portland.

A typical lunch at Kennebunkport, Maine, USA

Day 3 – from Portland to Bar Harbor – 260 km

Legs:

• Portland Head Light, Cape Elisabeth (the most beautiful lighthouse in New England).
• Journey along the indented coastline of Maine to arrive as far as Bar Harbor, the ideal starting point to visit the Acadia National Park.
• Stay overnight in Bar Harbor.

New England on the road: Portland Head lighthouse, Maine

Day 4 – Acadia National Park

Tour of the Acadia National Park, one of the most beautiful naturalistic parks in the East Coast.

Stay overnight in Bar Harbor.

New England on the road: Acadia National Park

Day 5 – from Bar Harbor to Bretton Woods, New Hampshire – 400 km

Leaving from Bar Harbor to reach the White Mountain National Forest through the border between Maine and New Hampshire.

Stay over night in Bretton Woods.

Day 6 – White Mountain National forest

The whole day is dedicated to the tour of the White Mountain National Forest and to the Franconia Notch State Park.

Stay overnight in Bretton Woods.

Day 7 – from Bretton Woods to Vermont as far as Stockbridge, Massachusetts – 400 km

Legs:

• Travelling day through the picturesque landscapes and the covered bridges of Vermont. A stop in Montpelier to visit the near Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory, the most famous ice cream factory in the United States.
• In the evening arrival to Berkshires, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
• Stay overnight in Stockbridge near the historic Red Lion Inn.

Vermont, discover the Maple Syrup

Day 8 – from Stockbridge to Essex, Connecticut – 160 km

Legs:

Tour of Stockbridge and the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Leaving and tour of the Connecticut River Valley. Arrival in Essex.

Stay overnight in Essex near the ancient Griswold Inn.

Day 9 – from Essex to Newport, Rhode Island – 140 km

Legs:

New London.

Mystic, to visit the Mystic Seaport Museum with a stop in Noak for lunch at Ford’s Lobster.

Arrival in Newport and stay over night.

Day 10 – from Newport to Cape Code, Massachusetts – 110 km

Legs:

• Tour of Newport.
• In the evening arrival in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and boarding to the Martha’s Vineyard Island and stay overnight.

In the eccentric and fashion Martha’s Vineyard

Day 11 – from Martha’s Vineyard to Plymouth – 100 km

Legs:

• Return to Cape Cod.
• Keep going to Plymouth to visit the Plymouth Plantation, the Plantation of the First Pilgrim Fathers and the Mayflower ship (click here for the itinerary).
• Stay over night in Nantasket.

Nantasket Beach

Day 12 – from Nantasket as far as Boston – 150 km

Legs:

Leaving to Concord and tour of the historic small town of Massachusetts (click here for the itinerary).

Keep going to Lowell, Jack Kerouac’s town (click here for the tour).

In the evening return to Boston and stay overnight.