Create Your Classic New England Summer Vacation

Stunning southern Maine is known for its lavish homes and compounds of the rich and famous. For years, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport made news headlines at the summer home of the Bush family. Less than a two-hour drive from Boston's Logan Airport, the region is more than a high-brow vacation spot. There’s plenty of sunshine and sandy beaches, quaint antique stores and coffee houses for those who just want to kick back and relax.

Family-fun outings include the educational Seashore Trolley Museum and picturesque Perkins Cove near Ogunquit. At the trolley museum, you can embark on a fun, four-mile trolley ride and learn about the area’s rich history. Perkins Cove offers visitors a chance to get in the water for some memorable stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking or hop on a boat for a scenic lobster boat ride or whale watching. And when it’s time to eat, sit down for some of the best local seafood you’ll experience anywhere.

A little further north, there’s classic New England cuisine, galleries and museums in the historic city of Portland. Set on Casco Bay, Portland is the ideal spot to see the whales or catch the ferry to one of the nearby island communities. 

Camden is one of the state’s oldest seaports and home to several iconic lighthouses. There are a few lighthouses in Camden and Rockport, and many more dotting the coastline as you head north toward Ellsworth. Many of the islands in the bay have beautiful lighthouses, too.

Of course, you can’t visit the Maine coast without sampling the many delectable treasures of the Atlantic. You should have no problem finding that unforgettable fine-dining experience or quaint bed and breakfast nestled near the town or only steps from the beach.

The White Mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont are worth the drive. In fact, the stunning scenery from the coast of Maine into the mountains can’t be beat. Along the way are some of New England’s cutest villages and towns, like North Conway, New Hampshire – a home for the arts, culture and unbeatable tax-free outlet shopping.

Mount Washington in eastern New Hampshire, just north of North Conway, is the highest peak in the northeastern U.S. and has some of the best hiking trails in the country. You can either hike to the top of the mountain, or drive the 8-mile toll road. Surrounding Mount Washington are some of the most iconic resorts in New England, along with a handful of top-rated bed and breakfasts.

The region is a popular summer destination for families who want to explore the outdoors to the fullest. From Championship golf and fly-fishing in Gold Medal waters to hot-air ballooning, hunting, rafting, stand-up paddle boarding, and a slew of popular family attractions, there’s a little something for everyone from April through October. The White Mountains are also a hot spot during the winter for blockbuster skiing and snowboarding.

Lake Winnipesaukee, located about an hour south of North Conway and the White Mountains, is an iconic summer lake vacation destination that’s been featured in movies like “On Golden Pond” and “What About Bob?” and parodied numerous times by Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake on “The Tonight Show.” Many adults in the Eastern U.S. have fond memories of summers spent on the majestic lake as a child.

Vermont’s Green Mountains are known for their rolling hills, lush wilderness and small communities with picket fences, picturesque churches and a traditional Town Square. Montpelier, the smallest state capital in the country with only 8,000 residents, is lined with craft coffee houses and one-of-a-kind boutiques. In Waterbury, a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory is a must. Further north in Stowe, you can catch the gondola to the top of Mt. Mansfield, the highest peak in the state.

A college town with a fun vibe, Burlington, Vermont is nestled on Lake Champlain, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the U.S. Burlington is steeped in Americana, with more than 400 years of history that encompasses farming, textiles, art and industry. The lovely downtown area offers lots to see and do. 

Summers on the lake are filled with swimming, boating, water skiing, fishing and sunbathing. It’s laid back and relaxed; the kind of place where the family can grill out, catch some rays and throw the Frisbee around. There are great spots for camping or day-tripping along the lake’s vast shoreline. Burlington and the surrounding communities offer lodging choices that are tops for a romantic retreat or elopement, or a memorable family trip. There’s something in seemingly every price range, from uber-luxury to budget-friendly.

South through the Green Mountains are two of the most unique towns in western Connecticut: Deerfield and Litchfield Hills. Deerfield’s iconic mile-long street epitomizes historic New England’s architecture and lifestyle that has endured for more than three centuries. Litchfield’s beautiful village green is lined with grand homes, five-star restaurants, art galleries and antiquing. Litchfield Hills is a popular retreat for the rich and famous who want to escape the big city for a bit.

Both towns serve as a gateway to adventure in the surrounding region. There’s golf, fishing, canoeing, biking, hiking, tennis and nature centers to discover. Vacationers who need lodging can pick from quaint bed and breakfasts that cater to only a few guests or select a larger resort hotel with on-site dining, swimming pools, hot tubs and a fitness center.

The Berkshires are a range of mountains in the Appalachians of western Massachusetts that hosts wonderful summer events like the Boston Symphony at the Tanglewood Music Center. Summer theater and dance performances are plentiful, and displays at Mass MoCA showcase some of the finest modern art in the world at the Clark Institute in Williamstown. The region is truly a slice of Americana as it was featured in several Norman Rockwell paintings. (In fact, the Rockwell Museum in Rutland is a can’t-miss.)

It’s easy to explore the Berkshires by car, by bike, or on foot. When you’re ready to kick back and relax, the area’s highly rated inns, hotels and bed and breakfasts provide everything you need at an affordable rate. From relaxing B&Bs that are more private to high-end luxury resorts, there’s a flavor for every taste (and budget).

What’s summer in New England without a trip to the cape? For some, summers at Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard are a tradition they wouldn’t miss for the world. Summer smiles, clam bakes, bonfires and sandy beaches lines with white clapboard resorts are, for many, the heart and soul of New England living. Simply put, Cape Cod is classic New England. 

Cape Cod’s many small towns and villages provide music festivals, Championship golf, antiquing, sailing, deep sea fishing, coffee houses fine dining and museums all summer long. The Cape is home to a whopping 27 public golf courses. From spring until autumn, you can take a boat tour and see majestic humpback, minke and finback whales in all their glory just off the coast.

Ferries run to the surrounding islands year-round, but summers are something special. Beautiful Georgian, Federal, and Greek revival homes line Nantucket’s old-fashioned brick streets and the old-fashioned street lamps only add to the island’s historic allure. Nantucket is a quiet place to adjust to a slower pace, relax on unspoiled beaches, explore secluded lighthouses and enjoy acres of conservation land.