Locals and visitors alike flock to the Waterfront, which stretches from one of the city’s best parks to the Boston Tea Party ships. In the vibrant neighborhood, you’ll find enough tourist attractions, restaurants, and shops to keep you busy for days. Or, just take in the view of Boston Harbor as you leisurely stroll the walkways.
As one of the oldest commercial ships in the United States, the whaleshipCharles W. Morgan is a living testament to the legacy of the American whaling industry. The ship—now a National Historic Landmark—is among the most popular attractions at the Mystic Seaport Museum and a must-see historic attraction for visitors to coastal Connecticut.
For an experience that combines history and economics, science and seafaring, head over to the New Bedford Whaling Museum and get an up-close look at the Massachusetts whaling industry. Check out the whale skeletons and the robust scrimshaw collection, featuring objects carved from whalebone—then hop aboard a large model ship.
A National Historic Landmark, Boston’s African Meeting House is the oldest surviving Black church building in the United States. Built in 1806 by free African-American craftsmen, the building was an important cultural, educational, and political site for Boston’s Black community, as well as the location of many early antislavery meetings.
Perched on the top floors of Prudential Tower, View Boston is the premier observation deck in the city, offering 360-degree, panoramic views of the surrounding skyline. Visitors can take in the sights from indoor and outdoor areas and marvel at the immersive screen that displays street-level perspectives of neighborhoods and behind-the-scenes shots of popular attractions. An open-air deck also serves up cocktails and small bites.
Immortalized by landscape painter Winslow Homer and featured in the Hollywood blockbuster The Perfect Storm, the Eastern Point Lighthouse is one of New England’s most characterful and historic lighthouses. The Gloucester, Massachusetts, lighthouse is nearly 200 years old and on the National Register of Historic Places. A wildlife sanctuary flanks it and offers impressive coastal views.
Cisco Brewers is a Nantucket-born-and-bred brewery that’s produced artisan beers since 1995. In summer, the brewery offers a free shuttle service from Nantucket town and a lively outdoor tasting experience with beers, cocktails, food trucks from island restaurants, and music. You can also join a brewery tour to glimpse the brewery’s inner workings.
One of three lighthouses on Nantucket, Great Point Lighthouse sits at the far northern tip of the island and is a postcard-worthy destination for walks or 4x4 excursions. Its bright light is the most powerful in New England and still guides ships past Great Point almost 250 years after the first lighthouse was erected on this treacherous outpost.
One of the best beaches for catching sunset views on Nantucket, this undeveloped stretch of sand on the island's west side is known for its rough surf and dramatic waves. Head here to bask and bathe, but bring a fully packed beach bag as there are no beach clubs or snack bars.
Long before Nantucket became a summer resort hot spot, the island was a vibrant whaling community. Learn about 400 years of whaling history at the Whaling Museum, home to nine galleries and more than a thousand whaling-related works of art and artifacts. End your visit with a stop on the rooftop deck for views of Nantucket Harbor.
One of the United States’ oldest and most prestigious academic institutions, Yale University comprises 373 acres (151 hectares) with architecturally charming historic buildings from the mid-18th century. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the campus and city offer picturesque landscapes, plenty of public artworks, and a Tony Award-winning theater, Yale Cabaret—a theater-restaurant run by students.
Home to one of the world’s largest collections of rare books, the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, part of Yale University, is nearly as notable for its looks as for what it contains. A spectacular architectural achievement, the 1962 building features carved marble panels in lieu of windows, and six stories of books encased in glass at its heart.
The largest park in New Haven, East Rock Park is also an unmissable local landmark. Named for its dramatic ridge, which soars 350 feet (107 meters) high, this hilly park can be seen from far and wide, and also offers impressive views over New Haven and the Long Island Sound. With multiple hiking trails, it’s a great place to get active.
Spanning a block and a half of prime real estate in downtown New Haven, this sprawling exhibition space is officially America’s oldest college art gallery. Founded in 1832 in the heart of Yale University’s Neo-Gothic campus, the museum is home to more than 300,000 art objects. Collections span ancient Greek vases to post-war abstract masterpieces. Better yet, admission to the museum is free.
Gloucester, Massachusetts’ maritime history stretches back 400 years and today its fishing port is one of the best known in the country. Few other landmarks more movingly commemorate this nautical heritage than Gloucester’s Fishermen’s Memorial. Erected a century ago, it depicts the captain of a vessel navigating stormy seas, and pays tribute to the many thousands of local fishermen who’ve lost their lives at sea.
One of seven main beaches in the coastal hub of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Good Harbor Beach is also among the loveliest. Known for its powdery white sand and crashing Atlantic waves, it’s a popular place for seaside visits all year round. The nearby Salt Island can be reached via a sand bridge during low tide.
A tranquil retreat for nature lovers and bird-watchers, the Greenwich Audubon Center is a Connecticut outpost of the National Audubon Society, dedicated to protecting birds and conserving their natural habitats. In this nature preserve and bird sanctuary, you can connect with nature via serene hiking trails and exhibits at the nature education center.
See diverse exhibits at the Bruce Museum, one of Greenwich, Connecticut’s most beloved cultural gems. Located in a wooded area near downtown and Greenwich Avenue, the museum is a thriving center of art, science, and natural history, with a notable program of kid-friendly activities and events.
Affectionately known as "The Avenue," Greenwich Avenue is the bustling heart of downtown Greenwich in Connecticut. Lined with historic buildings, upscale boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries, this vibrant thoroughfare offers a quintessential New England shopping and dining experience. Take a load off at sidewalk cafés and outdoor seating areas, perfect for a coffee break while people-watching.
The pastel-hued Aquinnah Cliffs—also known as Gay Head Cliffs—line the westernmost tip of Martha’s Vineyard and are one of the most scenic spots on the island. Visit the overlook by land to enjoy views of the coastline and the historic Gay Head Light lighthouse or set sail around the island to marvel at the cliffs from the water.
The third fort built along the waterfront in New London, Fort Trumbull has a long legacy of military service, from the Revolutionary War to World War II and the Cold War. Built in the Egyptian Revival style, today the fort houses restored quarters, an informative Visitor Center, and a fishing pier.
Perched at the southern end of the Norwalk Islands in Connecticut, the Sheffield Island Lighthouse offers magnificent views of the Long Island Sound and the New York City skyline on a clear day. Following a boat ride to the island, explore the historic attraction to learn more about the area’s maritime history and how lightkeepers lived.
Dedicated to the sealife of the Long Island Sound, the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is home to sharks, stingrays, harbor seals, sea turtles, otters, jellies, crabs, and more. A family-friendly attraction, the aquarium also offers interactive experiences and a 4D theater that immerses you in natural environments with scents, mists, and wind.
For such a small boulder, Plymouth Rock has an outsized history. Said to mark the site where the passengers of the Mayflower disembarked in the winter of 1620, this legendary stone is a reminder of a turning point for two continents. Admire the rock during a visit to the Pilgrim Memorial State Park as you learn more about the founding of the first colonies.
Considered one of the finest examples of the Italian Villa architectural style in the country, the Victoria Mansion—also known as the Morse-Libby House—is one of the grandest historic homes in Portland, Maine, as well as the entire region. Completed more than 160 years ago, the manor is distinctive for its brownstone exterior and richly decorated (and beautifully preserved) interiors.
Brown is among the most prestigious of America’s esteemed Ivy League universities, but you don’t have to be a student or professor (or prospective student) to visit. Set on College Hill, across the river from downtown Providence, the stately campus is ideal for a stroll, as well as checking out museums, galleries, and plenty of public lectures and free public events.
Providence’s "Little Italy," Federal Hill is a vibrant neighborhood renowned for its cultural heritage—and could easily be called one of the top Italian-American neighborhoods in the US. Explore iconic Atwells Avenue through the north end of the neighborhood, and you’ll find specialty shops, bakeries, and restaurants—and the enduring influence of Italian immigrants that has lasted for more than a century.
Stretching along the Long Island Sound, Ocean Beach Park is considered one of the best beaches in the US. One of only two beaches in New London, Ocean Beach Park offers easy access to the Atlantic Ocean and recreation facilities such as a boardwalk, pool, classic rides, arcade, mini golf, dining, and numerous events.
Officially the tallest waterfall in Vermont at 85 feet (26 meters), Moss Glen Falls is a magnet for hikers throughout the year. Right outside the town of Stowe, the cascading falls and surrounding gorges can be reached by trails, with dramatic views and forested surroundings that make for an ideal nature escape.
The highest mountain in Vermont, and home to some of its only surviving alpine tundra, Mt. Mansfield has long been a popular recreational destination in the Green Mountain State. Flanked by ski resorts and crisscrossed by hiking trails, the mountain is also beloved for its human-like ridge profile, with individual peaks including the Nose, Chin, Forehead, and Adam’s Apple.
