For 3 hours at low tide—90 minutes before and after—it’s possible to walk across to Bar Island from the town of Bar Harbor by crossing the Bar Island Land Bridge. Walk or drive a 4WD across the gravel and sand land bridge to go tidepooling, launch a kayak, or hike around the island for views over Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay.
Covering 43 miles (69 kilometers) of Boston’s 47-mile (75-kilometer) shoreline, the Boston Harborwalk is a linear park and pathway that skirts the Boston Harbor and connects dozens of neighborhoods, beaches, trails, and parks. Take in city and harbor views, visit museums, and discover restaurants and shops as you walk or cycle this innovative waterfront space.
Dating back to 1980, the Burlington Farmers Market was doing farm-to-table way before it was cool. Held every Saturday from late spring to fall (and a winter market on certain weekends from November to April), it hosts 80-plus vendors selling fresh produce, crafts, baked goods, and Vermont specialties like maple syrup and cheese.
To understand the science and nature of Lake Champlain, go to ECHO. Formerly the Lake Champlain Basin Science Center, this museum specializes in immersive, hands-on exhibits that aim to inspire everyone to care for Lake Champlain, especially kids and pre-teens. Toss in the wonder of nature and the spark of scientific discovery, and you’ve got ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.
Situated below the historic Chatham Light lighthouse, on the Atlantic Ocean side of Chatham, this Cape Cod destination is the largest and one of the most scenic beaches in the Chatham area. The expansive sandy beach offers stunning views and is ideal for strolling, fishing, and watching seals and other wildlife.
Conveniently located off of a major highway in Hartford, this futuristic-looking museum boasts a whopping 165 hands-on exhibits. They’re dedicated to all things science: physics, geology, astronomy, genetics, and much more. Add in a 3D theater and special seasonal events, and it’s little wonder why the Connecticut Science Center is one of the state capital’s most popular family-friendly attractions.
One of the most delightful attractions on Martha’s Vineyard, the Gingerbread Houses are a storybook cluster of 19th-century cottages that were originally used as housing for a Methodist camp and today are a National Historic Landmark. About 300 of these brightly painted, ornately decorated homes still stand at the Old Bluffs Campground, a highlight of Martha’s Vineyard guided excursions and independent audio tours.
The Isles of Shoals are a collection of nine islands 7 miles (11 kilometers) from the Maine-New Hampshire border. Four of the nine islands are considered New Hampshire’s land. Their history as a landing spot for fishermen pre-date the settlement of New England’s colonies. They held a summer resort for tourists in the 1800s and 1900s and are still popular visitor sites today.
Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Gloucester’s century-old Hammond Castle Museum is the former home of inventor and “father of radio control” Dr John Hays Hammond Jr. Inside, his inventions and possessions—including one of the world’s largest pipe organs—are displayed. Featuring a mix of medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance styles, the museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This 19th-century Victorian house was built by the writer Mark Twain for his family. In fact, fans of iconic characters like Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer will be tickled to know that Twain wrote many of his most famous books right here in the billiard room, which doubled as his personal library. Today, the restored house operates as a museum.
Rising 54 feet (16 meters) above Boston’s Freedom Trail, the New England Holocaust Memorial is a striking tribute to the estimated 6 million Jews who died during the Holocaust. Its glass-and-steel towers etched with numbers and illuminated from within are the city’s most important commemoration of one of the darkest periods in modern history.
Portsmouth Market Square has been a central hub for commerce in the Portsmouth community since it was first paved in 1762. In the 1970s, when the area faced industrial decline, many of the historical buildings were restored and revitalized for residential and retail use. Today, Market Square continues to be the most popular intersection in the city.
Back in the 1800s, Smugglers’ Notch was a mountain pass used for illegal trade with Canada. The original park’s historic structures moved to the new Smugglers’ Notch State Park location in 2003. It features a campground, and activities such as hiking, ice climbing, biking, and caving. It’s a popular stop for visitors driving the Smugglers’ Notch road between May and October.
