Many international visitors do not think of New England as a summer (beach) destination but in fact with its warm sunny days, long sandy beaches and great mountain attractions, summer is a wonderful time to visit all six New England states.

Clean, wide and often un-crowded beaches are found along the coast of New England with lots of summer fun to go along with it.  Sailing, kayaking, surfing, and swimming are all fabulous New England summer pastimes.  You can go island hopping on mail boats, take a schooner ride or go white water rafting, fishing and canoeing.  And of course, no visit to New England in the summer would be complete without going on a whale watch trip.  From May to October, New England’s waters are invaded by thousands of whales that are drawn to feeding grounds just off the coastline.  Whale watching trips regularly depart from all points along the coast and you have the opportunity to see a great selection of finback whales, humpback whales and dolphins.  Most vessels are manned with naturalists who explain the behavior of the whales and it is fascinating to see these huge creatures breach and leap out of the water in front of you.  Trips typically last for a morning or afternoon and it is wise to always take sunscreen with you whatever the time of day.

New England’s mountains also provide the perfect backdrop for a summer vacation.  The cooler mountain areas are the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of big cities offering wide open spaces, easy driving and a ‘laid back’ feeling.  As on the coast, outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and golf can be enjoyed at an affordable rate.  New England’s mountains also are home to some magnificent lake areas and so you can have the best of both worlds and also enjoy lake cruises, fishing, sailing, kayaking etc on many of the beautiful and unspoiled lakes in New England.

Autumn in New England is truly spectacular.  The fall ‘color’ begins in the northern part of the region in early September moving slowly southwards into October.  The colors will be brightest in different parts of New England at different times and typically ‘peak’ foliage is considered to be the first two weeks in October in the northern part of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont and the middle two weeks in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.  There is no guarantee of catching the autumn colors at their best.  Much depends on the timing of the onset of cooler weather and local climate conditions. 

For planning purposes remember it is a busy time for the region’s tourism industry so early booking is essential (especially for Columbus Day Weekend) and fly-drive passengers should make their reservations ahead of time.  Fall days are typically warm and the evenings crisp so pack a warm jacket for the evenings.

Most states have a special hotline with up-to-the-minute information on where to see the fall color. Toll free 1 800/888 numbers can only be accessed in North America.

Foliage Hotlines
Connecticut - 1 800 282 6863
Maine - 1 888 624 6345
Massachusetts -1 800 227 6277
New Hampshire -  1 800 258 3608
Rhode Island - 401 222 2601
Vermont - 802 828 3239

Winter is a great time to visit New England.  Snow arrives usually in late November and many of the hundreds of villages and small towns provide the perfect back drop for that perfect winter wonderland getaway.  Pre Christmas special activities such as Freeport Maine’s ‘Sparkle Weekend’ or Portsmouth, New Hampshire ‘Christmas Stroll’ are wonderful ways to celebrate the season along with great outdoor recreational opportunities. 

Skiing is available in all the New England states but the northern states offer the main down-hill ski areas for skiing and snowboarding.  Many international visitors love the atmosphere at the New England areas as locals enjoy the outdoors and are truly welcoming to all visitors.
Sophisticated snow making capabilities in recent years have made many of the areas snow and ski conditions excellent and extremely reliable and many youngsters love their experience at the wonderful ski schools that can be found at all areas.
If downhill skiing is not your sport, there are plenty of other activities such as great cross country skiing trails, snow shoeing, ice fishing, ice skating, snow mobiling, sleigh rides, luxury spa opportunities (at many of the New England Inns & Resorts properties) or just enjoy a good book and the picture perfect postcard of a New England landscape from the warm fire of your New England country inn!

Also never forgetting that New England is the perfect place for a pre or post Christmas shopping break, hotels are affordable and with the current rate of exchange for the EURO and UKP, there are bargains galore. 

Some useful ski website links:
Maine: www.skimaine.com
New Hampshire: www.skinh.com
Vermont: www.skivermont.com

A New England Spring is always welcome and springtime in New England is glorious.  In the northern part of the region a sure sign of spring are the Maple Sugar Festivals and as daytime temperatures rise the sap from New England’s famous sugar maple trees begins to run.  A wonderful New England springtime tradition is to taste ‘sugar on snow’, a local delicacy of fresh snow laced with pure maple syrup.

Southern New England is typically warmer than the northern mountain areas in April and May but everywhere flowers are bursting through and there are wonderful flower festivals throughout the region such as the Nantucket Daffodil Festival and the rose festival in the Elizabeth Rose Gardens in Hartford, CT.

May is also the traditional time for college graduations and it is important to bear in mind that May is an extremely busy time for accommodation in Boston and also in the many college towns throughout the region. If you are planning on traveling during this month, double check your plans for the weekends especially if you intend to visit a college town.  Outside of the many college towns, accommodation rates are very appealing as it is not a very busy time of the year.