What’s to do in New England? 7

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1. 

   kmp Posted 8:06 am
   23 May 2006

   Olde New EnglandSarah,
   Congratulations on the impending nuptials!  
   I grew up in Gloucester, MA on Cape Ann and spent about 15 years living in Boston, so I could certainly give you the Boston-area scoop.  Let me know if you have specific questions and I can try to answer.
   The Berkshires in Western Mass are lovely and offer hiking, mtb biking, kayking, etc. Tanglewood (the Boston Symphony's summer 'residence') is also nearby and Canyon Ranch has a spa there.  All nice options - my favorite jumping-off point out there is Great Barrington, MA.
   Cape Cod is tourist hell, IMO, in the summer, although Provincetown makes a nice day-trip from Boston (assuming you have no objection to overt displays of homosexual affection).
   Massachusetts in August, however, has a tendency to be very hot, sticky and humid - it can be somewhat miserable in fact.  If I were thinking honeymoon in NE in August, I'd probably go further up;  Acadia Nat'l Park in Maine is fabulously beautiful, with all of the afore-mentioned outdoorsy fun and about a million B&Bs to choose from.  Should be lovely weather that time of year too... maybe just start catching some foliage action, with days warm enough for shorts but nights cold enough to snuggle by a fire.
   New Hampshire, specifically the White Mts area, is another tourist hell in the summer - you have to work pretty hard to avoid tacky-tourist stuff, but it can be done.
   Vermont someone else will have to write about.. I've only been there once.
   Kaela

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2. 

   chaunceysk Posted 8:18 am
   23 May 2006

   Vermont and MaineHi Sarah,
   Vermont is very cool in general, but Burlington (in particular) is progressive and green. I often say it's the closest you can get to being in Canada without, well, being in Canada (though it is close to the Montreal border - about an hour).
   Coastal Maine in the summer is amazing, as long as you can stay away from the touristy spots (kinda tricky). The weather is more pleasant than in Boston (I second the above poster's comment about sticky Boston heat, though the city's great), the islands are gorgeous and the salt air... there's nothing like it. The state slogan is "The Way Life Ought to Be" - and it really is.
   The place that comes to mind is Monhegan Island - which, like all Maine spots, has its touristy side, but it also has lots of room to explore.
   Rhode Island... you can drive through it in a few hours. Not much to see. New Hampshire... if you're going to Maine, stop and buy booze on the border (much lower taxes).
   Cheers (and congrats!),
   another Sarah

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3. 

   bhurley Posted 8:28 am
   23 May 2006

   More Vermont and MaineAs someone who moved to Canada after living in Vermont for 10 years I can't say I think Burlington's anything like Canada (nor is it anything like the rest of Vermont for that matter), but it is a nice city.
   Let's see, August in New England to me would be best spent either in northern Vermont or way downeast in Maine (northeast of Acadia National Park) to avoid the crowds. Don't even think of going to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, or Nantucket...save those for the off-season. Coastal Maine is delightful in August if you go far enough from Boston to be off the beaten path. I know a few well-hidden places farther south on the coast, but ain't talking about 'em in public!
   Vermont is nice in summer too, but can be hot and muggy in August unless you're up in the mountains. In general it's not as overrun with tourists that time of year as the seacoast is.
   Another spot to check out is far southwestern Rhode Island. The Wood River is one of the nicest canoeing streams in all of New England, with clear brown (tannin-tinted) water and lots of lovely scenery.
   Happy nuptuals!
   
   

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4. 

   caniscandida Posted 3:22 pm
   23 May 2006

   "dashing"?Or rather, "lying on his belly, scowling, because he does not like ... ": what?; grass?; gas?; bee stings?; ant bites?; allergies?; obnoxious kids not far off screen?; the light of day?; horniness issues?; impatience with discussing honeymoon plans?  : )
   No, seriously, young Andrew is clearly a lovely fellow, and is much to be congratulated on persuading so brilliant a person as yourself to accompany him to the altar in August.
   I entirely agree with everything about New England destinations that has been said thus far.  It is not clear if you prefer coast or inland.  Nor if you mind crowds, or if you love them.  Nor do you say how you will travel: driving across country?; flying and renting?; bicycling the whole way?; hot-air balloon?
   Most places on the coast are already booked, but there are always possibilities.  My husband and I will be going to Provincetown, then to Bar Harbor, in July and August, with Little White Dog; but we made reservations a while ago.  You are most welcome to visit us in P-town, homosexuals and all, but I would agree with the others that you should avoid Cape Cod this time.  (The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies are a serious bunch of people, though.  Look them up when you can.)
   Not knowing what you are into, I throw out four possibilities, which we have been to: Moose Head Lake, Maine, very rustic, lots of water to paddle out onto, snug cabins, about to be over-developed, so hurry; Saint Andrew's, New Brunswick, a charming, somewhat formal sea-side town with a lovely lodge, and a lot of history; the big national park north of Saint John, NB -- sorry, I cannot remember its exact name right now, but that should not be hard to find out -- , touching on the Bay of Fundy and its amazing tides; and Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, one of the most civilized and comfortable small towns anywhere, and one of our favorite places.
   And I have heard only good things about Prince Edward Island, a place I would very much like to visit.
   Much joy to you; God bless you both.

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5. 

   bhurley Posted 10:54 pm
   23 May 2006

   One more thoughtAnother place to consider is Plum Island, Massachusetts, home to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and a seven-mile long stretch of barrier beach. In the 10 years I lived on the outskirts of Boston, I went there at least 300 times; it's one of my favorite places on the planet. We rented a cottage on the island for a week last August, and I was amazed at how uncrowded it was. The beach is closed from about May to the end of July to protect the piping plovers during nesting season, so by the time it reopens in August  the thundering herd from Boston has gotten into the habit of going elsewhere for sun and fun. In fact you can see the huge crowds at Crane Beach and Salisbury Beach from Plum Island itself as you bask smugly in comparative solitude. If you're not staying on-island you need to get there early; they shut the gate after the daily quota of people are let in, and during the summer that can happen before 9am. It's a beautiful place, a primo birding spot, with large salt marshes and bays in addition to the ocean-side beach. Swimming's a bit risky due to the strong undertow, but there are quite a few safe spots.

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6. 

   Sarah K. Burkhalter Posted 6:14 am
   24 May 2006

   Hooray!Thank you all! We now have a plethora of great ideas. Keep 'em coming if you think of more!
   P.S. Andrew's not always making that face -- sometimes he looks downright sociable.

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7. 

   JoeSchmoe Posted 3:39 am
   25 May 2006

   HoneymoonIf you're going to be on a honeymoon, even though it might be tough to find a vacancy in August, I'd suggest you try Nantucket.  There are many restuarants and beaches and shops there and it's just as pretty as you can imagine.  All parts of New England have their charms (except Connecticut, can we please kick them out of New England, they're just wanna-be New Yorkers :) ) but Nantucket is what I'd call the best place for a honeymoon.

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