DanckTravel

New England consists of a series of states on the East Coast, including Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, and Connecticut. I grew up in New England, right outside of Boston and loved it here. There is so much to do and see across these states, including beaches and skiing. 

However, if you are looking for the right time to visit New England, that will vary widely based on your interests. New England has all four seasons, including hot summers, beautiful springs, snowy winters, and stunning fall foliage. Our guide explores our recommendations for each season!

Key Takeaways

• If you are looking to head to the beach, summertime is a great time to visit. Check out places such as Cape Code of Newport.
• For skiing, December through February is typically the best time to go. Visit northern states, such as Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire.
• Early summer and late spring are ideal for walking around some of New England’s iconic cities, including Boston and Portsmouth.

Summer: Best for Beaches

If you love summertime and the beach, there are plenty of cute towns to explore in New England.  Below are our recommendations for the summer:

Cape Cod, Massachusetts 

Cape Cod is a really popular summertime destination due to its cute towns and long stretches of beaches. I grew up 30 minutes from the first town in the Cape (Sandwich) and would visit the Cape all year round. However, the summertime has a special appeal, due to the sandy beaches. Additionally, many places operate on a seasonal schedule, so everything will be open if you come in the summertime. If you are looking for places to go and things to do in Cape Cod, we recommend exploring towns such as Hyannis, Provincetown, Chatham, and Falmouth.

Many people also choose to go to Cape Cod in late August or for Labor Day Weekend as a last hurrah before the end of summer. This is a great time to explore the beaches, since the days are warm and sunny. If you have extra time, we also recommend going to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket, which you can easily access via the Falmouth or Hyannis ferries.

Provincetown, Cape Cod

Sunset in Chatham

Newport and Narragansett, Rhode Island

Rhode Island has some great beache,s and much of the state exists alongside the coastline. Naragansett is a particularly popular beach in Rhode Island. Plus, it’s relatively close to Newport! The bonus of visiting Newport specifically is the cliff walk, the charming downtown, and the mansions. 

Newport is filled with historic mansions, whose construction ranges from the 18th century and the Gilded Age. Many of these have been converted into museums, which you can explore (especially on a rainy day). The cliff walk is also worth doing, since it spans the coastline, allowing you to soak in the views and beautiful homes.

Newburyport, Massachusetts

Right after college, I lived in Seabook, New Hampshire, which is located about 10 to 15 minutes away. I spent a lot of time in Newburyport, whether that be going to the beach, running, or checking out restaurants.

Newburyport is a really cute town and perfect for summertime. While most people will opt for nearby Hampton Beach, I prefer Plum Island, which is a short distance away from the downtown. There isn’t a ton of parking here, so you will either need to get here early or bike from downtown.

This is from a run from Newburtport to Plum island at sunset

Late Spring and Summer: Best for Visiting New England Cities

Late spring and summertime are considered one of the best times to visit the East Coast— and for good reason! New England has beautiful towns that are perfect for exploring. Below are our recommendations.

Boston, Massachusetts 

Boston, Massachusetts, is the biggest city in New England and has a lot of fun activities, especially as the weather gets warmer. After a cold winter, the city truly becomes alive again with outdoor festivals, free movie nights, and outdoor dining.

However, we recommend early summer and late spring (May and June), since the weather is still really nice and not yet too hot.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

When I lived in Seabrook, Portsmouth was only 20 minutes away. The downtown is pretty big and very walkable with good restaurants, shops and bars.  There are also some really fun outdoor bars, such as Lamplighter, which will allow you to further enjoy the beautiful weather.

I, in particular, love the Portsmouth Brewery. Not only do they have good beer, but they are very accommodating to a vegetarian. If you have a large group, they also have a table that can fit up to 20 people (you will have to reserve it first).

Beer at the Portsmouth Brewery

Portland, Maine

Not to be confused with Portland, Oregon of course, Portland is another cute New England town and a popular destination for those visiting Maine. There are tons of breweries and cool restaurants to visit. It’s also very beautiful and close to several beaches.

Boothbay, Maine

Boothbay, Maine is a beautiful town with sailboats and a cute downtown. The weather is also perfect in late summer, making it a great place to visit in the US in both July and August.

Our Recommendation: Check out the Carousel Theater.They have live shows in the summertime, which you can enjoy while sipping a cocktail or eating dinner.

Burlington, Vermont

If you are looking for things to see and do in Vermont, Burlington is the perfect place to start! Burlington, Vermont, is located on Lake Champlain and has a lot of fun activities. We recommend checking out the Bike Trail that spans alongside the lake and visiting Church Street Marketplace to check out the shops. After shopping, be sure to also catch a drink at Splash at Boathouse for some incredible views.

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Splash as Boathouse

Since Vermont is also further north, it won’t get as hot as places such as Boston. We recommend visiting anytime throughout the summer to visit.

Winter: Best for Skiing and Snowboarding

Stowe, Vermont 

If you are a fan of The Sound of Music, you can visit the real von Trapp family here. After leaving Austria, they settled in Vermont, where they run a local lodge and brewery. Stowe Mountain Resourt also has a lot of fun ski and snowboarding trails, due to their two peaks: Mount Mansfield and and Spruce Peak. 

North Conway, New Hampshire

My family and I would go skiing every summer, and North Conway was one of my favorite towns we would stay in. North Conway is a cute town filled with breweries and cute local shops. 

Our personal recommendations: Go visit Sea Dog Brewery and try their porter (which is absolutely delicious). If you are visiting with children, go to the North Conway 5 & 10 Cent Store. This is a traditional general store, filled with cheap candies. I used to love going here as a kid.

In terms of skiing and snowboarding, North Conway is close to several peaks, including Attitash (a personal favorite), Cranmore, Wildcat and Bretton Woods.

Sunday River, Maine 

Sunday River in Maine features one of the largest resorts in New England, with eight connected peaks. I went here in high school for a week and it’s a great mountain since it’s impossible to get bored.

Lincoln, New Hampshire

Lincoln, New Hampshire, is home to Loon Mountain, which is one of the only places in New England to have a gondola to lead you to the top of their peaks.

However, not only is there skiing, but you can also visit the ice castles! These are located in only four cities across the world and are reconstructed differently every year. There are usually slides and tunnels to explore. It’s so much fun and we recommend checking this out at night (since it lights up) if you head up to Lincoln.

The ice castles

KDancks at the ice castles

Early Autumn, Summer & Late Spring: Best for Hiking

Mount Washington, New Hampshire 

Mount Washington sits at 6,288.2 feet, making it the highest peak in New England. It is part of the White Mountain Rage and is a very popular peak to hike.

Not interested in hiking all the way up or down? There is also the Mount Washington Cog Railway. You can also drive up. However, the roads get really narrow, so this wouldn’t be our recommended path.

Please note: Conditions in Mount Washington can quickly get very dangerous, particularly when there is snow. Be sure trails are open and check the weather before you go!

Mount Monadnock, New Hampshire

When living in Boston, this was a favorite hike for my friends and me. It’s a short day trip away with a few trails, leading to the peak. From the top, you can enjoy beautiful views while eating a picnic.

Autumn: Best for Fall Foliage

One of the most popular times of year to come to New England is during the fall, which features world-famous foliage.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia is New England’s largest national park, located near Bar Harbor, Maine. It encompasses a vast terrain, including coastline views and hiking trails. Since Acadia is so high north, it also is a great location for seeing the changing of the leaves. 

The Berkshires, Massachusetts 

The Berkshires are a really popular place to see the changing of the leaves. This section of New England encompasses parts of western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut. With numerous hiking trails available, this is also a great place to enjoy peak fall foliage.

Mystic, Connecticut

Mystic, Connecticut, is a charming town with an aquarium and pedestrian shops. In addition to having beautiful foliage, they also have B.F Clyde’s cider mill, which has been in operation since 1881. It has delicious drinks and apple cider donuts, and is the oldest-steam powered cider mill in the United States. 

Additionally, if you love Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, there is a store that serves related drinks and items, making Mystic a perfect town for fall.

October: Best for Halloween

I love Halloween and haunted houses. One of the most famous Halloween destinations is actually located in New England (Salem!). However, there are also some great haunted houses and trails in the New England area. Below are our recommendations:

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem, Massachusetts, is famous for the Salem witch trials (which did technically happen in Danvers). Every year, tourists flock here as the entire town prepares for Halloween. 

The holiday is also not limited to the end of October in Salem. Instead, you will be able to partake in related fun throughout the month. You can go to witch shops, explore mini haunted houses, or take a graveyard tour. The Hocus Pocus house is also located here. While you can’t go inside, you can take photos from the outside and see it.

Roger Williams Zoo, Rhode Island

The Roger Williams Zoo has a pumpkin trail around Halloween time that is really cool to visit. My family and I went several years ago, and the artistry involved in decorating these pumpkins was crazy. There are 1,000s of jack-o-lanterns that light the trail (check out the photos below) and you can spot beautiful artwork on them, including carvings of Snoopy and even Adam from the Sistine Chapel.

Pumpkins lining the trail in the Roger Williams Zoo

Jaguar pumpkin in the Roger Williams Zoo (Look at that detail!)

Trail of Terror, Connecticut 

The Trail of Terror takes place on four acres of land in Connecticut, encompassing about half of that space. This haunted house attraction has been around for over 30 years and takes about an hour to complete. It’s a really fun place, with cool props and interesting themes.

Please note: I did go here with one of my friends and we were both sent on separate paths for a brief portion. We did reconnect later in the trial, but if that is something you would not enjoy, we recommend Lake Compounce instead (below).

Lake Compounce, Connecticut 

Lake Compounce isn’t a big theme park, but it is really fun at Halloween time! They keep their park open until late, and at the end of the night, you can line up and explore their haunted house. They invest a lot of money here, as is evidenced by the really cool special effects inside. While Fright Fest in New England is fun, I prefer Lake Compounce since the haunted house is more intricate than those offered at Six Flags (However, the roller coasters are better at Six Flags).

Six Flags New England, Massachusetts

If you love roller coasters and spooky season, Six Flags New England could be a great addition to your itinerary. Highlights for rides include Bizarro and Batman.

Legend of Fear, Connecticut

Out of the haunted houses I’ve done, I found this one to be one of the scariest. When I went with my friends, this was the first haunted house where they really spaced out groups. We were walking through the middle of the woods, unable to see behind or in front of us. It was really fun and I got some good scares. They have been in operation for almost 30 years.

Final Thoughts

New England is one of our favorite East Coast destinations and there truly is something here for everyone. With all four seasons, there is something different to explore, no matter the time of year you choose to go. Any other recommendations? Leave them in the comments below!