Four Romantic Getaways in New England
By Cliff Calderwood
New England is famous for its historic inns, luxurious resorts, and intimate bed
and breakfasts. But now add in the varied and startling scenery of sandy
beaches, rocky coastlines and the lakes and mountains, and you’ve got the
ultimate in choices for romantic getaways.
But where to choose to visit and stay? Here are four destinations for romantic
getaways in New England that would always make my list.
In Northern New England:
Acadia Region, Maine
Travel further north than the shopping outlets and the Boothbay Harbor region
and you enter another Maine of dramatic coastline, beautiful villages and
islands, and Acadia National Park. Here you can cycle on carriage roads with
breathtaking views, walk through silent forests or hike to mountain summits, or
drive on scenic roads.
Visit the park but then slip away to Deer Isle on Penobscot Bay and take in the
historic villages of Castine and Stonington, or travel north to the Schoodic
Peninsular and tour along coastal Route 1 where fishing villages dot the inlets
and secluded harbors all the way to the Canadian border. Places to stay that
specialize in romantic getaways can be found in Bar Harbor and Ellsworth both
just outside Acadia National Park’s boundary.
White Mountains, New Hampshire
One of the first areas of New England to be developed for tourism the White
Mountains in New Hampshire once boasted a large choice of grand resorts.
Today just a few of the resorts remain but the spectacular views and wide-open
spaces are still a magnet for those seeking to discover places off-the-beaten
path, and explore the peace and quiet of the northern woods. Spectacular scenic
drives and mountain villages dot the valleys and invite a stop to admire a
covered bridge or take a walk to a waterfall and a picnic lunch together.
The fall foliage in this area is considered some of the best viewing in New
England and makes an ideal time for a romantic getaway to one of the inns in
Jackson or Bartlett Village or any number of hideaways nestled in Mount
Washington Valley.
And in Massachusetts:
Berkshire Hills, Western Massachusetts
The rolling Berkshire Hills in western Massachusetts have long been popular
with the rich and famous but more recently discovered by those seeking an
alternative to the crowded beaches and hiking trails of more popular New
England destinations. Nestled in valleys between mountain ranges, and along
rivers and streams, are villages where during the day you can discover the
outdoors, and at night experience Shakespeare or a musical in any of the towns
dotting the region. This is also a recommended spot for fall foliage romantic
getaways.
The Berkshires is also home to many of New England’s most exclusive resorts
and historic inns centered in the towns of Lenox and Stockbridge.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Drive a few extra miles from the tourist haven of Hyannis and you’ll enter what
the locals call the quiet or lower cape. This is the Cape Cod National Seashore
region with miles of uninterrupted sandy beaches and stunningly beautiful
cliffs, dunes, and ocean. You can take a walk through a salt marsh or visit
historic sites and see for yourself the forces of nature erode and redistribute
land in this geological wonder.
Or you can just share a walk along a sandy lane to a kettle pond and forget
about the commitments to keep at home. Recommended towns to stay include
Chatham, Orleans and Eastham, all of which have inns and resorts that
specialize in lodging and amenities for romantic getaways.
About the Author: For more destination ideas and lodging for New England Romantic
Getaways and to get a free trip planer package to download visit Cliff Calderwood’s New
England Vacation Guide.
By Cliff Calderwood
New England is famous for its historic inns, luxurious resorts, and intimate bed
and breakfasts. But now add in the varied and startling scenery of sandy
beaches, rocky coastlines and the lakes and mountains, and you’ve got the
ultimate in choices for romantic getaways.
But where to choose to visit and stay? Here are four destinations for romantic
getaways in New England that would always make my list.
In Northern New England:
Acadia Region, Maine
Travel further north than the shopping outlets and the Boothbay Harbor region
and you enter another Maine of dramatic coastline, beautiful villages and
islands, and Acadia National Park. Here you can cycle on carriage roads with
breathtaking views, walk through silent forests or hike to mountain summits, or
drive on scenic roads.
Visit the park but then slip away to Deer Isle on Penobscot Bay and take in the
historic villages of Castine and Stonington, or travel north to the Schoodic
Peninsular and tour along coastal Route 1 where fishing villages dot the inlets
and secluded harbors all the way to the Canadian border. Places to stay that
specialize in romantic getaways can be found in Bar Harbor and Ellsworth both
just outside Acadia National Park’s boundary.
White Mountains, New Hampshire
One of the first areas of New England to be developed for tourism the White
Mountains in New Hampshire once boasted a large choice of grand resorts.
Today just a few of the resorts remain but the spectacular views and wide-open
spaces are still a magnet for those seeking to discover places off-the-beaten
path, and explore the peace and quiet of the northern woods. Spectacular scenic
drives and mountain villages dot the valleys and invite a stop to admire a
covered bridge or take a walk to a waterfall and a picnic lunch together.
The fall foliage in this area is considered some of the best viewing in New
England and makes an ideal time for a romantic getaway to one of the inns in
Jackson or Bartlett Village or any number of hideaways nestled in Mount
Washington Valley.
And in Massachusetts:
Berkshire Hills, Western Massachusetts
The rolling Berkshire Hills in western Massachusetts have long been popular
with the rich and famous but more recently discovered by those seeking an
alternative to the crowded beaches and hiking trails of more popular New
England destinations. Nestled in valleys between mountain ranges, and along
rivers and streams, are villages where during the day you can discover the
outdoors, and at night experience Shakespeare or a musical in any of the towns
dotting the region. This is also a recommended spot for fall foliage romantic
getaways.
The Berkshires is also home to many of New England’s most exclusive resorts
and historic inns centered in the towns of Lenox and Stockbridge.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Drive a few extra miles from the tourist haven of Hyannis and you’ll enter what
the locals call the quiet or lower cape. This is the Cape Cod National Seashore
region with miles of uninterrupted sandy beaches and stunningly beautiful
cliffs, dunes, and ocean. You can take a walk through a salt marsh or visit
historic sites and see for yourself the forces of nature erode and redistribute
land in this geological wonder.
Or you can just share a walk along a sandy lane to a kettle pond and forget
about the commitments to keep at home. Recommended towns to stay include
Chatham, Orleans and Eastham, all of which have inns and resorts that
specialize in lodging and amenities for romantic getaways.
About the Author: For more destination ideas and lodging for New England Romantic
Getaways and to get a free trip planer package to download visit Cliff Calderwood’s New
England Vacation Guide.
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