With all the fun things to do in New England, it can be almost impossible to narrow down the options. This can make planning a New England trip feel daunting.
New England is located in the Northeast of the United States and is comprised of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. New England States share common origins as some of the first states in the country.
New England states also share similar weather patterns with warm and sometimes humid summers and cold and snowy winters. New England is known across the country for its bright fall colors as the many deciduous trees shed their leaves for winter.
With four distinct seasons, time of year should play a large role in planning your vacation.
Table of Contents
Fun Things to Do in New England in the Spring
As New England starts to thaw from its frosty winter glow, the landscape comes alive. It’s a great time to get outdoors and enjoy the last of the snow or bask in the warmth of the sun as the season progresses. Here are a few ways to enjoy a New England spring.
Spring Hiking
First, consider taking an enjoyable spring hike. Springtime hikes will bring fewer crowds and bugs, two things you may encounter in the warmer months.
Visiting Hearthstone Castle is the perfect afternoon spring hike. While the hike itself is short, you will easily spend hours exploring the sights and small trails around the property.
A quick jaunt up a hill will bring you directly to Hearthstone Castle, an abandoned castle built in the late 1800s. Nowadays, the dilapidated abode is owned by the state and falling to pieces.
Visitors can explore what is left of the castle and the castle grounds. Visitors are warned to proceed with caution, and we do not recommend attempting to venture into the castle’s interior. Many of the floors are rotten or simply gone.
Chatfield Hollow State Park is another ideal spring destination. In the warmer months, this park becomes mobbed with visitors, and parking can even be a challenge, but spring is the perfect mix of solitude and mild temperatures.
Chatfield Hollow features many hiking trails for all levels. One hiking trail leads through a boardwalk over the water. Another leads to a set of caves, while one more hiking trail winds through a forested area.
Chatfield Hollow State park offers additional fun things to do in New England. Visitors can picnic in one of the many picnic locations, enjoy a swim, or visit the nature center to learn about the wildlife in the area.
Additionally, Chatfield Hollow State Park holds a little known local secret. Directly across the street from the park is an additional state park that is technically closed, well, most of it anyway. The Chatfield Trail is the only accessible trail to access this property.
Hidden in the inaccessible part is an abandoned mansion and estate that was gifted to the State of Connecticut. To learn more, read our blog on the topic here.
Spring Skiing
For additional fun things to do in New England in the spring, consider spring skiing. Many ski facilities have the ability to create their own snow even during cooler weather. This makes a good base that can linger as temperatures rise.
Spring skiing is the best of both worlds for avid skiers and first timers alike. The experience is much more enjoyable when you can glide down the mountain without being bundled up like Ralphie’s brother in “A Christmas Story.”
Our favorite Spring skiing spot was usually Butternut in Great Barrington Massachusetts. Butternut offers 10 lifts, 22 trails and even a tubing hill with its own lift hill. In the past, and weather permitting, we have skied into the month of April.
Many other skiing destinations in New England boast skiing into March, possibly April as well. Smugglers Notch in Vermont claims: “Mother Nature offers the outdoor enthusiast some of the best days on the slopes during Springtime in Vermont! Our ski and ride season usually runs through the second weekend in April. The days filled with warm temperatures and blue skies on terrain deeply blanketed by snow during the Winter is what every skier and rider has waited for.”
Fun Things to Do in New England Summer
Summer in New England brings days of hot humid weather and occasional thunderstorms dispersed with more temperate days, featuring bright blue skies, dry air and cool nights. The weather makes it easy to achieve all the stereotypical summer activities such as swimming and boating, with a few local surprises thrown in.
New England Historical Sites: A Must Do Fun Thing in New England
Summer typically means no school, and therefore no history class, but you may find it enjoyable to visit some of New England’s niche historical sites only open in the summer. Gillette Castle, in East Haddam, CT offers a unique view into an actor’s second life as architect.
William Gillette, once an actor and playwright, built an innovative 24 room castle high above the Connecticut River. The mansion is filled with unique architecture and innovations light years ahead of their time.
Gillette designed a one-of-a-kind sprinkler system for his castle, during a time when fire danger was a grave concern. His doors had unique latches that were as decorative as they were functional.
Secret passageways and doors litter the castle, which Gillette used to entertain his guests, or maybe just himself. Additionally, in a time when rural areas did not have electricity, Gillette installed a generator to power portions of his large home.
The Castle is only open for interior tours during the summer months.
If historical architecture is your thing, you might also enjoy a visit to the Newport mansions in Rhode Island. Built by the wealthy barons of the industrial revolution, several were saved from the wrecking ball by the Newport Preservation Society, an organization that has worked tirelessly to restore and tend to this fascinating piece of American history.
You can view the opulence and wealth of the era, as well as how it felt to live the life of a servant, through several self-guided and guided tours.
Summer Beach Fun
One of the most fun things to do in New England in the summer is to hit the beach! With well over 500 miles of shoreline, it is easy to do.
We will share a few of our favorite beaches to help you decide where to spend your beach day. Our favorite Connecticut beach is Hammonasset Beach.
Hammonasset Beach is nestled in Long Island Sound and covers two miles of shoreline. Here you can swim, sunbathe, camp, or walk along the boardwalk. Hammonasset is a great beach for children as the waves are not large and intrusive.
In Rhode Island, we highly recommend Misquamicut State Beach. This beach covers 51 acres and features a playground and large beach pavilion with food and showers.
The waves at Misquamicut Beach are not blocked by Long Island like Connecticut’s Beaches. This makes Misquamicut an ideal beach to boogie board or body surf. Additionally, the surrounding area is full of shops and dining experiences with fresh seafood.
Maine Beaches are known for offering a more private experience paired with stunning beauty. Ogunquit Beach has 3+ miles of pristine white sand and is voted in the top 10 beaches in the entire United States.
Ogunquit is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, beach combing and enjoying family time. The beach is located in the lovely tourist town of Ogunquit which offers dining, shopping, whale watching and fishing opportunities close by.
Lighthouses and Islands
Another fun thing to do in New England in the summer is a Lighthouse Cruise. New England is home to almost 200 lighthouses. Cross Sound Cruises hosts 3 different tours that depart from Connecticut.
Cruises cover multiple lighthouses in Long Island Sound with historical information on each lighthouse narrated by the tour guide. Other tours include Fort Griswold and Fort Trumbull.
For more lighthouse and water fun, consider taking the ferry to Block Island in Rhode Island. Block Island is a 109-square mile island that lies 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island.
Block Island may be small, but it packs a punch when it comes to things to do. On the island you can rent a scooter and tour the island, including the 2 historic lighthouses. There are also plenty of restaurants, shopping, a spa, and many outdoor activities such as horseback riding, swimming, lounging on the beach, biking, hiking and fishing.
Block Island also hosts special events such as concerts, movies on the beach, and nature programs. The events calendar and more info can be found here.
Fun Things to Do in New England Fall
Autumn has a reputation for being full of fun things to do in New England. Fall in New England is crisp morning air, warm afternoons, trees adorned with oranges, yellows, and reds, and everything apple and pumpkin flavored.
Fall Road Trips
The best way to experience New England’s acclaimed brightly colored fall foliage is by taking a road trip. New England is small enough that your road trip could last just a day, but also big enough to stretch your trip into a few days.
When we set out to see fall color, we typically turn out of the driveway, pick a direction and drive. During the fall months, any rolling hill will exhibit the bright fall characteristics you would expect to see.
If winging it is not your style, you may want to follow a pre-planned fall foliage road trip. We recommend Mohawk Trail, or Route 2 in Massachusetts. This 40- mile stretch of backroad highway from Interstate 91 west to Route 7 in Massachusetts displays leaves in stunning color.
This route takes you through small classic New England towns and follows the twists, turns, and rolling hills of a route once used by Native Americans and early settlers. Additionally, in the small town of Shelbourne Falls you will find the Bridge of Flowers, a must see.
For an outline of Mohawk trail and more fall foliage routes, read this complete list by Boston Magazine.
Apple Picking
Apple Picking is a New England tradition as old as New England itself. When coming up with fun things to do in New England in the fall, this one is a no brainer.
Gould Hill Farm in New Hampshire is an excellent apple picking orchard, with a few bonus perks built in. Gould Hill farm is famous for its apples and its view. The boasted “75- mile view” displays the rolling hills, fall foliage and on clear days, as far off as the White Mountains.
While enjoying the view you can pick one, or more of the 80 varieties of apples grown there. A farm stand sells fresh seasonal fruit, and baked goods such as pies, crisps, cookies and muffins and apple cider donuts.
Gould Hill Farm is also home to Contoocook Cider Company, which is open on weekends. Live music is also hosted at the farm on weekends.
Belkin Family Lookout Farm outside of Boston, MA is another solid option if you are looking to apple pick in New England. This farm is one of the oldest continuously worked farms in the United States.
Belkin Family Lookout Farm hosts apple picking, an outdoor dining restaurant, a taproom, and a cider company. Plus a farm stands sells pre-picked seasonal produce, local goods, and baked goods such as cider donuts.
The farm puts on fun events for kids over the weekend such as a train, face painting and more. Although many of these have been suspended during the pandemic.
Get Lost in a Corn Maze
Sauchuk’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch is one of the most popular corn mazes in New England. Sauchuk’s offers a large scale corn maze with a unique design each year. Past corn mazes have shown incredible designs when viewed from above such as horses, football players, Sesame Street characters, Snoopy and the Lincoln Penny.
According to their website, guests who purchase the general admission ticket will be permitted unlimited access to “Corn Mazes and Games, Pumpkin Patch, Jumping Pillows and Pad, Hay Wagon Rides, Zip Lines, Corn Box Building, Cow and Bee Train Rides, Log Playground, Barnyard Ball Zone, Duck Races, Tug O’ War, Barnyard Arcade, Candy Cannon, Kiddie Corral, Spin Browsers, Apple Blasters*, O.K. Corral*, and Much More!”
Another corn maze that makes our list of fun things to do in New England is the Great Vermont Maze, which is the largest corn maze in New England. Here, they actually have two corn mazes, the first being called the “Big Maze,” which covers 24 acres and takes approximately 2 hours to find your way through.
The shorter “Scenic Maze” takes you through a designated route inside the big maze and limits frustration for those who do not enjoy being lost.
Convene with the Witches in Salem, MA
Salem, Massachusetts is home to the infamous Salem Witch trials. To fit in with the history, Salem has many fun events in the month of October as part of Salem’s Haunted Happenings.
There is a vast number of walking tours hosted in Salem. Tours range from informative to fun, and in between. Some tours are guided, while others are self guided, but all the tours explore the history in Salem, MA.
For historical activities that involve less walking, consider visiting one, or many of Salem’s museums. A few museum examples are the Halloween Museum, Gallows Hill Museum, and the New England Pirate Museum. You can find a full list of Salem Museums here.
Additional Salem spooky activities include haunted houses, fairs, seances, and psychics. Salem is also home to endless restaurants, shopping locations and places to stay.
Interesting Things to Do in New England Winter
Cold and snowy winters encourage many residents and visitors to seek indoor amusement, and once again, New England doesn’t disappoint, offering a number of fun things to do.
Museums
With cold and snowy winters and endless history, it is no surprise that museums end up on our list of fun things to do in New England. New England has museums for all ages and interests.
Our favorite museums are the Peabody Museum, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the Submarine Force Museum.
The Peabody Museum in New Haven, CT covers the natural history of the Earth. Exhibits include fossils of early humans, mammalian evolution exhibits, dinosaur exhibits, dioramas of many local animals and an exhibit on daily Egyptian life. There are additional rotating and or temporary exhibits.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum covers all things whaling. It outlines the history of whaling in Massachusetts, and the people who partook in the practice to survive and make a living.
The museum also outlines different types of whales, their stats and what they were used for during whaling times.
The Submarine Force Museum in Groton, CT details life and living on a submarine. You learn about the living conditions, jobs, and entertainment of crews on submarines. The museum even offers the opportunity to tour inside the Nautilus submarine, if you are okay with tight spaces!
The submarine museum also outlines the history of submarines and important events in the timeline to creating modern subs.
GO Kart Racing
Racing on the world’s largest indoor go-cart track in Montville, CT is the best way to spend a cold, blustery New England winter day. The track will fulfill your need for thrills and speed.
Supercharged offers two race tracks, one for more experienced riders, and one for beginners, or those not wishing to race as aggressively. Additionally, Supercharged features a full trampoline park for those who hop to a different thrill.
Duck Pin Bowling- A Traditional Fun Thing to Do in New England
Duck Pin bowling should be on every list of fun things to do in New England; it is a tradition after all. Duck pin bowling can only be found in New England and has been around since early 1900.
Duck pin bowling differs from regular bowling in a few ways. First, duck pin bowling features smaller pins and bowling balls. And, you get three throws per turn, rather than two. If you have not experienced the added challenge of this dying New England sport, you need to.
Wassail Weekend in Vermont
Wassail Vermont hosts the annual Wassail Weekend every December. This weekend festival brings together Victorian Christmas activities from the past.
Visitors can experience candle dipping, cooking demonstrations, gingerbread ornaments, and tour an authentically decorated farmhouse.
On Sunday of the festival, horse drawn carriages carry guests around driven by drivers in period clothing.
Ice Castle: The Coldest Fun Thing to Do in New England
If you are visiting New Hampshire in winter, be sure to visit the Ice Castle for a fun thing to do in New England. The Ice Castle is built each winter, typically opening in January.
Icicles are hand placed by sculptors to create the ice castle, tunnels, slides and more. LED lights are placed inside the castle and grounds for breathtaking effects.
In addition to exploring the ice castle, you can crawl through ice tunnels and slides, take a carriage ride, enjoy snow tubing, and enjoy a nighttime mystic forest walk.
Fun Family Things to Do in New England
Hit the New England Rails: Ride a Train
For fun things to do in New England with families, consider riding one of the many trains that offer passenger tours. The Essex Steam Train in Essex CT has a one-hour train tours or a two and a half hour train and river boat combo ride that explore the Connecticut River Valley.
Hobo Railroad in New Hampton, New Hampshire provides a fall foliage train tour. The tour follows a historic railway in restored railway cars through teems of bright fall foliage. The best time to visit is mid-September through late October.
The Cape Cod Central Railroad traverses 27 miles of track on Cape Cod. This train ride offers a unique way to see otherwise inaccessible parts of the cape. The railroad offers train excursions that last between one to two and a half hours.
Blast into the Past at Sturbridge Village
Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts is one of the fun things to do in New England that can bring history to life for kids and adults alike. Sturbridge village is an immersive experience that transports your family back in time to early colonial times, (late 1700- early 1800s.)
The village is full of period homes, barns, churches, and even a mercantile. Employees at Sturbridge Village dress in colonial era clothing and tend to stay in character while answering questions and explaining daily life for people of the time.
Sturbridge Village offers many programs and activities for children to help feed interest in history and the past.
Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour
Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory, housed in Vermont, is a great activity for ice cream lovers of all ages. The guided tour allows visitors to get an inside look as to the production of this beloved ice cream brand.
An additional gift shop and ice cream parlor sell merchandise, and of course, ice cream.
A VIP tour experience adds the fun of making your own ice cream in the flavor lab.
It’s Easy to Reach all of the Fun Things to Do in New England
While New England may cover several states, don’t let that stop you from planning a trip. Most states are small, so all of the fun is only a short drive away from wherever you’re staying.
Boston is centrally located to all of the activities listed here and can be reached easily, and usually fairly economically, from many locations via Logan International Airport. However, if you plan to visit mostly southern New England attractions (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island), consider flying into Bradley International Airport just north of Hartford, Connecticut and seeking out a nearby bed and breakfast.
No matter how you plan to arrive, you’ll find plenty of fun when you get there.
EXPLORE WITH US
