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NEW ENGLAND GETAWAYS

Looking for Things to Do in New England?

Travel tips and "trips" for your New England getaway. Select a day trip or string them together to create your own New England travel adventure.

Things to Do in New England

New England travel is a unique experience. In four hours or less you can traverse the six states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

In this region, the present is still anchored firmly in the past, taking you on a whirlwind trip through prehistoric dinosaur trails, Native American cultures, and early English colonization.

If you're visiting the area from afar, consider flying into Hartford, Connecticut for central access to the major metropolitan areas of Boston and New York City and other attractions nearby.

If you’re already here, then pick a day trip below, or search for your own unique experience. There are plenty of things to do in New England.

Why Visit New England?

Where to Go and What to Do

Find your New England Getaway

A collage of images from New England Day trips
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Best New England Day Trips to Take This Spring

By Kathleen Hesketh | June 5, 2024

Spring is fickle in the Northeast, but this list of the 8 best New England day trips will reward you for taking a trip outside, no matter how the weather is behaving. The Best Day Trips in New England If autumn is New England’s glorious crown, then spring is her dedicated servant, setting up the … Read more

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dachshund on pumpkins at New England fall fair
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New England Fall Activities, Planning Your Bucket List Destination

By Kathleen Hesketh | September 15, 2021

Last update: September 2024 Riotous color, historical surprises, dark night skies and some not-so-traditional sights and sounds of the season—New England fall activities are a delight that you’ll want to add to your travel bucket list. We’ve gathered the best activities across the region to get you on your way and help you enjoy the … Read more

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New England Fall Activities

Your Bucket List Fall Destination

Your guide to New England's traditional and not-so-traditional autumn happenings

Walking towards the Nautilus at the Submarine Force Museum
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Submerged at Submarine Force Museum in Connecticut

By Ali Patton | May 21, 2024

The Submarine Force Museum in Groton CT is home to all things submarine, including working periscopes and the USS Nautilus. The Nautilus is submerged in water outside the museum and is open for tours. The Story of the Submarine Force Museum’s USS Nautilus In 1951, Congress authorized the construction of the Nautilus submarine. “Underway on … Read more

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Lowell National Historic Park: Bringing the Industrial Revolution Back to Life

By Ali Patton | April 11, 2024

A visit to Lowell National Historic Park is a visit back in time to the 19th century during the peak of the Industrial Revolution. Located in the heart of the city of Lowell Massachusetts, Lowell National Historic Park doesn’t provide views of nature and wildlife like other national parks, but rather a deep delve into … Read more

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The world's largest indoor go kart track at Supercharged
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Go Kart Racing In Connecticut – Thrill on the World’s Largest Indoor Track

By Kathleen Hesketh | March 7, 2024

Our First Experience Go Kart Racing on the World’s Largest Indoor Track Speed is not a thrill I typically pursue, so I approached Supercharged go kart racing in Connecticut with a fair degree of trepidation. Supercharged offers two racetracks. One is more compact, offering thrill enthusiasts a high number of hairpin turns. While some are … Read more

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UTVs driving through water, an unusual adventure in Connecticut
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High-Adrenaline Excitement in the Litchfield Hills: ATV Rental Connecticut – Backyard Adventures

By Kathleen Hesketh | March 7, 2024

Home to revolutionary-war heroes and colonial mansions, renting an ATV in Connecticut may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering adventurous outdoor pursuits. In fact, the state has been shorted when it comes to high-adrenaline adventure. We’re talking about scrambling over rocky screes and blasting through the sodden leaf-strewn underbelly of … Read more

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Bowling shoes in front of a duckpin bowling alley in Connecticut.
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Duckpin Bowling in Connecticut: Do It While You Can

By Kathleen Hesketh | February 18, 2024

Duckpin bowling in Connecticut is a traditional sport that is fun for all ages. Find a lane near you and learn more about this fading art. Duckpin Bowling Traditions in Connecticut It’s our family tradition when we are in Connecticut to go duckpin bowling on the day after Christmas. We descend upon Ducks on the … Read more

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When the Leaves Fall

Autumn in Connecticut

Connecticut shows she knows how to put on some color in these autumn adventures.

Amazing New England

Incredible New England hikes and places you have to see to believe

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Rock House Reservation: Visit Massachusetts’ Slot Canyon

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 26, 2024

Travel across New England is filled with surprises, particularly when you stumble across Rock House Reservation. I never expected to find the equivalent of a slot canyon (Think Zion National Park and southern Utah) in the woods of Central Massachusetts, but Rock House Reservation features a similar, if much smaller, geographical phenomenon. Nestled amidst the … Read more

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spooner well
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The Murderous Tragedy of Spooner Well in Central Massachusetts

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 23, 2024

Few people realize that the small town of Brookfield in Central Massachusetts is responsible for raising the first woman to be executed in the new America republic. However, Spooner Well, a sad and lonely spot on the old Boston Post Road, commemorates the occasion with a single lone marker. It’s the place where Joshua Spooner … Read more

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Rescued Animals Find a Ray of Light in Connecticut

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 22, 2024

It isn’t every day that you find an interesting travel destination that also offers hope for rescued animals, but Ray of Light Farm in Connecticut is just such a place. Nestled in the back roads of East Haddam, not far from the famous Gillette Castle mansion, the farm offers sanctuary to abandoned animals as well … Read more

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Sad Tales, Historic Remains: Lovers Leap Connecticut

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 16, 2023

Many of New England’s hikes blend history with the modern day, but few do it as seamlessly as the trails at Lovers Leap State Park in Connecticut. Explore history against the modern backdrop of the state’s rural New Milford countryside and learn a thing or two about local legends. It’s up to you to decide … Read more

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A Former Stage Actor Builds Gillette Castle in Connecticut, Hides Its Secrets for Years

By Kathleen Hesketh | September 10, 2021

Traveling across New England, it isn’t uncommon to find historical residences, but Gillette Castle in Connecticut sets the stage, so to speak, for a unique experience and day trip. Entering the twilight years of his life, actor, playwright, director and innovator, William Gillette, built a stone house atop the Seven Sisters mountain range overlooking the … Read more

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Heublein Tower as viewed from the top of the Heublein Tower Hike on Talcott Mountain
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Heublein Tower Hike: Views Atop the Talcott Ridge

By Ali Patton | May 6, 2020

What started out as a lavish gift from a loving husband to his wife, is now one of the best hikes in Connecticut. The Heublein Tower hike and trail, located atop Talcott Mountain and just west of Hartford, offers views as far as Massachusetts. I grew up hiking Talcott Mountain and visiting the tower with … Read more

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