What are some must see/must do/ must eat things while traveling in the New England Region?

Question

I'm looking to do some traveling in the New England region. Other than some historic sites, I'm really not sure what all there is to do. Can anyone suggest something that I have to see, or do, or the best of all local food that I must try???

Answer 1

New England has a lot of things to see/do, depends on where in New England you plan to be and when?

If shopping is your thing -
Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay area
Kittery, ME outlet shops
Freeport, ME (LL Bean store open 24x7 everyday except xmas, plus there are loads of outlet stores in Freeport)

Sight seeing -------

Salem, MA- best if you can be there in October.
Rockport, MA - seaside, quaint spot
Marblehead, MA - many 1700's homes built on the coast, cool place to drive through, near Salem.
Boston, MA - freedom trail, north end (Hanover St.) Italian neighborhood for dinner/experience, Kennedy library, Fenway park
Newport, RI - as mentioned, the mansions and associated history is very interesting.
Kennebunkport ME, quaint spot, similar to Rockport, Bush summer home at Walkers Point.
Portland, ME, Old Port area

Food -

Lobster Roll
Steamed Lobster dinner
Flo's hot dogs (Cape Neddick, ME)
Fried Clams (Cape Ann - near
Clam Chowder & Fish Chowder
Summer ice cream stands (Kimball's Farm in MA for example)
checkout www.chowhound.com for specific recommendations for the towns you might visit.

Answer 2

Kittery, Maine is yet another run-of-the-mill outlet mall. It is far from local flavor.

Gloucester, Mass. Great little town, and a pub in the basement of a building has the best clam chowder I've ever eaten. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name. From the visitors center, head away from the water one block. At the corner, the wrong end of a one-way street, is a pub at sidewalk level, but the basement. That's the place. When there, drive the loop around the point to Rockport. It was closed up like a drum when I was there, but I could tell it was a very arty community with interesting things to do / see.

Portsmouth, NH, also a great place to walk around. Quaint shops, good restaurants, history.

Ogunquit, ME. The Ogunquit Lobster Pound is wonderful. I can't eat lobster (allergy), but they have a wild mushroom ravioli in roasted red pepper sauce that's heavenly. Also in Ogunquit is Mehkong Thai II, the best Thai fried rice I've ever eaten. Don't miss the Harbour Candy Shoppe, right on Rt. 1. This has become a family tradition to order for holidays. Everyone has said it's the best chocolate they've ever eaten.

Wells, ME has a great beach for walking, water is too cold from swimming. The Haystack has a delicious blueberry pie - good food too, but dessert is always more important. Right before the turn to Kennebunkport is the Maine Diner. MUST GO FOR BREAKFAST. The lunch and dinner food is good too, but the Twos are Wild (2 blueberry pancakes, 2 bacon, 2 sausage links, 2 eggs, toast) is huge and delicious. I usually split w/ my mom. Also have a steak and eggs that's London broil, very, very good.

Portland, ME has a great waterfront. Arty shops, etc. Many good restaurants, but the best are the ones by the docks where the local fishermen eat. The best fish and chips.

Bath, ME has a shipbuilding museum. This was way more interesting than I thought it would be, to the point I missed the one building that is haunted to the point it doesn't let down - darn the luck.

Boothbay Harbor, ME is super cute. Steep for walking, but it does the calves good. No standout food, but everywhere I have eaten is good.

Oh, I could go on and on. Newport, RI is a must see if you like to gawk at houses larger than anything you could possibly imagine. Some are open for tours.

Oh, I'll stop. Information overload!!

Answer 3

Shopping in Kittery, Maine, always fun... North Conway, NH is beautiful, especially around rte 16 and 302 and more shopping, but more along the lines of unique stores, and really, if you want to eat true New England, Maine lobster in Ogunquit, NE clam chowder anywhere. Yummy!!!!
Mystic Seaport and Aquarium is always fun, especially with kids, and Newport, RI has the mansions, great restaurants with all different price points and of course, my favorite.... shopping!