Where to Go in New England

Here's a list I put together for a friend (with a map showing the locations relative to New York):

Mystic, Connecticut

-         Mystic Seaport (http://www.mysticseaport.org): Tall ships and a recreated 19^th-century shipping village.

Newport, Rhode Island (http://www.gonewport.com)

-         Newport Mansions (http://www.newportmansions.org): Mansions of wealthy families (Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, etc.).  I visited several with my family when we were there (I was 11), but I only remember The Breakers.

-         Newport Historical District (http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=759&ResourceType=District): Well-preserved colonial architecture

Fall River, Massachusetts

-         Battleship Cove (http://www.battleshipcove.org): Collection of World War II-era battleships with a military museum.

Plymouth, Massachuetts

-         Plimouth Plantation (http://www.plimoth.org): Historical reenactment of one of the first settlements in what became the United States.

-         Plymouth Rock (http://www.plymrock.org): Where the Mayflower is supposed to have landed.  A tourist trap for over 250 years.

Boston, Massachusetts

-         Boston Common: Central Park for Boston.  Visit the Public Garden (home of the famous ‘Make Way for Ducklings’ statue commemorating the children’s book of the same name) and the Lagoon (home of the Swan Boats [http://www.swanboats.com])

-         Boston Children’s Museum (http://www.bostonkids.org)

-         Freedom Trail: Starts at the Boston Common and visits most of the city’s famous sites (http://www.cityofboston.gov/FreedomTrail/).  Guided tours are available at 148 Tremont Street near the Common at 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 1:30 PM, 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM (https://store.thefreedomtrail.org/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2)

-         Clam Chowder: Although you can get clam chowder anywhere in the United States, it has always found its home in Boston.  CitySearch put together a listing of the best spots to get a cup: http://boston.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/2007/clam_chowder

-         Museum of Science (http://www.mos.org): Excellent exhibits

-         Quincy Market: Historic district downtown – a bit touristy.

Concord, MA

-         Minute Man National Historic Park (http://www.nps.gov/mima/): Visit the Battle Road, where the Battle of Concord took place on April 19, 1775, and the Old North Bridge, the site of the Shot Heard ‘Round the World, as described by poet Ralph Waldo Emerson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord_Hymn (and, as US schoolchildren will tell you, later featured in the 1970s educational film series Schoolhouse Rockhttp://www.school-house-rock.com/Shot.html) (warning - the web site plays the annoying song).

Portsmouth, NH(http://www2.preservationnation.org/dozen_distinctive_destinations/2008/Portsmouth)

-         Strawberry Banke (http://www.strawberrybanke.org): Historic district featuring colonial and federal architecture

-         Isles of Shoals: Small islands off the coast, viewable from scenic tour boats (http://www.islesofshoals.com/tickets/index.php?page=shop/browse&category_id=2fd1022ccc3a56c1f878cd899a22c469)

Portland, ME

-         Old Port Exchange: Revitalized warehouse district featuring the 1807 Portland Observatory signal tower.  Restored Victorian houses

Bar Harbor, ME

-         Acadia National Park (http://www.nps.gov/acad): The most beautiful and best-preserved section of the Maine coastline.