USA · Destination Guide
Boston and New England
USA
New England is one of the most rewarding parts of the United States to travel in. It is compact enough to cover properly in a week or two, and it offers an extraordinary variety of experiences in a relatively small area. Boston is one of the great American cities, and the coastline north through New Hampshire and into Maine is some of the most beautiful in the country.
The classic trip combines a few days in Boston with a road trip up the coast of Maine, finishing in the spectacular landscape of Acadia National Park. It works brilliantly at any time of year but autumn, when the fall foliage turns New England into a blaze of red, orange and gold, is genuinely one of the world's great travel experiences.
Boston is America's most European city, with a walkable historic centre, an extraordinary concentration of universities and museums, and a genuine neighbourhood character that bigger American cities often lack. Start with the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile walking route connecting 16 historic sites including Paul Revere's House and the Old North Church. Beacon Hill, with its gas-lit cobblestone streets and Federal-style townhouses, is one of the most beautiful urban neighbourhoods in America. The Museum of Fine Arts is world-class. Fenway Park, the oldest major league baseball stadium in the USA, is a pilgrimage for anyone who loves American sport and history.
The best areas to stay are Back Bay for its elegant brownstones and proximity to everything, Beacon Hill for atmosphere and walkability, or South End for the best restaurants and a more neighbourhood feel.
Drive north from Boston and within two hours you are in a completely different world. The Maine coast is rocky, dramatic and dotted with charming harbour towns. Kennebunkport, the most elegant of the coastal villages, has beautiful old sea captain's houses, excellent restaurants and the kind of unspoilt harbour that does not exist much anymore. Portland is Maine's largest city and has one of the finest food scenes on the East Coast, with its Old Port waterfront, craft breweries and lobster shacks. The Portland Head Light lighthouse, built in 1791, is one of the most photographed in America.
Maine in autumn is one of the world's great sights. The forests turn extraordinary colours and the coast is crisp, golden and utterly beautiful.
The jewel of the New England coast is Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, reached via the charming town of Bar Harbor. The park combines mountains, ocean and forests in a landscape unlike anywhere else on the East Coast. The sunrise from the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the US Atlantic seaboard, is unforgettable. The Park Loop Road is a superb scenic drive and the network of carriage roads through the park is perfect for cycling.
June to August is peak season and the warmest time, with all seafood shacks and coastal businesses fully open. September and October are arguably even better, with warm days, cool evenings, fewer crowds and the extraordinary fall foliage. Boston is a year-round destination, though winters can be very cold.
Direct flights from UK airports serve Boston Logan International Airport, typically with journey times of around seven to eight hours. Boston is also the natural gateway for a New England road trip, with car hire available at the airport.
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