8 Most Welcoming Towns In New England's Countryside
Parade routes, lighthouse picnics, and a college town where the Appalachian Trail walks right down Main Street: New England's countryside is anything but boring. You can find bonfire nights and farmers markets, art crawls in old textile mills, and lazy boat parades across mountain lakes. Show up in Mystic and you might find yourself in line at the pizza joint that launched Julia Roberts. Show up in Stowe and you'll catch a block party at the foot of Mount Mansfield. These eight towns all have their welcome mat out, with the cider poured and somebody already saving you a seat.
Mystic, Connecticut
Heading toward the shores of Block Island Sound at the southeastern end of Connecticut, the town of Mystic really lives up to its name with its maritime character and silver screen-worthy cuisine. In 1988, a worldwide audience got to know this town as the backdrop of Mystic Pizza, a romantic comedy that marked an early breakthrough for Julia Roberts and an early role for Matt Damon. Nearly four decades later, the real-life Mystic Pizza that inspired the movie is still going strong and continues to serve "a slice of heaven" to those patient enough to wait. For a more low-key local dining experience, Cucina al Pantheon next door serves Italian-American fare inside a historic 1931 granite bank building. For a bigger expedition into local history and culture, the Mystic Seaport Museum has everything from a re-created 19th century seaport village to a working preservation shipyard and historic boat trips out onto the local waters.
Right next to the museum, travelers will find a local gem at the Delamar Mystic. This boutique luxury hotel leans into "nautical sophistication" with its prime waterfront location, dining at La Plage Restaurant & Oyster Bar, the Cure Spa and pool complex, and 31 rooms and suites with Mystic River views.
Washington, Connecticut
Tucked into the Litchfield Hills of western Connecticut, about 93 miles northeast of New York City (New York), is the village of Washington. Just outside of town, the Steep Rock Preserve extends across nearly 998 acres of old-growth hemlock forest and 19th century railroad tunnels. A little farther south, The Institute For American Indian Studies has a museum that lets visitors explore the backstory and the heritage of Connecticut's indigenous peoples, including a life-sized exhibit that reconstructs a traditional pre-colonization Algonkian Village. In town, visitors can refuel at The Po Café, a chef-driven locavore spot that showcases locally grown ingredients.
For more local hospitality, guests can stay and play at the nearby Mayflower Inn and Spa. This Auberge Collection resort makes for a country retreat with its New England-style rooms and suites, full-service spa, and farm-to-table restaurants.
New Shoreham, Rhode Island
On the other side of Block Island Sound lies the actual Block Island and the village of New Shoreham, Rhode Island's offshore haven for classic summertime fun and games. At the southern tip of the island, Mohegan Bluffs features a set of cliffs rising some 200 feet from the Atlantic Ocean shore, and the beach itself is a fantastic spot for experienced surfers to ride some epic waves. For a more peaceful and secluded experience on the coast, Mansion Beach on the north end of the island fits the bill. And for anyone wanting an easygoing and family-friendly beach day, Fred Benson Town Beach (also known locally as Crescent Beach) is great for casual boogie-boarding, swimming, and sunbathing.
After a long day wandering around Block Island's many beaches, folks can head up to the Old Town Inn on Block Island and enjoy a cozy family-run establishment with comfy homestyle guest rooms fully equipped with premium bedding, air conditioning, and renovated bathrooms featuring walk-in rainfall showers.
Edgartown, Massachusetts
Shifting east to the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard, Edgartown combines New England small town character with a long stretch of sandy shores. On the nearby Chappaquiddick Island (easily accessible by a short ferry ride), Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge protects a historic lighthouse that has marked the harbor since 1801, with miles of sandy shore that serve as critical habitat for birds like piping plovers, least terns, and oystercatchers. Back on the main island, South Beach offers another long stretch of soft sand to stretch out and relax. And right in town, Edgartown Harbor Light marks the harbor entrance from a station first established in 1828; the present cast-iron tower was built in 1881 (originally in Ipswich) and moved here in 1939, and now sits beside a calm and inviting sandy beach area under the auspices of the Martha's Vineyard Museum.
Right across the street from Edgartown Harbor Light, Harbor View Hotel is a Vineyard fixture. Guests can expect a posh assortment of recently renovated rooms and suites located across three buildings and additional amenities like a heated pool area, complimentary bicycle loans, summertime lawn games, and three dining options on site.
North Adams, Massachusetts
Perched near Massachusetts' northwestern corner, around 44 miles east of Albany (New York), is the artsy and outdoorsy town of North Adams. A key highlight here is MASS MoCA, one of North America's largest museums dedicated to contemporary art, and one that showcases a wide range of performing arts events. Within an easy walk from the museum, visitors can also check out Eclipse Mill, a 19th century textile mill that has been transformed into live-work space for local artists with galleries open to the public. To the south of town, Mount Greylock State Reservation preserves the state's tallest peak (at 3,489 feet above sea level) and a wide expanse of Taconic wilderness. And up by the Vermont state line, Clarksburg State Park extends across some 368 acres of leafy hardwood forest and makes a great place for animal lovers to look out for native wildlife like moose and otters in the wild.
Returning to town, and to MASS MoCA, The Porches Inn is a boutique hotel with a convenient downtown location and cozy guest rooms sporting special touches like fine Italian linens, Tivoli Bluetooth radios, and streaming-ready smart TVs.
Stowe, Vermont
Heading up to the verdant Green Mountains of Vermont, Stowe may be best known as "The Ski Capital of the East," but it is also a mountain town worth visiting during the warmer months. Smugglers' Notch State Park makes a great place to explore, with cliffs rising nearly 1,000 feet on either side of the pass and a backstory as a route used to continue trade with Canada (even when it was legally restricted, hence the region's name). Nearby, Stowe Mountain Resort includes Vermont's highest peak at Mount Mansfield (4,393 feet above sea level) and a wide network of trails for hiking and biking. And at Wiessner Woods, visitors can hike through a lush hardwood and softwood mixed forest, and potentially even spot native wildlife like foxes, coyotes, salamanders, and frogs.
Just around the corner from Wiessner Woods sits Topnotch Resort, a sleek Vermont-style mountain lodge complete with deluxe and spacious rooms and suites, the full-service Topnotch Spa, a fully equipped tennis center, and multiple restaurants on site.
Hanover, New Hampshire
Around 127 miles northwest of Boston (Massachusetts) sits Hanover, a New Hampshire town where the Appalachian Trail leads to Ivy League cultural treasures. Yes, the Appalachian Trail really passes through the town, and it is worth taking the trail to Moose Mountain Ridge for a satisfyingly challenging hike into the forest. Or, folks can head down the South Esker Trail for Connecticut River views. For a cultural excursion, Dartmouth College has a wealth of treasures, including the Hood Museum of Art, the Hopkins Center for the Arts (performing arts venue), and the art-adorned Dartmouth Library.
Just across the street from the historic Dartmouth Green, the Hanover Inn at Dartmouth is a AAA Four Diamond boutique hotel that has been welcoming guests to town for over 225 years. Today, they offer up-to-date rooms and suites with 21st century amenities like high-speed wifi internet, large flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffee machines, and Gilchrist and Soames bath products, and they serve award-winning cuisine at their Pine at the Hanover Inn restaurant.
Rangeley, Maine
Tucked high in the Western Maine Mountains is the lakeside village of Rangeley, a corner of the Appalachians to escape the troubles of the outside world. At Rangeley Lake State Park, visitors can dip into this nine-mile-long lake and enjoy an easy day boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and camping. Also in the area sits Rangeley Lakes Trail Center, which anchors the region's extensive network of hike and bike trails. For those who want to tee off, Evergreen Golf Club is a nine-hole course with five sets of tees on each hole, a set of practice greens, a driving range, a pro shop, and plenty for golfers at all levels.
Heading back to Rangeley Lake, visitors will also find The Rangeley Inn & Tavern. This hotel features recently renovated rooms and suites (some with private lakeview decks), along with a tavern that is regularly open for dinner and drinks.
A Warm Welcome At These New England Towns
New England has a surprising variety of towns where travelers will feel welcome and at home. Up in Maine, Rangeley is a mountain town where lakeside living is the draw. In New Hampshire, Hanover is an adventurous college town by the Connecticut River. Heading over to Vermont, Stowe sits at the foot of Mount Mansfield. Off Massachusetts' mainland coast, Edgartown shines with beaches and historic lighthouses. Keeping it coastal in Rhode Island, New Shoreham has its own beaches along the shores of Block Island. And the Connecticut town of Washington offers a slice of country life within reach of the Tri-State metro region. With this much across New England, it is easy to feel the welcome and keep coming back for more.
