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New England, a region worth discoveringBy Helen Price
With its almost genteel air, New England is different to other parts of the US. The pace of life is slower – pleasantly so – and there is a great sense of tradition. (The British connection may not in itself be a reason for visiting, but it is certainly part of the New England experience.) Even the capital, Boston, is laid back, and people actually get around on foot, something that is virtually unheard of in other US cities. And although Americans from other states are far from being unfriendly, New Englanders are even more personable – I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve pulled over to ask for directions and been drawn into conversation.
But there is much, much more to New England than its coastline, and the great variety of the landscapes is yet another reason why I love it. In New Hampshire, we decided to focus on the majestic White Mountains (so named because they are often capped with snow). There are 48 peaks over 4,000ft (the highest is Mount Washington at 6,288ft), and some 1,200 miles of paths for all levels, as well as many really scenic drives. In neighbouring Vermont, we again feature the mountains, though these aren’t white but green. In fact, it’s the Green Mountains that give the state its name – French explorer Samuel de Champlain called them the Monts Verts, hence Vermont. They’re not as high as the White Mountains, and in fact Vermont, famous for its covered bridges, steepled white churches and forests of maple trees (which provide not only maple syrup but also the superb fall colours in late September and early October), feels much more open. My other favourite inn, the Blueberry Hill Inn, is here, right in the heart of the Green Mountain National Forest. Set at the end of a dirt road, it’s not the easiest place to find, not least because very few signposts are allowed in the forest, but it’s certainly worth it. The innkeeper, Tony Clark, grew up in Britain but settled in Vermont after falling in love with the place on a trip as a student. I must admit that my typical British reserve meant that initially I wasn’t particularly keen on the idea of communal dining, but the atmosphere is so relaxed at the inn that everyone immediately feels at ease, and I actually really appreciated the opportunity to chat with fellow guests over the superb cuisine. (On the subject of food, I should also mention here that the Blueberry Hill’s cookies are the best I’ve ever tasted.) If fishing is your thing, you can have a go at fly fishing on the inn’s pond, or you may prefer to explore the 60 miles of trails that lead from the door.
If you are interested in a holiday to New England, please email us with your queries. We will be happy to tailor-make an itinerary to suit your exact requirements. You can find practical information about New England in our ‘planning your trip’ guide.  |
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It’s
not often that a virtual stranger offers you a lift in his six-seater
plane, or not where I come from, at any rate. I was attending a tourism
conference in Vermont on my first ever trip to New England and faced a
long and complicated journey via Boston to reach Down East Maine where
I was going to spend a few days visiting inns. What this chap was suggesting
would take hours off my journey, and I couldn’t believe my luck.
Yet I’ve since discovered that kindness like this is not uncommon
in New England, and for me the openness, genuine hospitality and trustfulness
(Vermonters, in particular, rarely lock their car or house doors) of the
people is part of the allure. 
It
was after much research and (luckily for me) numerous visits that we decided
on the areas that were to feature in the Inntravel programme. In Maine,
which is larger than the other five New England states combined, the coastal
region known as Down East Maine was the obvious choice. Just south of
the Canadian border, this is much further north than many Americans venture,
and I love it. It feels completely undiscovered and is not what you’d
expect at all. In fact, I think the best way to describe it is as an old-fashioned
Cornwall, characterised by a rocky coastline, traditional fishing villages,
sturdy lighthouses, some 3,250 (mostly uninhabited) tiny islands and swathes
of pine forest criss-crossed with rushing rivers and dotted with literally
thousands of lakes and ponds. One of my two very favourite New England
inns is located here: the intimate 
The
other coastal region that we feature is Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Chatham,
our chosen base on the Cape, is full of character, and just how you’d
expect Cape Cod to be like, with lots of tempting small shops. The colourful
resort of Provincetown, the departure point for more whale-watching trips,
is close by, and from Chatham it is also possible to take a day trip to
the wonderfully unspoiled island of Nantucket, thirty miles off the coast,
where you can hire bikes and spend the day pottering about on two wheels
past the numerous lighthouses and lovely beaches. (To preserve the island’s
charm, neon signs and fast food joints are banned, which is just fantastic.)
In
fact, Blueberry Hill Inn features on our walking and touring holiday, the