Planning a trip to New England

Fast Facts

Disabled Travelers -- Public transit in major cities is largely accessible. Most brand-name hotels are accessible, but smaller historic properties (even luxury inns) sometimes aren’t. The National Park Service’s Access Pass is available at no cost to disabled travelers; it gives pass bearers free lifetime entry to national parks, including Acadia National Park and the Cape Cod National Seashore. You can get the pass at any national park. For more information, go to www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm.

Drinking Laws -- The legal age for purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages is 21 in all six New England states; proof of age is required and often requested at bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, so it's always a good idea to bring ID when you go out. Do not carry open containers of alcohol in your car or any public area that isn’t zoned for alcohol consumption. The police can fine you on the spot (although in Connecticut and Rhode Island, it is legal for passengers in a vehicle, but not the driver, to consume alcohol). Don’t even think about driving while intoxicated.

Emergencies -- For fire, police, and ambulance, find any phone and dial tel. 911. If this fails, dial tel. 0 (zero) and report an emergency.

Family Travel -- New England has traditionally been a destination for family summer vacations, particularly in the beach towns along the coast. There are plenty of family-oriented attractions and several sites that are a great way for kids to learn about American history. Be sure to ask about family discounts when visiting attractions. Note, however, that a fair number of small inns cater only to adults or require that children be a minimum age. We’ve noted such restrictions in our listings in the various state sections.

Gasoline (Petrol) -- New England’s gas prices are a bit higher than the U.S. average; at press time, the price was somewhere around $3.00 per gallon. There are very few “full-service” gas stations in New England—you’ll generally have to pump your own gas—and, if you do find one, you’ll often pay up to 10 cents extra per gallon. Taxes are always included in the listed per-gallon price of gas. International travelers should note that 1 U.S. gallon equals 3.8 liters or .85 imperial gallons.

Health -- All large and small cities in New England maintain good hospital facilities, and some smaller towns have them, too. The quality of care is very good here. If health is a serious issue for you, check ahead with your accommodations (or search for options online) to find the nearest emergency-room service or 24-hour clinic.

Insurance -- General -- Use insurance marketplaces such as InsureMyTrip.com and SquareMouth.com. Both work with only vetted companies and will quickly give you an array of possible policies, based on your age and travel plans.

Insurance -- Health Insurance -- Although it's not required of travelers, health insurance is highly recommended. Most health insurance policies cover you if you get sick away from home -- but check your coverage before you leave.

International visitors to the U.S. should note that, unlike many European countries, the United States does not usually offer free or low-cost medical care to its citizens or visitors. Doctors and hospitals are expensive and, in most cases, will require advance payment or proof of coverage before they render their services. Good policies will cover the costs of an accident, repatriation, or death. Packages such as Europ Assistance's Worldwide Healthcare Plan are sold by European automobile clubs and travel agencies at attractive rates. Worldwide Assistance Services, Inc. (tel. 800/777-8710), is the agent for Europ Assistance in the United States. Though lack of health insurance may prevent you from being admitted to a hospital in nonemergencies, don't worry about being left on a street corner to die: The American way is to fix you now and bill the daylights out of you later.

If you're ever hospitalized more than 150 miles from home, MedjetAssist (tel. 800/527-7478) will pick you up and fly you to the hospital of your choice in a medically equipped and staffed aircraft 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Annual memberships are $225 individual, $350 family; you can also purchase short-term memberships.

Canadians should check with their provincial health plan offices or call Health Canada (tel. 866/225-0709) to find out the extent of their coverage and what documentation and receipts they must take home in case they are treated in the United States.

Travelers from the U.K. should carry their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which replaced the E111 form as proof of entitlement to free/reduced-cost medical treatment abroad (tel. 0845 606 2030). Note, however, that the EHIC covers only "necessary medical treatment," and for repatriation costs, lost money, baggage, or cancellation, travel insurance from a reputable company should always be sought (visit www.travelinsuranceweb.com).

As a safety net, you may want to buy travel medical insurance, particularly if you're traveling to a remote or high-risk area where emergency evacuation might be necessary. If you require additional medical insurance, try MEDEX Assistance (tel. 410/453-6300) or Travel Assistance International (tel. 800/821-2828; for general information on services, call the company's Worldwide Assistance Services, Inc., at tel. 800/777-8710).

Travel Insurance -- The cost of travel insurance varies widely, depending on the destination, the cost and length of your trip, your age and health, and the type of trip you're taking, but expect to pay between 5% and 8% of the vacation itself. You can get estimates from various providers through InsureMyTrip.com. Enter your trip cost and dates, your age, and other information, for prices from more than a dozen companies.

U.K. citizens and their families who make more than one trip abroad per year may find an annual travel insurance policy works out cheaper. Check www.moneysupermarket.com, which compares prices across a wide range of providers for single- and multitrip policies.

Most big travel agents offer their own insurance and will probably try to sell you their package when you book a holiday. Think before you sign. Britain's Consumers' Association recommends that you insist on seeing the policy and reading the fine print before buying travel insurance. The Association of British Insurers (tel. 020/7600-3333) gives advice by phone and publishes Holiday Insurance, a free guide to policy provisions and prices. You might also shop around for better deals: Try Columbus Direct (tel. 0870/033-9988).

Trip Cancellation Insurance -- Trip-cancellation insurance will help retrieve your money if you have to back out of a trip or depart early, or if your travel supplier goes bankrupt. Trip cancellation traditionally covers such events as sickness, natural disasters, and State Department advisories. The latest news in trip-cancellation insurance is the availability of expanded hurricane coverage and the "any-reason" cancellation coverage -- which costs more but covers cancellations made for any reason. You won't get back 100% of your prepaid trip cost, but you'll be refunded a substantial portion. TravelSafe (tel. 888/885-7233) offers both types of coverage. Expedia also offers any-reason cancellation coverage for its air-hotel packages. For details, contact one of the following recommended insurers: Access America (tel. 866/807-3982), Travel Guard International (tel. 800/826-4919), Travel Insured International (tel. 800/243-3174), or Travelex Insurance Services (tel. 888/457-4602).

Internet Access -- You’ll have little trouble finding a coffee shop or hotel with Wi-Fi access. A few hotels still charge a fee for this service. Some more historic buildings may not be equipped with Wi-Fi in all rooms, but there’s usually a hot spot somewhere for guests to use. On some of the more remote islands and country areas, service may be spotty. Most public libraries in the New England states—even those in small towns—offer free Internet access.

Legal Aid -- If you are “pulled over” for a minor infraction (such as speeding), never attempt to pay the fine directly to a police officer; this could be construed as attempted bribery, a much more serious crime. Pay fines by mail, or directly into the hands of the clerk of the court. If accused of a more serious offense, say and do nothing before consulting a lawyer. Here, the burden is on the state to prove a person’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and everyone has the right to remain silent, whether he or she is suspected of a crime or actually arrested. Once arrested, a person should contact a family member, trusted friend, or attorney as soon as possible. International visitors should call their embassy or consulate.

LGBT Travelers -- New England has a strong LGBT community and destinations that draw LGBT travelers from all over the world including Provincetown and Northampton, MA, and Ogunquit, ME. The Vermont Gay Tourism Association’s website showcases LGBT-friendly lodgings, shops, and restaurants.

Lost & Found -- Be sure to tell all of your credit card companies the minute you discover your wallet has been lost or stolen and file a report at the nearest police precinct. Your credit card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the loss. Most credit card companies have an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is lost or stolen; they may be able to wire you a cash advance immediately or deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two.

Visa's U.S. emergency number is tel. 800/847-2911 or 410/581-9994. American Express cardholders and traveler's check holders should call tel. 800/221-7282. MasterCard holders should call tel. 800/307-7309 or 636/722-7111. For other credit cards, call the toll-free number directory at tel. 800/555-1212.

If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks and American Express offices are closed, you can have money wired to you via Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com).

Mail -- At press time, domestic postage rates were 35¢ for a postcard and 50¢ for a letter. For international mail, a first-class letter of up to 1 ounce costs $1.15; a first-class postcard costs the same as a letter. For more information go to www.usps.com and click on "Calculate Postage."

If you aren't sure what your address will be in the United States, mail can be sent to you, in your name, c/o General Delivery at the main post office of the city or region where you expect to be. (Call tel. 800/275-8777 for information on the nearest post office.) The addressee must pick up mail in person and must produce proof of identity (driver's license, passport, and so on). Most post offices will hold your mail for up to 1 month, and are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Always include zip codes when mailing items in the U.S. If you don't know your zip code, visit www.usps.com/zip4.

Maps -- All the New England states offer free maps at well-stocked visitor information centers; ask at the counter if you don't see them. For incredibly detailed maps, consider purchasing one or more of the DeLorme atlases, which depict every road and stream, along with many hiking trails and access points for canoes. DeLorme's headquarters and map store (tel. 800/561-5105 or 800/642-0970) are in Yarmouth, Maine, but their products are available at bookstores and convenience stores throughout the region.

Medical Conditions -- If you have a medical condition that requires syringe-administered medications, carry a valid signed prescription from your physician; syringes in carry-on baggage will be inspected. Insulin in any form should have the proper pharmaceutical documentation. If you have a disease that requires treatment with narcotics, you should also carry documented proof with you -- smuggling narcotics aboard a plane carries severe penalties in the U.S.

For HIV-positive visitors, requirements for entering the United States are somewhat vague and change frequently. For up-to-the-minute information, contact AIDSinfo (tel. 800/448-0440 or 301/519-6616 outside the U.S.; www.aidsinfo.nih.gov) or the Gay Men's Health Crisis (tel. 212/367-1000; www.gmhc.org).

Newspapers & Magazines -- Almost every small city and town has a daily or weekly newspaper covering local happenings. The largest daily papers include the Boston Globe (Massachusetts), Hartford Courant (Connecticut), Portland Press Herald (Maine), Manchester Union Leader (New Hampshire), and Burlington Free Press (Vermont). Boston, Burlington, Portland, and a few other cities also have free alternative weeklies that are very handy sources of information on concerts and shows at local clubs. The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times are also distributed widely throughout New England, although they can sometimes be hard to find in small or remote towns.

Passports -- The websites listed provide downloadable passport applications, as well as the current fees for processing applications. For an up-to-date, country-by-country listing of passport requirements around the world, go to the "International Travel" tab of the U.S. State Department at http://travel.state.gov. International visitors to the U.S. can obtain a visa application at the same website. Note: Children are required to present a passport when entering the United States at airports. More information on obtaining a passport for a minor can be found at http://travel.state.gov. Allow plenty of time before your trip to apply for a passport; processing normally takes 4-6 weeks (3 weeks for expedited service) but can take longer during busy periods (especially spring). And keep in mind that if you need a passport in a hurry, you'll pay a higher processing fee.

For Residents of Australia -- You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For Residents of Canada -- Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca). Note: Canadian children who travel must have their own passport. However, if you hold a valid Canadian passport issued before December 11, 2001, that bears the name of your child, the passport remains valid for you and your child until it expires.

For Residents of Ireland -- You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and over 65 must apply for a 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 21/494-4700), or at most main post offices.

For Residents of New Zealand -- You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office or download it from their website. Contact the Passports Office at tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100, or log on to www.passports.govt.nz.

For Residents of the United Kingdom -- To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-yr. passport for children under 16), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency, or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410 or search its website at www.ukpa.gov.uk.

For Residents of the United States -- Whether you're applying in person or by mail, you can download passport applications from the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov. To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. State Department website or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.

Police -- For police, dial tel. 911. If this fails, dial 0 (zero) and report an emergency.

Senior Travel -- New England offers older travelers a wide array of activities. Mention you’re a senior whenever you make travel reservations. Travelers over 65 (and sometimes younger) qualify for reduced admission to theaters, museums, ski resorts, and other attractions, as well as discounted fares on public transportation. The National Park Service’s Senior Pass is available for $80 to travelers age 62 and over; it gives pass bearers free lifetime entry to national parks, including Acadia National Park and the Cape Cod National Seashore. You can get the pass at any national park. For more information, go to www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm.

Smoking -- Smoking is banned in all workplaces and public places (restaurants, bars, offices, hotel lobbies) in all six New England states, with the exception of the casinos on tribal lands in Connecticut. Recreational use of marijuana by adults ages 21 and up is legal in Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

Taxes -- The United States has no value-added tax (VAT) or other indirect tax at the national level. However, states, counties, and cities can add local taxes to purchases—including hotel bills, restaurant checks, and airline tickets. These taxes will not appear as part of the quoted prices; they’ll be added when you pay. (Some items, such as food, clothing, and footwear, are exempt: Policies vary from state to state.)

Sales, dining, and lodging taxes in New England, as of 2018, are as follows: Connecticut charges 6.35% on sales and 15% on lodging. Maine charges a 5.5% sales tax in stores, 9% at hotels, 8% at restaurants, and 10% for auto rentals. Massachusetts charges 6.25% on sales and meals, 5.7% for hotel rooms (8.45% in Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, Chicopee, Springfield, and West Springfield). New Hampshire charges no sales tax in stores, but a 9% tax on lodging and dining. Rhode Island charges 7% on sales, 8% for restaurant meals, and 13% on lodging. Vermont charges a 6% sales tax on purchases, 9% tax on hotel rooms and restaurant meals, and 10% tax on alcohol purchased in restaurants. Vermont towns and cities can (and resort towns do) also add an additional 1% local tax to meals, lodgings, and purchases.

Telephones -- Many convenience groceries and packaging services sell prepaid calling cards in denominations up to $50; for international visitors, these can be the least expensive way to call home. Many public pay phones at airports now accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards. Local calls made from pay phones in most locales cost either 25¢ or 35¢ (no pennies, please). Most long-distance and international calls can be dialed directly from any phone. For calls within the United States and to Canada, dial 1 followed by the area code and the seven-digit number. For other international calls, dial 011 followed by the country code, city code, and number you are calling.

Calls to area codes 800, 888, 877, and 866 are toll-free. However, calls to area codes 700 and 900 (chat lines, bulletin boards, "dating" services, and so on) can be very expensive -- usually a charge of 95¢ to $3 or more per minute, and they sometimes have minimum charges that can run as high as $15 or more.

For reversed-charge or collect calls, and for person-to-person calls, dial the number 0 then the area code and number; an operator will come on the line, and you should specify whether you are calling collect, person-to-person, or both. If your operator-assisted call is international, ask for the overseas operator.

For local directory assistance ("information"), dial 411; for long-distance information, dial 1, then the appropriate area code and 555-1212.

Telegraph, Telex & Fax -- Telegraph and telex services are provided primarily by Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com). You can telegraph (wire) money, or have it telegraphed to you, very quickly over the Western Union system, but this service can cost as much as 15% to 20% of the amount sent.

Most hotels have fax machines available for guest use (be sure to ask about the charge to use it). Many hotel rooms are wired for guests' fax machines. A less expensive way to send and receive faxes may be at stores such as The UPS Store.

Time -- All New England states are in the Eastern time zone (the same zone as New York City) and 5 to 6 hours behind the time in London. Why 5 to 6? Because daylight saving time is in effect from 2am on the second Sunday in March to 2am on the first Sunday in November. Daylight saving time moves the clock 1 hour ahead of standard time.

Tipping -- In hotels, tip bellhops $1 per bag ($2–$3 if you have a lot of luggage) and tip housekeeping staff $2 to $5 per day. Tip the doorman or concierge if he or she has provided you with some useful service. Tip a valet-parking attendant a few dollars any time you get your car. In restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, tip service staff and bartenders 15% to 20% of the check (assuming the service was decent), tip coatroom attendants $1 per garment, tip taxi drivers 15% to 20% of the fare. Tip skycaps at airports at least $1 per bag ($2–$3 if you have a lot of luggage). And tip hair stylists, barbers, and spa therapists 15% to 20%, too.

Toilets -- Public toilets can be found in hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, museums, department stores, railway and bus stations, and gas stations. Large hotels and fast-food restaurants are often the best bets for clean facilities. Restaurants and bars in resorts or heavily visited areas may reserve their restrooms for patrons.

Tips for Student Travelers

Check out the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) (www.istc.org) website for comprehensive travel services information and details on how to get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which qualifies students for substantial savings on rail passes, plane tickets, entrance fees, and more. It also provides students with basic health and life insurance and a 24-hour helpline. The card is valid for a maximum of 18 months. You can apply for the card online or in person at STA Travel (tel. 800/781-4040 in North America; tel. 132 782 in Australia; tel. 0871 2 300 040 in the U.K.; www.statravel.com), the biggest student travel agency in the world; check out the website to locate STA Travel offices worldwide. If you're no longer a student but are still under 26, you can get an International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) from the same people, which entitles you to some discounts. Travel CUTS (tel. 800/592-2887; www.travelcuts.com) offers similar services for both Canadians and U.S. residents. Irish students may prefer to turn to USIT (tel. 01/602-1904; www.usit.ie), an Ireland-based specialist in student, youth, and independent travel.

Health & Insurance

New Englanders consider themselves a healthy bunch, which they ascribe to clean living, brisk northern air, vigorous exercise (leaf raking, snow shoveling, and so on), and few stresses apart from realizing that Tom Brady can’t play for the Patriots forever. You shouldn’t face any serious health risks when traveling in the region.Exceptions? Well, yes -- you may find yourself at higher risk when exploring the outdoors, particularly in the backcountry. A few things to watch for when venturing off the beaten path:

Regional Health Concerns

• Poison ivy: This sometimes shiny, three-leafed plant is common throughout the region. If you touch it, you could develop a nasty, itchy rash.
• Giardia: That crystal-clear stream might look pure, but it could be contaminated with animal feces. When ingested by humans, Giardia cysts can cause diarrhea and weight loss. Carry your own water for day trips, bring a filter to treat water, boil your water, or treat it with iodine pills.
• Lyme disease: Lyme disease has been a growing problem in New England since 1975, when it was first identified in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Left untreated, it can damage the heart and nervous system. The disease is transmitted by deer ticks, which are difficult to see—but check your socks and body daily anyway (ideally with a partner). If you develop a bull’s-eye-shaped rash, 3 to 8 inches in diameter (the rash may feel warm but usually doesn’t itch), see a doctor right away. Other symptoms may include muscle and joint pain, fever, or fatigue.
• Rabies: Transmitted through animal saliva and especially prevalent in skunks, raccoons, bats, and foxes, rabies is almost always fatal if left untreated in humans. Infected animals tend to display erratic and aggressive behavior; the best advice is to avoid wild animals. If you’re bitten, wash the wound and immediately seek medical attention.
• West Nile Virus: Although the number of human cases reported in New England is small and this mosquito-borne illness is rarely fatal, precautions against mosquito bites are a smart move. Avoid standing water, and wear long sleeves and pants, socks, and insect repellant when outdoors, particularly between dusk and dawn.

Those planning longer excursions into the backcountry of New England might find a compact first-aid kit with basic salves and medicines very handy to have along. Towns and villages throughout the region are reliably stocked with pharmacies, chain grocery stores, and Wal-Mart-type big-box stores where you can stock up on common medicines (such as calamine lotion and aspirin) to cope with minor ailments along the way.

What to Do if You Get Sick Away from Home

If you suffer from a chronic illness, consult your doctor before your departure. Pack prescription medications in your carry-on luggage, and carry them in their original containers, with pharmacy labels -- otherwise, they won't make it through airport security. Visitors from outside the U.S. should carry generic names of prescription drugs. For U.S. travelers, most reliable healthcare plans provide coverage if you get sick away from home. Foreign visitors may have to pay all medical costs upfront and be reimbursed later.

If you get sick, consider asking your hotel concierge to recommend a local doctor -- even his or her own. You can also try the emergency room at a local hospital. Many hospitals also have walk-in clinics for emergency cases that are not life-threatening; you may not get immediate attention, but you won't pay the high price of an emergency room visit. There are large, good hospitals in all cities in this region, as well as in many small towns. Check with your hotel or the local tourism office if you're concerned about proximity to hospitals.

Safety

New England -- with the notable exception of parts of Boston and Hartford -- boasts some of the lowest crime rates in the country. The odds of anything bad happening during your visit here are very slight. But all travelers are advised to take the usual precautions against theft, robbery, and assault.

Travelers should avoid any unnecessary public displays of wealth. Don't bring out fat wads of cash from your pocket, and save your best jewelry for private occasions. If you are approached by someone who demands money, jewelry, or anything else from you, do what most Americans do: Hand it over. Don't argue. Don't negotiate. Just comply. Afterward, immediately contact the police by dialing tel. 911 from almost any phone.

The crime you're statistically most likely to encounter is theft of items from your car. Don't leave anything of value in plain view, and lock valuables in your trunk.

Late at night, you should look for a well-lighted area if you need gas or you need to step out of your car for any reason.

Take the usual precautions against leaving cash or valuables in your hotel room when you're not present. Many hotels have safe-deposit boxes. Smaller inns and hotels often do not, although it can't hurt to ask to leave small items in the house safe.

Visitor Information

All of the New England states maintain excellent tourism information offices and kiosks throughout their key areas.

If you're a highly organized traveler, call or e-mail in advance and ask for information to be mailed to you before departure; we have provided plenty of local tourism and chamber of commerce addresses and phone numbers in the sections that follow. (You can also swing by the office when you reach town -- and hope that it's open.)

State tourism offices are happy to send out loads of maps and free visitor information packets to travelers who call, write, or e-mail to them. Here's the contact information for each state's tourism authority:

• Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, One Financial Plaza, 755 Main St., Hartford, CT 06103 (tel. 888/288-4748; www.ctvisit.com).
• Maine Office of Tourism, #59 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 (tel. 888/624-6345 or 207/287-5711; www.visitmaine.com).
• Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 4510, Boston, MA 02116 (tel. 800/227-6277 or 617/973-8500; www.mass-vacation.com).
• Rhode Island Tourism Division, 315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101, Providence, RI 02908 (tel. 800/556-2484; www.visitrhodeisland.com).
• New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development, 172 Pembroke Rd. (P.O. Box 1856), Concord, NH 03302 (tel. 800/386-4664 or 603/271-2665; www.visitnh.gov).
• Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, National Life Building, 6th floor, Drawer 20, Montpelier, VT 05620 (tel. 800/837-6668 or 802/828-3237; www.travel-vermont.com).

Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism

Sustainable tourism is conscientious travel. It means being careful with the environments you explore and respecting the communities you visit. Two overlapping components of sustainable travel are ecotourism and ethical tourism. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. TIES suggests that ecotourists follow these principles:

• Minimize environmental impact.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Provide direct financial benefits for conservation and for local people.
• Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climates.
• Support international human rights and labor agreements.

You can find some eco-friendly travel tips and statistics, as well as touring companies and associations -- listed by destination under "Travel Choice" -- at the TIES website, www.ecotourism.org. Also check out Ecotravel.com, which lets you search for sustainable touring companies in several categories (water based, land based, spiritually oriented, and so on).

While much of the focus of eco-tourism is about reducing impacts on the natural environment, ethical tourism concentrates on ways to preserve and enhance local economies and communities, regardless of location. You can embrace ethical tourism by staying at a locally owned hotel or shopping at a store that employs local workers and sells locally produced goods.

Responsible Travel (www.responsibletravel.com) is a great source of sustainable travel ideas; the site is run by a spokesperson for ethical tourism in the travel industry. Sustainable Travel International (www.sustainabletravelinternational.org) promotes ethical tourism practices and manages an extensive directory of sustainable properties and tour operators around the world.

In the U.K., Tourism Concern (www.tourismconcern.org.uk) works to reduce social and environmental problems connected to tourism. The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) (www.aito.co.uk) is a group of specialist operators leading the field in making holidays sustainable.

Volunteer travel has become increasingly popular among those who want to venture beyond the standard group-tour experience to learn languages, interact with locals, and make a positive difference while on vacation. Volunteer travel usually doesn't require special skills -- just a willingness to work hard -- and programs vary in length from a few days to a number of weeks. Some programs provide free housing and food, but many require volunteers to pay for travel expenses, which can add up quickly.

Before you commit to a volunteer program, it's important to make sure any money you're giving is truly going back to the local community, and that the work you'll be doing will be a good fit for you. Volunteer International (www.volunteerinternational.org) has a helpful list of questions to ask to determine the intentions and the nature of a volunteer program.

Animal-Rights Issues

Whale-watching is increasingly popular in New England, particularly in Maine and Massachusetts. For those who may be concerned about the sensitivity of the animals to these visits, there are a number of animal-rights organizations that provide good information. The organization Tread Lightly (www.treadlightly.org) is one. For more specific information about the current status of various species of whales, visit the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (www.wdcs.org).

Tip: It's Easy Being Green

Here are a few simple ways you can help conserve fuel and energy when you travel:

• Each time you take a flight or drive a car, greenhouse gases release into the atmosphere. You can help neutralize this danger to the planet through "carbon offsetting" -- paying someone to invest your money in programs that reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by the same amount you've added. Before buying carbon offset credits, just make sure that you're using a reputable company, one with a proven program that invests in renewable energy. Reliable carbon offset companies include Carbonfund (www.carbonfund.org), TerraPass (www.terrapass.org), and Carbon Neutral (www.carbonneutral.org).
• Whenever possible, choose nonstop flights; they generally require less fuel than indirect flights that stop and take off again. Try to fly during the day -- some scientists estimate that nighttime flights are twice as harmful to the environment. And pack light -- each 15 pounds of luggage on a 5,000-mile flight adds up to 50 pounds of carbon dioxide emitted.
• Where you stay during your travels can have a major environmental impact. To determine the green credentials of a property, ask about trash disposal and recycling, water conservation, and energy use; also question if sustainable materials were used in the construction of the property. The website www.greenhotels.com recommends green-rated member hotels around the world that fulfill the company's stringent environmental requirements. Also consult www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com for more green accommodation ratings.
• At hotels, request that your sheets and towels not be changed daily. (Many hotels already have programs like this in place.) Turn off the lights and air-conditioner (or heater) when you leave your room.
• Use public transport where possible -- trains, buses, and even taxis are more energy-efficient forms of transport than driving. Even better is to walk or cycle; you'll produce zero emissions and stay fit and healthy on your travels.
• If renting a car is necessary, ask the rental agent for a hybrid, or rent the most fuel-efficient car available. You'll use less gas and save money at the tank.
• Eat at locally owned and operated restaurants that use produce grown in the area. This contributes to the local economy and cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions by supporting restaurants where the food is not flown or trucked in across long distances. Visit Sustain Lane (www.sustainlane.org) to find sustainable eating and drinking choices around the U.S.; also check out www.eatwellguide.org for tips on eating sustainably in the U.S. and Canada.

Your Car: Do Leave Home Without It

If you're really green-friendly, options even exist for a vacation in New England without a car (yes, you read that right). Here are four suggestions:

• From New York City or Boston, take an Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) train to Vermont and explore small towns like Brattleboro for their brick architecture, good restaurants, and quirky shops. Cross the river to hike Wantastiquet Mountain. Another day, rent a canoe and explore the Connecticut River, or get a bike and head off into the hilly countryside. There's a canoe touring center just north of town, and a bike rental outfit or two on the main street.
• From Boston, take a Concord Coach bus directly to the Appalachian Mountain Club's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center (tel. 603/466-2721), high in the White Mountains. Spend a night or two, then backpack for 2 days across demanding, rugged mountains, staying at AMC's backcountry huts (all meals provided). At the end of your sojourn, catch the AMC shuttle back to North Conway or Pinkham Notch, and then hail the return bus back to Boston.
• Bus, fly, or train it to Portland, Maine, where you can sign up for a guided sea-kayak excursion. The Maine Island Kayak Co. (tel. 207/766-2373) on Peaks Island is reached by a quick and pleasant 20-minute ferry ride (the terminal is at the corner of Commercial and Franklin streets, and offers trips throughout the state all summer long. You can even camp within city limits on remote Jewell Island at the edge of Casco Bay, or head out for a few days along more remote parts of the coast. Portland's museums, restaurants, and bars don't require wheels to each, either.
• Bus or fly to Bar Harbor, Maine, and then settle into one of the numerous inns or B&Bs downtown. (There's a free shuttle bus from the airport to downtown, and other free buses running around the island from spring through late fall; the bus connects downtown Bar Harbor with more than a half-dozen routes into and around the park, making travel hassle-free.) Rent a mountain bike and explore the elaborate network of carriage roads at Acadia National Park, then cruise along picturesque Park Loop Road. Another day, sign up for a sea-kayak tour or whale-watching excursion. By night, enjoy lobster or other fine meals at Bar Harbor's fine restaurants. Mountain bikes may be easily rented along Cottage Street in Bar Harbor.

Calendar of Events

February

U.S. National Toboggan Championships, Camden, ME. This is a raucous and lively athletic event where being overweight is actually an advantage. Held at the toboggan chute of the Camden Snow Bowl. Call tel. 207/236-3438. Early February.

Dartmouth Winter Carnival, Hanover, NH. Huge ice sculptures grace the village green during this festive celebration of winter, which includes numerous sporting events. Call tel. 603/646-3399. Early February.

Stowe Derby, Stowe, VT. The oldest downhill/cross-country ski race in the nation pits racers who scramble from the wintry summit of Mount Mansfield into the village on the Stowe Recreation path. Call tel. 802/253-7704. Late February.

March

New England Spring Flower Show, Dorchester, MA. This annual harbinger of spring presented by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society (tel. 617/536-9280) draws huge crowds starved for a glimpse of green. Second or third week in March.

Maine Boatbuilders Show, Portland, ME. More than 200 exhibitors and 9,000 boat aficionados gather, as winter fades, to make plans for the coming summer. A great place to meet boat builders and get ideas for your dream craft. Call tel. 207/774-1067. Mid- to late March.

April

Patriots Day, Boston area, MA. The events of April 18 and 19, 1775, which started the Revolutionary War, are commemorated with battle reenactments in Lexington and Concord. Call the Lexington Chamber of Commerce (tel. 781/862-2480), Concord Chamber of Commerce (tel. 978/369-3120), or Minute Man National Historical Park (tel. 978/318-7825). Claiming to be the “world’s oldest” annual marathon, the Boston Marathon is a cherished feature of Patriots Day. Third Monday in April; a state holiday in Massachusetts and Maine.

Daffodil Festival, Nantucket, MA. Spring’s arrival is trumpeted with masses of yellow blooms adorning everything in sight, including a cavalcade of antique cars. Call tel. 508/228-3643. Late April.

May

Brimfield Antique and Collectible Show, Brimfield, MA. Up to 6,000 dealers fill several fields near this central Massachusetts town, with similar fairs in July and September. Call tel. 800/628-8379 or go to www.brimfieldshow.com. Mid-May, also mid-July and early Sept.

Cape Cod Maritime Days, Cape Cod, MA. A multitude of cultural organizations mount special events -- such as lighthouse tours -- highlighting the region's nautical history. Call tel. 508/362-3225. All month.

Lilac Festival, Shelburne, VT. See the famed lilacs (more than 400 bushes) at the renowned Shelburne Museum when they're at their most beautiful. Call tel. 802/985-3346. Mid-May to late May.

Figawi Sailboat Race, Hyannis (on Cape Cod) to Nantucket, MA. The largest and wildest sailboat race on the East Coast. Intensive partying in Hyannis and on Nantucket surrounds this popular event. Call tel. 508/362-5230. Late May.

June

Old Port Festival, Portland, ME. A block party in the heart of Portland's historic district with live music, food vendors, and activities for kids. Call tel. 207/772-6828. Early June.

Yale-Harvard Regatta, on the Thames River in New London, CT. One of the oldest collegiate rivalries in the country. Check the schedule for the heavyweight men's crew at http://yalebulldogs.cstv.com. Early June.

Taste of Hartford, Hartford, CT. One of New England's largest outdoor festivals, where many area restaurants serve up their specialties. You'll also get a "taste" of local music, dance, magic, and comedy. Call tel. 860/728-3089. Early June.

Market Square Day, Portsmouth, NH. This lively street fair attracts more than 150 vendors and revelers from throughout southern New Hampshire and Maine into downtown Portsmouth to dance, listen to music, sample food, and enjoy summer's arrival. Call tel. 603/433-4398. Early June.

Motorcycle Week, Loudon and Weirs Beach, NH. Tens of thousands of bikers descend on the Lake Winnipesaukee region early each summer to compare their machines and cruise the strip at Weirs Beach. The Gunstock Hill Climb and the Loudon Classic race are the centerpieces of the week's activities. Call tel. 603/366-2000. Early June.

Nantucket Film Festival, Nantucket, MA. This annual event focuses on storytelling through film and includes showings of short and feature-length films, documentaries, staged readings, panel discussions, and screenplay competitions. You may see a celebrity or two. Call tel. 508/228-1700. Mid-June.

Provincetown Film Festival, Provincetown, MA. Focusing on alternative film, this fete has brought out celebrities like John Waters and Lily Tomlin. Call tel. 508/487-FILM. Mid-June.

Boston Pride Parade, Copley Square to City Hall Plaza, Boston. New England’s largest pride parade caps a weeklong celebration of diversity. Call tel. 617/262-9405 or go to www.bostonpride.org. Early June.

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Becket, MA. The oldest dance festival in America features everything from ballet to modern dance and hip-hop. For a schedule of summer’s ticketed and free outdoor performances, call tel. 413/243-0745 or go to www.jacobspillow.org. Late June through August.

Williamstown Theater Festival, Williamstown, MA. This nationally distinguished festival presents everything from the classics to comedies and contemporary works. Scattered among the drama are readings and cabarets. Call tel. 413/458-3253 or go to www.wtfestival.org. Late June through August.

Annual Windjammers Days, Boothbay Harbor, ME. For nearly 6 decades, antique ships have gathered in Boothbay Harbor to kick off the summer sailing season. Expect fireworks, food, and parades on land and sea. Call tel. 207/633-2353. Late June.

Tanglewood Music Festival, Lenox, MA. The Boston Symphony Orchestra makes its summer home at this fine estate. But that’s just the beginning. Tanglewood also hosts a popular artists series, film nights, jazz concerts, touring ensembles, and memorable events. Call the orchestra’s home base in Boston at tel. 617/266-1492, or go to www.tanglewood.org. Late June through Early September.

July

Boston Harborfest, downtown Boston, along Boston Harbor, and the Boston Harbor Islands, MA. The city puts on its celebratory best for the 4th of July, a gigantic weeklong celebration of Boston’s colonial and maritime history. Events include tours, cruises, reenactments, and the Boston Chowderfest. Contact Boston Harborfest (tel. 617/439-7700). Early July.

Boston Pops Concert and Fireworks Display, Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade, Boston. The big day culminates in the famous Boston Pops' Fourth of July concert. People wait from dawn 'til dark for the music to start. Visit www.bostonpopsjuly4th.org. July 4th.

Wickford Art Festival, Wickford, RI. More than 200 juried artists gather in this quaint village for one of the East Coast's oldest art festivals. Call tel. 401/294-6840 or go to www.wickfordart.org. Mid-July.

Friendship Sloop Days, Rockland, ME. This 3-day event is a series of boat races that culminates in a parade of sloops. Call tel. 207/596-0376. Mid-July.

Vermont Quilt Festival, Northfield, VT. Displays are only part of the allure of New England's largest (and oldest) quilt festival. You can also attend classes and have your heirlooms appraised. See descriptions at www.vqf.org, or call tel. 802/485-7092 for more information. Mid-July.

Revolutionary War Days, Exeter, NH. Learn all you need to know about the War of Independence during this historic community festival, which features a Revolutionary War encampment and dozens of reenactors. Call tel. 603/772-2411. Mid- July.

Barnstable County Fair, East Falmouth (on Cape Cod), MA. An old-time county fair complete with rides, food, and livestock contests. Call tel. 508/563-3200. Late July.

Marlboro Music Festival, Marlboro, VT. This is a popular 6-week series of classical concerts featuring talented student musicians and seasoned artists performing in the peaceful hills outside of Brattleboro. Call tel. 802/254-2394 (or 215/569-4690 in winter) for information. Weekends from July to mid-August.

Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland, ME. Fill up on fresh-cooked lobsters and smoked shrimp at this entertaining 5-day event that toasts Maine’s favorite crustacean. Call tel. 800/576-7512 or go to www.mainelobsterfestival.com. Late July to early August.

Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI. Thousands of music lovers congregate at Fort Adams State Park for a heavy dose of performances on a July weekend. It’s one of the nation’s premier festivals. Go to www.newportfolk.org. Late July.

Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, downtown Hartford, CT. Join locals for free performances at the pavilion in Bushnell Park. Visit www.hartfordjazz.com. Late July.

August
Craftsmen’s Fair, Newbury, NH. Quality crafts from several hundred New Hampshire artisans are displayed and sold at this 9-day festival at Mount Sunapee, held for more than 85 years starting the first Saturday of August. Call tel. 603/224-3375. Early August.

Southern Vermont Art & Craft Fair, Manchester, VT. More than 200 artisans show off their fine work at this popular festival, which also features creative food and good music. Held on the grounds of Hildene, a grand historic home. Call tel. 802/362-2100. Early August.

Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, RI. This 3-day jazz fest brings together some of the best in the music industry to play for a sizzling weekend at waterside Fort Adams State Park. Go to www.newportjazz.org. Early August.

Annual Star Party, St. Johnsbury, VT. The historic Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium hosts special events and shows, including night-viewing sessions during the Perseid Meteor Shower. Call tel. 802/748-2372. Mid-August.

Wild Blueberry Festival, Machias, ME. A festival marking the harvest of the region's wild blueberries. Call tel. 207/794-3543 or 207/255-6665. Mid-August.

JVC Jazz Festival, Newport, RI. This 3-day jazz festival brings together some of the best in the music industry to play for a sizzling weekend at Fort Adams State Park. Go to www.festivalnetwork.com. Mid-August.

Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Fair, West Tisbury, MA. An old-fashioned country fair featuring horse pulls, livestock shows, musicians, and woodsman contests, along with plenty of carnival action. Call tel. 508/693-4343. Third weekend in August.

Pops Goes the Summer, Barnstable County Fairgrounds, Falmouth, MA. Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra concert followed by a huge fireworks display. Call tel. 508/548-8500. Late August.

September

Windjammer Festival, Camden, ME. Come watch Maine’s impressive fleet of old-time sailing ships as they parade into Camden’s scenic harbor for a weekend of music, nautical fun, and fireworks. Call tel. 207/236-4404. Labor Day weekend.

Acadia Night Sky Festival, Bar Harbor, ME. Mount Desert Island, which preserves the darkest night skies on the East Coast, hosts 5 days of workshops and star parties. Mingle with astronomy buffs and see just how bright the constellations can be. Call tel. 207/801-2566, or go to www.arcadianightskyfestival.com. Early September.

Vermont State Fair, Rutland, VT. All of Vermont seems to show up for this grand event, with a midway, live music, and plenty of agricultural exhibits. Call tel. 802/775-5200. Early September.

Norwalk Oyster Festival, Norwalk, CT. This waterfront festival celebrates Long Island Sound's seafaring past. Highlights include oyster-shucking and slurping contests, harbor cruises, concerts, and fireworks. Call tel. 203/838-9444 or go to www.seaport.org. Weekend after Labor Day.

The Big E, West Springfield, MA. "The Big E" is New England's largest agricultural fair, with a 4-H horse show, ox pulling, carnival food, a midway, and entertainment from the likes of Joan Jett. Call tel. 413/737-2443 or go to www.thebige.com. Mid- to late September.

Provincetown Arts Festival, Provincetown, MA. One of the country's oldest art colonies celebrates its past and present with local artists opening their studios. Call tel. 508/487-3424. Late September.

Common Ground Country Fair, Unity, ME. A sprawling, old-time state fair with a twist: The emphasis is on organic foods, recycling, crafts, and wholesome living. Call tel. 207/568-4142. Late September.

October

Fryeburg Fair, Fryeburg, ME. Cotton candy, tractor pulls, live music, and huge vegetables and barnyard animals at Maine's largest agricultural fair. Call tel. 207/985-3268. One week in early October.

Mystic Seaport Chowderfest, Mystic, CT. A festival of soup ("chowda" in these parts) served from bubbling cauldrons set on wood fires. Call tel. 860/572-5315, or visit www.mysticseaport.org. Mid-October.

Head of the Charles Regatta, Boston and Cambridge, MA. High school, college, and postcollegiate rowing teams and individuals -- some 4,000 in all -- race in front of hordes of fans along the Charles River's banks and bridges. Call tel. 617/868-6200 or visit www.hocr.org. Late October.

Salem Haunted Happenings, Salem, MA. Parades, parties, fortune-telling, cruises, and tours lead up to a ceremony on Halloween. Contact Destination Salem (tel. 877/SALEM-MA), or check the www.hauntedhappenings.org for specifics. All month.

November

Northampton Independent Film Festival, Northampton, MA. The cultural center of the state's Pioneer Valley hosts a creative film fest and brings in guests from the region. Visit www.niff.org for details. Early November.

Thanksgiving Celebration, Plymouth, MA. The town observes the holiday that put it on the map with America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration and Parade the weekend before Thanksgiving. At Plimoth Plantation, dining with the Pilgrims is a Thanksgiving Day treat (reservations accepted starting June 1 for this annual sell-out). Call Destination Plymouth (tel. 508/747-7533) or Plimoth Plantation (tel. 508/746-1622). Mid-November.

Victorian Holiday, Portland, ME. From late November until Christmas, Portland decorates its Old Port in a Victorian Christmas theme. Enjoy the window displays, take a free hayride, and listen to costumed carolers. Call tel. 207/772-6828 or 207/780-5555. Late November to Christmas.

Christmas Prelude, Kennebunkport, ME. Join in the merriment of tree lightings, caroling, Santa’s lobster boat, a hat parade, fireworks, and the adults-only Fire + Ice with bonfires and hand-carved ice bars. Call tel. 207/967-0857. Late November to early December.

December

Black Nativity, Converse Hall, Tremont Temple Baptist Church, 88 Tremont St., Boston, MA. (tel. 617/723-3486; www.blacknativity.org). Poet Langston Hughes wrote the "gospel opera," and a cast of more than 100 brings it to life. Most weekends in December.

Christmas Stroll, Nantucket, MA. The island stirs from its winter slumber for a weekend of shopping and feasting, attended by costumed carolers and Santa, who arrives by Coast Guard patrol boat. Festivities also include the Nantucket Historical Association’s month-long Festival of Trees. Call tel. 508/228-3643. Early December.

Candlelight Stroll, Portsmouth, NH. Historic Strawbery Banke gets in a Christmas way with old-time decorations and more than 1,000 candles lighting the 10-acre grounds. Call tel. 603/433-1100. First three weekends in December.

Boston Tea Party Reenactment, Boston, MA. A spirited recreation of th eevents of December 16, 1773. Call tel. 866/955-0667 or visit www.oldsouthmeetinghouse.org. Mid-December.

Christmas Season Festivities, Newport, RI. The whole city collaborates to use only clear bulbs to illuminate the harbor and wharves, the restored colonials, and the Victorian splendor of Bellevue Avenue. It's all designed to simulate candlelight and the atmosphere of olden days. There also are wreath sales, a blessing of the fleet, caroling evenings, holiday concerts, gingerbread-house viewings, and more. Visit www.christmasinnewport.org. Every day in December.

Woodstock Wassail Celebration, Woodstock, VT. Enjoy classic English grog, along with parades and dances, at this annual event. Call tel. 802/457-3555. Mid-December.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, festivities throughout New England. Nantucket, MA, features carolers in Victorian garb, art exhibits, and tours of historic homes. December 24 and 25.

First Night First Day, Boston. The original arts-oriented, no-alcohol, citywide New Year's Eve celebration includes a parade, ice sculptures, art exhibitions, theatrical performances, and indoor and outdoor entertainment. Fireworks light up the sky above Boston Common at 7pm and over Boston Harbor at midnight. For details, contact First Night (tel. 617/542-1399) or check the newspapers when you arrive. December 31.

New Year's Eve, regionwide. Portland, ME; Providence, RI; Hartford, CT; Portsmouth, NH; Burlington, VT; and many other cities and towns, celebrate the coming of the New Year. Check with local chambers of commerce for details. December 31.

Tips for Families

Families will have little trouble finding fun, low-key things to do with kids in New England. The natural world seems to hold tremendous wonder for the younger set -- an afternoon exploring mossy banks and rocky streambeds can be a huge adventure. Older kids may like the challenge of climbing a mountain peak or learning to paddle a canoe in a straight line, and the beach is always good for hours of afternoon diversion.

Be sure to ask about family discounts when visiting attractions. Many places offer a flat family rate, which is less than paying for each ticket individually. Some parks and beaches charge by the car rather than the head.

Also, when planning your trip, be aware that certain small inns cater only to couples and prefer that families not stay there, or at least prefer that children be over a certain minimum age. This guidebook notes the recommended age for children where restrictions apply, but it's always best to ask first, just to be safe. At any rate, if you mention that you're traveling with kids when making reservations, often you'll get accommodations nearer the game room or the pool, making everyone's life a bit easier.

Recommended destinations for families include Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire (great for splashing around and kid-friendly attractions), York Beach and Acadia National Park in Maine (ditto), and Waterbury, Vermont, for its famous ice cream factory. North Conway, New Hampshire, makes a good White Mountains base for families with young kids; the town has lots of motels with pools, as well as mini train rides, streams, easy hikes, and the distraction known as Story Land.

To locate accommodations, restaurants, and attractions that are particularly kid-friendly, refer to the "Kids" icon throughout this guide.

Frommer's National Parks with Kids includes useful material on traveling with kids to Acadia National Park in Maine and Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts.

For a list of more family-friendly travel resources, visit www.frommers.com/planning.

Getting There

By Plane

Nearly all the major airlines fly into Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS), your likely hub of arrival or connection if you're coming by air. For more information, contact the airport at tel. 800/235-6426 or check the airport’s website at www.massport.com/logan-airport.

Commercial carriers also serve other important locales. Bradley International Airport is convenient to Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts. You’ll also find flights to Burlington, Vermont; Manchester, New Hampshire; Portland, Maine; Providence, Rhode Island; and Worcester, Massachusetts. Airlines most commonly fly to these airports from New York or Boston, although non-stop flights and direct connections from hub cities, such as Chicago, Dallas, and Washington, D.C., are available.

All three major New England islands—Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Block Island—can be reached by plane. Even smaller towns and cities are served by feeder airlines and charter companies, including those flying into air strips in Rutland, Vermont; Rockland, Maine; and Trenton, Maine, near Bar Harbor. Just remember that many flights to small airports are aboard turboprop planes; ask ahead if that makes you nervous.

While flights into smaller airports are convenient, it’s almost always cheaper to fly into Logan, and then rent a car and drive (or take a bus or train) to your destination. On the other hand, Logan can become congested, security lines are long, delayed flights are endemic, and traffic can be nightmarish—so the greater expense of flying into smaller hubs might be offset by speedier check-ins, departures, and arrivals. You may also want to compare prices for flights into New York City and Albany, New York, which are only a short drive from the New England area.

By Car

Several interstate highways serve New England. I-95 parallels the Connecticut shore, then turns north through Providence and Boston, after which it strikes northeast along the New Hampshire and Maine coast before heading north toward the Canadian border. I-91 heads north from New Haven, Connecticut, through Massachusetts, and along the Vermont–New Hampshire border. The Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) makes an east-west jaunt from Boston to the Berkshire Hills (for a price—although electronic tolling means you won’t have to slow down or stop). Your E-ZPass transponder will work on the MassPike, saving you money and the hassle of paying tolls online or by mail.

From Boston, you head south on I-95 to reach Rhode Island, north on I-95 for Maine, northwest up I-93 for New Hampshire and the White Mountains, or southwest on I-84 into the heart of Connecticut. In Concord, New Hampshire, I-89 splits off from I-93 and heads into Vermont. Stay on I-89 if you want to reach Montpelier and Burlington; exit northward onto I-91 at White River Junction if you want to visit St. Johnsbury and the Northeast Kingdom.

The most picturesque way to enter New England is from the west. Drive through the scenic Adirondack Mountains to Port Kent, New York, on Lake Champlain, then catch the car ferry across the lake to Burlington, Vermont.

International visitors should note that quoted rental car rates in the U.S. typically do not include insurance and may not include taxes and fees. Read fine print or ask your rental agency about additional costs. Many rental-car agencies have non-negotiable minimum age requirements, and some impose a surcharge for young drivers (generally between the ages of 18 and 24).

By Train

From Boston and New York City, commuter train lines radiate out to the suburbs (which can include southern New Hampshire and coastal Connecticut, respectively), but elsewhere train service in northern New England is basically limited to four Amtrak (tel. 800/872-7245) lines: two running to Vermont, one to Maine, and another across central Massachusetts.

Amtrak’s Vermonter departs from Washington, D.C., once a day (around 8am weekdays, a half-hour earlier on weekends), with stops including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City before following the Connecticut River north. New England stops include New Haven and Hartford in Connecticut, Springfield and Northampton in Massachusetts, and in Vermont, Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, White River Junction, Montpelier, Waterbury, and Essex Junction (near Burlington), finally arriving in St. Albans some 13 hours after leaving Washington. A one-way adult fare for the full route starts at $72 (New York City to Brattleboro fares start at $48). The return train leave St. Alban’s at 9:15am and arrives in D.C. around 10pm.

The Ethan Allen Express departs New York’s Penn Station once daily (at 2:15pm Mon–Thurs, 5:48pm Fri, or 3:10pm Sat and Sun) and travels somewhat more quickly, moving north along the Hudson River through Albany, New York, before veering into western Vermont, stopping at Castleton and terminating in Rutland (near Killington) after about 5[bf]1/2 hours; return trains leave Rutland at 7:46am Monday through Friday, 5:10pm on Saturday and Sunday. A one-way adult fare between NYC and Rutland starts at $73.

Amtrak relaunched rail service to Maine in late 2001, restoring a line that had been idle since the 1960s. The Downeaster operates five times daily between North Station in Boston and Portland, with three trips per day continuing north to Brunswick, Maine. If you’re coming from elsewhere on the East Coast, you will need to change train stations in Boston—a slightly frustrating exercise requiring either a taxi ride or a ride and transfer on Boston’s aging subway. The Downeaster stops in Woburn and Haverhill, Massachusetts; Exeter, Durham, and Dover, New Hampshire; and Wells, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach, Maine, on its way to Portland. Travel time is 2 hours and 25 minutes between Boston and Portland. Trains continuing to Brunswick also stop in Freeport. Bikes are allowed to be on- or off-loaded at Boston, Woburn, Portland, and Brunswick (an $8 charge applies). One-way fares from Boston to Portland start at $29.

The Lake Shore Limited Line connects Boston with points west including Albany and Buffalo, New York; Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois. (Massachusetts stops include Worcester, Springfield, and Pittsfield.) Departing from Chicago daily at 9:30pm, you’ll be in transit for almost a full day, arriving in Boston near 6pm (sleeping cars are available on this train). The return train leaves Boston’s South Station at 1:20pm and arrives in Chicago the next morning at 9:45am. One-way fares start at $91.

International visitors might want to buy a USA Rail Pass, good for 15 days ($459), 30 days ($689), or 45 days ($899) of multi-segment travel anywhere in the United States on Amtrak. The pass is available online or through many overseas travel agents. Reservations and tickets are required and should be booked as early as possible.

By Bus

Getting around by bus is a dependable option in these parts, and the national bus company Greyhound (tel. 800/231-2222 or 214/849-8100 outside the U.S.) was the early leader in this kind of travel. Many take the bus to Boston’s big depot at South Station, then switch to a regional carrier. But Greyhound now has competition busing to and from Boston (and some other New England cities). There are now nearly a dozen smaller bus companies operating along these routes (even a luxurious alternative, LimoLiner [tel. 844/405-4637). Although you will probably wait for the bus to pick you up from a street corner, rather than a bus station, consider using Megabus (tel. 877/GO2-MEGA [462-6342]) or Boltbus (tel. 877/BOLTBUS [265-8287]), which offer some of the lowest fares available. You can compare options on one easy-to-use site called Busbud, which searches the major discount sites, upstart bus companies, as well as Greyhound and New England–based Peter Pan.

Special-Interest Vacations

One rewarding way to spend a vacation is to learn a new outdoor skill or add to your knowledge while on holiday. You can find plenty of options in New England, ranging from formal weeklong classes to 1-day workshops.

There are lots of options; here are a few of the best:

• Learn to fly-fish on New England’s fabled rivers. Among the most respected schools are the two offered by the region’s outdoor gear and apparel powerhouses: Orvis (tel. 888/235-9763 for retail, tel. 866/531-6213 for fly-fishing classes) in Manchester, Vermont, and Dennis, Massachusetts; and L.L.Bean (tel. 800/441-5713) in Freeport, Maine, and at other locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. L.L.Bean also offers workshops on many other outdoor skills through its outstanding Outdoor Discovery Schools; call tel. 888/270-2326 for details.
• Learn about birds and coastal ecosystems in Maine. Budding and experienced naturalists can expand their understanding of marine wildlife while residing on 333-acre Hog Island in Maine’s wild and scenic Muscongus Bay through the Hog Island Audubon Camp for teens, families, and adults (tel. 843/340-8673).
• Sharpen your outdoor skills. The Appalachian Mountain Club (tel. 617/523-0636) offers outdoor adventure classes, many taught at AMC’s Highland Center at Crawford Notch in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. You could learn plein air painting, wilderness first aid, or backcountry orienteering. Free activities are offered daily. Courses with fees often include accommodations.

For Those Who Love Historic Homes

Historic New England is a nonprofit that owns and operates 37 properties around New England, ranging from 17th-century homes to a still-working 18th-century farm. Members tour all of the organization’s properties for free and receive other benefits. Memberships cost $50 per year for individuals or $60 for an entire household. For more information, visit www.historicnewengland.org, or call the organization’s Boston headquarters at tel. 617/227-3956.

Money

Travelers are in for some sticker shock in New England during peak travel seasons. From June through August, and again in October, there’s simply no such thing as a cheap motel room here. Even no-frills mom-and-pop motels can (and do) happily charge $100 a night or more for a bed that might rate just a notch above camping in a tent. Bland business hotels at highway exits or airports, miles from sights or good restaurants, charge far more. Even Airbnb coaches its hosts to raise rates when demand for rooms is high.

So if you’re visiting in summer, fall, or ski season (it’s likely you are), lodging will occupy a bigger chunk of your budget than you expected. Luckily, however, meals, gas, and day-to-day expenses are generally more affordable here than in a major city elsewhere in the country. You can find excellent entrees at upscale, creative restaurants for around $25, comparing favorably with similar dishes at big-city restaurants that would top $35.

Book in advance, and online, and you’ll usually pay less. In the winter, especially, it’s sometimes possible to get the price of a luxury hotel down to a mid-range level. And don’t forget to check Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO, and other vacation rental entities. These websites, offering either rooms in or entire private homes or apartments, are a popular alternative in New England. Prices can sometimes be as much as $50 to $75 less than you’d pay for a hotel room.

Turning to the Internet or Apps for a Hotel Discount

Before going online, it’s important that you know what “flavor” of discount you’re seeking. Currently, there are three types of online reductions:

1. Blind deals sites where you agree to an overnight rate without knowing which hotel you’ll get. You’ll find these on such sites as Priceline.com and Hotwire.com, and they can be money-savers, particularly if you’re booking within a week of travel (that’s when the hotels resort to deep discounts to get beds filled). As these companies use primarily major chains, you can rest assured that you won’t be put up in a dump, particularly if you choose a property with a 3-star rating or above.

2. Discounts on chain hotel websites. In 2016, all of the major chains announced they’d be reserving special discounts for travelers who booked directly through the hotels’ websites (usually in the portion of the site reserved for loyalty members and with advance payment required). These are always the lowest rates, though discounts can range from as little as $1 to as much as $50. Our advice: search for a hotel that’s in your price range and ideal location and then, if it is a chain property, book directly through the online loyalty portal.

3. Use the right hotel search engine. They’re not all equal, as we at Frommers.com learned in 2017 after putting the top 20 sites to the test in 20 cities around the globe. We discovered Booking.com listed the lowest rates for hotels in the city center, and in the under $200 range, 16 out of 20 times—the best record, by far, of all the sites we tested. And Booking.com includes all taxes and fees in its results (not all do, which can make for a frustrating shopping experience). For top-end properties, both Priceline.com and HotelsCombined.com came up with the best rates, tying at 14 wins each.

4. Last-minute discounts. Booking last minute can be a great savings strategy, as prices sometimes drop as hoteliers scramble to fill rooms. But you won’t necessarily find the best savings through companies that specialize in last-minute bookings or apps like HotelTonight. Instead, use the sites recommended above.

It’s a lot of surfing, but in the hothouse world of accommodation pricing, this sort of diligence can pay off.

Tips on Accommodations

"The more we travel," said an unhappy couple one morning at a New Hampshire inn, "the more we realize why we go back to our old favorites time and again." The reason for their chagrin? They had been forced to switch rooms at 2am when rain had begun dripping right onto them through the ceiling. I hasten to add that this story is not an isolated incident. Small, quaint inns here often come with their own drips, creaks, and quirks.

Of course, New England is famous for its plethora of country inns and bed-and-breakfasts (B&Bs), which offer a wonderful alternative to the sort of cookie-cutter, chain-hotel rooms that line U.S. highways from coast to coast. But (as the unhappy couple learned) there are reasons why some people prefer the cookie-cutter hotels. In a chain hotel, you can be reasonably sure that water won't drip through your ceiling in the middle of the night. Likewise, the beds will be firm, the sink will be relatively new, and you'll have a TV, a telephone, and counter space next to the bathroom sink.

Every inn and B&B listed in this guide yields a decent, and often a high-quality, experience. Just keep in mind that each place is different, and you need to match the personality of the place with your own personality. Some inns are more polished and fussier than others; this is a rural area, so a lot of them (even some calling themselves "resorts") lack basic amenities to which business travelers have grown accustomed in chain hotels. (In-room phones and air-conditioning lead the list.)

For tips on surfing for hotel deals online, visit www.frommers.com/planning.

Inn vs. B&B: Everybody Wins

The difference between an inn and a B&B may be confusing for some travelers, since the gap between the two narrows by the day. A couple of decades ago, inns were full-service affairs, whereas B&Bs consisted of private homes with an extra bedroom or two and a homeowner looking for a little extra income. These old-style B&Bs still exist around the region. I've occupied a few evenings sitting in a well-used living room with the owner, watching TV as if visiting with a forgotten aunt.

Today B&Bs are more commonly professionally run affairs, where guests have private bathrooms, a separate common area, and attentive service. The owners have apartments tucked away in the back, prepare sumptuous breakfasts in the morning (some B&Bs offer "candlelight breakfasts"), and offer a high level of service. All the B&Bs in this guide are of the more professionally run variety (although several or more still have shared bathrooms). Other guidebooks are available for those searching for home-stay lodging.

The sole difference between inns and B&Bs -- at least, as defined by this guide -- is that inns serve dinner (and sometimes lunch). B&Bs provide breakfast only. Readers shouldn't infer that B&Bs are necessarily more informal or in any way inferior to a full-service inn. That's true for many of the other B&Bs listed in this guide; with a little luck, you'll stumble into Ralph Waldo Emerson's idea of simple contentment: "Hospitality consists in a little fire, a little food, and an immense quiet."

Service Charges

Rather than increase room rates in the face of rising competition, hotels, inns, and B&Bs are increasingly tacking on nickel-and-dime fees to their guests' bills. Most innkeepers will tell you about these fees when you reserve or check in; a few will surprise you at checkout.

The most common surcharge is an involuntary "service charge" of 10% to 15%. Coupled with state lodging taxes (even "sales-tax-free" New Hampshire hits tourists with an 8% levy), that bumps the cost of a bed up by nearly 25%. (The rates listed in this guide don't include service charges or sales tax.)

Other charges may include a pet fee ($10 or more per day extra), a foliage-season surcharge ($10-$50 per room), and a "resort fee" (of 15%-20% tax at certain resorts). Some hotels even tack on a $1 per day fee for the presence of an in-room safe, whether it is used or not.

Tips for Travelers with Disabilities

Most disabilities shouldn't stop anyone from traveling to New England. Thanks to provisions in the Americans with Disabilities Act, most public places are required to comply with disability-friendly regulations. Almost all public establishments (including hotels, restaurants, museums, and so on, but not including certain National Historic Landmarks) and at least some modes of public transportation provide accessible entrances and other facilities for those with disabilities.

The America the Beautiful -- National Park and Federal Recreational Lands Pass -- Access Pass (formerly the Golden Access Passport) gives visually impaired or permanently disabled persons (regardless of age) free lifetime entrance to federal recreation sites administered by the National Park Service, including the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation. This may include national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges.

The America the Beautiful Access Pass can be obtained only in person at any NPS facility that charges an entrance fee. You need to show proof of a medically determined disability. Besides free entry, the pass offers a 50% discount on some federal-use fees charged for such facilities as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and tours. For more information, go to www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm or call the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which issues the passes, at tel. 888/275-8747.

For more on organizations that offer resources to disabled travelers, go to www.frommers.com/planning.

Escorted & Package Tours

New England lends itself to adventures that combine fresh air and exercise with Mother Nature as your instructor in a vast, beautiful classroom. These experiences range from 3-day self-guided inn-to-inn biking trips to weeklong canoe and kayak expeditions. These reputable outfitters will get you started.

• Allagash Canoe Trips (tel. 207/280-1551 or 207/280-0191), leads 5- to 7-day canoe trips down Maine’s noted and wild Allagash River and other local rivers. You provide a sleeping bag and clothing; they take care of everything else.
• Bullfrog Adventures (tel. 207/234-2158), will take you on a canoe camping adventure on a rigorous Maine river or a more placid lake or pond.
• Country Walkers (tel. 800/234-6900), has a glorious color catalog (more like a wish book) outlining supported walking trips around the world. Among the offerings: walking tours in coastal Maine’s Acadia National Park and northern Vermont. Trips generally run 5 nights and include all meals, beer and wine, and lodging at appealing inns.
• Maine Island Kayak Co. (tel. 207/766-2373), has a fleet of seaworthy kayaks for half- and full-day trips up and down the Maine coast. The firm has plenty of experience in training novices.
• VBT (tel. 855/445-5513), is one of the more established and well-organized touring operations, with an extensive global bike tour schedule. VBT offers trips in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine, including a 6-day Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard trip with abundant scenic highlights and picnics in remarkable spots.
• The Wayfarers (tel. 800/249-4620 or 401/849-5087) has an extensive inventory of trips, including 4-night Maine coast walking vacations and 5-night trips in the White Mountains. Trips typically involve moderate day hiking coupled with nights at comfortable hotels.

Escorted General-Interest Tours

The price for a structured group tour usually includes everything from airport transfers to hotels, meals, admissions, and transportation. Despite the fact that these tours require big deposits and predetermine your itinerary, many people crave the one-stop shopping they offer. And it’s true—they do let you sit back and enjoy a trip without having to drive or worry about little details. They take you to a maximum number of sights, usually with the least amount of hassle. They’re particularly convenient for people with limited mobility, and they can be a great way to make new friends.

If you’re interested, dozens of companies operate bus tours of New England. Tauck World Discovery (tel. 800/788-7885), founded and still based in New England, is just one of many outfits offering fall foliage tours, for instance. Their 12-day autumn itinerary weaves together the region’s iconic places and tastes and the spellbinding storytelling of filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan.

Entry Requirements & Customs

Passports

New regulations issued by the Department of Homeland Security now require virtually every air traveler entering the U.S. to show a passport. As of January 23, 2007, all persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport. As of January 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the U. S. at land and sea ports of entry from within the western hemisphere will need to present government-issued proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, along with a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license. A passport is not required for U.S. or Canadian citizens entering by land or sea, but it is highly encouraged to carry one.

Visas

The U.S. State Department has a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allowing citizens of the following countries to enter the United States without a visa for stays of up to 90 days: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. (Note: This list was accurate at press time; for the most up-to-date list of countries in the VWP, consult www.travel.state.gov/visa.) Canadian citizens may enter the United States without visas; they will need to show passports (if traveling by air) and proof of residence, however. Note: Any passport issued on or after October 26, 2006, by a VWP country must be an e-Passport for VWP travelers to be eligible to enter the U.S. without a visa. Citizens of these nations also need to present a round-trip air or cruise ticket upon arrival. E-Passports contain computer chips capable of storing biometric information, such as the required digital photograph of the holder. (You can identify an e-Passport by the symbol on the bottom center cover of your passport.) If your passport doesn't have this feature, you can still travel without a visa if it is a valid passport issued before October 26, 2005, and includes a machine-readable zone, or between October 26, 2005, and October 25, 2006, and includes a digital photograph. For more information, go to www.travel.state.gov/visa.

Citizens of all other countries must have (1) a valid passport that expires at least 6 months later than the scheduled end of their visit to the U.S., and (2) a tourist visa. To obtain a visa, applicants must schedule an appointment with a U.S. consulate or embassy, fill out the application forms (available from www.travel.state.gov/visa), and pay a $131 fee. Wait times can be lengthy, so it's best to initiate the process as soon as possible.

As of January 2004, many international visitors traveling on visas to the United States will be photographed and fingerprinted on arrival at Customs in airports and on cruise ships in a program created by the Department of Homeland Security called US-VISIT. Exempt from the extra scrutiny are visitors entering by land or those (mostly in Europe) that don't require a visa for short-term visits. For more information, go to the Homeland Security website at www.dhs.gov/dhspublic.

Medical Requirements

Unless you're arriving from an area known to be suffering from an epidemic (particularly cholera or yellow fever), inoculations or vaccinations are not required for entry into the United States.

Customs

What You Can Bring into the U.S. -- Every visitor more than 21 years of age may bring in, free of duty, the following: (1) 1 liter of wine or hard liquor; (2) 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars (but not from Cuba), or 3 pounds of smoking tobacco; and (3) $100 worth of gifts. These exemptions are offered to travelers who spend at least 72 hours in the United States and who have not claimed them within the preceding 6 months. It is forbidden to bring into the country almost any meat products (including canned, fresh, and dried meat products such as bullion, soup mixes, and so on). Generally, condiments, including vinegars, oils, and spices; coffee; tea; and some cheeses and baked goods are permitted. Avoid rice products, as rice can often harbor insects. Bringing fruits and vegetables is not advised, though not prohibited. Customs will allow produce depending on where you got it and where you're going after you arrive in the U.S. Foreign tourists may carry in or out up to $10,000 in U.S. or foreign currency with no formalities; larger sums must be declared to U.S. Customs on entering or leaving, which includes filing form CM 4790. For details regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection, consult your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or U.S. Customs (www.customs.ustreas.gov).

What You Can Take Home From New England -- U.S. Citizens: For specifics on what you can bring back and the corresponding fees, download the invaluable free pamphlet Know Before You Go online at www.cbp.gov. (Click on "Travel," and then click on "Know Before You Go! Online Brochure.") Or contact the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20229 (tel. 877/287-8667), and request the pamphlet.

Canadian Citizens: For a clear summary of Canadian rules, write for the booklet I Declare, issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca).

U.K. Citizens: For information, contact HM Customs & Excise at tel. 0845/010-9000 (from outside the U.K., 020/8929-0152), or consult their website at www.hmce.gov.uk.

Australian Citizens: A helpful brochure available from Australian consulates or Customs offices is Know Before You Go. For more information, call the Australian Customs Service at tel. 1300/363-263, or log on to www.customs.gov.au.

New Zealand Citizens: Most questions are answered in a free pamphlet available at New Zealand consulates and Customs offices: New Zealand Customs Guide for Travellers, Notice no. 4. For more information, contact New Zealand Customs, The Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box 2218, Wellington (tel. 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).

Tips for Senior Travelers

New England is well suited to older travelers, with a wide array of activities for seniors and discounts commonly available. Members of AARP (formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons), 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049 (tel. 888/687-2277; www.aarp.org), get discounts on hotels, airfares, and car rentals. AARP offers members a wide range of benefits, including AARP: The Magazine and a monthly newsletter. Anyone over 50 can join.

The U.S. National Park Service offers an America the Beautiful -- National Park and Federal Recreational Lands Pass -- Senior Pass (formerly the Golden Age Passport), which gives seniors 62 years or older lifetime entrance to all properties administered by the National Park Service -- national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges -- for a one-time processing fee of $10. The pass must be purchased in person at any NPS facility that charges an entrance fee. Besides free entry, the America the Beautiful Senior Pass offers a 50% discount on some federal-use fees charged for such facilities as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and tours. For more information, go to www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm or call the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which issues the passes, at tel. 888/275-8747.

For more information and resources on travel for seniors, see www.frommers.com/planning.

Tips for Gay and Lesbian Travelers

Parts of New England are surprisingly friendly to gay and lesbian culture, while other parts are still deeply antipathetic toward the culture. As elsewhere in the country, the larger cities tend to be more accommodating to gay travelers than smaller towns.

Boston, of course, has the region's largest gay population, many concentrated in the South End neighborhood; in fact, many locals credit gays and lesbians with transforming Southie from a downtrodden, working-class 'hood into its current incarnation as home to many of the city's quirkiest antiques shops, restaurants, and B&Bs.

Provincetown, Massachusetts (at the very end of Cape Cod), is without a doubt the most gay-friendly town in New England. Rainbow flags fly proudly throughout the town, and it's safe to say this is a must-visit place for any first-time gay or lesbian traveler to the region.

Northampton, Massachusetts -- home to Smith College -- boasts a substantial and thriving lesbian community.

Overall, Vermont has traditionally been the most welcoming of the New England states to gay travelers; it is a specific destination for visitors who want to utilize or support the state's law acknowledging civil unions. For information on Vermont civil unions, visit the state-run website www.sec.state.vt.us/otherprg/civilunions/civilunions.html.

Ogunquit, on the southern Maine coast, is a hugely popular destination among gay travelers and features a lively beach and bar scene in the summer. In the winter, it's less active and more mellow. A well-designed website, www.gayogunquit.com, is one good place to find information on gay-owned inns, restaurants, and nightclubs in town.

Finally, Portland, Maine, has a substantial gay population and hosts a gay-pride festival each summer. In early 1998, Maine narrowly repealed a statewide gay-rights law that had been passed earlier by the state legislature. In Portland, however, the vote was nearly four to one against the repeal and in support of equal rights. Portland also has a municipal ordinance that prohibits discrimination in jobs and housing based on sexual orientation.

For more gay and lesbian travel resources, visit www.frommers.com/planning.

Getting Around

By Car

If you're visiting from abroad and plan to rent a car in the United States, you probably won't need the services of an additional automobile organization. If you're planning to buy or borrow a car, automobile-association membership is recommended. AAA, the American Automobile Association (tel. 800/222-4357; http://travel.aaa.com), is the country's largest auto club and supplies its members with maps, insurance, and, most important, emergency road service. Note: Foreign driver's licenses are usually recognized in the U.S., but you should get an international one if your home license is not in English.

The major airports in New England all host national car-rental chains. The websites Orbitz.com, Hotwire.com, Travelocity.com, and Priceline.com all offer competitive online car-rental rates.

Note that insurance is almost never included in rental car rates in the U.S. Be sure you actually need insurance before you buy it. Many are covered by their own car insurance and/or credit cards and can avoid this significant add-on cost.

Travel can be confusing in this region at times, as there are few straight roads, but GPS takes the guesswork out of finding your way. North-and-south travel is relatively straightforward, thanks to four major interstates crisscrossing the region. But traveling east and west sometimes involves a zigzagged route.

On the other hand, New England is of a size that touring by car can be done comfortably—so long as you’re not determined to see all six states in a week. Maine is a lot bigger than all the other New England states; beware that overview maps don’t fully convey the state’s size. (Portland is closer by car to New York City than it is to Fort Kent.)

Traffic is generally light compared to that of most urban and suburban areas along the East Coast, but there are a few big exceptions. Traffic in or around Boston can be sluggish anytime, and Friday afternoons and evenings in the summer are positively infuriating; the tentacles of Beantown traffic extend all the way to I-495, which you may need to use to get from the New York area to, say, coastal Maine. Be prepared for unexpected delays if you’ll be driving anywhere near Boston. I-95 almost always gets snarled up around New Haven, where it intersects with I-91. Other notorious choke points that can back up for miles include Route 1 along the Maine coast on summer weekends; the roads leading to the two bridges that enter Cape Cod; or attractive New England back-road routes during the height of foliage season. Try to avoid being on the road during big summer holiday or foliage weekends; if your schedule allows it, travel on weekdays rather than on weekends, and hit the road before or after morning and evening commuter rush hours.

By Bus

Once you're in northern New England, bus service can be spotty. You'll be able to reach major cities by bus, but few of the smaller towns or villages. Tickets range from about $13 one-way from Boston to Portland, to $22 and up for Boston to Burlington. Buses can fill up on Fridays, Sundays, and around major holidays or holiday travel times; reservations are always a wise idea.

Greyhound (tel. 800/231-2222) operates in all six states—though mostly just along the interstate highways—with frequent departures from Boston. Concord Coach Lines (tel. 800/639-3317 or 603/228-3300) serves Maine and New Hampshire, including midcoast Maine and some smaller towns in the Lake Winnipesaukee, Merrimack Valley, and White Mountains areas. Buses on the Maine routes play complimentary (PG-13 rated or below) movies en route. C&J (tel 800/258-7111) connects Boston with Portsmouth and Dover, New Hampshire, and Newburyport, Massachusetts, on buses that promise Wi-Fi access.

By Ferry

New England has a lot of coastline and a few very popular islands, and so it’s not surprising that ferry service is active here. A variety of ferries serve Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, mostly from ports on Cape Cod. Ferries to Block Island leave from Point Judith, RI, New London, CT, and Long Island, NY. Boston Harbor Cruises also operates a fast ferry from Boston to Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod.

By Plane

Overseas visitors can also take advantage of the APEX (Advance Purchase Excursion) reductions offered by all major U.S. and European carriers. In addition, some large airlines offer transatlantic or transpacific passengers special discount tickets under the name Visit USA, which allows mostly one-way travel from one U.S. destination to another at very low prices. Unavailable in the U.S., these discount tickets must be purchased abroad in conjunction with your international fare. This system is the easiest, fastest, cheapest way to see the country.

By Train

Amtrak provides limited rail travel around the region, but it’s quite expensive. In coastal Connecticut, frequent MTA Metro-North Railroad commuter trains to and from New York City and within the state are a much cheaper option than Amtrak. A trip between New York City and New Haven, for instance, costs $17.75 to $30 one-way on Metro-North, versus $43 or more (and 40 min. longer, with far fewer departures) on Amtrak. Check the system’s website at www.mta.info/mnr for schedules and fares.

When to Go

New England has no monopoly on seasonal shifts and splendors. Yet the region dons new outerwear every 3 months or so with unparalleled style and finesse. The ever-changing seasons here are precisely what make New England so distinctive, and there are reasons to embrace all four. Even the unofficial “sprinter,” that muddy, sloppy season that marks winter’s end and spring’s arrival, has fans among the outdoorsy and budget-conscious.

SUMMER -- The peak summer season in New England runs from the 4th of July through Labor Day weekend. That’s a pretty slim sandwich, only about 8 1/2 weeks. But, wow, does the population of each of these states ever swell between the starting line and summer’s checkered flag. Vast crowds surge into New England, particularly on weekends and when temperatures soar.

It’s no wonder. Summers here are exquisite, particularly because the daylight lasts so long—until 9 or 9:30pm in late June and early July. In the mountains, cooler temperatures prevail, and this natural air conditioning reinvigorates urbanites. Along the seashore, reliable breezes keep temperatures down even when it’s triple-digit steaming in the big cities. In general, expect moderation: In Portland, Maine, the thermometer tops 90°F (32°C) for only 4 or 5 days each year, typically.

Weather in this region is largely determined by winds. Summer’s southwesterly winds bring haze, heat, and humidity (to everywhere except the seashore); northwesterly winds bring cool, bright weather and knife-sharp views. These systems tend to alternate during the summer, the heat and humidity building slowly and stealthily for days—then swiftly getting kicked out on their ears by stiff, cool winds pressing down from Canada. Rain is unpredictable in summer—afternoon thunderstorms pop up out of nowhere and roll through at a mighty pace. On average, about 1 day in 3 here will bring some rain.

For most of this region, midsummer is prime time. Expect to pay premium prices at hotels and restaurants. (The exception is around the ski resorts, where you can often find bargains.) Also be aware that early summer brings out scads of biting black flies and mosquitoes as you move inland from the coast in the northern states, a state of affairs that has spoiled many north-country camping trips. Come prepared for these guys.

What to do? Play some golf. Go hiking or kayaking. Body surf in the ocean. Catch a minor-league baseball game. Or indulge in one of our favorite activities: rocking in a chair on a screened porch, reading a book, playing guitar, or just listening intently to the sounds of loons or crickets and watching the night sky for stars you never knew existed.

AUTUMN -- Don’t be surprised to smell the tang of fall approaching as early as mid-August, when you’ll begin to notice a few leaves turning blaze-orange on maples at the edges of wetlands or highways. Fall comes early to New England, puts its feet up, and stays for some time. The foliage season begins in earnest in the northern part of the region by September’s third week; in the southern portions, it peaks around mid-October.

Fall in New England is one of the great natural spectacles in the world. When the region’s rolling hills light up in brilliant reds and stunning oranges, awed motorists pull to the sides of roads to snap photos. The best part? This spectacle is nearly as regular as clockwork, with only a few years truly “bad” for foliage (due to odd storms or invasive, leaf-eating pests).

Keep in mind, however, that autumn is the most popular time of year to travel to the New England states—bus tours flock here like migrating geese in early October. As a result, hotels in renowned leaf towns are invariably booked solid at that time. Reservations are essential. Don’t be surprised if rates are $50 or more per night higher than they were just weeks ago at your inn or hotel. Deal with it; you can’t buy scenery like this.

Some states maintain seasonal foliage hotlines and/or websites to let you know when the leaves are at their peak: Vermont (tel. 800/VERMONT [837-6668]), Maine (tel. 888/624-6345), and New Hampshire.

WINTER -- New England winters are like wine—some years are exceptional, some are lousy. During a good season, mounds of light, fluffy snow fill the deep woods and blanket ski slopes and snowmobile trails. A “classic” New England winter offers profound peace and tranquility, as the fresh snow muffles all noise and brings such a thunderous silence to the entire region that the hiss and pop of a wood fire at a country inn can seem startlingly loud. During these sorts of winters, exploring the forest on snowshoes or cross-country skis is an experience bordering on the magical.

During the other winters, the weather fairies instead bring a nasty mélange of rain, freezing rain, and sleet. The woods become filled with crusty snow, the cold is damp and bone-numbing, and it’s bleak, as gunpowder-gray clouds lower and linger for weeks. There are ways to beat this, however: The higher in elevation you go into the mountains of northern New England, or the farther north you head (to such places as Jay, VT), the better your odds of finding snow.

The coast in winter is a crapshoot at best, more likely to yield rain (or sticky, heavy “snowball” snow) than powdery snow. Yes, winter vacations on the ocean can be spectacular—think Winslow Homerian waves crashing savagely onto an empty beach—but after a day or two of trying to navigate your car around big, gray, slushy snow banks, you too will soon be heading for Stowe unless hunkering down by a fire is all your soul craves.

Ski areas get crowded. Some very crowded. Expect maximum pricing, so-so food, and a herd mentality; this is the price you must pay for enjoying great skiing. The resorts get especially packed during school vacations, which is just when many resorts choose to hike up rates at hotels and on the slopes.

By the way, if you visit a small town in this region during winter, there is another pleasure to enjoy during the deepest freeze: public ice skating and ice hockey. You’ll find locals skating on town green and public park rinks, lakes, and ponds. How do you find these spots? Look for a clump of cars beside an iconic little warming hut with a wood-burning stove inside, sending up smoke puffs like a signal to the masses. Cities like Boston, Newport, Providence, Portsmouth, and Hartford are also destinations for romantics who want to lace up skates.

SPRING -- After the long winter, spring in New England is a tease. She promises a lot and comes dressed in impressive finery (see: delicate purple lilacs, which blossom for just two weeks). There are years when spring lasts only a few weeks, “occurring” around mid-May but up north as late as June. New Englanders often call this time of year “mud season.” Warming earth’s a gooey mess; rushing waterfalls are worth mucking up your boots.

One morning the ground is muddy, the trees are barren, and gritty snow is still collected in shady hollows and mall parking lots. The next day, it’s in the 80s and sunny, maple trees are erupting with little red cloverlike buds; kids are swimming in the lakes where the docks have just been put in; and somewhere in New Hampshire, a blue cover is being ripped off an aboveground pool.

Travelers need to be awfully crafty to experience spring in New England—and, once they get here, they often have trouble finding a room. That’s because a good number of innkeepers and restaurateurs close up for a few weeks for repairs or to venture someplace warm. The upside? Rates are never cheaper than in early spring . . . right up until college graduation season. It’s jaw-dropping how little you can pay in March for the same room that would cost 3 to 10 times more in mid-summer or October.