Suggested Itineraries in New England

Getting to know New England requires equal amounts of patience and persistence. Your most memorable experience might come at a roadside lobster pound marked only with a scrawled paper sign, at the end of a mountainside hiking trail that overlooks a peaceful lake, or while exploring a cobblestone alley that's not on any map.

Trust your instincts as much as your GPS while you’re on the road in New England. Your most memorable experience might await at a lobster shack you hear about from locals, at the end of a hiking trail that overlooks a peaceful lake, or along a tree-lined back road that is the prettiest—not the fastest—route from here to there.

Racing around with a checklist and a beat-the-clock attitude is a recipe for missing out. The happiest visitors to New England are those who stay awhile in one spot, getting to know a manageable area through a mix of well-crafted day trips and serendipitous exploration. Read on for strategies that can help you organize your time.