Portland is a city in Maine, United States, located on a peninsula stretching into Casco Bay. Working fishing wharves and repurposed warehouses with restaurants and shops dot the Old Port riverfront. The Western Promenade, a public park on a bluff nearby, offers river and mountain vistas. The West End, which surrounds it, contains numerous with Victorian-era houses, including the Victoria Mansion museum. This is one of the Best Weekend Getaways in New England that you should experience.

Maine may conjure up thoughts of peaceful coastal communities with rugged coasts, boats blowing in the wind, and tons of lobster, but Portland is much more. Portland has created a name for itself in more ways than one. It has classic Maine scenery and a busy harbor with plenty of wonderful seafood. The city's excellent commitment to the arts, acclaimed eating scene, and incredible preservation and restoration of its historic Old Port continue to impress and exceed traveler expectations. Museums abound, James Beard Award-winning chefs work in restaurants throughout the downtown area, and local stores coexist with national companies.

The city's uniquely Maine characteristics are also a cut above the rest. Secluded beaches on island shorelines, centuries-old lighthouses perched on coastal bluffs, and delectable lobster rolls are all within reach. Above all, the city's core is a port, once the largest in 17th-century New England. It's also an excellent starting place for some of the best whale watching in Maine. Whatever perspective you choose on Portland, its charm and ease will undoubtedly heal the soul.

Location: New England, United States

Best time to visit: Summer

Ranking:

• #1 Best Weekend Getaways in New England
• #1 Best Places to Visit in Maine
• #3 Best Places to Visit in June

Website: www.portlandmaine.gov

Boston, formally the City of Boston, is the capital and most populous metropolis of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States, as well as the country's 24th-most populous city. The city proper encompasses around 48.4 square miles and will have a population of 675,647 in 2020, making it the most populous city in New England.

Boston is more than just a baseball town with brownstones and bookish university types. It also has America's first large free municipal public library, subway system, public school, and public park. To say the city is historic is an understatement, yet this incredibly clever college town isn't stuck in time. A well-rounded tour to Boston combines the classic and the modern: Spend your time seeing historic places including as the Paul Revere House and Faneuil Hall, as well as modern attractions such as the Museum of Fine Arts. Beacon Hill is home to elegant mansions from yesteryear, as well as stylish stores and cutting-edge hotels. Yes, come for the history, but don't pass up the chance to witness the unmistakable Beantown flair.

Despite its rough-and-tumble reputation in gritty films such as "Black Mass," "American Hustle," and "The Town," Boston's sophisticated, cosmopolitan mentality is reflected in its trendy restaurants, urban parks, and modern museums. Residents are still rooting for their beloved Red Sox, but they're also visiting the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway for a free yoga session or the quirky SoWa Open Market for some antique shopping. So pull up a stool and join them at their favorite pub for oyster shooters and New England clam chowder, or head to Back Bay to drink a coffee while strolling down trendy Newbury Street. You'll need more than a few days to fully appreciate the city's amenities.

Location: New England, the United States

Best time to visit: June to October

Ranking:

• #2 Best Weekend Getaways in New England
• #2 Best Historical Cities to Visit in the USA
• #3 Best Places to Visit in August

Website: https://www.boston.gov/

Martha's Vineyard, a Massachusetts island, is located just south of Cape Cod in the Atlantic. It is a long-standing New England summer colony with harbor towns and lighthouses, sandy beaches and agriculture. It can only be reached by boat or plane. Vineyard Haven, on the island's eastern extremity, serves as a ferry terminal and the island's commercial core. Oak Bluffs is known for its Carpenter Gothic houses and its unique carousel.

For more than a century, this triangle-shaped island, located about 8 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has been a secret summer retreat for the rich and famous. The "Hollywood East" reputation is still strong today, thanks to frequent visitors such as former President Barack Obama, David Letterman, and Bill Murray, among many others. Despite the all-star summer roster, the island has a laid-back vibe.

The opportunity to let their hair down for a long weekend is what draws Vineyard visitors off the ship. Sure, some areas of the island, such as Chilmark, have exorbitantly priced summer houses and restaurants. Low-key towns and villages like Vineyard Haven and Menemsha, on the other hand, are still primarily focused on their marine industry and provide a more informal atmosphere. Even the island's most popular souvenir, a Black Dog hoodie, is casual. So ditch the stilettos in favor of your ugliest flat sandals, and keep your calm when you spot some movie stars in Edgartown; everyone deserves a taste of Vineyard heaven.

Location: New England, United States

Best time to visit: April and September

Ranking:

• #3 Best Weekend Getaways in New England
• #3 Best Cheap Honeymoons in the U.S.
• #9 Best Relaxing Getaways in the USA

Website: https://www.mvy.com/

Bar Harbor can be considered as one of the Best Weekend Getaways in New England. Bar Harbor is a vacation town in Hancock County, Maine, United States, located on Mount Desert Island. Its population is 5,089 as of the 2020 census. It is a famous tourist attraction during the summer and fall seasons, and until a devastating fire in 1947, it was a well-known vacation colony for the wealthy. It provides an entrance to the surrounding Acadia National Park's mountains and cliffs. Cadillac Mountain, which towers over the park, includes trails and views of the town, the bay, and the Cranberry Islands. Mountains surround Sand Beach. The Shore Path winds around the bay from the town pier, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Porcupine Islands.

Bar Harbor, Maine, is famous as the gateway to Acadia National Park and has a centuries-long reputation as a scenic retreat that blends many of the best attributes of the state. Because of its location along Frenchman Bay, visitors are spoiled with relaxing water vistas to the left and right, as well as rugged coasts straight out of a landscape painting. It's also a great starting place for some of Maine's greatest whale watching cruises.

Not only that, but the town has a certain charm that makes you feel as if you've stepped out of reality and into the pages of a storybook. The availability of finger-licking local lobster, on the other hand, will undoubtedly bring you back into reality in the greatest manner possible. This is the kind of location you go to unwind and reconnect with the basics: taking a long walk, watching the water swing as the day fades, and eating delicious local fare. Bar Harbor is ideal for all of this.

Location: New England, United States

Best time to visit: June to August
Ranking:

• #1 Best Cheap Summer Vacations
• #2 Best Places to Visit in Maine
• #4 Best Weekend Getaways in New England

Website: www.barharbormaine.gov

Cape Cod, a hook-shaped peninsula in Massachusetts, is a popular summer vacation spot. There are charming villages, seafood shacks, lighthouses, ponds, and bay and ocean beaches here. The John F. Kennedy Museum is the first stop on the Kennedy Legacy Trail through downtown Hyannis, where boats depart for the resort islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

With its brightly colored clam shacks, shingle-style homes, and peaceful beaches, it's easy to see why Cape Cod - or simply "the Cape" to locals - is a popular summer destination for New England mainlanders. Beautiful bed and breakfasts nestle among rugged sand dunes, gorgeous bike routes wind through woodlands, and the seemingly endless beach is accented by bright kayaks and fishing boats. Life proceeds at a slower pace here, which adds to the appeal. While the Cape is a popular destination for celebrities and athletes, it is also a quiet place with a laid-back vibe.

Spend a day getting to know the Cape's artsy side by visiting Provincetown, a bohemian (and especially LGBTQ-friendly) seaport with eccentric art galleries and great whale-watching places. Then head south to Sandwich, the Cape's oldest town, where you'll see glass-blowing demonstrations and famous New England mansions. The area is divided into four distinct regions: the Upper Cape, Mid Cape, Lower Cape, and Outer Cape. Though you'll only need a few days to taste the Cape's beautiful beaches, stunning views, and delectable seafood, try to carve out a few weeks to experience the low-key vibes that enchant visitors each summer.

Location: New England, United States

Best time to visit: May, June, September or October

Ranking:

• #5 Best Weekend Getaways in New England
• #7 Best Family Vacations in the USA
• #14 Best Summer Vacations in the USA

Website: https://www.capecodchamber.org/

Newport is a city in the New England state of Rhode Island, located on Aquidneck Island. For many years, the yacht-filled port hosted the America's Cup, a renowned annual sailing regatta. Newport is also notable for the Gilded Age homes that line Bellevue Avenue, some of which have been converted into museums. The Breakers, an 1895 estate modeled after a Renaissance palace, is the most well-known.

This destination is one of the Best Weekend Getaways in New England. Newport is a ritzy weekend getaway for all types, hugging the southern tip of Rhode Island's Aquidneck Island. While sailing crews take over Narragansett Bay in preparation for one of the several regattas, girlfriends flit through the posh stores that line Thames Street. And, like any other New England seaside town, this port town is content with a simple seafood lunch and a day at the beach. The architecture, however, is what draws travelers to Newport: the 19th-century summer "cottages" on the shore and the colonial-era structures downtown give the city an Old World, blue blood aspect.

The mega-rich have gone on, leaving their mansions accessible for public tours, but a weekend here will still cost you a hefty coin. Newport's penchant for special occasion getaways (think bachelorette parties and second honeymoons) drives up pricing. But the simple, seaside elegance of this port town is certainly worth the splurge.

Location: New England, United States

Best time to visit: between March and May and from September to November

Ranking:

• #5 Best Rhode Island Beaches
• #6 Best Weekend Getaways in New England
• #8 Best Relaxing Getaways in the USA

Website: www.cityofnewport.com

Acadia National Park is a 47,000-acre Atlantic coast recreation area located mostly on Mount Desert Island in Maine. Its terrain is defined by dense forest, rocky beaches, and glacier-carved granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the East Coast of the United States. Moose, bear, whales, and seagulls are among the wildlife. Bar Harbor, with its restaurants and stores, is a popular starting point.

Acadia National Park transforms you into a pioneer: each route leads to rocky, pristine nature just waiting to be photographed. Cobalt waves pound the jagged granite slabs jutting out from the shore, which are crowned with spruce trees. As peregrine falcons scream down from the heavens, harbor seals bask on abandoned slabs of bedrock off the coast. Rocky pathways and quaint carriage routes wind through the interior forests and ponds, beckoning exploration. Needless to say, the park caters to the average outdoor enthusiast, with a strong emphasis on high-adrenaline sports such as horseback riding, biking, hiking, and even rock climbing.

You have full freedom to explore Acadia's more than 47,000 acres, including all of its hiking routes and natural features, for a very reasonable charge. When you need a respite from the great outdoors, the quaint New England hamlet of Bar Harbor, Maine, awaits you in Mount Desert Island's northeast corner.

Location: New England, United States

Best time to visit: mid-October

Ranking:

• #3 Best Places to Visit in Maine
• #5 Best Maine Beaches
• #7 Best Weekend Getaways in New England

Website: https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

Nantucket, a tiny, secluded island off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is a popular summer vacation resort with dune-backed beaches. It's distinguished by unpainted cedar-shingled buildings, many of which are surrounded by manicured privets. Restaurants, high-end stores, and steepled churches line the wharves and cobblestoned streets of Nantucket. The Whaling Museum in town tells the story of the island's position as a 19th-century whaling center.

"Once upon a time, there was a man from Nantucket..." Go ahead and finish the remainder of the limerick in your brain before getting that laugh out of your system. Because, despite its reputation for rhyming obscenities (many of which can be seen written on trinkets around town), Nantucket is a classy vacation destination. And it's getting posher by the year. This little island, located around 30 miles south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, embraces its isolation, enticing upper-crust prepsters and Northeastern bluebloods eager for a summer retreat.

Other tourists are welcome as well, as long as they are willing to splurge. Room rates and dinner plates are extremely expensive, yet some of the most popular island activities are reasonably priced. After all, a genuine Nantucket visit entails pedaling your rental bike around the cobblestone neighborhoods or relaxing on the beach with a beach-time read. So grab your bikini and leave your car at the ferry terminals: it's time to get away from the mainland.

Location: New England, United States

Best time to visit: early fall

Ranking:

• #5 Best Relaxing Getaways in the USA
• #8 Best Romantic Getaways in the USA
• #8 Best Weekend Getaways in New England

Website: www.nantucket-ma.gov

Stowe is a northern Vermont town. Mount Mansfield, noted for its trails and ski slopes, towers over it. The Auto Toll Road winds its way up to the summit crest. Smugglers' Notch State Park contains deep forest and a narrow mountain pass near the bottom. With mountain views, the Stowe Recreation Path follows the West Branch of the Little River through town. Vermont Ski Museum was established in 1988. It was later transferred to Stowe in 2000. The museum houses artifacts and information on the history of skiing and snowboarding in Vermont.

Do you want to visit the European Alps but don't have the funds? Consider the charming - and less expensive - Vermont village of Stowe. This historic New England village, nestled between the Green Mountains and the CC Putnam State Forest, is replete with sweet shops and general stores, as well as gorgeous churches and working farms. Mount Mansfield, the state's highest peak, towers over town, offering world-class skiing and other winter sports options. You'll imagine you're in a small community in the Alps sometime between mounting Mansfield in one of Stowe Mountain Resort's gondolas and drinking hot cocoa fireside at the Swiss-style cottages. At least, the von Trapps believed so; the melodic family (made famous by "The Sound of Music") lived in Stowe's Trapp Family Lodge because it reminded them of their Austrian home.

Location: New England, United states

Best time to visit: September through February

Ranking:

• #9 Best Weekend Getaways in New England
• #11 Best Ski Vacations in the USA
• #14 Best Places to Visit in January

Website: www.townofstowevt.org

Portsmouth is a port city in New Hampshire on the Piscataqua River. It had a population of 21,956 as of the 2020 census. Portsmouth, a historic seaport and major summer tourist destination on the Piscataqua River bordering Maine, was originally home to the Strategic Air Command's Pease Air Force Base, which has since been transformed to Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. Several significant 17th and 18th-century cottages can be found within Strawbery Banke Museum, where costumed employees exhibit traditional crafts. The nearby 1855 North Church watches over downtown's Market Square. Prescott Park features riverbank gardens as well as boat docks. The former research submarine USS Albacore located in a park to the northwest, next to a visitor center.

If historic walking tours, quaint bistros, and tax-free shopping sound like your dream New England weekend, make your way to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, right away. Take a narrated boat trip of the Isles of Shoals, or spend the day exploring Market Square, Portsmouth's crown jewel. Sink your toes in the sand at neighboring Wallis Sands State Beach or take a stroll through the plants at Prescott Park for some fresh air. Visit throughout the summer to experience the Prescott Park Arts Festival, which transforms this lovely green space into a colorful outdoor performance venue.

Location: New England, United States
Best time to visit: May 21st to October 7th
Ranking: #10 Best Weekend Getaways in New England
Website: cityofportsmouth.com

The Berkshires are a rural region in western Massachusetts' highlands interspersed with villages and towns. Outdoor activities, fall foliage viewing, a farm-to-table food culture, and vibrant arts institutions make it a popular vacation destination. The Boston Symphony Orchestra's residency at Lenox's Tanglewood Music Center is one of the most well-known annual festivals. This is one of the Best Weekend Getaways in New England.

The Berkshires, with their meandering roads surrounded by picture-perfect mountaintops, extensive farmland, and dispersed herds of cattle, provide the ideal balance of energetic fun and relaxation. This rural location in western Massachusetts, located about 140 miles north of New York City and a little more than 120 miles west of Boston, serves as an idyllic refuge for city inhabitants in need of a countryside escape. Outdoor enthusiasts go all year to take advantage of the wide mountains, which allow for hiking, skiing, climbing, and zip line. Meanwhile, the area's numerous lakes provide several chances for paddleboarding, fishing, and kayaking. The Berkshires' varied festivals and institutions will also please any culture vulture.

It's easy to get lost in one of the Berkshires' charming towns, which are filled with antique store windows and vintage coffee shops. Meanwhile, foodies may fill up at the many farm-to-table restaurants, as well as the orchards and farms that welcome guests during the berry and apple picking seasons. And everyone will enjoy a day at the beach appreciating the breathtaking panoramic views.

Location: New England, United States

Best time to visit: June to August

Ranking:

• #11 Best Weekend Getaways in New England
• #14 Best Places to Visit in September

Website: https://berkshires.org/

The White Mountains are a mountain range in the United States that encompasses around one-quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a tiny piece of western Maine. They are the most difficult mountains in New England and are part of the northern Appalachian Mountains. Because of its proximity to Boston, New York City, and Montreal, the range receives a high volume of visitors.

The majority of the land is public, including the White Mountain National Forest and several state parks. Mount Washington, at 6,288 feet, is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States and held the world record for fastest surface wind gust for 76 years. Mount Washington is part of the Presidential Range, a series of summits named after U.S. presidents and other notable Americans. The Appalachian Mountain Club operates a network of alpine cabins for hikers in the White Mountains. The Appalachian Trail runs through the region from southwest to northeast.

Whether you're searching for a tranquil mountain retreat or an action-packed weekend, the White Mountains provide it all. The White Mountains are a protected national forest that spans sections of New Hampshire and Maine. Consider taking the scenic route up the Kancamagus Highway and stopping at a campground along the way. If you travel during the summer, hike, drive, or ride the Mount Washington Cog Railway to the summit for breathtaking vistas. In the winter, shred powder on some of New England's top ski slopes before warming up with a cup of hot cocoa at a bed-and-breakfast.

Location: New England

Best time to visit: late spring to mid-fall

Ranking: #12 Best Weekend Getaways in New England

Burlington is the largest city in Vermont and the county seat of Chittenden County. Burlington, Vermont, is a picturesque, bustling small college town on the eastern bank of Lake Champlain, close to the Canadian border. The UVM Medical Center, Vermont's largest hospital, is located inside the municipal borders. In neighboring South Burlington, the City of Burlington also hosts Vermont's largest airport. Burlington became the first city in the United States to run totally on renewable energy in 2015. Burlington can be seen as one of the Best Weekend Getaways in New England.

The vibrant pedestrian Church Street Marketplace in the centre of Burlington features a variety of boutiques, restaurants, cafés, book shops, galleries, and seats for tired tourists. The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, located north of downtown, is the old home of the Revolutionary War hero. The enormous Shelburne Museum, located south of the city, showcases American folk and decorative art in a series of ancient buildings. The surrounding Adirondack and Green Mountains are popular hiking and skiing destinations in the summer and winter. In the summer, the lake's sandy beaches are ideal for soaking up the rays, and it is large enough to accommodate a variety of watersports.

Location: New England, United States

Best time to visit: May/June or September/October

Ranking: #13 Best Weekend Getaways in New England

Website: www.burlingtonvt.gov

Block Island is located just south of the mainland of Rhode Island. Its red-brick Southeast Lighthouse, built in the 1800s, stands above the stunning clay cliffs of Mohegan Bluffs, with a rocky beach below. Crescent Beach, on the east coast, is a beautiful sandy beach. North Lighthouse, built in 1867, and Sachem Pond, home to gulls and swallows, are located on the island's northern tip. The Block Island National Wildlife Refuge attracts migratory songbirds. Block Island, located only about 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island, is an appealing blend of gorgeous beaches, breathtaking vistas, 250-foot-high cliffs plummeting into the ocean, over 32 miles of scenic hiking trails, rich history, and a vibrant nightlife.

The island is about 3 by 7 miles in size, but it contains over 50 boutiques and artisanal shops, as well as various art galleries, gourmet restaurants, and attractive cafes. Visitors can go bike riding, horseback riding, hiking, birdwatching, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, parasailing, and sailing in addition to relaxing on the beach. The island is famous for its iconic red-brick Southeast Lighthouse, built in the 1800s and located above the towering cliffs of Mohegan Bluffs. The 1867 North Lighthouse and Sachem Pond, a birdwatcher's paradise with swarms of gulls and swallows, are located on the island's northern tip. The Block Island National Wildlife Refuge preserves the island's migrating songbirds, which arrive every year.

Location: New England, United States
Best time to visit: between May and October
Ranking: #14 Best Weekend Getaways in New England
Website: www.new-shoreham.com

Kennebunkport is a southern Maine coastal town. It is famous for its beaches, which include the long, sandy Goose Rocks Beach and the smaller Arundel Beach. The Seashore Trolley Museum houses an extensive collection of streetcars. St. Ann's Episcopal Church, built in 1887, is a rustic stone church on grassy grounds with seaside views. The Goat Island Lighthouse, built in 1833, is located in the harbor of the little lobster fishing community of Cape Porpoise.

The excellent beaches, such as the sandy, long Goose Rocks Beach and Arundel Beach, attract hundreds of people during the summer. When the weather does not permit a visit to the beach, travelers flock to the town's unique boutiques, galleries, and tiny restaurants and cafés. A vast collection of old streetcars can be found at the Seashore Trolley Museum. St. Ann's Episcopal Church, built in 1887, is a rustic stone structure on grassy grounds with seaside views. The rustic Goat Island Lighthouse, built in 1833 and located in the bay of Cape Porpoise hamlet, is worth a visit. Hiking is the finest way to explore Kennebunkport, whether you're looking for galleries and boutiques or visiting the lighthouses and historic mansions of sea captains on Summer Street.

Location: New England, United States

Best time to visit: between June and October

Ranking: #15 Best Weekend Getaways in New England

Website: https://www.kennebunkport.org