About New England’s Foliage

Every autumn throughout New England, diminishing length of daylight and falling temperatures induce trees to shed billions of tons of leaves. Preceding this preparation for winter the trees present a spectacular color show. Leaves that have been green all summer turn to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red.

These color changes are caused by transformations in leaf pigments, primarily the green pigment chlorophyll. During summer, the leaves of trees are producing sugar from carbon dioxide and water by the workings of light and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll causes the leaves to appear green.

The shorter days and cool nights of autumn set off changes in the tree. One is the growth of a corky membrane at the base of the leaf stem, which interrupts the flow of nutrients into the leaf. This stops the production of chlorophyll in the leaf, and the green color of the leaf fades, allowing the reds, oranges and yellows to burst forth. The best autumn colors are produced when dry, sunny days are followed by cool, dry nights.

Color may begin to appear in isolated spots in far northern New England the first week in September. Typically, the color change begins at the higher elevations and in the northern part of the region mid-September and moves southward through mid-to-late October, ending in southern New England coastal areas at the end of October.

Visitors who travel to see our spectacular foliage are known as, “Leaf-Peepers.” While on your excursion do stop at country stores, orchards, local restaurants and shops. We have suggested some routes for you to drive. We also suggest that you try some backroads. Get a local map, and don’t worry about getting lost. You’ll always bump into a main road sooner or, hopefully, later.

Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center
10 Deerfield Lane
Ansonia, CT  06401  
Phone: 203-736-1053

One hundred-acre nature preserve, with several gardens featuring ferns and wildflowers. Of particular note is the butterfly and hummingbird garden. Natural exhibits and programs are scheduled throughout the year. Over two miles of trails run through the preserve for hiking and cross-country skiing. Visitors can also enjoy a fishing pond, picnic areas and a gift shop.
Hours: Sunup to sundown. Office and interpretive center open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except holidays. Free admission.

Arnold Arboretum
The Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA  02130  
Phone: 617-524-1718

This 265 acre site is home to an incredible 7,000 varieties of trees. Free admission.

Ashintully Gardens
Sodem and Main Roads
Tyringham, MA  01238  
Phone: 413-298-3239
Fax: 413-298-5239

A rushing stream, native deciduous trees, a rounded knoll, and rising meadows are blended into an arrangement of both formal and informal beauty. Garden features include the fountain pond, pine park, rams head terrace, bowling green, regency bridge, and trellis triptych.
Hours: Mid-June to mid-September, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, 1-5 p.m.

Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary
Off Nathan Ellis Highway
East Falmouth, MA  02536  
Phone: 781-259-9500
Toll-Free: 800-AUDUBON

Hours: May-August, daily, dawn to dusk. Fee charged.

This preserve features groves of holly, as well as a colony of barn swallows. Self-guided trails take visitors through the sanctuary. Open May - August. There is an admission fee.

Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden
9 Main Street
Bethlehem, CT  06751  
Phone: 203-266-7596

A formal garden with historic roses, peonies, lilacs, and other flowers

Built in 1754, this colonial offers garden lovers a formal parterre garden. Other features include family heirlooms, arts and antiques on display. Admission: $5 adults, $1 children.

Berkshire Botanical Garden
Routes 102 and 183
Stockbridge, MA  01262  
Phone: 413-298-3926

"Horticulture -- the Berkshire's other culture

A center for horticultural and environmental education, this 15-acre public garden features intimate country landscapes, colorful perennial and annual gardens, a terraced herb garden, pond garden, rock garden, ornamental vegetable garden, display greenhouse, woodland interpretive trail and gift shop. Collections emphasize plants that thrive in the Berkshires. Open May – October.

Bidwell House
Art School Road
Monterey, MA  01245  
Phone: 413-528-6888

A Colonial history experience

This home, built in 1750, has been restored and features 18th century gardens, as well as indoor exhibits. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
101 Ferry Road / Route 114
Bristol, RI  02809  
Phone: 401-253-2707

"An American garden treasure - come and be inspired"

This 45-room mansion was built in 1908 as the summer home of coal magnate Augustus Van Wickle. The property features gardens, and arboretum on 33 acres overlooking Narragansett Bay.
Hours: The mansion and gardens are open April 16 through Columbus Day for self-guided tours, Wednesday through Sunday (and most Monday holidays) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The grounds and gardens are open year-round, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fee charged.

Boothe Memorial Park & Museum
5774 Main St. Putney
Stratford, CT  06614  
Phone: 203-381-2046

This 32-acre former homestead of the Boothe Family (1663-1949) offers with picnic facilities, rose garden, and wedding garden. Buildings on National Historic Landmark site with displays of early farm equipment, carriages and baskets; trolley history, toll booth exhibit. Hours: Park grounds are open year-round, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Museums and displays are open June 1 through October 1, Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Free admission.

Botanic Garden of Smith College
15 College Lane
Northampton, MA  01063  
Phone: 413-585-2740

A living museum of plants

Lyman Plant House and Conservatory houses tropical collections and exhibition gallery. Arboretum features woody plant collection and specialty gardens: Rock Garden, systematics garden, Japanese garden, woodland and wildflower garden, knot garden, and perennial garden.
Hours: Daily year-round. Free.

Brookfield Historical Society Museum
165 Whisconier Road / Routes 25 and 133
Brookfield, CT  06840  
Phone: 203-775-4628

An extended learning and research center

Brookfield's original town hall, built in 1875 is now home to a colonial garden, as well as changing historical exhibits and a gift shop. Guided tours are available.

Cathedral of the Pines
10 Hale Hill Road
Rindge, NH  03461  
Phone: 603-899-3300

A place of spiritual nourishment for people of all faiths. The sense of peace engendered by the tall pines that form its natural surroundings is conducive to prayer and meditation. Its peaceful, garden-lined walk ways contain serene, inspirational landscapes as well as quiet spots for prayer and mediation.
Hours: May through October, open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A warm jacket is often necessary. Guided tours are available; groups are required to make reservations. Fee charged for group tours.

Chesterwood
Williamsville Road, one mile south of Routes 183 and 102
Stockbridge, MA  01262  
Phone: 413-298-3579

This mansion was the summer home of sculptor Daniel Chester French. Exhibits feature French's work and life, as well as 19th century furnishings and a garden. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Cities of New England

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

Located on Long Island Sound between New York and Rhode Island, New Haven and its environs offer a historic downtown and harbor, scenic beaches, and elegant town greens. Home of Yale University, the city offers a broad palette of cultural riches in the performing and visual arts. New Haven is home to three Tony award-winning regional theaters – the Long Wharf, the Yale Repertory Theatre and the Shubert Theater – where such classics as My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music premiered. The New Haven Jazz Festival is one of the country’s largest outdoor festivals. The Yale Center for British Art houses the largest collection of British art outside the United Kingdom.

New Haven’s selection of museums is enticing and quirky: the Eli Whitney Museum features lectures and workshops on machinery and technology; the Shoreline Trolley Museum presents 100 trolleys dating from 1903 to 1939; Yale University Art Gallery features 100,000 objects of art from ancient Egypt through the present day, including the works of Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Manet, Degas, Picasso, O’Keeffe, and Pollack.

Of historical interest is the Freedom Schooner Amistad, a replica of the slave ship that brought Africans from Sierra Leone in 1839. A memorial stands on the site of the old New Haven jail in which they were incarcerated while President John Quincy Adams argued their case in court. The schooner is available for tours and sailing.

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT

Ever since Dutch traders began using the Connecticut River in the early 1600s to conduct business, Hartford has been abuzz with insurance and financial transactions. Companies such as Aetna, The Hartford Insurance Group, Phoenix, and St. Paul-Travelers have their roots here. Hartford is the home of such treasures as the Wadsworth Atheneum, as well as attractions like the Mark Twain House, the Hartford Stage, and the Bushnell Memorial.

People who love the classics of American literature can step back to the Gilded Age during tours of the 19-room, Tiffany-decorated mansion where Mark Twain worked from 1874 to 1891. During this period, Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Tours are offered and browsing is encouraged at the mansion and nearby Twain museum.

Wadsworth Atheneum, founded in 1842, is America’s oldest public art museum, and it continues to grow. The castle-like exterior is being refurbished; the sculpture garden has been renovated; gallery space is being expanded; and new works are coming onboard. The permanent collection of 45,000 works of art includes many fine paintings from the Hudson River School.

Among the free attractions in Hartford are:

• Bushnell Park is home to more than 125 tree species. Thirty-minute tours of notable trees and arches are offered;
• Center Church and Ancient Burying Ground at Main and Gold Streets. The church features stained glass windows by Louis Tiffany;
• Elizabeth Park at Prospect and Asylum Avenues is home to more than 14,000 rose bushes representing 900 varieties of roses;
• Katharine Hepburn’s grave site at Cedar Hill Cemetery is a draw for fans of the late actor, a native of Hartford;
• Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch on Trinity Street, a Gothic brownstone monument honors the 4,000 Hartford citizens who served in the Civil War.

NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT

Located near Mystic, midway between Boston and New York City, New London, perches on the shores of both the Thames River and Long Island Sound. The historic waterfront is best known as the home of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and America’s Tall Ship the Barque Eagle. Recent economic development includes Pfizer, Inc.’s Global Research and Development Headquarters.

The city’s newly completed downtown waterfront park is the host to a variety of public celebrations with a common theme of the city’s connection to seafaring. The park offers a half-mile promenade and five piers. Every July, the waterfront park hosts a three-day Sailfest, with free musical entertainment, tours, and sailing on three Tall Ships. One night of Sailfest offers a fireworks extravaganza produced by Grucci and sponsored by Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

Ocean Beach Park, one of the loveliest beaches in the Northeast, is a half-mile of pristine sugar-sand beach. The boardwalk displays beautiful views of the Thames River and Long Island Sound. Water traffic includes an occasional submarine sighting thanks to the nearby Naval Submarine Base New London.

Historic sites abound. They include the two Hempstead Houses, dating from 1678 and 1759 and containing many reminders of the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad system. The Shaw Perkins Mansion served as Connecticut’s naval office during the Revolutionary War. The mansion offer an unmatched collection of genealogy material, New London history, whaling history, manuscripts and artifacts, and a newspaper collection dating back to 1753. Custom House Maritime Museum is the oldest operating custom house in the nation. It’s front door is constructed from wood originally used on “old ironsides,” the U.S.S. Constitution.

Cultural attractions are rich and diverse. The Lyman Allyn Art Museum presents fine arts, American decorative arts, and Connecticut Impressionist paintings. The Garde Arts Center in downtown New London presents live theater including Broadway touring shows, dance, music and family theater from opera to Will Rogers reviews.

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

Providence is a special blend of three-and-a half centuries of American history living cheek-to-cheek with a sophisticated contemporary culture of performing arts, shopping, and fine dining. Federal Hill is the city’s Little Italy, packed with good dining and Mediterranean ambiance. The East Side includes the largest contiguous area of National Historic Society buildings in America, including dozens of pristine houses of the Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian periods. Benefit Street on the East Side passes the world-class Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design.

A downtown renaissance that got underway in the late 1980s uncovered the Woonasquatucket and Providence rivers that meander through the heart of Providence. The rivers are now bordered by the fabulous WaterPlace Park. During the warm-weather months, the rivers are the site of WaterFire, a series of 100 bonfires that blaze just above the surface of the three rivers that pass through the middle of downtown Providence. The string of fires illuminates nearly two-thirds of a mile of urban public spaces and parks, and residents and visitors gather to stroll along the river while listening to a memorable and eclectic selection of classical and world music.

The Tony-winning theater group Trinity Repertory Company is located in Providence, as is the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. Providence is also the home of the Veterans Memorial Auditorium and the Providence Performing Arts Center, where many touring Broadway shows make their appearance during the year.

For nature in abundance, Roger Williams Park offers a zoo and the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium. In addition to the Providence Public Library and its nine branches, Providence is home to the Providence Athenaeum, which is one of the oldest lending libraries in the world. Edgar Allan Poe, a longtime Providence resident, was a regular fixture there. The Bank of America Skating Center, in the center of the downtown, offers ice-skating in the winter.

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

The Colonial New England city of Newport — nicknamed America’s First Resort — is known by name all around the country and even the world as the home of fabulous mansions of the 19th-century Gilded Age and as a center of 12-meter yacht racing. Other charms of the city are beautiful Colonial-era dwellings packed cheek-to-cheek; the windswept drama of the Cliff Walk; Ocean Drive; great performances at legendary jazz, folk, and classical music festivals; international-caliber polo competitions; local wineries; and plenty of sailing. Museums touch on such diverse subjects as naval history, tennis, science, and, of course, early American history.

Surely one of the highlights for visitors to Newport is the mansions built by fabulously wealthy leaders of industry and society in the late 19th century. Some of the most popular are:

• The Breakers. In 1893, Cornelius Vanderbilt II commissioned architect Richard Morris Hunt to design the Breakers, a 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo;
• Marble House, built between 1888 and 1892 for William K. Vanderbilt. Alva Vanderbilt was a leading hostess in Newport society, and envisioned Marble House as her temple to the arts in America;
• The Elms. In 1898, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind of Philadelphia and New York engaged Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer to design a house modeled after the mid-18th century French Chateau d’Asnieres;
• Rosecliff, commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs in 1899, was modeled by architect Stanford White after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles. Mrs. Oelrichs hosted fabulous entertainments, including a party featuring magician Harry Houdini.

Twelve-meter yacht racing has a long history in Newport. Although Newport no longer holds the America’s Cup, the city still boasts its legacy as the Sailing Capital of America. The United States Navy and Newport have been linked since the beginning of this nation. From the perspective of military historians, Newport, which now houses the Naval War College and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, holds a unique place in the history of the United States of America. The Naval War College Museum, located in Founders Hall, a National Historic Landmark, features exhibits on the history of naval warfare.

In 1877, Newport hosted the first polo games in the United States. Today, Olympic-level matches take place all summer on Saturday afternoons at Glen Farm in Portsmouth, a short drive up Aquidneck Island from Newport. Spectators sit on chairs and blankets enjoying picnic dinners and watching horses thunder, mallets collide, and turf fly.

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS

Located 78 miles west of Boston off the Massachusetts Turnpike, Springfield began life as the crossroads of New England. Today Springfield enjoys a charming downtown, and it is skirted with fun and offbeat museums and other entertainments, including the Basketball Hall of Fame and a monument to native son Dr. Seuss.

Court Square Park is a gem in the heart of downtown. The beautiful green space compliments the Old First Church and the adjacent MassMutual Center, which hosts such entertainments at Sesame Street Live, Disney on Ice, the Harlem Globetrotters and NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championships, Monster Trucks and circus performances.

The Basketball Hall of Fame collects and displays information on the history of basketball from its founding in 1891. Visitors can learn about barnstorming teams, the size of Bob Lanier’s sneakers, John Havlicek’s career scoring average, and the dimension of a regulation basketball court and more.

The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden honoring Theodor Seuss Geisel, is now open at the Quadrangle. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art features three galleries, a studio, and a museum shop stocked with picture book favorites. Springfield Symphony Orchestra is housed at Classic Hall plays that also plays host to a variety of concerts, Broadway shows, lectures, and children’s plays.

Springfield is also home to the Eastern States Exposition, popularly known as The Big E, an annual autumn agricultural fall of giant proportions — the ninth-largest in North America. The Big E features farming exhibits, parades, top-name entertainment, and permanent exhibit hall where each of the New England states demonstrate their finest crafts and traditions.

The Indian Motorcycle Museum honors the Hendee Company (renamed the Indian Motorcycle Company in 1923) as the first motorcycle manufacturer in the United States. Springfield also claims to host the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast every May. So save your appetite.

WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

Worcester, the third-largest city in New England, is in central Massachusetts about 45 miles west of Boston. It is home to nine colleges and universities, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park, and CenTech Park. Since the late 1980s, biotechnological research has been important to the city’s economy. The city is also home to the American Antiquarian Society, with a research library specializing in Americana and the Worcester Historical Museum, emphasizing the city’s industrial achievements. Also of interest are the Higgins Armory, a museum of arms and armor, and Ecotarium: a Museum of Science and Nature. The annual Worcester Music Festival dates from 1858.

Worcester Art Museum offers magnificent artwork from five millennia of world cultures. Highlights include paintings by Cassatt, Gauguin, Goya, Monet, Sargent and Whistler; floor mosaics from the ancient city of Antioch; cutting-edge contemporary art; and many other treasures. The 2005/2006 season marks the 146th Worcester Music Festival, the oldest music festival in the United States. Since 1858 the Worcester County Music Association has been pre-eminent in presenting great performances by world-renowned artists. For instance, the 2005-2006 includes performances by the Munich Symphony Orchestra, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and English Choral Treasures with the Worcester Choral.

The Higgins Armory Museum is the only museum in the Western Hemisphere entirely devoted to the study of arms and armor. Artifacts ranging from Corinthian helmets of ancient Greece to ornate suits of armor from the Renaissance offer a window to the past, while informative and entertaining programs help to interpret the collection in a broad cultural context. Ecotarium: a Museum of Science and Nature offers something unique: a treetop canopy walkway in which visitors are harnessed and clipped to a series of swinging bridges spanning 150 feet, 40 feet above the ground.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Boston, founded in 1630 and the capital of Massachusetts, is one of America’s oldest and most legendary cities as well as the economic and cultural hub of New England. The city is located on a magnificent natural harbor at the mouth of the Charles River. Boston is home to some of the world’s finest hospitals and many cultural and professional sports organizations. Boston and its adjacent suburbs are the location of world-class universities.

The Boston Public Library, founded in 1852, has one of the largest collections in the country, and several smaller libraries, like the Boston Athenaeum and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, offer specialized collections. The Museum of Fine Arts has collections of French impressionist paintings, as well as Egyptian, Chinese and Japanese art. The Boston Symphony Orchestra ranks as one of the most esteemed orchestras of the world. Boston is an active theater town with a half-dozen theaters in continuous use. Boston is experiencing a revival of opera with the opening of a newly refurbished opera house and has added a resident ballet company.

A must-see in Boston is the Freedom Trail, a three-mile walk that takes the visitor to 16 historical sites and covers two-and-a-half centuries of America’s past. The starting point of the Freedom Trail is the Boston Common, one of the oldest public parks in the country. Locations on the trail include the State House, the Black Heritage Trail, Park Street Church, the Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel, Old Corner Bookstore Building, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, the site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, the U.S.S. Constitution, and Bunker Hill Monument.

Boston’s attractions for the science-minded include the Museum of Science, with more than 400 exhibits featuring live animal and physical science demonstrations; the New England Aquarium, presenting 2,000 aquatic creatures and a four-story glass ocean tank; the Children’s Museum, with world famous interactive exhibits; and the Boston Beer Company-Samuel Adams Brewery and Boston Beer Museum, offering a brewery tour and historical “breweriana.”

History is abundant at places like Bunker Hill Pavilion, where the Battle of Bunker Hill is recreated through sight, sound, and theatrical effects; Old South Meeting House, with a exhibit where the Boston Tea Party started; the Paul Revere House; the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum; and U.S.S. Constitution Museum in the Charlestown Navy Yard, where visitors can be a sailor aboard “Old Ironsides,” fire a cannon, hoist a sail, swing in a hammock, navigate and turn a ship’s wheel.

Art museums and galleries can fill a long list, topped by the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park; the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University, with its notable collection of 19th century French Impressionist and medieval Italian paintings; the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston’s outpost of the avant-garde; the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum of Art, a 15-century-style Italianate palace; the MIT Museum, where art and science meet; and the Museum of Fine Arts, with the second-largest art collection in the United States.

The outdoors in the finest urban setting can be enjoyed at the Boston Garden Tours; the John Hancock Observatory and the Prudential Skywalk Observation Deck, both with bird’s eye views of Boston and its metropolitan area.

BURLINGTON, VERMONT

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, Burlington has a culture that is a hip combination of Montréal to the north and Boston to the southeast. Burlington is a youthful, outward-looking university town. It’s one of the few American cities to offer a café culture, with a downtown you can stroll around on foot, especially around the Church Street Marketplace.

Church Street Marketplace covers four blocks in the middle of the Queen City’s historic downtown, which boasts a wide range of architectural styles, including Victorian and Art Deco. The marketplace has more than 100 retailers, from colorful street vendors to familiar upscale stores. In addition, visitors will find scores of great restaurants and bars.

Other popular stops for visitors include the Vermont Pub and Brewery, with its 14-barrel whole-grain cellar and pub tours; the Vermont Wildflower Farm, with six acres of flowers and a large flower-themed gift shop; Sand Bar State Park, a 2,000-foot sand beach with swimming, boating, and sailboard rentals and lessons; Magic Hat Brewing Company, where ancient alchemy meets modern science to produce a fine-tasting beer; and the Heritage Winooski Mill Museum, with exhibits of mill machinery, a working waterpower model and exhibits examining Vermont’s largest wool manufacturing center.

With prevailing winds averaging 10 knots and steady out of the north-northwest, Lake Champlain is a perfect spot for sailing or cruising, with a number of charter boat services operating in and near Burlington, the largest city on the lake.

Since Vermont’s first inn opened, the state has become famous for the number, variety, and quality of its bed & breakfasts. Burlington boasts one of the biggest and best B&B collections. A number of B&Bs are within walking distance of Church Street Marketplace. Many in the region offer stunning views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks to the west.

MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Manchester is located in south-central New Hampshire along the Merrimack River, 20 miles from the Massachusetts border and 58 miles from Boston. Manchester’s nickname is the “Queen City,” meaning that is it the city with the largest population in the state but not the capital city of that state. The city is known for the historic Amoskeag Millyard, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The internationally renowned Currier Museum of Art is located in downtown Manchester and features European and American paintings by Picasso, Monet, O’Keeffe, and many other artists. And some of the biggest names in entertainment can be seen at the new 10,000-seat Verizon Wireless Arena.

The Currier Museum of Art also owns the Zimmerman House, the only residence in New England designed by the acclaimed architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright designed the Zimmerman House in 1950, planning its gardens, its built-in and freestanding furniture, its textiles, and even the mailbox. The Zimmerman house offers a glimpse into the 1950s and 1960s, and the private lives of Isadore and Lucille Zimmerman, who lived in the home for 36 years. The house is open to the public.

The Manchester Historic Association’s Millyard Museum is housed in Mill No. 3 at the corner of Commercial and Pleasant Streets. The museum features the permanent exhibit, “Woven in Time: 11,000 Years at Amoskeag Falls,” that tells the story of Manchester and the people who have lived and worked there. The story starts with the Native Americans who fished at Amoskeag Falls centuries ago. It continues through the early farmers and craftsmen to the thousands of workers who made the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company the world’s largest manufacturer of cotton textiles. The story concludes in the 21st century, as new businesses flourish in the Millyard and new groups of immigrants come to Manchester to live and work.

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Portsmouth sits near the mouth of the Piscataqua River, which divides New Hampshire and Maine. John Paul Jones’s ship The Ranger was built in Portsmouth, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was established in 1800 as the country’s first naval shipyard.

The region is noted for its many attractions and shopping opportunities, which include outlet malls in nearby North Hampton and in Kittery, Maine, as well as malls in Newington, New Hampshire. Hampton Beach, the most popular beach in the region, has been drawing visitors since the turn of the century.

Strawbery Banke Museum offers a multi-faceted visit into the world of the Puddle Dock neighborhood of Portsmouth over a period of 300 years. Each of nine furnished houses and period gardens illustrates a different era in American history. Strawbery Banke was named for the berries that settlers found on the banks of the Piscataqua River in the early 1600s.

Across from the museum, Prescott Park features extensive flower gardens, including large demonstration beds where many varieties of flowers are shown each summer. The park also is the site the popular Prescott Park Arts Festival, which presents a musical and dozens of musical and theatrical performances in July and August.

The Isles of Shoals, nine rocky isles six miles off the New Hampshire and Maine coast, were discovered by the Western world in 1614 and have served over the years as a base for fishermen, a haven for the occasional pirate, and a summer retreat for artists and the well to do. Excursion boat companies cruise to the shoals, usually accompanied by descriptions of the area’s colorful history.

The Nubble Lighthouse, perched atop a rocky outcrop in York Beach, Maine, stands 88 feet above sea level and began operating in 1879. Its red beacon can be seen from 13 nautical miles away. One of the most popular times to view the Nubble is when the town of York lights up the lighthouse and buildings for Christmas.

Redhook Brewing Company, one of America’s largest craft brewers, established its third brewery in Portsmouth in 1996. The Portsmouth brewery is similar to its Seattle counterpart, with dramatic Bavarian roof lines and advanced brewing equipment. Redhook offers tours daily.

U.S.S. Albacore Museum and Park offers year-round guided tours of the most advanced U.S. Navy submarine built before the atomic submarines. Built in Portsmouth, the U.S.S. Albacore served as the prototype for today’s submarine fleet.

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Concord, the state capital, was settled by immigrants from Massachusetts in 1725, and some of the city’s earliest houses remain today at the north end of Main Street. The 1819 State House is the oldest state capitol in which the legislative branches meet in their original chambers.

One of the city’s best-known industries was carriage manufacturing, and here world famous Concord coaches were built throughout the 19th century. Furniture making and granite quarrying were also major local industries. The granite for the library of Congress in Washington, D.C., came from nearby Rattlesnake Hill. The home of the nation’s 14th president, Franklin Pierce, is open to the public. A few miles northeast of Concord, in Canterbury, members of the Shaker sect settled in the 1790s. Concord is the home of the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, honoring the teacher who died in the Challenger space shuttle explosion. There is a 92-seat theater where visitors can take an unforgettable expedition through space as the domed screen overhead is filled with wraparound images and sound.

A good place to learn about Concord is the Museum of New Hampshire History. Four centuries of Granite State history are on display, from the Concord coach — the stagecoach of the American West — to l9th-century White Mountain paintings and rare examples of New Hampshire-made furniture. Canterbury Shaker Village offers visitors a close look at 200 years of the Shaker way of life at its 24 original buildings on a hilltop surrounded by fields, woodlots, and ponds. A guided tour describes the customs, inventions, and way of life of this utopian society. Visitors can watch crafts being made in the Shaker tradition and explore the Physician’s Botanical garden and three nature trails. The gift shop offers Shaker reproduction furniture, Shaker books and tapes, and local handcrafts.

To see life in a slightly faster lane, check out the New Hampshire International Speedway. It is the only super speedway in the New England area and is host to a diverse series of racing divisions that includes AMA motorcycle competition, CART IndyCar, NASCAR Nextel Cup, Busch Series, plus several local and regional club events and vintage racing.

PORTLAND, MAINE

Portland, Maine’s largest city and its financial and retail capital, perches on a peninsula jutting out into island-studded Casco Bay. Seascapes and city scene blend harmoniously in this lively city. Historic and modern architecture blend gracefully along the waterfront and in the Old Port section. The Old Port shopping district of Portland has been restored to its glory days of the 19th century with cobbled streets and Victorian brick buildings where visitors can explore a mix of restaurants, breweries, art galleries, boutiques, and specialty shops.

Portland Harbor, at the base of the Old Port, is a jumble of condos, fish markets, and ferry docks, and a departure point for cruises to Casco Bay islands and Nova Scotia. Dinner, sunset, or whale-watching cruises are popular. A block from Old Port is the Victoria Mansion, a superior example of Italianate architecture. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s childhood home, with original furniture, decorations, fixtures, and gardens, is nearby at 489 Congress Street. Also near Old Port is the Cumberland Civic Center, home to the Portland Pirates hockey team. Concerts also are presented at the Portland Symphony Orchestra in Merrill Auditorium at Portland City Hall.

To many people, Maine conjures up images of high, craggy coasts and serene lighthouses. Portland Head Light, located at Fort William Park, was built during the presidency of George Washington and is the most-photographed lighthouse in America. Within Fort William Park, people explore the fort’s remains; walk along the cliffs; picnic on grassy hills; or fly kites. For a sea-based view of all this, visitors have a choice of cruises.

At the Children’s Museum of Maine, young visitors can climb a mountain, walk into a bear’s den, do the job of a crew member on a 40-foot schooner, operate a space shuttle, slide down a firehouse pole, use the computer lab, or tape an original television program. Art projects are hosted each day in the Zoom Room.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum is a big draw for visitors. Railroad buffs can treat themselves to a 30-minute, three-mile ride along the shores of Casco Bay in Portland’s East End on a two-foot gauge train and tour a historic museum with cabooses, railroad cars, and other artifacts from the great old days of railroading.

Other attractions include the First Parish Church, built on site of 1740 “Old Jerusalem” wooden meeting house; Shipyard Brewing Company, producing English style beer; and the Portland Museum of Art, with three centuries of art and architecture, including works by Picasso, Monet, Degas, Wyeth, and Homer.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Barters Island Road, PO Box 234
Boothbay, ME  04537  
Phone: 207-633-4333

Open: Year-round, weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and until8 p.m. on Wednesdays in July and August; weekends, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

New England’s largest botanical garden features acres of spectacular ornamental gardens and stonework, waterfront and woodland trails, a beautiful visitor center with café and gift shop, and a shorefront Fairy House Village – all on 248 acres of coastal landscape. Special events and programs for all ages, year-round, include a house and garden tour, book fair, Maine Fairy House Festival, Kitchen Garden Series, college horticulture courses, and more. Admission: Adults, $10; seniors, $8 seniors; children age 5-17, $5; free for children under 5.

Colonial New England

Early American, Colonial and Revolutionary New England

New England has a rich Colonial history beginning with the arrival of the Mayflower at Plymouth in 1620 and continuing through the events leading to the American Revolution. Four of six New England states were members of the original 13 Colonies; Maine was part of Massachusetts and Vermont became the 14th state following the formation of the United States. Boston, Lexington, Concord, and their neighbors were the birthplace of the American Revolution. Many of the places where Colonists and early heroes of the Revolutionary War lived, worked, and built the foundation of the new nation are preserved and open to visitors. Historic sites, from Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts to Ethan Allen’s Homesite in Vermont, also describe daily life, economic activity, literary and cultural phenomenon that make the region such a rich panorama of America in its early years. These are the places you should plan to visit:

MASSACHUSETTS

Freedom Trail – Boston
The Freedom Trail is wonderful for people who love to walk through a handsome, dynamic city while visiting legendary historic sites, with plenty of leisure to browse. The Trail is a 2.5-mile walking trail through Boston that leads to 16 significant historic sites. Best in the warmer weather, the Trail is interesting for people of all ages, although strollers may be helpful for younger children. The Trail begins at the Boston Common – a large park that was once the grazing area for livestock -- and a red-brick path guides walkers the entire way. Sites on the Trail all played prominent roles in the events that shaped America. They include the State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel, Boston Latin School, Old Corner Book Store, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, The Old North Church, USS Constitution, and Bunker Hill Monument.

Faneuil Hall – Boston
Often referred to as “the cradle of Liberty,” Faneuil Hall hosted America’s first Town Meeting. This imposing structure is the place where the Sons of Liberty proclaimed their dissent against royal oppression. Faneuil Hall has served as an open forum meeting hall and marketplace for more than 250 years. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with historical talks every 30 minutes. Immediately next door to Faneuil Hall is Quincy Market, an indoor-outdoor mall with dozens of wonderful eateries to grab a snack, a cool drink, or a full meal. The market also includes plenty of gift shops and a steady drumbeat of street music and street theater. It is lots of fun after hours of ponderous historical study.

USS Constitution and USS Constitution Museum – Charlestown
Even for people who have no special interest in naval history, the first view of the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides"), docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard, is truly a thrill because of his antiquity, its grace, and its role in the fight for American independence. The USS Constitution Museum is only a few steps away from the ship. At the museum, interactive galleries take visitors on a 200-year voyage. Discover how Old Ironsides has remained undefeated since 1797; see how sailors climbed masts 200 feet in the air; learn how a wooden hull helped earn the nickname Old Ironsides. During the summer months USS Constitution makes several underway demonstrations in Boston Harbor. On those days she is open for limited tour hours. Check the ship's website for underway demonstration dates and times.

Museum of African American History -- Boston
The African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School on Beacon Hill, located in what once was the heart of Boston's African American community, remain a showcase of black community organization and enduring testimony to black craftsmanship. Once a church, a school, and a vital community meeting place, the African Meeting House is open to the public. The Abiel Smith School, the nation's first public school for African American children, currently houses a first-class exhibit space and the museum store. Hours of operation vary; it is best to call ahead before visiting.

Boston Suburbs region

Minute Man National Historical Park – Lexington, Concord, Lincoln
On April 19, 1775, the American Revolution began at Lexington and Concord with a clash of arms known as "the shot heard round the world." At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the American Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and witness the American revolutionary spirit through the writings of the Concord authors. The park is located 22 miles outside of Boston within the towns of Lexington, Lincoln, and Concord. A great time to plan a visit is Patriot’s Day, in mid-April (April 21, 2008), a Massachusetts state holiday commemorating the opening battle of the Revolutionary War. The weekend is celebrated with parades, a historical reenactment at Lexington Green, commemorative events at North Bridge and along the Battle Road.

Concord Museum – Concord
Renowned as the site of the battle that began the American Revolution and as the home of the most original thinkers and writers of the American literary renaissance, the town of Concord has played a remarkable part in the history of New England and the nation. The Concord Museum is the one place where all of Concord' s past is brought to life through a historical collection including the famed Revere lantern, literary treasures such as Emerson's study and Thoreau' s desk, Concord-made clocks, silver and furniture -- all in self-touring galleries with hands-on family activities.

National Heritage Museum – Lexington
Because of its location in Lexington, the National Heritage Museum is able to tell the story of the American Revolution in the place where it all began. Paul Revere's midnight ride went right past the museum’s doorstep. This mid-sized museum is open daily and admission is free. A new long-term exhibition, "Sowing the Seeds of Liberty: Lexington and the American Revolution," presents new perspectives on the part played by ordinary people in shaping historical events at Lexington's Battle Green on April 19, 1775. From May to October, a Liberty Ride bus originates at the museum and conducts an informative 90-minute tour of the Lexington-Concord area.

Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket region

Nantucket Whaling Museum – Nantucket
To see the inside workings of early whaling industry and the people who braved the seas to capture the precious whale oil, get to the Nantucket Whaling Museum on Broad Street. First sighted by Europeans in 1602, Nantucket became a part of the Bay Colony of Massachusetts in 1692. Inhabited at the time by people of the Wampanoag tribe, Nantucket developed into a community of farmers and herders. By the 1690s the Nantucketers had begun to organize whaling expeditions in small boats to pursue the right whales that passed close to shore on their annual migrations. Deep-sea whaling began around 1715, a few years after the first sperm whale had been taken by a sloop blown out to sea in a gale. Open seasonally.

North of Boston / Salem / Cape Ann region

Salem Witch Museum – Salem
The Salem witch hunts and witch trials of 1692 lasted less than a year, but the terrifying phenomenon of community-wide panic has a lasting hold on our imaginations. Accusations of witchcraft struck terror into the hearts of Salem townspeople in early 1692 and by summer hundreds of people had been accused and imprisoned. A court tried and executed about 20 people before the panic dissipated. At the Salem Witch Museum , in the heart of Salem, which has several other witch-related historic sites, visitors are given a dramatic history lesson using stage sets with life-size figures, lighting and a narration. On the lighter side, Salem is fun to visit in October, when dozens of light-hearted, Halloween-themed entertainments are offered for visitors of all ages (prepare to dress up!).

South of Boston / Plymouth region

Plimoth Plantation – Plymouth
Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum, describes and demonstrates the history of the native Wampanoag and Colonial English peoples of 17th-century Plymouth. Its four major exhibits are the Wampanoag home site, the 1627 English Village, and the Crafts Center, and the Mayflower II, a reproduction modeled after the original Mayflower (located at the Plymouth waterfront). The Wampanoag home site explores the story of one 17th-century Wampanoag man and Wampanoag culture and history. The 1627 English Village is a re-creation of the farming town built by English colonists. At the Crafts Center, skilled artisans reproduce many of the fascinating and functional objects being used in the 1627 English Village and onboard Mayflower II. Mayflower II has been carefully recreated to show what the original 17th-century vessel was like.

Mayflower Society Museum – Plymouth
http://www.themayflowersociety.com/museum.htm The headquarters of the General Society of Mayflower Descendents is located in this 1754 home built by Edward Winslow, a Pilgrim descendant. The Mayflower Society Museum features furnishings spanning three centuries, a flying staircase and formal gardens. Open Memorial Day through October, but hours vary.

Alden Historic Site – Duxbury
John Alden and Priscilla Mullins Alden, travelers aboard the Mayflower, settled and raised their 10 children in the town of Duxbury. Their home still exists at the Alden Historic Site. John Alden and Priscilla Mullins were married in 1621 or 1622. John was a cooper and the youngest signer of the Mayflower Compact. Priscilla Mullins Alden is arguably the best known Pilgrim woman because of the poem, The Courtship of Miles Standish, written by their descendant, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The memorable phrases, "Speak for yourself, John," and "If I am not worth the wooing, then surely I am not worth the winning," have placed the Aldens solidly into American lore.

Adams National Historical Park -- Quincy
Adams National Historical Park tells the story of four generations of the Adams family, from 1720 to 1927. The park has several sites: the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the second and sixth presidents of the United States; Peacefield, including the Old House, home to four generations of the Adams family; and the Stone Library, which contains more than 14,000 volumes.

CONNECTICUT

Mystic region

Stonington Borough – Stonington
New England is not short of beautiful villages, but Stonington Borough, on a small peninsula in the Fisher’s Island Sound, is special. A walk through its tight streets is a joy by itself. Colonial-era houses rich with fine architectural details and dripping with flowers from window boxes are packed cheek-to-cheek along Water and Main streets. The community was founded in 1649 and was a base for seal hunting, whaling and trading. It was the home to explorers Edmund Fanning, who sailed to the Orient and on around the world in 1797-1798, and Nathaniel Palmer, who discovered the peninsula of Antarctica in the winter of 1820-1821.

The Groton Battle Monument and Museum – Groton
This granite monument was dedicated in 1830 to the men who defended Fort Griswold in Groton. During the Revolutionary War, New London harbor on the Thames River was home port for many privately owned and armed boats that preyed upon British ships. East of the river, on Groton Heights, the completed Fort Griswold commanded the harbor and the surrounding countryside. In summer 1781, British generals decided to attack New London and destroy the “rebel pirate ships.” In September, 800 British troops entered New London and burned down almost the entire town. The British later attacked and breached Fort Griswold, across the river from New London. Fort Griswold was the scene of military defense preparations in at least four other wars. The monument and museum are open to visitors daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Ancient Burial Ground -- New London
The Antientist Burial Ground – also known as the Ancient Burial Ground – in New London is one of the earliest graveyards in New England. Located between Hempstead and Huntington streets on a property overlooking the Thames River and Groton, it was used as a burial ground as early at 1652. Many of the early settlers are interred there as are some of the early black Colonists. In “The Colonial Burying Grounds of Eastern Connecticut and the Men Who Made Them,” author James Slater wrote, "of all Connecticut's burying grounds, this may contain the greatest variety of different carving schools. …” Each gravestone is a work of art, and experts can identify individual carvers.

Custom House Maritime Museum – New London
Built in 1833, the Custom House remains the oldest operating custom house in the nation. Robert Mills, America's first federal architect, who also executed the Washington Monument, the United States Treasury Building, and other significant government structures, designed the building. A classic Greek Revival granite building, the front doors are made from wood from the USS Constitution. In 1839, U.S. Customs played an important role in the early steps to freedom of Africans brought to New London with the slave ship Amistad. Open April through December, daily, 1-5 p.m. except Mondays; January through March, by appointment. Information: 860-447-2501.

Nathan Hale Homestead – Coventry
"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," declared Captain Nathan Hale moments before the British hanged him as a spy in 1776. Hale, a school teacher, was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Continental Army in 1775. A year later he volunteered to go behind British lines on Long Island to gather military intelligence needed by General George Washington. But the British captured Hale and executed him. He was 21. Hale was born and spent most of his life on this 400-acre farm, the Nathan Hale Homestead . Its furnishings include several Hale family possessions. Open seasonally. Information: 860-742-6917 or hale@ctlandmarks.org.

Nathan Hale Schoolhouse – New London
Revolutionary war hero Nathan Hale taught in this former school house at 35 State Street from 1774 to 1775 before going to fight in the American Revolution. While spying on the British for General Washington, he was captured and executed. Information: 860-873-3399.

Lebanon Green – Lebanon
The historic green in the town of Lebanon is a pleasant walk, but its deep charm is in its close links with major moments in the American Revolution. A mile in length and still used for farming, the Lebanon Green, known as “the heartbeat of the Revolution,” is flanked by several buildings connected with Connecticut’s role in the Revolution. The Revolutionary War Office is located there, as is the home of William Williams, member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center – Mashantucket
The high-tech Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, the world's largest Native American museum, offers experiences for young and old, from life-size dioramas that transport visitors into the past to changing exhibits and live performances of contemporary arts. Four acres of permanent exhibits depict 18,000 years of Native and natural history, while two libraries offer materials on the histories and cultures of all Native peoples of the continent. Open year-round.

New Haven region

Yale University – New Haven
For the sake of architecture, history, of the love of academia, a walking tour of Yale University will inspire and enlighten. Visitors may take tours to learn about Yale's rich 300-year history and see the Gothic Sterling Memorial Library and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, which is home to a preeminent collection of rarities, including a Gutenberg Bible. Self-guided tours also are offered.

Litchfield region

Institute for American Indian Studies -- Washington
Education and preservation of the American Indian cultures is the mission of the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington. Visitors are treated to Native artifacts and art, an indoor longhouse, a simulated archaeological site, trails, a replica of a 17th-century Algonkian village, and a fine gift shop. The institute's primary exhibit, As We Tell Our Stories, is divided into seven sections about Native culture: land, exchange, clay, corn living spaces, deer, manitou, and ways of war.

RHODE ISLAND

Newport region

The Museum of Newport History – Newport
Housed in the 1762 Brick Market, exhibits shown here at the Museum of Newport History bring to life aspects of Newport’s history from the 1600s through the Gilded Age. Decorative arts, artifacts of everyday life, graphics, historic photographs, and audio-visual programs tell Newport's story. The museum contains paintings, Colonial silver, the printing press used by James Franklin, and much more. Hours are seasonal; call ahead.

Great Friends Meeting House – Newport
The Great Friends Meeting House, built in 1699, was where Quakers from throughout New England gathered to pray and discuss the issues of the day, including war, slavery, and women’s rights. This is the oldest surviving house of worship in Newport. Quakers dominated the political, social, and economic life of the town into the 18th century, and their plain style of living was reflected in Newport's architecture, decorative arts and early landscape. For tour information visit www.newporthistorytours.org or call 401-846-0813.

Newport Colony House – Newport
The Newport Colony House , dating from 1739, was a government meeting place and the site of celebrations, the Stamp Act riot, reading of the Declaration of Independence, and more. Many important events associated with the shaping of the United States occurred at the Colony House. In 1761, the death of George II and the ascension of George III were announced from the balcony. In 1766, citizens of Newport celebrated the repeal of the Stamp Act in the Colony House. On July 20, 1776, Major John Handy read the Declaration of Independence from the front steps. During the British occupation of Newport from 1776 to 1779, the Colony House was used as a barracks. For tour information visit www.newporthistorytours.org or call 401-846-0813.

Trinity Church – Newport
The beautiful and historic Trinity Church, located in Queen Anne Square, is the oldest Episcopal parish in Rhode Island. The building was completed in 1726, its design based on London churches design by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century. George Washington worshipped there, and the organ was tested by George Frederick Handel before being sent from England. The church contains Tiffany stained-glass windows and the only three-tiered, wine glass pulpit in America. The building was enlarged in 1764, but otherwise retains its original character with box pews. Call ahead for visiting hours at 401-846-0660.

Touro Synagogue – Newport
Touro Synagogue, founded in 1763 in Newport, is the first synagogue in America, with the second-oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. The Georgian-influenced building is situated on an angle within the property allowing worshippers standing in prayer before the Holy Ark to face east toward Jerusalem. The synagogue chamber contains 12 Ionic columns representing the tribes of ancient Israel and each made from a single tree. Five massive brass candelabra hang from the ceiling. Tours are offered; call ahead for information.

God’s Little Acre – Newport
The African slave trade and Newport share common origins. Newport, one of the most prosperous of Colonial American ports, saw unprecedented growth throughout the 18th century from the export and trade of rum, spermaceti candles, and slaves. By the beginning of the American Revolution, Newport had a large Free African community. Today, Newport is home to a historically significant burial ground that the African American community commonly called God’s Little Acre . This burial area on Farewell Street has some of the oldest markers of free Africans and slaves dating back to the late 1600s.

Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House – Newport
The oldest surviving house in Newport, the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House was built for Stephen Mumford in ca.1697. The house is the site of the Stamp Act Riot of 1765 and was home to Colonial governors, justices, and patriots. Property also contains a Colonial herb garden. Tours of the house include discussion of recent findings and discoveries, architecture, Colonial lifestyles, and family history. For tour information visit www.newporthistorytours.org or call 401-846-0813.

Providence region

First Baptist Church in America – Providence
The First Baptist Church in America was founded in 1638 in Providence by Roger Williams and William Vincent Carpenter. Williams, an English clergyman, had established Rhode Island's first permanent settlement at Providence in 1636 in the company of a band of followers who had left Massachusetts Bay Colony to seek freedom of worship. The present church building, also called the Meeting House, was built in 1774-1775. The architecture is a blend of English Georgian and the traditional New England meetinghouse style. The Georgian aspects include the exterior portico and steeple, the Palladian window behind the pulpit, the fluted Tuscan columns, the groined arches in the balcony, and the split pediments over the doors. Guided or self-guided tours can be done year-round. Information: 401-454-3418.

Brown University – Providence
Scattered over many acres of property on College Hill, part of the East Side overlooking downtown Providence, Brown University is a pleasure to visit, if only to stroll the sidewalks and enjoy the beauty and elegance of the Colonial, Federalist, and Victorian-era buildings of the neighborhood. The epicenter of the university is College Green, but its buildings then spread out through a neighborhood of elegant mansions, as well as the restaurants and shops of Thayer Street. Brown was founded in 1764 as the College of Rhode Island. It moved in 1770 to its present location on College Hill. In 1804, in recognition of a gift from Nicholas Brown, the College of Rhode Island was renamed Brown University.

Benefit Street – Providence
Here is a walking tour that is beneficial to both the mind and the senses. A walk along Benefit Street, carved high into a ridge along Providence’s East Side overlooking downtown, is a memorable stroll among immaculately preserved Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian-style houses. The Providence Preservation Society distributes maps with self-guided tours and the Rhode Island Historical Society conducts walks in the summer.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Seacoast region

Strawbery Banke – Portsmouth
Visitors to Strawbery Banke experience and imagine how people lived and worked in this typical American neighborhood throughout four centuries of history, from the late l7th to the mid-20th century, through restored houses, featured exhibits, historic landscapes and gardens, and interpretive programs. In 1630, Englishmen sailing up the Piscataqua River were impressed by the thick growth of wild berries along the west bank. They chose this site for settlement and named it Strawbery Banke. They erected a large communal structure, called a Great House, to serve as a combination storehouse, trading post and living quarters. The site was destined to become an important colonial commercial center. Portsmouth became during the latter half of the 17th century an economically diverse trading town and the leading port north of Boston.

Portsmouth Historical Society – Portsmouth
The Portsmouth Historical Society interprets the history of Portsmouth through its diverse collections of furniture, paintings, ceramics, costumes, and maritime artifacts at the John Paul Jones House on Middle Street, which was built in 1758 for Gregory Purcell, a sea captain and merchant. (John Paul Jones, the celebrated naval hero of the American Revolution, spent time in Portsmouth in 1777 and 1781-82. He is believed to have rented a room in this house during 1777.) Portsmouth was well known as a center for the furniture trade in the 18th and 19th centuries and the society displays some exceptional examples of Portsmouth craftsmanship. The collection also includes portraits, glass ceramics, China trade wares, textiles, clothing, needlework and kitchenware.

VERMONT

Northern Vermont region

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum – Vergennes
The Champlain Valley's cultural history began nearly 11,300 years ago, when Paleoindian hunter-gatherers moved into the region. Native Americans have been living in the Champlain Valley continuously from that time to the present. Since its discovery by Europeans, the Champlain Valley has played an important role in North American history. The prominence of this area is due to the north-south corridor that Lake Champlain creates between the St. Lawrence Valley and the heart of the North American continent. The lake has served as a highway for of ideas, communication, commerce, and people. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum brings to life the stories of Lake Champlain and its people through nautical exploration, hands-on exhibits, and learning adventures. Visitors to the museum can view a large collection of original small watercraft, learn about wooden shipwrecks in North America, climb aboard the full-scale working Revolutionary War gunboat replica Philadelphia II and learn about the life of citizen soldiers in the Champlain Valley in 1776, and much more. Open mid-May to mid-October.

Ethan Allen Homestead – Burlington
Only a short drive from downtown Burlington, the Ethan Allen Homestead offers hands-on history, spectacular scenery, and riverside picnic areas and walks. The Homestead provides a genuine slice of 18th century life, and an intimate look at Vermont's most colorful - and controversial founder. Ethan Allen, who has become a folk hero in Vermont, was an unusually flamboyant backwoodsman-turned-statesman from Connecticut. He was one of the early inhabitants of Burlington, where he lived on his property in the Winooski River Intervale from 1787 until his death in 1789. He is best known for the capture of Fort Ticonderoga at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War and his leadership of the Green Mountain Boys. The museum and house are open on a limited basis during the warm months, but the homestead and grounds are always open from sunrise to sunset.

Southern Vermont region

Bennington Battle Monument -- Bennington
Built in the late 1880s, this monument is a dedication to the famous Battle of Bennington that took place during the Revolutionary war in 1777. It was at this location the American Colonists maintained a store of weapons and food, which British General Burgoyne knew was critical to capture in order to restock his own troops. The monument is a 306-foot-tall stone obelisk. It is located north of VT Rte 9, about 4 miles east of the New York border. An elevator takes visitors to the observation floor for spectacular views of historic Bennington and three states. A diorama and several interpretive exhibits are on the ground floor. Statues of John Stark, Seth Warner and other notable monuments adorn the grounds. Tickets can be purchased for a small fee in the gift shop that specializes in historical items relating to the Battle of Bennington and Vermont. Open mid-April to October 31, daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

MAINE

South Coast region

Museums of Old York – York
Museums of Old York are comprised of nine historic buildings, including a Colonial tavern, an old jail complete with dungeons and cells, a riverside estate filled with antiques, and a warehouse that once belonged to patriot John Hancock. Also on the site are a nature preserve, museum shop, contemporary art gallery, and restored gardens. Visitors to the museums of Old York experience more than 300 years of New England heritage and hear tales of sea captains and their families, jailers, prisoners and others. Also on display are beautiful decorative objects and antiques, including the Bulman Bedhangings, the only complete set of 18th-century American crewelwork bed curtains known to exist. Museum buildings include the John Hancock Warehouse (c. 1740); Jefferds' Tavern (1754); the Old Gaol (1719); the Old Schoolhouse (1745); the George Marshall Store (1869); and others.The Visitor Center is located in Jefferds' Tavern, Route 1A and Lindsay Road in York Village. Open June to Columbus Day, daily except Sundays.

Acadia / Bar Harbor / Down East region

Abbe Museum – Bar Harbor
The Abbe Museum opened in 1928 as a trailside museum at Sieur de Monts Spring. Its mission is to interpret the history and lives of the Wabanaki Indian tribe through exhibitions, events, archaeology field schools, and craft workshops. By the 1990s the Abbe’s museum at Sieur de Monts Spring had become inadequate to house the growing collections, changing exhibitions, and research. In September, 2001, the museum moved in a new, larger space in downtown Bar Harbor. Among the permanent exhibitions is Wabanaki: People of the Dawn. The Bar Harbor location is open April through December and the trailside museum at Sieur de Monts Spring is open from mid-May to mid-October.

Augusta / Kennebec region

Old Fort Western -- Augusta
Old Fort Western is America's oldest surviving wooden fort - a reminder of the great contest between cultures that dominated New England life 250 years ago. The fort was built in 1754 by the Kennebec Proprietors, a Boston-based company seeking to settle the lands along the Kennebec River that had been granted to the Pilgrims more than a century earlier. The company and the Province of Massachusetts both were interested in expanding their influence in the area as part of an effort by Britain and her colonies to take final political control of North America. Fort Western served as a fortified storehouse in support of Fort Halifax, 17 miles north. Supplies were shipped via sloop and schooner from Boston four times a year, unloaded at Fort Western, taken to Fort Halifax.

Colt State Park
Route 14
Bristol, RI  02809  
Phone: 401-253-7482

A 464-acre state park on the shore of Narragansett Bay, with four miles of hiking and biking trails, gardens, 10 playing fields and 6 picnic groves. Fishing, concerts and naturalist programs in season.
Hours: Year-round. Free.

Conway Scenic Railroad
Route 16
North Conway, NH  03860  
Phone: 603-356-5251
Toll-Free: 800-232-5251
Email: info@conwayscenic.com

Travel on our nostalgic train rides

Three unique train rides of varying duration from North Conway’s Historic Railroad Station. You can journey through scenic Crawford Notch on the “Notch Train” or travel through the countryside of Mt. Washington Valley on the “Valley Train”. Passengers can choose from Coach seating or First Class seating aboard the elegantly refurbished Pullman-Observation Parlor Car, Gertrude Emma. On the Notch Train you travel through spectacular Crawford Notch - past sheer bluffs, steep ravines, cascading brooks and streams, panoramic mountain vistas, and across the famed Frankenstein Trestle and Willey Brook Bridge. Choose First Class seating with either the “CP Reed” or the Dome Car “Dorthea Mae”. Live commentary includes history and folklore of the railroad, local area and points of interest. Special events focused on family fun for railroad fans of all ages.

Edgerton Park
75 Cliff Street at Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT  06511  

Once an experimental mulberry orchard, this stately public park was the home of Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin. Bought in 1906 by the Brewster family, the stately mansion stood near the great lawn of an estate designed to replicate an English landscape garden. Now a city park hosting many public cultural events.
Hours: Open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year. The conservatory is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day except major holidays.

Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate
2468B Washington Street / Route 138
Canton, MA  02021  
Phone: 781-821-2977

Once a Colonial farmstead, the property was transformed into a country estate. The property includes a country house, landscaped grounds, and a complex of farm and estate buildings, manicured lawns, a walled garden, and a brick-edged garden. Visitors may explore more than 60 acres of meadow and woodland along three miles of trails.
Hours: Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. No charge.

Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens
Corner of Prospect Avenue and Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT
Phone: 860-231-9443

Friends of Elizabeth Park
The park’s world famous rose garden is the oldest municipally operated rose garden in the country. The two-and-a half-acre rose garden has 15,000 plants in about 800 varieties of roses. The park is also home to a rock garden and specialized gardens of annuals, herbs, and perennials.
Open: Daily all year, dawn to dusk.

Enfield Shaker Museum
24 Caleb Dyer Lane / 447 Route 4A
Enfield, NH  03748  
Phone: 603-632-4346

This museum features the history of the Shakers, including gardens, a walking tour, demonstrations and classes. Events are scheduled throughout the year.
Fee charged.

Ephraim Holland Newton House
364 South Road
Marlboro, VT  05344  
Phone: 802-254-2172

House built in 1814 offers exhibits of historical material, a one-room schoolhouse, and a Colonial herb garden. Recent activities have included schoolhouse reunions, archaeological digs, stone wall maintenance, old games and crafts, interpretive local history, sing-alongs, square dances, a summer band concert, and thematic exhibits.
Hours: July and August, Saturdays, 2 p.m.–5 p.m. or by appointment. No charge.

Fells Historic Site
John Hay National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Sunapee
Route 103A / P.O. Box 276
Newbury, NH  03255  
Phone: 603-763-4789

Outstanding gardens, a 100-foot perennial border, and a view of Lake Sunapee from the Rose Terrace. A brook trickles to a Japanese water lily pool in the hillside rock garden, which includes a large collection of alpine and native plants. Hidden behind masses of rhododendron, a walled secret garden awaits discovery.
Hours: Late May through October, daily with tours of the estate on weekends.

Fuller Gardens
10 Willow Avenue
North Hampton, NH  03862  
Phone: 603-964-5414

Designed in the Colonial Revival style on a two -acre plot, these gardens bloom throughout the season, from an extensive tulip display in early May, followed by the Japanese garden and other late spring flowering shrubs, through the 2,000 rose bushes that bloom through October.
Hours: Mid-May through mid-October, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Garden in the Woods
180 Hemenway Road
Framingham, MA  01701  
Phone: 508-877-7630

The New England Wild Flower Society maintains this garden, the largest landscaped collection of native plants in the no