New England Vacations Resource Adds More Destinations for 2010

With the Thanksgiving shopping weekend almost upon us which signals a hectic 4 weeks of parties and holiday celebrations it would seem this isn’t the time to think about 2010 vacations.

But the best deals come to the early birds and if you’re considering a trip to New England in 2010 and looking for ideas then hop over to our special New England Vacations suggestion page.

You’ll find our top twelve suggestions covering all seasons. Browse and shop for your ideal vacation spot at our relaxed and stress-free web site. You can even visit us in your pajamas and drinking your favorite beverage. I promise no salesperson will hassle you and you don’t have to find a parking spot or wait for hours in line to pay. In fact you don’t have to pay at all. The contents at our web site are all free.

I’ve added two new popular New England vacation suggestions for 2010. These are the Berkshires in Massachusetts and South County Getaways in Rhode Island.

Over the last few years visitors to the site have been inquiring about other places to visit in addition to family favorites of Cape Cod, the White Mountains and Maine coastline. And the Berkshires and South County make great vacations destinations to consider for a romantic getaway for two or a family vacation.

The Berkshires in western Massachusetts has just the right blend of outdoor activities during the day and cultural entertainment at night. The scenic rolling and wooded hills also make it a popular destination in the fall, with it fast becoming one of the prime leaf-peeping locations in the New England fall foliage season.

The Berkshires is rich in history, nature walks, scenic drives and villages like Stockbridge and Lenox. For lodging you can choose to stay in a historic stagecoach inn or be pampered in some of the most expensive resorts and spas in America.

South County in Rhode Island has been one of those secret New England destinations popular with locals for eons but unknown to most of the rest of the world. But the other side of Narraganset Bay from Newport harbors great beaches, young family attractions, outstanding wildlife viewing and vibrant towns and villages.

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the union but it in South County it has big plans to attract vacationers to New England.

In addition to these two new suggestions you’ll find our other ten ever popular locations and themed holidays. If you’re not quite sure where to head in 2010 on your New England vacation then you’ll find our resource and the links to more details and information about each a great starting point to plan your trip.

Go to our New England Vacations samplers here.

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
New England Vacation Online Guide

Getaways in Historic and Peaceful Hancock Village in New Hampshire

Looking for a historic and quiet place to visit for a New Hampshire Getaway and within easy driving distance of southern New England cities? Then look no further than Hancock in the Monadnock region of southern New Hampshire.

The history facts are Hancock was settled in 1764 and incorporated in 1779. The town has the distinction of almost every building on Main Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and its Meetinghouse building is home to one of Paul Revere’s bells which still chimes out on the hour every day.

The village itself has the historic buildings to view, a general store, café, and the Hancock Inn.

The Hancock Inn is the state’s oldest original inn still in operation and began offering accommodations and meals to travelers in 1789. Today you can rest your head in one the period-decorated unique rooms and be up early for a hearty breakfast or finish the day with their signature Shaker Cranberry Pot Roast and dessert in the dining room.

Activities and attractions close to the village include skiing at Crotched Mountain, hiking on Mount Monadnock – the most climbed mountain in N. America – the Shaker Village at Canterbury, the Harris Center for outstanding nature walks, and if antiquing is on your agenda the surrounding villages offer a patchwork of shops to browse.

Mount Monadnock is no picnic to climb but providing you’re in reasonable condition and take your time it is accessible to just about anybody. There is a network of trails to the summit, and I usually take the White Cross Trail as there are fewer hikers on it and the trail offers outstanding views on the ascent. The summit is bare and offers expansive views of the Green Mountains to the west and the White Mountains to the north.

Still on the theme of outdoors if climbing a mountain isn’t on your must-do list then consider visiting the Harris Center and taking the modest 4-mile walk to Skatutakee Mountain as it passes through a forest of pine and maples and along streams of wildflowers and woods with songbirds. You'll also find wild blueberries along the trail. Close to the Harris Center are canoeing and kayaking opportunities at Spoonwood Pond and Willard Pond.

Northern New England’s premier Shaker village to visit is the Canterbury Shaker Village. It contains 25 restored and 4 reconstructed Shaker buildings to experience by self-guided or organized tours. At one time over 300 people was part of this historic Shaker community set in a tranquil and scenic area of the Granite state. The village is open for visitors from early May to end of the fall season.

This region is often overlooked as a getaway destination for New Hampshire, but now you know about one its gems in Hancock Village and its practicularly in your backyard if you live in Massachusetts.

For more ideas and suggestions for a weekend away see my New Hampshire getaways guide here.

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Editor
New England Vacation Online Guide