There’s no place in America like New England. Comprising six states, this Northeast region is a treasure trove of rich history, mouthwatering seafood, and unique natural beauty, including glacier-carved mountains and alluring fall foliage unparalleled in the rest of the United States. 

Bob was born and raised in Massachusetts, and we spent four years there early in our marriage. In fact, our first son was born in the state. Because of that, the region holds special significance to us. 

Driving up from Virginia this year, we felt thrilling elation as we departed the interstate in Massachusetts and the scenery shifted to Colonial buildings, mom-and-pop shops, dense green forests, traffic rotaries, and abundant Dunkin’ stores (a New England staple since 1950). Here are four things we love about New England.

1. Rich history

The pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620 and settled it as a county, the second after Jamestown, Virginia, which had been founded 13 years earlier. In 1630, Massachusetts Bay Colony was formed.

Today, Boston is the largest city in New England, which includes Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Centuries-old structures stand as relics signifying humanity’s progression from candlelight to electric light, from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles, and from manual labor to technology.

Tall brick buildings with broken or boarded windows harken back to the Industrial Revolution, when they hummed with the production of everything from food to furniture to precision tools to plastics. Abandoned ones hold stories of a past that no longer exists. Few of these factories are still in use, pumping out specialized products. Others have been converted into apartment buildings and office spaces. 

Statues and plaques commemorate battles and important events in America’s early days. And Boston’s Freedom Trail takes walkers on a self-guided history tour of the American Revolution.

2. Mouthwatering seafood

Thanks to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, New England is a destination for delectable seafood. Despite Vermont not having a coastline (although it is home to Lake Champlain), the New England states are known for some of the freshest seafood you can find. 

The brisk temperature of the Atlantic Ocean produces the ideal environment for numerous cold-water species that have become New England specialties, including lobster, haddock, scallops, and clams. Seafood boils may be common in some states, such as Louisiana, but in New England, clambakes are all the rage. 



Ipswich clams, Bob’s favorite, can only be found in New England. They make excellent steamed clams (steamers, as they’re called) because of their soft shells and tender whole bellies. 

Lobster is typically served in the shell with a nutcracker and pick. Some people new to this phenomenon watched us break into our lobster at a restaurant in Maine to try to follow along. Those less adventurous can order lazy lobster, with the shell removed. 

Other New England seafood classics include fried clam strips, raw oysters, haddock nuggets, and clam chowder.

3. Mom-and-pop shops

The people in the region tend to be steeped in tradition, as their fathers followed after their fathers, who followed after their fathers, and so on, passing things down from generation to generation. 

That applies to some businesses as well. Tiles hang in front of houses, announcing services offered by the residents, just as they did for ancestors. 

Although some chain restaurants exist, especially in the larger cities, you’ll find plenty of mom-and-pop shops peddling their wares: hot dog stands, ice cream shacks, seafood counters, and sandwich shops. We take pleasure in supporting these local businesses.

4. Unique natural beauty

From panoramic coastlines to thick forests to towering mountains reaching up to 6,288 feet high, New England has a unique natural beauty. Maine’s Acadia National Park offers more than 150 miles of hiking trails, many with views of the ocean. New Hampshire’s White Mountains and Vermont’s Green Mountains also offer plentiful trails with breathtaking views

The region features 1,500 to 2,000 waterfalls, according to NewEnglandWaterfalls.com, luring people to their beauty and swimming holes, especially on hot summer days.

In the fall, tourists flock to the region to linger over the Creator’s latest masterpiece of magnificent red, yellow, and orange trees covering the landscape. As with most things, pictures don’t do the incredible scenes justice. If you haven’t witnessed New England’s fall colors in person, they’re worth adding to your bucket list. 

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