100 Things to do in New England
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71. Explore historic covered bridges
Visiting a historic covered bridge is like taking a step back in time. New England is home to about 200 remaining covered bridges. Vermont is home to the most at just over 100. The 160 year old West Cornwall covered bridge in Connecticut is an iconic 172 foot long beauty over the Housatonic River. It is one of the oldest in New England and at one point was the largest. Pictured above is the gorgeous covered bridge at Devil’s Hopyard State Park in East Haddam.
The best covered bridges in each New England state
72. Shop, Dine, & be entertained at Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Faneuil Hall, a popular marketplace in Boston, is home to numerous restaurants, bars, and shops. Street performances take place every weekend. Dining options consist of 14 restaurants/pubs including popular theme restaurants, as well as local seafood cafes. Faneuil is also home to the Quincy Market Colonnade, a collection of 36 international food vendors, the largest food hall in New England. Faneuil is conveniently located right on The Freedom Trail, so a great place to take a break and enjoy some good food and entertainment.
Location: 4 S Market St. Boston, MA 02109
73. Explore gorgeous waterfalls
New England is home to many gorgeous waterfalls. The tallest is Arethusa Falls in New Hampshire. This beauty is located in Crawford Notch State Park and stands a magnificent 140 feet. You don’t have to complete a big hike to see a beautiful waterfall. Even the smaller waterfalls throughout the states are gorgeous due to the secluded and natural setting. One of my favorite hidden gems is the Enders Fall trail in Granby, Connecticut. The hike is short (1/2 mile), easily accessible, and features numerous viewpoints of the falls.
Check out this list of The tallest waterfalls in the White Mountains for more ideas on what to add to your bucket list.
Location: 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville, CT 06382
74. Tour the Crow’s Nest bar used for The Perfect Storm filming
Gloucester, Massachusetts is home to Crow’s Nest, the bar referenced in The Perfect Storm movie/book. The actual bar was not used for filming the movie; however, a replicated set was used in California. The movie actors did frequent the bar while staying in town to film scenes around Gloucester according to staff we talked to. Movie memorabilia and pictures of the cast/crew/and real life crewmen adorn the walls of this friendly, local hangout. Bartenders are eager to share their personal stories. I am not a huge fan of the book, however, I did enjoy hearing stories from passionate locals. The best part about visiting this bar was chatting with the staff about the movie, the filming, and even things to do in Gloucester!
Location: 334 Main St Gloucester, MA 01930
75. See a classic movie at the historic Jane Pickens Theater
Newport’s art house cinema screens both first run and classic films. This past holiday season, the holiday classic White Christmas was screened free to the public. It’s such an exciting experience to see movies the way they were meant to be seen. I visit these old time theaters whenever I travel. The historic theater, built back in 1919, is elegant and timeless, especially with the old-fashioned architecture and velvet opening curtains. Wine and luxury snacks are available to accompany the movie. My favorite screenings here were: Before Midnight and White Christmas.
Location: 49 Touro St, Newport, RI 02847
76. Climb to the top of the Provincetown Pilgrim Monument
The Pilgrim Monument was built in the early 1900’s to memorialize the first landing of the Pilgrims. Contrary to popular belief, the Pilgrims did not land first in Plymouth. Plymouth is where they decided to settle after spending 5 weeks first in Cape Cod’s Provincetown. Guests can climb to the top of the monument and take in the breathtaking views. Most tourists just come for the views, but you can actually explore the history of the monuments and Pilgrims more via a number of exhibits.
Location: 1 High Pole Hill Rd, Provincetown, MA 02657
77. Visit movie filming sites
Lots of iconic movies have filmed in the New England states, particularly in the Boston area. Popular filming locations include: Acadia National Park in Maine, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Brown University in Rhode Island, and Yale University in Connecticut. The best place to tour a bunch of movie sites in a single visit is downtown Boston. Several walking movie tours are available. My favorite movie site in the city is Boston Public Garden, which is home to the famous Matt Damon/Robin Williams bench scene in Good Will Hunting.
See where some of your favorite Boston movies filmed via a self guided tour.
78. Stroll around the Roger Williams Park Zoo
The Roger Williams Park Zoo is small, yet clean, well-maintained, and super easy to navigate. It’s much nicer than the more popular Boston metro zoos and usually less crowded. It was founded in 1872, making it the 3rd oldest zoo in America. The woodsy setting makes the zoo very attractive to walk around and there is plenty of shade for the hot, sunny summer season. If you are in town around Halloween, do get tickets to the Jack O’Lantern spectacular – it is one of the best Halloween events in New England!
Location: 1000 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI 02907
79. Take a leafy stroll along Blackstone Boulevard
Rhode Island is home to many beautiful parks and recreation areas, including the Blackstone Boulevard Walking Path. This 3.5 mile stroll (round-trip) is tree-lined the entire route, making it especially scenic during fall foliage season. The path is limited to foot traffic (there is a separate bike trail), so runners and walkers will appreciate having the space to their own. Most of the time I use this path as a scenic course for 5k training. The path is picturesque with beautiful historic homes lining the side streets, tall trees, and fresh flowers during the summer months. It’s located super close to Brown University. Nearby Thayer Street is a charming area offering local dining and shopping after your walk.
Location: Blackstone Blvd & Hope St Providence, RI 02906
80. Take a self guided tour of Plymouth historical sites
Plymouth Rock is located at Pilgrim Memorial State Park, the smallest state park in Massachusetts. The rock symbolizes the landing of the Pilgrims in 1620. The Plymouth waterfront is beautiful with lots to do, including: touring the Mayflower replica, whale watching, tourist shops, and waterfront dining. Did you know that this tiny state park is the most visited in the country with over a million visitors per year?
Also while you are in Plymouth, you will want to take a self-guided tour of the city’s most prominent historical sites. You can pick up a map at the visitor center. Of particular interest is the breathtaking National Monument to Our Forefathers. This massive 81 foot tall statue (the world’s largest solid granite monument) is dedicated to the Pilgrims.
Location: Water St Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360
