New England Hotels

Boston | cape cod | coastal maine | New hampshire mountains | Spa retreats

New England

T here's a lot to love about a late summer or early fall getaway in New England. Spend sunny days enjoying the outdoors and crisp nights relaxing with family and friends. Indulge in delicious meals prepared from produce picked fresh from the fields or seafood plucked from nearby waters. Visit historic sites and quaint small towns with interesting stories to tell. And, you can take in these experiences on the same vacation, as most are within a reasonable drive from each other—usually through leafy surrounds that start to burst with color as the days grow shorter. Whether you are looking for an excuse for a long weekend away or are planning a longer trip that might take you to a few different places, we've put together our recommendations for ways to maximize a New England getaway in this travel guide. We hope it inspires you to get out and explore this corner of the U.S.

Looking for a tip or two about how to best explore Boston? Well, Bostonians have been spilling the tea since 1773, and will gladly give you their take on where to find the best cannoli, which of the city's 23 neighborhoods are worth a visit, where the best seats are located at Fenway Park and which waterfront stroll is better: the Charles River Esplanade or Boston Harborwalk. If you're visiting in the late summer and early fall, grab a bite from one of the 50+ eateries at Quincy Market and walk in historic footsteps from America's formative years on the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail. Take a detour to explore the Rose Kennedy Greenway (you'd never know that a major highway is underneath it) and then follow your nose to the North End, where the delicious scents of Old World Italian recipes drift from the neighborhood's small trattorias and delis.

The Travelzoo guide to:

in collaboration with:

BACK TO THE TOP

Lorem ipsum

Boston

Cape Cod

Coastal Maine

New Hampshire mountains

Lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum dolor

Post yourself up amidst all of this history at The Dagny Boston, which has its own notable address in the city's first Art Deco skyscraper. A stay in one of the hotel's 403 newly renovated rooms puts you a short walk away from downtown Boston's biggest draws, including the New England Aquarium, Faneuil Hall, Boston Tea Party Ships and the Freedom Trail. Fuel up for a day of seeing the sights at the on-site Tradesman Coffee Shop & Lounge. (Travelzoo Tip: Go on and try a decadent stuffed croissant or two, this exclusive offer includes a $20 daily dining credit.) And while the location between the Financial District and Downtown lends itself to getting out and exploring the city (the free bicycle rentals add a leg up too), there's plenty inside the hotel to help you unwind—such a Weekly Wellness series of free classes in the state-of-the-art fitness center and Nespresso machines in each room. Wander down to the lobby for seasonal refreshments, including Wine Down Wednesdays, where you can enjoy some vino with live jazz, and Sips and Sounds on Thursdays with complimentary bubbly.

Few spots embody a New England summer more than Cape Cod, where the beach towns are buzzing along this curled swath of land that juts out into the northern Atlantic Ocean. You can choose to venture all the way out on the Old King's Highway to Provincetown at the tip of the Outer Cape or decide to plant your beach chair in another quaint village along 550+ miles of coastline. Wherever you are, a few staples will dominate your time on the Cape—incredible sunrises and sunsets, breezy beach days, shopping at small businesses with deep roots in the community, and indulging in laid-back outdoor dining, often featuring fresh-caught seafood. If your visit comes before mid-August, you might catch future major league ballplayers swinging for their "town team" at a Cape Cod Baseball League game. If you wait until after Labor Day, you'll enjoy what locals call "second summer", when the crowds thin out and the vibe (and temps) are chill.

Breezy coastal days are well-spent at Sea Crest Beach Resort in North Falmouth. This spot has been a summer sanctuary for travelers dating back to the days when Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda were on the roster of regulars. The hotel's 253 guestrooms include suites for families and dog-friendly options for those with furbabies. Armed with this exclusive offer, you'll stay steps from Old Silver Beach, known for clear, shallow waters perfect for smaller kids, powdery sands and gorgeous sunset views across Buzzards Bay. Enjoy those views from Streetscape, Sea Crest's new collection of dining outlets—including The Lantern Room (order the Maine Lobster Bucatini with peas, bacon and lemon-mascarpone sauce). Using the resort as your base camp, you can explore the Cape's southwestern corner. Hop a ferry at Woods Hole for a day trip to Martha's Vineyard. Hike the pedestrian-only causeway to the secret beach on The Knob. Bike along the 10-mile Shining Sea Bike Path into the town of Falmouth, with its picture-perfect Main Street of small shops, art galleries and a village green surrounded by a white picket fence.

The charms of a visit to coastal Maine are many—lobster rolls piled high with meaty claws plucked from the ocean depths; weathered lighthouses stubbornly clinging to rocky shores; salty sea breezes scented with a hint of pine from the trees that stand sentinel in the wind; and locally sourced wild blueberry ice cream that melts in your mouth. Maine's eastern shore cuts a jagged profile on the map, with peninsulas, inlets, bays and islands contributing to nearly 3,500 miles of coastline (more than California by one government statistic). In the center of it all is an area called MidCoast. Halfway between Portland and Bar Harbor, this region is home to picturesque villages, vibrant waterfronts, foodie favorites (including iconic lobster shacks such as Red's Eats) and natural beauty that has inspired artists for centuries.

Nestled among the trees right on the coast near Boothbay Harbor is Linekin Bay Resort, a vacation destination that has welcomed families for generations. The resort just completed a renovation that updated rooms in the waterfront lodges, as well as revamping the one-, two-, three- and six-bedroom cabins that are sprinkled throughout the 20-acre property. (Travelzoo Tip: Save on late summer visits with this exclusive offer.) Owing to its beginnings as a summer camp, there are plenty of options to keep guests busy. For those looking for a little competition, there are courts for tennis and pickleball, sand court volleyball, basketball and bocce. Or, you can relax either in the water at the heated saltwater pool or on the water by canoe, kayak and SUP paddle board. At the end of the day, relax at the on-site Deck Bar & Grill, which serves traditional Maine dishes and local microbrews, best when paired with the stunning views of Linekin Bay.

The Appalachian Mountains form the rugged backbone of New England, stretching from Maine through New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. For some travelers, these mountains are perfect for a quick winter weekend of skiing or snowboarding on fresh powder. But if you haven't explored the region in the summer and fall, you're missing out on a different kind of outdoor fun—think hiking, biking, camping, fishing and road-tripping through mountain towns. Ski resorts often offer great deals in the summer months to attract guests, and many of the après-ski activities and amenities (good food, good drinks, top-notch spas) are still in peak-season form. The White Mountains in New Hampshire climb to the top of the must-see list—and not just for the nerve-rattling drive to the top of 6,288-foot-tall Mount Washington, the highest summit east of the Mississippi River (bumper sticker bragging optional). Photo opps abound as you explore the area, especially if you make the 56-mile drive on the Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountain National Forest as the leaves start to turn in the fall.

Set within this scenic backdrop is the Omni Mount Washington Resort, the "gold standard" for mountain resorts on the East Coast. The National Historic Landmark opened in 1902, drawing guests from the who's-who of high society in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. The international conference that established the World Bank was held here in 1944, with the formal documents signed, appropriately enough, in the Gold Room. But this resort is much more than a living history lesson. Whether you stay in the main hotel or the boutique Omni Bretton Arms Inn a few steps away, you'll find the requisite resort amenities—fine dining, a full-service spa and unique touches such as a Prohibition-era speakeasy—in addition to a seemingly endless list of recreational pursuits on offer in the summer and fall months. Guests can tee up at two golf courses, zip through the surrounding forest on a canopy tour and ride horses from the property's stables. Another must: a gondola that offers riders amazing views of the White Mountains' Presidential Range on the 12-minute trip to the summit of Bretton Woods—the largest ski area in New Hampshire.

Lorem ipsum dolor

Spa retreats

Lush manicured gardens and century-old oak trees provide a setting for serenity at the Spa at Norwich Inn, located in southeastern Connecticut. Part country inn, part wellness hideaway, this is the type of place where you can lounge around in your robe all day—whether you're grabbing lunch on the patio, relaxing by the indoor pool or exploring the 42-acre property. An extensive spa menu includes massages, facials, body wraps and seasonal treatments. (The summer slate features mandarin and basil elements to rejuvenate your skin.) In addition to 27 treatment rooms, the spa includes a fitness center, sauna (both infrared and traditional), steam room and HydroMassage beds. Stays at the hotel include complimentary use of the spa facilities, as well as a shuttle to the nearby Mohegan Sun Casino (if you're feeling lucky). The hotel even has its own apiary to harvest honey for various uses around the property. Perhaps you'll use a drop or two of the sweet stuff if you visit for afternoon tea service, offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Some vacations need to be an escape from any number of daily stresses—long commutes to and from the office, mind-numbing Zoom calls, the tyranny of the bottomless in-box. When a little "me" time is required to rebalance the body and mind, a spa retreat is the order of the day. The spa lineup in New England is lengthy and diverse, with everything from holistic yoga retreats to immersive all-inclusive wellness resorts to treatment-focused day spas at luxury hotels.

BACK TO THE TOP

Lorem ipsum

Guest room

Tradesman Coffee Shop & Lounge

Library

The Dagny Boston

Fin Point Oyster Bar & Grille

Guest suite

Lobby at Sea Crest Beach Resort

Oceanfront Double

The Lantern Room

Old Silver Beach

Studio Suite with a Fireplace

Sea Crest Beach Resort

Dock at Linekin Bay Resort

Main Lodge at Linekin Bay Resort

Linekin Bay Resort

Saltwater Pool at Linekin Bay Resort

King Waterfront room at Linekin Bay Resort

Indoor pool

The Spa at Norwich Inn

Garden Terrace guest room

Terrace dining

Jacuzzi

Lounge in the gardens

Bretton Woods Canopy Tour

Jewell Terrace Observatory Bar at Omni Mount Washington Resort

Brettonwoods Skyway Gondola

Guest room at Omni Mount Washington Resort

1902 Main Dining Room, Omni Mount Washington Resort

Omni Mount Washington Resort

Main Inn guest room at Newagen Seaside Inn

Saltwater pool at Newagen Seaside Inn

Firepit at Newagen Seaside Inn

Vintage game room with candle pin bowling

Newagen Seaside Inn

Not far away on the tip of Southport Island is Newagen Seaside Inn, a prime spot to unplug and unwind. (That might be why most rooms don't have TVs.) Settle into one of the many Adirondack chairs around the grounds to take in sweeping views of Cape Newagen and the Atlantic Ocean. Those who don't just want to sit around can take part in any number of activities both indoors—the game room includes New England favorites like candle pin bowling—and outdoors, where you can hike the nearby trails of the Boothbay Region Land Trust, relax in the inn's heated saltwater pool or take the polar plunge into the waters directly off the inn's dock. Just don't miss the Tuesday night Lobster Bake on the oceanfront lawn (through early September, reservations required.) Travelzoo Tip: Late summer is a great time to visit for R&R, and these exclusive savings.

Classic King Cabin at Linekin Bay Resort

Little Inn room at Newagen Seaside Inn

Boston | cape cod | coastal maine | New hampshire mountains | Spa retreats