Top Five Summer Vacation Destinations in the Northeastern US

New England is full of summertime attractions.  The heavy snows of winter give way to pleasantly warm weather, and locals and tourists alike are ready to visit the breezy seaside, explore mountain trails, photograph historic sites and experience those legendary New England charms.

With a choice between cosmopolitan culture, rural scenery and classy seaside excursions, it is simple for tourists to find a vacation that matches their interests.  Certain destinations allow travelers to sample the best that New England has to offer.  Here are five of the best summertime vacation destinations in the Northeast.

1. With all its history, diversity and exciting attractions, Boston is the best place in New England for an urban vacation.  History and high-brow culture always take center stage in America’s oldest big city.  Warm weather means a trip to the famous harbor is possible, as is a stroll down the Freedom Trail, which passes some of the more important sites in US history, such as Fanieul Hall and Boston Commons, America’s oldest public park.  Boston is also home to the famous Boston Pops orchestra, the Boston Museum of Fine Art and several museums located on the Harvard and MIT campuses.

Summer also brings whale watching tours on the waters of the Atlantic and celebrations marking the Fourth of July.  The Boston Pops helps to celebrate Independence Day with an outdoor concert that accompanies fireworks launched from the banks of the Charles River.  These events and attractions make New England’s largest city one if its best summertime destinations.

2. If you want a more laid-back New England experience, but still want some sophistication, head to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Boston does not have a monopoly on the region’s historic sites.  Portsmouth is the third oldest city in the US.  Its is characterized by aged architecture and hint of the ambiance of bygone eras.  The Strawbery Banke Museum, located in an historic, port-side neighborhood, is open daily during the summer and offers a glimpse into the city’s past.  A more modern experience  is available at the brewery that produces bottles of the popular Red Hook Beer.

The Prescott Park Arts Festival (outdoor performances all summer long) and the Portsmouth Blues Festival (traditionally held in August) add to the summertime excitement in this New Hampshire city.

3. Another small city  option is Burlington, Vermont.  The largest city in Vermont, it is home to less than 50,000 people, but has a surprisingly sophisticated ambiance and plenty of worthwhile attractions.  Entertainment options range from taking a  cruise on nearby Lake Champlain to people watching to enjoying the skills of street performers who dance, sing or act outdoors along Church Street in the center of the city.

There is also plenty of history, with several sites dedicated to Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen and several of examples of old New England architecture.  The pub and cafe culture is alive and well in Burlington, with students from four area colleges, including th University of Vermont, giving the nightlife a youthful energy.

Summertime events include Dragon Boat Races, in August, a jazz concert series, in June, and the Vermont Brewers Festival, which is hosted by Burlington in mid-July.

4. Acadia National Park, in Maine, is one of the best places to get-away-from-it-all without actually feeling like you are alone in the wilds of New England.  The park covers several offshore islands, most notably Mount Desert Island.  In total, it stretches for more than 50 square miles and contains every type of landscape you could expect in the Atlantic Northeast.  There are mountains, woodlands and forests, a rugged shoreline and waterways.  Camping is possible during the summer, although there are several small towns on Mount Desert Island that offer suitably quaint accommodations to those who want more comfort than a tent can provide.

5. York Beach, Maine, is another popular summertime getaway spot in the Northeastern-most state.  This resort area has everything you could want in a New England destination.  There are tourist attractions like a petting zoo, plenty of seafood restaurants, sandy beaches and stretches of that trademark rugged Maine coastline.  York Beach is located in Southern Maine, making it much more accessible than some of the other popular summertime resort areas further up the coast.  Aside from playing on the sand and in the waves, there are more adventurous options, such as sea kayaking tours and mountain bike trails.

York Beach is home to those quaint New England features that many visitors have come to expect from Atlantic Coast destinations: lighthouses (Nubble Lighthouse is one of the country’s oldest), craft shops, seafood restaurants and hundred-plus year-old buildings.