Brag your fave place. I love New England.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big Sur.

I've traveled quite a bit and have never seen a more beautiful place (although Vietnam is close).

The coastline is unreal. There are some amazing places to stay like The Post Ranch Inn and Alila Ventana. That northern CA food is so good -- Nepenthe is a don't miss. And if it's your kind of thing, don't die without doing a workshop at Esalen.

I found food in Big Sur/Carmel/Monterey completely unimpressive and horribly overpriced. Nepenthe is okay but without the setting it would be a nothingburger.

Like any tourist area it’s overpriced, but I think it’s one of the most beautiful areas in the U.S.

I will agree with you on the town of Carmel. Don’t like the vibe and I guess I’m jealous that I can’t afford to live there.

I have never made it to Nepenthe. Looks overpriced and crowded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the Carmel/Big Sur area of Southern CA. Love the weather. Love the big epic scenery, Love the food and wine scene. Love the casual elegant sense of style compared with the fussiness of the east coast.

??? Carmel and Big Sur isn’t Southern California. I do love the weather there and it’s certainly beautiful.

Pp, here. Sorry missed you correction right after your post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I admit it. I am a New England snob. I've been many places, but New England is my favorite and I now live there, too (outside Boston).
Why:
--beaches (Kennebunkport is the best!)
--mountains
--excellent food scenes, in Portland and Providence, especially
--a strong sense of history and local pride
--charm -- just cannot beat New England towns from Woodstock, VT to Concord, MA for charm
--outdoorsy pursuits aplenty, from Acadia hiking to VT-NH skiing to sailing
--beautiful coastline
--top-notch healthcare and education

I am a realist. Some things stink -- the traffic, the unpredictable weather, and the extremely inefficient T system are tops. The cost of living and homes are also high, but... there is a reason.

Brag your favorite place!

When people from the Midwest visit the New England countryside or seashore for the first time, they are often blown away by how charming the small towns can be — I’ve heard them describe the experience as similar to being in a theme park, as in too good to be true. This applies even to parts of metro Boston, and of course the rich suburban neighborhoods of Fairfield County are their own kind of fantasyland, although calling Greenwich New England seems inappropriate. For me, a huge part of the charm comes from the hilly terrain and curvy roads vs. the square grid layout in most of the U.S.

DP here. Would a summer trip to one or two of these areas be fun for a family of two parents/two teen girls? They love eating and cute shops and we all love shellfish. We also have a close cousin near Boston who had a baby a few months ago that we'd love to visit for a day or two. Would this make a good week long trip?

Tell me which town near Boston and I’ll give you some good options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I admit it. I am a New England snob. I've been many places, but New England is my favorite and I now live there, too (outside Boston).
Why:
--beaches (Kennebunkport is the best!)
--mountains
--excellent food scenes, in Portland and Providence, especially
--a strong sense of history and local pride
--charm -- just cannot beat New England towns from Woodstock, VT to Concord, MA for charm
--outdoorsy pursuits aplenty, from Acadia hiking to VT-NH skiing to sailing
--beautiful coastline
--top-notch healthcare and education

I am a realist. Some things stink -- the traffic, the unpredictable weather, and the extremely inefficient T system are tops. The cost of living and homes are also high, but... there is a reason.

Brag your favorite place!

When people from the Midwest visit the New England countryside or seashore for the first time, they are often blown away by how charming the small towns can be — I’ve heard them describe the experience as similar to being in a theme park, as in too good to be true. This applies even to parts of metro Boston, and of course the rich suburban neighborhoods of Fairfield County are their own kind of fantasyland, although calling Greenwich New England seems inappropriate. For me, a huge part of the charm comes from the hilly terrain and curvy roads vs. the square grid layout in most of the U.S.

DP here. Would a summer trip to one or two of these areas be fun for a family of two parents/two teen girls? They love eating and cute shops and we all love shellfish. We also have a close cousin near Boston who had a baby a few months ago that we'd love to visit for a day or two. Would this make a good week long trip?

Tell me which town near Boston and I’ll give you some good options.

OP here. Which area? Rockport or Newburyport would fit the bill if they're north.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I admit it. I am a New England snob. I've been many places, but New England is my favorite and I now live there, too (outside Boston).
Why:
--beaches (Kennebunkport is the best!)
--mountains
--excellent food scenes, in Portland and Providence, especially
--a strong sense of history and local pride
--charm -- just cannot beat New England towns from Woodstock, VT to Concord, MA for charm
--outdoorsy pursuits aplenty, from Acadia hiking to VT-NH skiing to sailing
--beautiful coastline
--top-notch healthcare and education

I am a realist. Some things stink -- the traffic, the unpredictable weather, and the extremely inefficient T system are tops. The cost of living and homes are also high, but... there is a reason.

Brag your favorite place!

When people from the Midwest visit the New England countryside or seashore for the first time, they are often blown away by how charming the small towns can be — I’ve heard them describe the experience as similar to being in a theme park, as in too good to be true. This applies even to parts of metro Boston, and of course the rich suburban neighborhoods of Fairfield County are their own kind of fantasyland, although calling Greenwich New England seems inappropriate. For me, a huge part of the charm comes from the hilly terrain and curvy roads vs. the square grid layout in most of the U.S.

DP here. Would a summer trip to one or two of these areas be fun for a family of two parents/two teen girls? They love eating and cute shops and we all love shellfish. We also have a close cousin near Boston who had a baby a few months ago that we'd love to visit for a day or two. Would this make a good week long trip?

Tell me which town near Boston and I’ll give you some good options.

PP here. Canton. (Yes, the Karen Read town, which they hate being known for.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh yes, Woodstock is truly delightful!

I live in Brunswick ME but am moving as it is so expensive. But will miss all the natural beauty and being 15 minutes from the ocean (well, Casco Bay)

What about Brunswick is expensive, and where are you moving?

[Anonymous]

Boston and Cambridge are wonderful overall. I don't love the insularity in some areas (it can be tough to break in; people have been here for generations), but there is also a sizable international population and a culture of progressivity, scientific discovery, and liberalism. But there's also parochialism in some places, like anywhere--New Englanders are loyal and solid, but there's no faux-nice sweetness or gregariousness for its own sake. It is also expensive to live here and getting worse. All that said, the quality of life, amenities, services, location are all excellent. On balance, I like it here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the Carmel/Big Sur area of Southern CA. Love the weather. Love the big epic scenery, Love the food and wine scene. Love the casual elegant sense of style compared with the fussiness of the east coast.

??? Carmel and Big Sur isn’t Southern California. I do love the weather there and it’s certainly beautiful.

In the next post it says Northern sorry. I corrected it, it was a typo. And btw if you’re going to be a brat it’s “Carmel and Big Sur AREN’T Southern”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I admit it. I am a New England snob. I've been many places, but New England is my favorite and I now live there, too (outside Boston).
Why:
--beaches (Kennebunkport is the best!)
--mountains
--excellent food scenes, in Portland and Providence, especially
--a strong sense of history and local pride
--charm -- just cannot beat New England towns from Woodstock, VT to Concord, MA for charm
--outdoorsy pursuits aplenty, from Acadia hiking to VT-NH skiing to sailing
--beautiful coastline
--top-notch healthcare and education

I am a realist. Some things stink -- the traffic, the unpredictable weather, and the extremely inefficient T system are tops. The cost of living and homes are also high, but... there is a reason.

Brag your favorite place!

When people from the Midwest visit the New England countryside or seashore for the first time, they are often blown away by how charming the small towns can be — I’ve heard them describe the experience as similar to being in a theme park, as in too good to be true. This applies even to parts of metro Boston, and of course the rich suburban neighborhoods of Fairfield County are their own kind of fantasyland, although calling Greenwich New England seems inappropriate. For me, a huge part of the charm comes from the hilly terrain and curvy roads vs. the square grid layout in most of the U.S.

DP here. Would a summer trip to one or two of these areas be fun for a family of two parents/two teen girls? They love eating and cute shops and we all love shellfish. We also have a close cousin near Boston who had a baby a few months ago that we'd love to visit for a day or two. Would this make a good week long trip?

Tell me which town near Boston and I’ll give you some good options.

PP here. Canton. (Yes, the Karen Read town, which they hate being known for.)

OK, you can use Canton as a base. Canton is just over one hour drive from Falmouth, so book the Island Queen for a long day trip to Martha’s Vineyard (hit the road by 8AM) , rent bikes to Edgartown. Another day take a duck boat tour of Boston. Teen girls might want to visit pretty college campuses and walk around, like Harvard or Wellesley. You could take the trip up the Maine coast looking at schools that Tony Soprano did with his daughter. Or go up to Woodstock VT and stay at the Woodstock Inn, a former Rockresort. From there Dartmouth is super close. Working your way back to Boston could include the Berkshires and Amherst/Northampton. Another option is Gilmore Girls land in Litchfield County CT. Stay at the Mayflower in Washington CT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I admit it. I am a New England snob. I've been many places, but New England is my favorite and I now live there, too (outside Boston).
Why:
--beaches (Kennebunkport is the best!)
--mountains
--excellent food scenes, in Portland and Providence, especially
--a strong sense of history and local pride
--charm -- just cannot beat New England towns from Woodstock, VT to Concord, MA for charm
--outdoorsy pursuits aplenty, from Acadia hiking to VT-NH skiing to sailing
--beautiful coastline
--top-notch healthcare and education

I am a realist. Some things stink -- the traffic, the unpredictable weather, and the extremely inefficient T system are tops. The cost of living and homes are also high, but... there is a reason.

Brag your favorite place!

When people from the Midwest visit the New England countryside or seashore for the first time, they are often blown away by how charming the small towns can be — I’ve heard them describe the experience as similar to being in a theme park, as in too good to be true. This applies even to parts of metro Boston, and of course the rich suburban neighborhoods of Fairfield County are their own kind of fantasyland, although calling Greenwich New England seems inappropriate. For me, a huge part of the charm comes from the hilly terrain and curvy roads vs. the square grid layout in most of the U.S.

DP here. Would a summer trip to one or two of these areas be fun for a family of two parents/two teen girls? They love eating and cute shops and we all love shellfish. We also have a close cousin near Boston who had a baby a few months ago that we'd love to visit for a day or two. Would this make a good week long trip?

Tell me which town near Boston and I’ll give you some good options.

PP here. Canton. (Yes, the Karen Read town, which they hate being known for.)

OK, you can use Canton as a base. Canton is just over one hour drive from Falmouth, so book the Island Queen for a long day trip to Martha’s Vineyard (hit the road by 8AM) , rent bikes to Edgartown. Another day take a duck boat tour of Boston. Teen girls might want to visit pretty college campuses and walk around, like Harvard or Wellesley. You could take the trip up the Maine coast looking at schools that Tony Soprano did with his daughter. Or go up to Woodstock VT and stay at the Woodstock Inn, a former Rockresort. From there Dartmouth is super close. Working your way back to Boston could include the Berkshires and Amherst/Northampton. Another option is Gilmore Girls land in Litchfield County CT. Stay at the Mayflower in Washington CT.

PP here. Awesome, thanks for the ideas!