Meet Boston/Discover New England Lunch – What’s new in New England

Your Travelbiz Reporter, Marian Benton, was delighted to accept the kind invitation of Tony Lane of Meet Boston/Discover New England to lunch in the Iveagh Garden Hotel, Harcourt Street, to meet delegates from the area and get an update on what’s happening.

After welcome drinks and mingling with the hosts we sat down to a delicious lunch during which the delegates spoke about their products.

Tony Lane opened proceedings by telling us a little about the destination. Tony spoke passionately and eloquently and is a fount of knowledge on all things New England.

New England 

The six States of New England may look small on a map but they are three times the size of Ireland. It is a very accessible region. The southern New England states of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are more densely populated but not overly so. They tend to be more cosmopolitan with a little bit more going on whereas the northern states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are less densely populated, with no towns bigger than 50,000 people, and an easier way of life. Maine is about the same size as Ireland with lots of wide open spaces and is close to Boston.  Whilst it is possible to do parts by train or on an organised tour Tony recommends getting a car to get out and explore. Driving there is easy, the most challenging part is usually getting out of the airport.

Each State has its own unique culture. You will be able to see the changes as you move from State to State in the geography and the landscape and yet there is a common identity and feeling throughout. You can expect a thriving cultural scene with great museums, galleries and orchestras and not just in the major cities like Boston and Providence but in the most unexpected places and right across the region.

This area is rich history – Native American, Colonial from 1600’s onwards and Revolutionary. This year is the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and is a really big year for the region with so many events having taken place around Boston and New England.

There is an awesome food scene from great farms and great sea food Apart from the traditional e.g. lobster rolls there is an incredibly ethnically diverse food culture.

For the sports mad there is baseball, American football, basketball ice hockey and for those interested in the great outdoors there is biking, hiking, kayaking, trails and wildlife spotting

Weatherwise, they have four very distinct seasons – very cold in winter especially in the north but they are well geared for the snow and it is a particularly cosy time to visit with all the little inns, restaurants and apres ski. The region is famous for its Fall foliage, a stunning natural phenomena in this very forested area. In terms of value and good temperatures in May and June you can get stunning weather and really good value in accommodation.

Chiara Moriconi, Maine Office of Tourism

Chiara told us the door is always open in Maine – nobody locks their doors!  There is easy access with flights direct from Dublin to Boston. It is two hours by bus, less by train and by car you can get to Maine in 1 hour 10 minutes. The southern part of Maine is all beaches and, as you go up the coastline it becomes more dramatic graduating from pebbles to cliffs. At the top is Arcadia National Park, the only national park in New England. At the top of the park there is a very romantic spot for sunrise or sunset viewing. If you go in the morning time you will be the first person to experience sunrise on the East Coast. There are 65 lighthouses all along the coast, including Marshall Point Lighthouse and Museum which featured in the film Forest Gump. No guarantees you will see Tom Hanks but still worth a visit!

The biggest industry is lobsters.  80% of the lobsters in restaurants around the world come from Maine which are quite inexpensive there compared to everywhere else – ¢8 to $12 each! You can do a lobster tour which is a very hands-on experienced suitable for children. You can even have a lobster you caught cooked for you when you get ashore. You can’t get fresher than that! For those who like the great outdoors Moosehead Lake is just 3 hours west of Portland. Moosehead Lake also has a dark sky sanctuary (one of only thirteen in the US).  Several lodging properties offering star viewing parties at night.

New Hampshire

Tony Lane took the mike to acquaint us with New Hampshire. Very rural, very forested and a very beautiful state. Really geared for outdoor activities and great for wholesome family trips. There are three areas of note:  Coastal New Hampshire just about an hour north of Boston. Portsmouth is so quaint with an incredible food scene. The Lake Region is an interior network of lakes great for summer holidays, boating, lovely lakeside towns and really easy lifestyle perfect for family summer holidays. Then you have the White Mountains. Mount Washington is the tallest in New England. There are world class ski resorts and last but not least, there is no sales tax in New Hampshire.

Barb Saig, Owner, Sterling Ridge Resort, Vermont

Barb gave us an overview of Vermont. It is the only New England state not on the coast. However, they do Lake Champlain. Vermont is home to authentic covered bridges with over 100 of these iconic bridges. it is very outdoorsy and the maple industry is huge there. They are the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States. There are lots of little iconic towns and beautiful drives.

Sterling Ridge Resort is a family run resort located in the middle of the northern Green Mountains of Vermont. Located on 372 acres it has its own 9 acres lake. They have 29 log cabins sleeping from 2 to 8 people, perfect for small groups and families.  Located in far northern Vermont about an hour from the Canadian border, it is very accessible from Montreal and 4 hours from Boston. There are lots of outdoor activities. It is authentic Vermont and they even produce their own maple syrup.

Zoe Sala, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism

Zoe told us that they have a lot going on Statewide and gave us a quick overview. Perfectly situated in the middle of all the News England states, if you are on a fly drive you will inevitably have to pass through Massachusetts. There is an incredible amount of history and heritage throughout the state, not just in Boston, Lexington and Concord, but all over.

There is a wide variety of sports, and they have the Basketball Hall of Fame. Fun fact: baseball, volleyball and chocolate chip cookies all originated in Massachusetts!  They have quite a bit of culture with live theatre and music and outdoor activities and whale watching. They have a lot of presidential history with the JFK Library in Boston and Lexington and Concord are the biggest historical destinations due to battles there in 1775. The western part of the state is really relaxed, with wellness resorts, white water rafting etc.  The is a wide variety of accommodations throughout with the newest being AutoCamp where you can stay in refurbished airstreams campers.

Revolutionary Valley

Zoe then told us a little bit about this venture. It is 30 minutes outside Boston, easy to get by train if you don’t want to drive. It highlights the American Revolution but several other revolutions as well including the industrial, literary, agricultural and musical. It is a very diverse region of the state and they offer 5 pre-planned local itineraries. They have excellent tour guides who are knowledgeable and passionate about their jobs. They now have the IREV Mixed Reality Tour of Lexington. A VR headset gives you an idea of what it would have been like to be in the battle. It is an immersive experience tour where the past meets the technology of the future. This tour would be a great add-on to a visit to Boston.

Connecticut

Tony told us a little about this state which is sandwiched between New York and Boston and tends to be overlooked. He told us there is much going on there with beautiful coastal towns like Mystic and Newhaven, home to Ivy League college Yale. All the museums and parks that are part of the campus are mostly free. There is a tremendous cultural heritage and it is a great place to experience Native American history at the

Mashantucket Pequot Museum one of the largest in the U.S. which gives a good understanding of their struggles and tragic history.  It is also a good place for casinos. The Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods are resorts bigger than Las Vegas. Hartford warrants a mention with its literary tradition – Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Direct flights from Dublin to Bradley will leave you equidistant between Boston and New York -perfect for Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

Dan Fryer, Newport Mansions and Rhode Island

Dan described Rhode Island as ‘a little State at the bottom’. It is an hour south of Boston accessible by train or rent a car for a day trip.

Newport is on a small island in the southern part of the state, an hour from Cape Cod and not too far from Connecticut. The ‘must do’ is the ten mile ocean drive. this is the neighbourhood of the Gilded Age mansions dating from the American industrial revolution starting in 1870 to World War One. Wealthy ’new money’ industrialists competed with each other to build the biggest and best houses in the European style. They are all in the same neighbourhood and so are easy to visit. There are excellent self-guided audio tours discussing the social history of the time, the family who lived there and the servants who worked there.  It is a true insight into the life of the regular worker too. Rosecliff mansion, which featured in the Great Gatsby, is not to be missed. Dan, who is also a Mansion Guide, gave a highly entertaining account of life in the ‘big house’. He obviously loves his job.

Tony wrapped up the presentations by reminding us of the following: a new initiative between New England and Quebec ‘Under Dark Skies’ for dark sky viewing.  Visit USA Committee America 250 BBQ 8th of July and Sail 250 Tall Ships in Boston from 11 – 16 July.

A selection of pre-planned itineraries throughout New England are available from Tony – so if you have clients who want to visit New England, all the work is already done for you!

Many thanks to Tony Lane of Meet Boston/Discover New England for lunch and a very informative and educational afternoon.