New England puts a special spin on the Holidays. Add craft fairs and historic tours to your itinerary during your visit. You’ll discover communities that were made for this special time of year.
Find a festival below and then book a stay at a nearby RV Park (click on the links for more information).
Connecticut
Nosh Pizza in Mystic
There’s only one place to go for pizza on the Eastern Seaboard. Mystic Pizza—the restaurant that was featured in the 1988 movie of the same name—still serves up delicious slices with a variety of toppings. Also in town, the Mystic Aquarium is home to 3,500 sea creatures including outdoor exhibits for Stellar sea lions and Beluga whales. The aquarium offers learning cruises of the surrounding waters, one of many chances to explore the Connecticut coast aboard ship.
Photo: Alan Hardman
Go Shopping in Norwich
Known as “The Rose of New England,” this quaint town boasts a history that extends all the way back to 1659. These days, the downtown district offers a great introduction to New England-style boutique shopping, but the top draw is the three rivers that meet at the city’s historic waterfront park. From there, kayakers can explore the Yantic River to its namesake waterfall, head inland on the Shetucket branch, or follow the wide, rolling waters of the Thames River south to Long Island Sound.
Stay here during your Connecticut visit:
Stateline Campresort & Cabins, East Killingly
Maine
Get Awestruck in Acadia
New England’s most famous National Park will take your breath away. Located on an island on the Atlantic Ocean off Maine’s Rugged coast, Acadia National Park encompasses 48,000 acres with 120-miles of hiking trails, 16 stone bridges, a profusion of scenic old carriage roads and abundant wildlife. Traverse the historic Park Loop Road on a 30-mile enchanted journey through pristine forests and along rugged shorelines. Cadillac Mountain, the highest point in the eastern U.S., is known for spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Explore the austere beauty of Mount Desert Island along the Ocean Trail and thrill to the heart-pumping roar of Thunder Hole.
The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse on a summer afternoon. Photo: Getty Images
See the Light in Rockland
Coastal Maine has several scenic lighthouses, but the Breakwater Light in Rockland offers a walk that you won’t soon forget. Visitors navigate a 7/8-mile long breakwater before trudging up the stairs to take in views from atop the beacon, which was built in 1921 and continues to operate. Nautical buffs also can choose from five schooners for the sailing adventure of a lifetime. Windjammer Cruises takes visitors on three- to -six-day sailing trips from Rockland. Hoist the mainsail, swim in calm ocean water and come face to face with migrating whales and playful porpoises along the coast.
Stay here during your Maine visit:
Old Orchard Beach Campground, Old Orchard Beach
Massachusetts
Play in the Water in Falmouth on the Cape
Falmouth is one of the largest towns on Cape Cod, with eight villages, 14 harbors and endless water sports (with equipment rentals available) on the Cape’s southern coastline. Falmouth is best known for its road race held every August. Within Falmouth, the village of Woods Hole has great sportfishing, cute old buildings, and a marvelous aquarium with an outdoor sea pool and free admission for all.
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Take a Hike on Boston’s Freedom Trail
Boston enjoys a reputation as one of the most exciting cities in the nation, with three iconic sports franchises as well as a slew of elite universities. Slow things down a bit with a walk through history. Pull on your sneakers and hit the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile guided tour to 16 American Revolutionary hot spots wending from Boston Commons to Faneuil Hall. The Boston African American Trail showcases 10 historic sites scattered throughout Beacon Hill, including the Maritime Underground Railroad. Stroll in the footsteps of Suffragists on the Women’s Heritage Trail and learn how Boston women secured the right to vote.
Stay here during your Massachusetts visit:
Circle CG Farm Campground, Bellingham
Pine Lake RV Resort & Cottages, Sturbridge
New Hampshire
Ride a Tram in Franconia or Cog Railway on Mount Washington
Here’s a sightseeing trip well worth taking: a comfy ride in an 80-passenger aerial tramway — first in America — climbing over 4,000 feet high to the summit of Cannon Mountain. Enjoy spectacular 360-degree views from bottom to top. Once there, explore lovely hiking trails and relax at the mountaintop café. Looking for a retro ride? Old fashioned cog railways take your breath away as they chug up incredibly steep mountainsides. This one’s king of them all – America’s first cog railway, scaling Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast USA. Fee applies.
The Cog Railway pokes its way upward to reach Mt. Washington’s summit. White Mountains of NH
Make a Splash in Hampton Beach
Mild weather and calming ocean breezes characterize Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Situated on the southern edge of the state, less than an hour north of Boston, the seaside hamlet once bore the name, “Atlantic City of New England.” Hampton Beach State Park is a pristine mashup of sand and sea that’s perfect for swimming, sunbathing, fishing and camping. Families are the focus of many attractions in Hampton Beach; the Hampton Beach Playground has entertained little ones since the 1920s, and it is also home to the annual Children’s Festival, where kids and kids at heart enjoy magic shows and a giant costume parade.
Stay here during your New Hampshire visit:
Friendly Beaver Campground, New Boston