Our Favorite Spots in All 50 States: Part 5-Northeast
A list of our favorite places, plus sites that we want to go to but haven’t seen yet, in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, plus Washington D.C.
MARYLAND:
Assateague Island National Seashore—wild horses!
Nemours Estate and Gardens
DELAWARE:
Nemours Estate and Gardens—beautiful gardens in the spring
Winterthur—extensive gardens
What can I say? I love gardens!
Cape Henlopen State Park—several nice beaches and lots of trails
NEW JERSEY:
Cape May—This is the only place we’ve been to in New Jersey. Lots of cute Victorian homes and B&B’s. Also a big beach.
PENNSYLVANIA:
Lots of history and beauty in this state.
Delaware Water Gap Natl Recreation Area—Lots of trails and waterfalls. I want to go back and spend more time exploring.
Valley Forge Natl. Historical Park—This park was a lot bigger than I expected. Good museum and driving tour.
Longwood Gardens—So beautiful in the spring. We loved the show of huge fountains that were synced to music.
Fallingwater—Interesting tour of an iconic home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Hersheypark—We brought our kids to this fun amusement park and chocolate factory tour! We had a blast, plus the town smells like chocolate!
We also enjoyed our visit to Idlewild, where Storybook Land was so cute for our little kids. The Johnstown Flood Museum was interesting. Gettysburg National Military Park is definitely worth a visit.
I’d like to visit Ohiopyle State Park and Rickett’s Glen State Park.
NEW YORK:
Watkins Glen State Park
Since we have not seen anything in New York City except for the Statue of Liberty, this list will not be complete until we have spent time in the city. However, we loved Upstate New York; it’s beautiful and filled with interesting places to go.
Boldt Castle—sad story behind this never-finished mansion
Letchworth State Park
Watkins Glen State Park
Corning Museum of Glass—spent several enjoyable hours here and still didn’t see everything
Historic homes of the Hudson Valley—so many mansions, so little time!
We also went to Niagara Falls, but wouldn’t consider it a favorite, as it was so crowded, and we didn’t see the view from the Canadian side, which I’ve heard is the better viewpoint.
NEW ENGLAND:
We lived here many years ago when our kids were young, and although we explored quite a bit, our photos are old and few. So, I don’t have many pictures to post here, except for a couple from our visit to Vermont in summer of 2022.
VERMONT:
Hildene—home of Robert Todd Lincoln
Mount Equinox
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
We lived in Nashua for a few months many years ago during a winter when Boston (about an hour’s drive away) received 100 inches of snow. So, we never got the chance to explore New Hampshire when the weather was good.
If we ever go back, I’d like to drive the Kancamagus Highway in the fall, and go to Franconia Notch State Park.
CONNECTICUT:
Mystic Seaport—We lived about 15 minutes away, so we got a annual pass. It was fun to take the kids at different times of the year.
MASSACHUSETTS:
Boston—When our kids were young, we took them all over: Museum of Fine Arts, New England Aquarium, Paul Revere House, Bunker Hill Monument, the Public Garden, Childrens’ Museum, the Arnold Arboretum when the lilacs were in bloom. Awesome city!
Cape Cod—gorgeous huge rhododendrons at Heritage Gardens in Sandwich, and of course, the beach!
Plimoth Plantation and Mayflower II
RHODE ISLAND:
Roger Williams Zoo
Green Animals Topiary Garden
I want to see The Breakers and some of the other mansions in Newport, and walk the Cliff Walk.
MAINE:
Portland Head Light
Nubble Light in York—Here we explored tide pools and ate lobster rolls.
Acadia National Park
WASHINGTON D.C.:
It’s been quite awhile since we’ve been here. We would like to visit during cherry blossom time. Autumn was a nice time to visit, though. The memorials and the Smithsonian museums are all fascinating and free!
