The New England Travel Awards: And the Winners Are…

Food Festival

Winner: Maine Lobster Festival
Rockland, Maine

In 1948, the first “Miss Maine Seafoods,” Ruth Roberts of Rockland, was crowned at the Maine Lobster Festival. Seventy-six years later, the pageant winner is now dubbed the “Maine Lobster Festival Delegate” (and lobster is no longer $1 for all-you-can-eat), but pretty much everything else about this Midcoast Maine festival remains unchanged. What to expect during the five days of crustacean-themed fun? Check out the seafood cookoff (which the wife of a former Boston magazine staffer won in 2022); a race that involves darting across the ocean on a line of lobster crates; and a big parade, plus an otherworldly amount of steamed lobster and butter in the “Main Eating Tent” (lobster bisque, mac ’n’ cheese, and Caesar salad can be found in the ostensibly fancier “Lobster Café”). It all comes together to form one of the biggest food festivals in the area, one that honors the region’s proud maritime heritage as much as it celebrates the simple pleasures of sweet, buttery Maine lobster meat plucked fresh from the shell. mainelobsterfestival.com.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
➢ Burlington Wine & Food, Burlington, VT, burlingtonwineandfood.com.
➢ Wellfleet OysterFest, Wellfleet, MA, wellfleetoa.org.

Photo courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection

Mayflower Inn & Spa’s Tap Room / Photo courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection

Inn

Winner: Mayflower Inn & Spa
Washington, Connecticut

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle, this slice of paradise offers all the pampering of a world-class resort with the cozy comfort of a country retreat. Yearning to lose yourself in a novel by a crackling fire? You’re guaranteed to leave feeling fully relaxed and rejuvenated. And there are plenty of other ways to unwind at the Mayflower, including the award-winning spa, a bona fide oasis boasting eight treatment rooms, a pool house with a hammam, a whirlpool, steam rooms, an infrared sauna, and an outdoor barrel sauna. Prefer to get your R&R en plein air? Pick up a bow for some archery or lace up your boots for a hike through the meadows and wetlands that crisscross the 58-acre Litchfield Hills property. We’re also fans of the on-site dining, which includes the refined fare at the Garden Room restaurant and lighter options at the Tap Room. But our absolute favorite thing about this inn is the 35 stunning guest rooms, which were recently redesigned by celebrity decorator Celerie Kemble to bring the outside in with botanical prints, floral chintzes, and paper flowers by artist Livia Cetti. At last, this is what a good night’s rest feels like. aubergeresorts.com.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
➢ Weekapaug Inn Westerly, RI, weekapauginn.com.
➢ Woodstock Inn & Resort Woodstock, VT, woodstockinn.com.

Photo courtesy of Canyon Ranch

Wellness Retreat

Winner: Canyon Ranch
Lenox, Mass.

The Gilded Age confection called Bellefontaine Mansion forms the nucleus of this legendary Berkshires wellness retreat, where celebrities and the well-to-do have been coming to relax and reset since 1989. Housed in a modern annex, the supremely comfortable rooms are pleasingly decorated in neutral tones, but beyond sleeping in them, guests’ time is mostly spent on a variety of activities, which is where Canyon Ranch really shines. The expansive first-rate spa facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, exercise studios, saunas, cold plunges, and even a teaching kitchen for cooking classes. Other experiences range from hiking and mountain biking to yoga, tarot card readings, fencing classes, and more. Upon booking a room, guests are asked what they hope to get out of their stay (weight loss, improved fitness, better nutrition), and a personal concierge helps design a program to achieve it. That said, the resort is mindful to allow plenty of downtime to recover and enjoy the stunning grounds. Most important, there’s absolutely no sense of having to compromise, with satisfying meals that are as healthy as they are delicious. You’ll leave feeling like a new person inside and out. canyonranch.com.

Honorable Mentions
➢The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa Manchester, VT, equinoxresort.com.
➢Miraval Berkshires, Lenox, MA, miravalresorts.com.

Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism

Beach

Winner: Ogunquit Beach
Ogunquit, Maine

From families with children to solo adventurers, everyone will find their happy place on this beach—whether investigating marine life when the tide goes (way, way) out, floating on inner tubes down the adjacent tidal river, or simply lounging on the expansive sandy shores. No wonder the town, which is easily accessible from the shoreline, is packed with so many fantastic places to eat, shop, and stay (we love Cornerstone Artisanal Pizza for wood-fired post-beach sustenance, Village Toy Funatic for kids’ playthings, and Dunes on the Waterfront for watching the sun rise over the water after a good night’s rest). Insider tip: Visit in the shoulder season—late May/early June and late September/early October—to get the surf and sand (almost) all to yourself.

Honorable Mentions
➢Narragansett Beach, Narragansett, RI.
➢Race Point Beach, Provincetown, MA.

Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Historical Site

Winner: Plimoth Patuxet museums
Plymouth, Mass.

Here, history buffs and casual visitors alike will find themselves transported to an era when “simplicity” meant more than ditching your smartphone. How far back? Try 400 years. You can tour a 17th-century Colonial English village, with “public history performers” that speak, dress, and act like Pilgrims, as well as the historic Patuxet Homesite, where Native interpreters give tours of a wetu and talk about what it was like for the Wampanoag community during this period. In addition to the main museum campus, the organization also runs two other historical sites in New England’s oldest town: the Mayflower II (a replica of the original Mayflower), and the Plimoth Grist Mill, a reconstruction of the Colonists’ 1600s-era mill that still produces grits, cornmeal, and flour today. Grab a combo ticket for all three to truly get your Plymouth on. plimoth.org.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
➢ Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam, CT, ctparks.com.
➢ Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park, Cornish, NH, nps.gov.

Photo by Douglas Mason, Courtesy of Mass MoCA

Photo courtesy of Mass MoCA

Museum

Winner: Mass MoCA, North Adams, Mass.

It’s a bold move to single out one museum in a region that’s chock-a-bloc with world-class examples, but the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art gets our thumbs-up for not only being one of the largest and most versatile modern-art venues in the country, but also turning the formerly down-at-the-heel industrial town of North Adams into a premiere destination. Housed in a former mill complex on the Hoosic River, the sprawling maze of interconnected buildings can accommodate both massive installations and intimate exhibitions, with long-term shows featuring monumental work by artists such as Sol LeWitt and Anselm Kiefer. Currently on view is “Musicians on Musicians”—a collection of photographs depicting icons of the music industry, selected by members of the band Wilco—and “Like Magic,” a show that confronts the uncertainty and chaos of contemporary life through rituals and talismans created to help humans survive in the world’s unknown. One thing we do know: The scale of Mass MoCA warrants spending a few days in the area, so make sure you book a room at the nearby Porches Inn, a sleekly redesigned set of Victorian row houses with a swimming pool, hot tub, and Finnish sauna, or Tourists, a stylish take on a midcentury motor lodge—and don’t forget to check out the excellent hiking and breweries surrounding them. massmoca.org.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
➢ Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT, mysticseaport.org.
➢ Newport Mansions, Newport, RI, newportmansions.org.

Photo by Jon Kreye

Camping or Glamping Destination

Winner: Lumen Nature Retreat
North Woodstock, New Hampshire

Is there a leak in the tent? Did we pack shampoo? Did the ice in the cooler melt already? You’ll never have to ask those questions while staying at Lumen. Set among a leafy forest on the banks of a brook, the woodsy retreat offers 20 petite cabins, plus 15 safari tents and A-frames, to campers who prefer sleeping in a plush bed instead of stuffed inside a sleeping bag. No matter where you stay, you’ll be enveloped in warm, Scandinavian-inspired design, but we particularly love cozying up inside the property’s “Hygge” cabins, each of which features an indoor fireplace, a small cooktop and fridge, a loveseat, a bistro table and chairs, and a floor-to-ceiling window framing views of the trees. Elsewhere at Lumen, glampers will find a sleek bathhouse stocked with all the essentials, plus two saunas you can book sessions in from your phone. Other thoughtful touches, from complimentary toiletries to campfire wood for purchase, make the glamp site the region’s most comfortable home base from which to explore and connect with nature. stayatlumen.com.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
➢ AutoCamp Cape Cod, Falmouth, MA, autocamp.com.
➢ Sandy Pines Campground, Kennebunkport, ME, sandypinescamping.com.

Photo by SlipSoup/Courtesy of Rails to Trails Conservancy

Biking Trail

Winner: Island Line Trail
Burlington to South Hero, Vermont

This singular journey along Vermont’s Island Line Trail falls into the category of New England bike trails following the paths of former railroads, but with a wonderfully uncommon twist: It extends into the waters of Lake Champlain via a causeway, so as you’re pedaling, you’re taking in watery views on both sides of the moderately narrow trail—an otherworldly experience that makes you feel like you’re journeying to the ends of the earth. The entire path measures 14 miles, connecting Vermont’s largest city with nearby Colchester and South Hero, but the star of the show is, of course, the 3-mile-long Colchester Causeway. Bikers set on traversing the entire trail will need to hop aboard the bike ferry for a ride across “The Cut,” a 200-foot gap in the causeway—but that’s all part of this (incredibly scenic) rolling adventure.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
➢ Cape Cod Rail Trail, Yarmouth to Wellfleet, mass.gov.
➢ Cheshire Rail Trail, Fitzwilliam to North Walpole, NH, nhstateparks.org.

Photo via Greydon Hotel Group

Photo via Greydon Hotel Group

Boutique Hotel

Winner: The Greydon House
Nantucket

Like Mary Poppins’s carpetbag, it’s incredible how much can fit in one historical building at the center of town—literally a two-minute walk to the ferry. Housed in a former sea captain’s home, the Greydon’s 20 unique rooms were designed by the white-hot New York firm of Roman and Williams, with custom beds and lighting fixtures, and bathrooms showcasing handpainted Portuguese azulejos. Downstairs, the whimsical Venetian-style restaurant Via Mare is a favorite among locals and tourists, while out back, a wild English garden is Nantucket personified. Yet it’s something less tangible that has earned this boutique hotel our abiding affection. Nowhere else in “town” approaches the level of Zen offered here; in fact, it would be easy to think you were in a rose-encrusted cottage in Sconset rather than smack dab in the middle of the cobblestoned craziness of New England’s most photogenic whaling village. In other words, the Greydon is quintessential Nantucket without the clichés, offering a welcome respite from the whirlwind that surrounds it. greydonhouse.com.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
➢ Beauport Hotel Gloucester, Gloucester, MA, beauporthotel.com.
➢ The Lincoln Hotel, Biddeford, ME, lincolnhotelmaine.com.

Photo by Emily Frye Photography

Photo by Emily Frye Photography

Vineyard

Winner: Sakonnet Vineyard
Little Compton, Rhode Island

Just when you thought Sakonnet had reached its peak, New England’s oldest vineyard has uncorked a fresh chapter, welcoming the masterminds behind the once acclaimed (and now defunct) Anchor & Hope brand and proving that even New England’s most venerable vineyard can still surprise. With new canned offerings joining the beloved classics, Sakonnet demonstrates that under Alex and Ani founder Carolyn Rafaelian’s stewardship, a mix of new and old makes for a perfectly balanced blend. Among the standout varietals to swish and savor in the tasting room are a crisp, peachy chardonnay and Belcourt White, an estate-grown blend named after the historical Newport home Rafaelian also owns. Don’t miss the on-site culinary program, which showcases locally sourced cheeses, and executive chef Matt Weston’s signature creations, including a perfectly balanced fig-and-prosciutto flatbread. And with creative events like yoga classes overlooking the verdant 169-acre vineyard followed by a glass of wine of your choice, Sakonnet is truly a day-tripper’s paradise. sakonnetwine.com.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
➢ Newport Vineyards, Middletown, RI, newportvineyards.com.
➢ Westport Rivers, Westport, MA, westportrivers.com.

Photo by Thomas Dambo

Public Art

Winner: “Troll Trail” at Ninigret Park
Charlestown, Rhode Island

Even with the obvious ground markings (a.k.a. extra-large painted feet), finding these two towering troll sculptures by Danish artist Thomas Dambo is an adventure. One is hidden in the woods and requires a brief walk, ducking under a few branches along the way. The other stands closer to the park’s facilities. Both are certainly worth seeking out: Two of a few dozen in the United States (and 140 in the world), the 16-foot trolls were built by a team of 25 people—along with 2,000 volunteers—from materials such as scrap wood, stones, straw, and shells, making for an impressive display (the artist plans to add a few more over time). If you’re heading down to South County to see these stunners in person, it’s worth making a day of it—lunch at the nearby upscale seafood spot Matunuck Oyster Bar is a must, as is a visit to the quirky Fantastic Umbrella Factory, a hippy-dippy indoor-outdoor shopping experience complete with free-roaming chickens, just around the corner from the trippy trolls themselves. thomasdambo.com.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
➢ Franconia Artwalk, Franconia, NH, artwalkfranconianh.org.
➢ “Plastic Rooster,” New Bedford, MA, datma.org.

Photo by Kaylee Wright

Arts Festival

Winner: Mystic Outdoor Art Festival
Mystic, Connecticut

Forget gallery hunting for your next “OMG, where did you find that?” piece of art: One visit to this mega-festival—the oldest juried art show in the Northeast—will yield exactly what you’re seeking. The two-day August event brings some 270 artists from around the country to downtown Mystic, where a mile-long stretch of tents along the scenic Mystic River showcases oil and watercolor paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, and textiles. Though the festival brings out tens of thousands of people eager to shop till they drop for one-of-a-kind pieces, it’s not just about business: It’s about celebrating art in all of its forms, including with a recently added performing arts stage at Mystic River Park, and a “children’s art park” for little ones to create themselves. It’s also about recognizing the artists, with an annual awards program honoring the crème de la crème. This year’s winners included the makers of nautical pine sculptures, watercolor songbirds, and so much more. mysticchamber.org.

Honorable Mentions
➢Keene ArtWalk Keene, NH, monadnockartsalive.org.
➢Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, Stowe, VT, stoweartsfest.com.

Photo by Douglas Mason/Getty Images

Music Festival

Winner: Newport Jazz Festival
Newport, Rhode Island

For 70 years, the granddaddy of all New England music festivals has been transforming Rhode Island’s ritziest resort town from an exclusive redoubt of pre-income-tax-millionaires into a finger-snapping, goatee-wearing haven thanks to a lineup that’s included all the greats, from Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong to Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. Although tickets for the three-day extravaganza at Fort Adams State Park aren’t cheap, the panoramic views of Newport Harbor are worth the price of admission alone. We particularly appreciate the dedicated dancing and standing area in front of the stage, which offers an up-close-and-personal view of the top-notch talent (including Elvis Costello, André 3000, and Lianne La Havas this past summer). But the cherry on top is its parent organization, the Newport Festivals Foundation, which provides free music lessons and instruments as well as artists’ grants for the next generation of amazing performers. newportjazz.org.

Honorable Mentions
➢Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Manchester, VT, greenmountainbluegrass.com.
➢Newport Folk Festival Newport, RI, newportfolk.org.

Photo courtesy of Wequassett Resort & Golf Club

Golf Resort

Winner: Wequassett Resort & Golf Club
Harwich, Mass.

Nestled in Harwich, this exclusive retreat is where championship golf meets five-star indulgence. Its coveted access to the legendary Cape Cod National Golf Club invites both seasoned pros and starry-eyed couples to experience a par-72 masterpiece that promises to challenge and charm even the most jaded of golfers. Ranked by Golf Digest as one of the top courses in Massachusetts, it’s also one of the prettiest in New England, wending through challenging terrain with magnificent views of Pleasant Bay, adjacent to the Wequassett. When you’re not letting the big dog eat, you’ll find plenty to do at the 27-acre waterfront resort, which boasts tennis courts, two pools, excellent fine- and casual-dining spots, and a private beach, not to mention regular ferry service to Outer Beach. And if you’re in the mood to splurge a little more, check out the falconry or fly-fishing lessons and then enjoy a Cape Cod–sourced dinner on the hydrangea-studded bayfront lawn—all of which pretty much guarantees you’ll never be bored, on or off the course. wequassett.com.

Honorable Mentions
➢Foxwoods Resort & Casino (Lake of Isles), North Stonington, CT, foxwoods.com; lakesofisles.com.
➢Samoset Resort, Rockport, ME, opalcollection.com.

Photo by Eric Storm via @visitmaine

Destination Instagram Account

Winner: @visitmaine

Bobbing lobster boats, crackling wood stoves, fistfuls of blueberries—a list of all the Pine Tree State’s photogenic charms would almost be too long to tally, but the Maine Office of Tourism is doing an excellent job at keeping a log of them. Its Instagram handle, @visitmaine, has content curation down to a salt-aired science: Not only does the account promise to vividly transport you to the rocky shores of the Midcoast and the soft sands of Kennebunkport—even if you find yourself scrolling from a seat on the T or the comfort of your couch—the Instagram highlights also offer insider tips and local faves for each season, too. No wonder 184,000 people and counting follow along.

Honorable Mentions
➢@kennebunkportmaine
➢@visitma

Photo courtesy of Twin Farms

Photo courtesy of Twin Farms

Luxury Resort

Winner: Twin Farms
Barnard, Vermont

Prepare to be pampered like never before at this all-inclusive oasis set amid 300 acres of meadows and mountains in Vermont. Craving a five-star picnic in the forest immediately following a vigorous hike? They’ll deliver it and clean it up. Fancy a spa treatment in your private cottage? Just tell them the time, and they’re there. How about an archery lesson? You got it. It’s not just the A-plus service that makes this place special, though: While a 1795 farmhouse serves as the illustrious heart of the property, modern comforts abound in the architect-designed cottages and suites (think: in-suite libraries, deep soaking tubs, fieldstone fireplaces, antique furniture, and patios with in-ground hot tubs), plus eight brand-new treehouses to stay in. And the all-inclusive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus (including wine and spirits!) mean you never have to leave the resort—though with so much to do on-site, why would you want to? twinfarms.com.

Honorable Mentions
➢Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham, MA, chathambarsinn.com.
➢Ocean House, Watch Hill, RI, oceanhouseri.com.

Photo by Cavan Images

Hiking Trail

Winner: Franconia Ridge Loop
Lincoln, New Hampshire

Forget pretty—the Franconia Ridge Loop is raw, jaw-dropping beauty that will leave you breathless and humbled. Easily New England’s most iconic (and scenic) trek, the journey ends at what feels like the top of the world, putting the best of the White Mountains on display as you traverse two of the range’s 4,000-footers: Mount Lafayette and Mount Lincoln. Along the way, stroll above the tree line, with seemingly never-ending peaks spread out before you, and you’ll feel as though you can reach out and touch the clouds. Other highlights to log in your trail notes: waterfalls, majestic stretches of forest, and an Appalachian Mountain Club hut for mid-hike camping that also sells snacks and drinks from May through October. You might need the extra fuel: This workout comes with some tough terrain, including rocky scrambles, steep climbs, and whipping winds. Stretch that over the course of 9 miles—or eight-plus hours—and you’ve got the trappings of a seriously heart-pumping climb. The journey may be tough, but the destination is worth every step.

Honorable Mentions
➢Cadillac North Ridge Trail, Bar Harbor, ME, nps.gov.
➢Long Trail, Vermont.

Photo courtesy of Bob M. Montgomery Images/Hill Farmstead Brewery

Photo courtesy of Bob M. Montgomery Images/Hill Farmstead Brewery

Brewery

Winner: Hill Farmstead Brewery
Greensboro Bend, Vermont

Hill Farmstead had to be the one. After all, it brews some of the most sought-after beers, not just in New England or the country but in the entire world (at least according to fastidious RateBeer forums). Since 2010, beer aficionados the globe over have been making the pilgrimage up to Greensboro Bend, in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, specifically to visit this special place, nestled on a leafy green plot that’s been in founder Shaun Hill’s family for years. Though the brewery is credited with helping popularize New England IPAs, a substyle with lower bitterness, it makes a point to brew beers across a range of styles, from wheat ales to saisons. Its tart farmhouse ales are also particularly adored. In 2024, Hill Farmstead brought back its beloved Festival of Farmhouse Ales, a rare opportunity to sample special vintages and unique variants of the brewery’s acclaimed Farmstead ales. And while the brewery is a true mecca for hop heads and malt mavens alike, its commitment extends far beyond just creating exceptional beers. It’s embraced a dual mission: minimizing its environmental footprint through sustainable brewing practices while simultaneously fostering meaningful connections among visitors and industry partners to create positive social change. We’ll drink to that. hillfarmstead.com.

Honorable Mentions
➢The Alchemist, Stowe, VT, alchemistbeer.com.
➢Tree House Brewing Company, Charlton and other Massachusetts locations, treehousebrew.com.

Photo courtesy of Little Gem Resorts

Family-Friendly Resort

Winner: Winnetu Oceanside Resort
Edgartown, Mass.

Say adieu to the family-vacation tug of war. This Martha’s Vineyard gem doesn’t just offer a sun-soaked beach and sparkling pools—it’s a treasure trove of activities that’ll have everyone from tots to teens to parents buzzing. There’s a pirate-ship-themed playground for the littlest ones, afternoon face-painting and antique-truck rides, and outdoor games galore. Our favorite things, though, are the small kid-friendly touches found throughout the property, including the turtle pond next to the adorable mini lighthouse and the gratis afternoon cookies and lemonade and evening s’mores. As for the adults, plush, spacious one- to three-bedroom suites and cottages make it easy to unwind in style. And for those days when the grownups want a little time just to themselves, Winnetu’s complimentary children’s day program includes crafts, water play, and even field trips to nearby attractions. winnetu.com.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
➢ Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport, ME, hiddenpondmaine.com.
➢ Jay Peak, Jay, VT, jaypeakresort.com.

Photo via Stowe Mountain Resort

Ski Mountain

Winner: Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe, Vermont

Buckle up those boots for the ultimate winter rush at this northern Vermont getaway, where ski dreams come alive in a flurry of epic proportions on Spruce Peak and from atop the state’s highest point, Mount Mansfield. Advanced athletes relish the steep, ungroomed terrain here, though there’s a variety of beginner and intermediate groomed trails to cruise down as part of the property’s 116 ski trails and 12 lifts. A new six-person Sunrise Lift replaced the Mountain Triple in 2022, allowing skiers to reach the top of the mountain faster (and reducing wait times) when trekking over from the resort’s Mansfield base lodge. What seals the deal at Stowe, though, is the stunning Lodge at Spruce Peak, a Four Diamond resort with a variety of luxe accommodations. There are also four restaurants (open-fire raclette, anyone?), plus gear shops, ice skating, snowshoeing, an indoor rock-climbing facility, a spa, and a performing arts center to boot. And even if you’re not a skier or snowboarder, you can still ride the iconic red gondolas—and warm up with some sweet chocolate-drizzled waffles after. stowe.com.

Honorable Mentions
➢Loon Mountain Resort, Lincoln, NH, loonmtn.com.
➢Sunday River, Newry, ME, sundayriver.com.

First published in the print edition of the October 2024 issue with the headline, “The New England Travel Awards.”