Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit New England. New England is gorgeous, with so many cute towns and scenic landscapes.
While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to do in New England, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do when you visit New England.
Don’t Be Put Off by The New England Shield
If you’re not from New England, you’ll notice a distinct “shield” from the locals. The locals are actually super friendly and helpful, but they do have a bit of a shield you have to break through first. They are happy to recommend a restaurant or destination, but they probably won’t invite you to their home right away.
Don’t Go Crazy Driving I-95
Driving through New England, especially the cities can be a nerve-wracking experience. I-95 is the interstate that runs up and down the East Coast. You might think that you can take the backroads and leave the interstate behind. While you will see more of the New England towns this way, you’ll still have a lot of traffic to deal with, especially on weekends. (There’s a reason they call Massachusetts drivers Mass-holes…don’t let them get to you!)
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About New England
Don’t Stay at Chain Hotels
Chain hotels can be good for some trips, but the best places to visit in New England are the small towns. These towns tend to have more charming inns and bed-and-breakfasts, and it would be a shame to miss out on that experience. Even the roadside motels are fun; a throwback to the 1950s. If you can find a seaside cottage, you’ll be glad you did.
Don’t Forget to Book Ahead
New England accommodations fill up early, especially during the leaf-peeping season in the fall. If you follow our advice and stay in the quaint inns or cottages, you’ll need to reserve them well in advance of your New England trips. July and August get pretty busy as well, especially for the weekends. Remember, there are some big cities in New England, so you have a lot of local residents heading out to the seaside for weekend getaways.
Don’t Expect Consistent Cell Service
Of course, you’ll have good service in the larger cities, but as you drive through New England, you will likely have spotty service along the way. Some of the sparsely populated areas like Vermont have very few residents. If you are relying on your cell phone for navigation, make sure you download some offline maps before you leave the city. Better yet, pick up a road atlas or a state map at the visitor’s center when you cross each state line.
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About the Family Road Trip
Don’t Drink Beer That’s Not From New England
There are so many awesome beers to sample in New England. Vermont and Connecticut have some of the best beers I’ve had in the United States. Vermont beer isn’t widely exported, so I make sure I take advantage of trying all of them when I visit Vermont. (Don’t expect to buy alcohol everywhere; many states have state-run liquor stores with limited hours, and many are closed on Sundays.)
Don’t Forget to Try the Local Specialties
Every area of New England has its own local specialty. Lobster rolls are probably the most ubiquitous New England food, as well as clam chowder, of course. Some of the best lobster rolls are found at the little unassuming roadside stands along the back roads of New England. Oysters, whoopie pies, Necco wafers, Boston cream pies, and Boston baked beans are other New England specialties. Flavored seltzer water is really popular, too. If you aren’t sure what the local specialty is, ask your server.
Also, don’t be too proud to wear a bib when you eat lobster!
Don’t Expect to See a Lot of Chain Restaurants
As you travel through New England, you’ll notice far fewer fast-food chains like McDonald’s and Wendy’s. There are way more mom-and-pop places, which is a great way to experience local cuisine.
Don’t Expect to Hear the Hard-Core New England Accent
One surprise for a lot of New England visitors is how much that legendary accent seems to be dying off. New England is a bit of a melting pot, so there are lots of accents and dialects, but the typical New England accent isn’t as widespread as you might think. However, you will hear some New England slang that you might not understand. For example, a milkshake is just milk with a flavor stirred in, not an ice cream drink.
Don’t Diss the Local Sports Teams
New England sports fans are pretty hardcore, especially in Boston and New York. The Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and the New York Yankees are the hometown teams and you’ll see memorabilia all over the place.
Don’t Think That New York is New England
Although New York is on the upper East Coast, it’s not really part of New England. New England is Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. That doesn’t mean you won’t see a ton of New Yorkers in New England. You’ll see a lot of New York license plates as New England is a great weekend getaway from New York.
Don’t Visit in Winter (Or Don’t Complain if You Do!)
If you decide to visit New England in winter, don’t complain about the weather! It’s cold and it snows. A lot. It’s a really fun experience to be in a Nor’easter with tons of snow, but don’t plan on going anywhere for a while.
New England trips are perfect for all kinds of travelers. Whether you visit New England with kids, as a solo traveler or as a couple, you’ll find so many great things to do in New England. Just remember what NOT to do on a visit to New England! Looking for more tips on travel in the USA? Check out these blog posts!