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Add these New England festivals, hidden gems to your spring travel
Plan your trip now to the Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival and Maine Lobster Festival, along with Boston's best secret spots.
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Welcome back to Scenic Six.
You’ve probably heard of Boston’s Freedom Trail and Fenway Park, but have you heard of the Revolutionary Women Tour or the Museum of Modern Renaissance? A local author who spent a year digging up Boston’s “secrets” shared her favorite spots with me.
Also this week, get details about the Maine Lobster Festival, the Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival, and more.
Explore some of Boston’s ‘hidden secrets’ this season
Boston, a city full of history, sports, and culture, is also full of hidden secrets, according to local author Natalia Ivanytsky. Her new book, “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Boston,” is due out June 17 and she shared 10 of her favorite secret spots with me ahead of its release. Thanks, Natalia, for the tip about the restaurant Taberna de Haro. Tapas and an extensive, all-Spanish wine list? I’m in.
Save money on food, transportation, hotels, and more this month
Need travel inspiration? Saving money is a good motivator. Whether you are looking to hop a train to Maine or a high-speed ferry to Nova Scotia, I’ve rounded up a bunch of New England travel deals this month. The list includes tips for cheap eats, free museum admission, and discounted hotel stays.
A Boston hotel is among the 10 best in the U.S.
For those seeking a Boston stay in the middle of the action, The Godfrey Hotel Boston, in Downtown Crossing, was just named among the top 10 hotels in America by Tripadvisor users. One Tripadvisor user wrote: “The Godfrey hotel is located in the best location. It’s in the center of everything. Very lively but safe.”
Travel Tips
- Air balloons are a marvelous sight, and you can spy quite a few (and even ride in one) during the 45th Annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival happening June 20-22.
- If lobster, wine, and live music along the coast of Maine sounds good to you, it’s time to book your accommodations for this year’s Maine Lobster Festival, taking place July 30 to Aug. 3.
- Be among the first of your friends to try a new city spot by checking out these 5 new restaurants in Boston serving everything from Korean comfort food to tacos to pub food with plant-based options.
Deals and Steals
- At Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Boston, which offers food, beer, and films all in one place, you can snag gift cards worth $75 or more for 20% off through May 9 courtesy of a Mother’s Day promotion.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is offering a $50 credit for Bluebikes and bikers can redeem the credit by entering the code BLUECROSSMABIKE in the “rewards” section of the Bluebikes app. Credits are available while supplies last and must be used by Dec. 31, 2025.
- Get 15% off when you book a three-night stay at the seaside Watch Hill Inn in Watch Hill, R.I., valid for stays between May 2 and June 14 and also Sept. 14 and Oct. 31. Guests will also have access to the amenities at the nearby Ocean House.
I’ll leave you with this photo of Maine’s Ogunquit Beach taken by Boston.com’s Kelly Chan (who also produces this newsletter!).
Where have you traveled lately? Please share your photos by sending them to [email protected] and they may be featured in an upcoming Scenic Six newsletter.
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