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What’s your go-to New England town for a winter getaway?
Winter is the season of cozy weekend trips. Tell us your favorite New England town to visit in the winter.
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I took my daughter to see “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” in Boston over the weekend. We parked in the Boston Common garage and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the historic park during our walk to the show at Emerson Colonial Theatre. The 1900 theater — the oldest continually-operated theater in Boston — is so beautiful inside. A bite in the Theater District rounded out our day, reminding me of what a gem that whole area of the city is.
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This week, I’m writing about winter weekend getaways across New England, opening day at local ski resorts (including a surprising twist in New Hampshire), and holiday events worth marking your calendar for.
Share your favorite New England winter getaway
There’s nothing quite like a cozy weekend getaway during the winter months. Help a fellow traveler out and share your favorite New England spot for a winter escape. One of my favorites is North Conway in New Hampshire’s White Mountains for its skiing, restaurants, shops, and beauty.
Boston sports for the win
In maybe the most unsurprising ranking ever, Boston was named the No. 1 sports city in America by WalletHub. We were just talking about taking our kids to another Celtics game; it’s such a great family activity. One year, my kids were thrilled to meet Lucky the Leprechaun. Another, my daughter made a handmade Jaylen Brown sign for the game and my son made the jumbotron.
Welcome to the ski world’s opening wars
It’s the time of year when ski resorts are abuzz with who will open first. Vermont’s Killington and Maine’s Sunday River both tied for first in the region, opening Nov. 12. As for first in New Hampshire, Bretton Woods announced their opening right before Black Mountain surprised everyone and opened 90 minutes earlier on Nov. 15. Hey, it all amounts to a win for skiers, who now have more early-season options.
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For help planning your ski outings this winter, check out this New England ski guide.
Travel tips
Stroll through Gilded Age mansions decked out for the holidays in Rhode Island during Holidays at Newport Mansions, running Nov. 22 through Jan. 1. One of the highlights: a 15-foot-tall poinsettia tree in the Great Hall of The Breakers (I saw this last year and it’s well worth a visit).
As part of Boston’s inaugural Boston Frostival, city visitors can check out holiday-themed drone shows over Boston Common on Saturday nights between Nov. 29 and Dec. 20, an immersive lodge in Copley Square Feb. 6-28, and a Ferris wheel on the Rose Kennedy Greenway Feb. 2-28.
Vermont knows holiday cheer and visitors will get loads of it at Wassail Weekend in Woodstock, Vermont, happening Dec. 12-14. Guests can enjoy horse and carriage rides, an artisan market, a holiday ornament workshop, live music, caroling, a parade, and more.
Deals and steals
For those traveling in Maine, Hotel Ursa on the University of Maine campus in Orono will take 35% off the best available rate when travelers book Nov. 10 through Dec. 3 for stays between now and July 31, 2026. Those interested should use the promo code THANKS2025. Blackout dates apply.
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Here’s a few early Black Friday travel package deals coming from JetBlue: get $300 off flight and hotel packages to Nassau, Grenada, and select Grand Palladium and TRS Hotels using the code PRESALE300. Plus, $450 off flight and hotel packages to Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas using the code PRESALE450. Those interested must book Nov. 17-25 for travel Jan. 1-Oct. 15, 2026. What’s more, deposits are $99 instead of $200.
Eyeing a Cape Cod getaway? Get 30% off at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster during the property’s Black Friday special, taking place Nov. 24 to Dec. 7, good for stays through 2026. Travelers interested should use the code CYBER26. Blackout dates apply.
Discover more New England travel deals in November, as well as free things to do in Boston.
I’ll leave you with this photo of Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston that I took over the weekend.
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.
Whether you’re traveling this week or planning your next escape, enjoy the journey.
— Kristi
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