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2026 New England winter activities and festivals
Plus: Cozy getaways, new year travel deals, restaurants to try, and more.
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Welcome back to Scenic Six.
During a road trip to New York this past weekend, I was cruising social media from the passenger’s seat and noticed that folks planning their first visit to Boston this year are asking for recommendations for what to do and see. I’m hoping you lovely readers can help me compile a list that will help our fellow travelers out (and I’ll be sure to share the results).
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This week, I’m also helping you save money on the slopes and in the skies. Plus, read ahead for winter festivals in Maine, an iconic chairlift in Vermont, and a Rhode Island destination named one of the best American cities for a winter weekend getaway.
Share your Boston travel tips
Many travelers will experience Boston for the first time this year so I’m thinking a list of what to see and do would be helpful and I’d love some help compiling it. What is the one tip you have for Boston-bound travelers in 2026? Mine is: Don’t leave Boston without visiting the North End, famous for its feasts, food, and desserts.
Why Rhode Island is the winter place to be
Newport was recently named among the most perfect U.S. cities for a cozy winter weekend getaway. Here’s an idea: plan your trip around the 38th Annual Newport Winter Festival, taking place Feb. 13-22. The festival will include a chili cookoff, seafood fest, hot drink contest, live music, magic, comedy, and more.
Take an iconic ride up a Vermont mountain
Skiers have been making the solo trip up General Stark Mountain at Mad River Glen in Fayston, Vermont since 1948, making it the oldest operating single chairlift in the U.S. I chatted with Ry Young, a mountain employee and third-generation skier there, about the lift’s history, why skiers should experience it, and why snowboarders are banned at the mountain.
Travel Tips
- Dining out in Boston this month? Here are five restaurants to check out in January.
- Looking for a memorable adventure this winter? Enjoy panoramic vistas on the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway.
- Maine knows winter. So it’s no surprise that there are so many winter festivals taking place across the state this season, offering food trucks, ice carvings, ice skating, bonfires, parades, music, and more.
Deals and Steals
- Eyeing a winter trip? JetBlue is taking 26% off one-way airfare booked by Jan. 7 for trips taken between Jan. 13 and Feb. 28.
- Looking for a beachfront getaway on the Cape? Travelers can get 20.26% off 2026 stays at Red Jacket Resorts when booked by Jan. 7.
- You can save money on the slopes by skiing for free at these New Hampshire spots this season. And check out this list of New England resorts where a lift ticket costs less than $100.
I’ll leave you with this photo of a wintery scene in Rockport, taken by reader Timmy F.
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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Whether you’re traveling this week or planning your next escape, enjoy the journey.
— Kristi
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