Scenic Six

Where to travel in New England in 2026

Amtrak travel deals, dog sledding spots, winter festivals, and more.

Siblings 5-year-old Adelaide Trafton, left, and 3-year-old Owen Trafton play with Gro, one of five trolls recently created by artist Thomas Damboin the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.

By Kristi Palma

3 minutes to read

You’re reading Scenic Six, Boston.com’s guide to New England travel. Sign up to get hidden gems, travel tips, and must-visit spots in your inbox every week.

Welcome back to Scenic Six.

Newburyport is lovely, no matter the season. This past weekend I had a delicious dinner downtown at Brine in the historic, coastal city before enjoying live music at the quaint and cozy Firehouse Center for the Arts. The Firehouse, built in 1823 as a market house and lyceum, has hosted Ralph Waldo Emerson and Daniel Webster.

There are so many historic gems like that across New England, which is why I asked the travel and tourism offices across the region for the best places to go in New England in 2026. This week, I’m also sharing information about travel deals in Maine, Lowell Winterfest, all-you-can-eat crab legs, and more.

26 places to go in New England in 2026

New England is full of historic cities and towns bursting with restaurants, museums, trails, and walkable downtowns. Check out 26 places to go in New England in 2026 and start daydreaming about your regional excursions. 

Attention, families: Here are 4 solid ideas for family trips

Four New England hotels and resorts just ranked among the best in the U.S. for family vacations. Find out why it’s worth booking your next family getaway at Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vermont; Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa in Bretton Woods, N.H.; and Weekapaug Inn in Westerly, R.I. 

Save money in Maine this winter

Maine is full of dining and lodging deals this winter for those with flexibility. Travelers can take advantage of the state’s Winter Weekdays program, running through April 30, which offers midweek discounts at hotels, restaurants, and breweries. For those traveling in January, discounted Amtrak train fare to Maine adds to the savings. 

Travel Tips

  • The 6th Annual RI VegFest, one of the largest plant-based events on the East Coast, is happening at WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, R.I. Feb. 21-22. There will be more than 90 vegan and vegan-friendly food and beverage producers and last year’s event attracted visitors from 29 states and 11 countries.
  • Embrace winter at Lowell Winterfest, taking place Feb. 28. The festival will bring live music, food trucks, fire and ice sculptures, an arts market, soup competition, chocolate festival, scavenger hunt, and more to Lowell. 
  • Why not try dog sledding this winter? Spots in New England offering the activity include Hilltown Sleddogs in West Chesterfield, Mass.; Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel in Jefferson, N.H.; Ultimate Dogsledding Experience in Canton, Maine; and Eden Dog Sledding in Eden Mills, Vt.

Deals & Steals

  • Travelers can ring in the new year with $26 roundtrip fares (and $13 one-way fares) on Amtrak’s Downeaster, which runs between Boston’s North Station and Brunswick, Maine. The deal is good through Jan. 28 for trips taken by Jan. 31.
  • Get all-you-can-eat crab legs at Summer Shack in Cambridge on Thursdays beginning Jan. 15. Patrons get crab and corn fritters for the table, followed by a first plate of crab legs and corn on the cob and endless refills of crab legs after that. The price is $69.95 per person.
  • Pat’s Peak in Henniker, N.H. has brought back its all-inclusive Pay-One-Price (POP) program this winter. For between $79 and $99 (depending on arrival time) guests get skiing and snowboarding, snowtubing, equipment rentals, and lesson tips on Saturday nights between 4 and 10 p.m. The program runs through March 28. 

For free city fun, check out 10 free things to do in Boston in January.

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I’ll leave you with this photo I took inside the lobby of the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport. 

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 

Profile image for Kristi Palma

Kristi Palma

Travel writer

 

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.

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