Essential New England

Boston rises along the shores of the northern Atlantic, at the mouth of the Charles River, and stands as one of the oldest and most learned cities in the United States, the cradle of the American Revolution and the intellectual capital of New England. Exploring the centre means following the Freedom Trail, the red-brick route linking sixteen historic sites: it begins at Boston Common, America's oldest public park, and leads to the gold-domed Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church and the Granary Burying Ground, resting place of the founding fathers. The trail continues to the Old State House and the site of the Boston Massacre, before plunging into the North End, the city's Little Italy, with its trattorias, pastry shops and the Old North Church tied to Paul Revere's ride. Crossing the river leads to Charlestown and the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. Boston's charm lives on in its residential quarters too: Beacon Hill, with red-brick townhouses, gas lamps and the cobbles of Acorn Street, and Back Bay, with its elegant avenues, the shopping of Newbury Street and Trinity Church facing Copley Square. Across the Charles, Cambridge is home to two of the world's most famous universities, Harvard and MIT, whose historic campuses make for an easy day visit. The city offers the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, while the waterfront Harborwalk leads to the New England Aquarium and the boats setting out for whale watching. The local cuisine celebrates the bounty of the ocean: steaming clam chowder, Maine lobster and fresh oysters in the eateries of Quincy Market. Blending colonial history, prestigious academia and a maritime spirit, Boston pairs European elegance with the pioneering soul of America.

Salem is a historic coastal town in Massachusetts, sadly famed worldwide for the witch trials of 1692, an event that still shapes its identity today through museums, mystery tours and Halloween festivities. Beyond the dark legend, the city boasts a rich past of maritime trade, attested by the Peabody Essex Museum, one of the oldest in America, and the Maritime National Historic Site. Elegant captains' mansions enrich the historic centre. Between witchcraft, seafaring heritage and a gothic atmosphere, Salem is a fascinating, unique destination.

An elegant coastal town in Rhode Island, Newport is famous for its opulent Gilded Age mansions, summer residences built by America's great families in the late nineteenth century. Along the celebrated Cliff Walk, a scenic path perched above the ocean, rise sumptuous villas such as The Breakers, the Vanderbilt mansion inspired by Italian Renaissance palaces, and Marble House. The historic center preserves cobbled streets, colonial houses and one of the world's most renowned sailing harbors, the undisputed capital of American yachting and for years home of the America's Cup. Bellevue Avenue lines up refined shops and cafés, while Easton's Beach invites summer bathing. Between regattas, the freshest seafood and classic New England atmospheres, Newport is a destination where history, sea and refinement come together.

Route 6A, which runs along the northern shore of Cape Cod, winds through some of the oldest villages in America, including Bourne, Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Brewster, and Orleans. Many of the houses and churches along this tree-lined road are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are also several nearby beaches, including Sandy Neck and Sandwich Town Beach. During the summer, the road can be very busy, but it is much quieter than the bustling Route 28, which runs along the southern side of the Cape. If you are interested in discovering what Cape Cod was like before tourists discovered it, and want to visit some of the most picturesque shops in New England, Route 6A is the right road for you. Cape Cod reaches into the Atlantic like a great sandy arm, in southeastern Massachusetts, and is one of the most beloved seaside destinations in New England. The peninsula alternates golden beaches, dunes, historic lighthouses and picturesque maritime villages rich in tradition. Among whale-watching cruises, seafood restaurants and coastal landscapes, it offers a summer of timeless charm. Cape Cod is the iconic seashore of Massachusetts. Hyannis is the lively heart of Cape Cod, the sandy Massachusetts peninsula beloved by generations of American holidaymakers. The main village of Barnstable and the area's principal harbour, it is forever linked to the Kennedy family, who spent their summers here: the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum and the harbourside memorial tell the story. Main Street is lined with galleries, ice-cream parlours, and seafood restaurants serving lobster and clam chowder, while Kalmus and Craigville beaches invite days of sun and sailing. From the harbour, ferries set out for the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, the crown jewels of a New England summer. Hyannis is the gateway to a world of lighthouses, dunes, and villages clad in weathered grey shingle.

Provincetown occupies the very tip of Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, a lively seafaring village famed for its bohemian, artistic and deeply inclusive atmosphere. Here the Pilgrim Fathers of the Mayflower landed in 1620, an event recalled by the imposing Pilgrim Monument. Its wild beaches of the Cape Cod National Seashore, the art galleries of Commercial Street and offshore whale watching make it a unique destination. Between sand dunes, lighthouses, creativity and freedom, Provincetown is the most original and festive gem of the New England coast.