The Corridors: along the New England coast

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. Gloucester faces the ocean along the Massachusetts coast, one of America's oldest fishing ports, immortalised by the famous "Man at the Wheel" helmsman monument. Its granite cliffs, lighthouses and the luminous art of the Cape Ann school have inspired generations of painters. The freshest seafood and whale-watching boat trips enliven the harbour. Gloucester is the ideal destination for those seeking maritime traditions, coastal landscapes and the authentic atmosphere of New England. Rockport occupies the tip of Cape Ann in Massachusetts, a picturesque fishing village famous for its little harbour and for the red fishing shack Motif Number 1, one of the most painted subjects in America. Art galleries, shops and seafood restaurants enliven its cobbled lanes overlooking the Atlantic. The cliffs and beaches invite seaside walks. Rockport is a charming postcard of coastal New England. Kennebunkport is a refined coastal village in southern Maine, facing the Atlantic where the Kennebunk River meets the ocean. The heart of town is Dock Square, alive with galleries, boutiques and restaurants serving freshly caught lobster, the gastronomic symbol of New England. Shaded streets reveal elegant Victorian-style mansions and old sea captains' homes, while the scenic Ocean Avenue leads to Walker's Point, the summer residence of the Bush family. Sandy beaches, lighthouses such as the one on Goat Island and whale-watching cruises round out the experience. With its genteel, seafaring atmosphere, Kennebunkport embodies the classic charm of the Maine coast.

Portland rises on a peninsula reaching into Casco Bay, on the Atlantic coast of Maine, of which it is the largest city and the vital heart. Its most authentic face reveals itself in the Old Port, the harbour district where nineteenth-century red-brick wharves and cobbled streets now house art galleries, craft breweries, restaurants and shops. Along the docks, fishing boats unload the lobster that made Maine famous: the lobster roll — chunks of lobster in a buttered bun — is an essential culinary ritual here, best savoured while wandering through the scent of sea salt and the bustle of gulls. Ferries depart from the harbour for the Calendar Islands, the archipelago scattered across the bay that invites day trips among lighthouses, beaches and fishing villages. South of the city, the headland of Cape Elizabeth guards the Portland Head Light, a lighthouse built in 1791 and among the most photographed in the United States, a white sentinel overlooking the ocean. Between art, sea and flavours, Portland welcomes travellers with the rugged, genuine charm of New England. Rockland faces Penobscot Bay along Maine's rugged coast, a lively fishing town turned capital of lobster and art. Its historic harbour hosts vintage schooners, while the renowned Farnsworth Art Museum holds masterpieces of American painting. Iconic lighthouses dot the surrounding rocky coast. An authentic destination where New England's maritime tradition and culture merge.

Camden is one of the most enchanting coastal towns in Maine, nicknamed 'where the mountains meet the sea' because the hills of Camden Hills State Park descend directly to the Atlantic Ocean. Its picturesque harbour is crowded with historic tall ships, the windjammers, which offer cruises along the coast. The town preserves elegant mansions, shops and restaurants, while from the summit of Mount Battie one enjoys a spectacular view over Penobscot Bay. Between sails, lighthouses, forests and seafaring villages, Camden embodies the timeless charm of the Maine coast. Bar Harbor rises along the rugged coast of Maine, on Mount Desert Island, welcoming travellers as the gateway to Acadia National Park, one of New England’s most spectacular corners. The town retains the intimate feel of an old fishing and shipbuilding village, with wooden houses, art galleries and a lively waterfront. From here you can reach the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard, where for part of the year you can witness the first sunrise in the United States. Coastal trails, glacial lakes and granite cliffs invite walking and cycling, while cruises depart from the harbour for whale and seal watching. The table is ruled by Maine lobster, served still warm in the lobster shacks overlooking the ocean.

Saint Andrews by-the-Sea is an elegant and charming coastal town in New Brunswick, facing Passamaquoddy Bay along the Bay of Fundy, considered one of the most refined resorts in Atlantic Canada. Its charming historic centre preserves elegant period homes, boutiques and restaurants, dominated by the sumptuous Algonquin Resort, a grand castle-style hotel set amid greenery. The powerful Fundy tides offer ever-changing scenes and the chance to spot whales offshore. The town also hosts a splendid botanical garden, Kingsbrae Garden, and an aquarium that tells the marine life of the bay. Between elegance, spectacular tides and sea, Saint Andrews embodies the timeless charm of the Fundy coast.

Bangor rises on the banks of the Penobscot River, in the heart of Maine, and was once a thriving lumber capital, a legacy that survives in the elegant Victorian mansions of its neighbourhoods. A 31-foot statue of Paul Bunyan, the legendary lumberjack, stands watch over that past. Literature lovers seek out Stephen King's house, recognisable by its famous wrought-iron fence, while craft breweries enliven the local scene. About an hour's drive away lies Acadia National Park, with its rocky coastline and oceanside trails.

Portsmouth stretches along the Piscataqua estuary, an elegant New Hampshire port town where colonial heritage meets a lively dining scene. The open-air museum of Strawbery Banke preserves 17th- and 18th-century wooden and brick houses, witnesses to the colonial life of this early settlement. Along Market and Ceres Streets restaurants and cafés enliven the waterfront, while the gardens of Prescott Park host outdoor summer festivals. Boat trips sail from the harbour to the Isles of Shoals, and the scent of lobster from neighbouring Maine is everywhere. A refined destination where history, sea and fine food come together.

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.

Plymouth is a historic coastal town in Massachusetts, famed as the place where the Pilgrim Fathers of the Mayflower founded one of the first permanent English colonies in North America in 1620. Plymouth Rock, the stone marking the landing, and the replica ship Mayflower II draw visitors from across the country, while the living museum of Plimoth Patuxet recreates the life of the colonists and the Wampanoag. Between the nation's founding heritage, a picturesque waterfront and a New England atmosphere, Plymouth is a cradle of American history.