Top Things to do in New England
Top Hotels in New England
- 1. The Verb Hotel
- 2. The Godfrey Hotel Boston
- 3. Seaport Hotel
- 4. Hampton Inn Boston Seaport District
- 5. Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston Seaport District
- 6. The Glen House
- 7. Hyatt Place Boston/Seaport District
- 8. The Revolution Hotel
- 9. Southbridge Hotel And Conference Center
- 10. Gorges Grant Hotel
Top 10 Specialty Museums in New England, New England
Discover the best top things to do in New England, New England including Shelburne Museum, Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Cole Land Transportation Museum, Amherst College Museum of Natural History, Stamford Museum & Nature Center, John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library, Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum, Maine Maritime Museum, The Breakers.
Restaurants in New England
1. Shelburne Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,194 reviews
Museum in Vermont that displays approximately 80,000 items of folk art and similar works.
Reviewed By 750johna750 - New Jersey, United States
We passed this place many times on our way to Burlington. We finally took the time to check it out. This place is beyond amazing. Even if you are typically not into museums, this place has something for everyone. It's like 50 museums in one place. It's like exploring the back lot of a movie studio, only everything here is real. You will see art, sculptures, barns, trains, dolls, toys, hats, gardens, a covered bridge, church, school, ferry, lighthouse, merry-go-round, circus memorabilia and so much more. I could have spent all day in the doll exhibit. So creepy and awesome. Plan to spend hours here, if not a whole day. As a photographer, I was in absolute heaven.
2. Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 240 reviews
Also called the Beauport Sleeper-McCann House, this fantasy mansion of more than 40 rooms is perched on the rocks overlooking Gloucester Harbor.
Reviewed By george4880 - Bradford, United States
Very interesting house. Room after room kept the way Sleeper designed it. Lots of his collections and recycled floors and walls etc. With Covid only four people to a tour which was great. Unfortunately the gardens were neglected due to the museum not being allowed to open. Great view of the water.
3. New Bedford Whaling Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 819 reviews
The largest museum in America devoted to human interaction with whales in the world's oceans, the history of whaling and its impact, and the history of Southcoast Massachusetts, the Whaling Museum houses an extensive collection of art and artifacts relating to whaling during the age of sail, socioeconomic history of the region, whale ecology, marine mammal conservation, and ocean health. Visitors can marvel at massive whale skeletons, board the world's largest ship model - the Lagoda - see an exhibit about the world's longest painting, and explore hands-on learning activities in the Casa dos Botes Discovery Center. The Whaling Museum is a compelling destination that inspires all visitors to reflect on the complex issues that shaped the past, remain critical today, and inform a sustainable future.
Reviewed By 219tiffanyv - Boston, United States
I took my 3 & 9 year old for the day and there was so much to see and learn. I hadn't been here since I was a kid and was surprised at how many more exhibits and rooms there were. You could easily spend the day here. If you have a Sails library card, you can even get a discount. There's a discovery center where the kids can play and use their imagination with the different maritime activities. They also have an observation deck that overlooks the New Bedford waterfront with amazing views of the fishing boats. On the way out you can check out the gift shop. We purchased shark teeth and mini sea shells!
4. Cole Land Transportation Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 334 reviews
Museum dedicated to preserving and displaying Maine's land transportation equipment.
Reviewed By dblgs - Meriden, United States
Very wonderful staff that had great info Spent 2.5 hrs taking time to view items Great history Clean and great presentation
5. Amherst College Museum of Natural History
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By 661maryannh
This museum was originally a "time-filler" between activities while we were visiting our son at UMass for the weekend. Once we arrived at the museum, we were pleasantly surprised at the variety of topics covered. Although many of the exhibits were display molds, a good number were genuine artifacts discovered through archaeological digs and findings. the museum is located in a great area - centrally located to anything we needed. Added bonus that the exhibit was free; we'll be back!
6. Stamford Museum & Nature Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 295 reviews
Seasonal fun awaits you at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. The 118-acre property is home to Heckscher Farm, an 18-acre working farm; Overbrook Nature Center; the Bendel Mansion, with changing exhibitions and pieces from the Museum’s permanent collection; an otter pond; Nature’s Playground; the Stamford Observatory; Animal Embassy; and more than 80 acres of hiking trails. The Wheels in the Woods Trail provides a universally accessible nature trail. Come discover, learn, and enjoy!
Reviewed By kzsull01 - Windsor, United States
My husband and I visited the Stamford Museum and Nature Center in Stamford Connecticut on Monday, April 19th, 2021. We found out about this museum because it is part of the CT Art Trail Passport Booklet, making it a good value. We visited primarily to see the Special Exhibit ‘Global Garden: Resonant Beauty, A Solo Exhibition of Orchid Paintings by Patricia Laspino’, which was excellent, being very inspirational. We were very impressed with this exhibit and feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to see it, since it is only on view until April 25th. I give this museum an excellent rating because of this exhibit. However, after it is over, I am not certain what will be on view at the museum because there is a gap of time between when this exhibit ends and when the next exhibit begins on May 21st, and the museum does not appear to have a permanent exhibit always on view. I provide more details about this exhibit in the Special Exhibit section of this write-up. The museum is located inside the Bendel Mansion, which has large rooms with nice architecture inside, but no rooms were set-up with furnishings depicting how it looked as a mansion. The one issue we had with our visit was finding the museum from the farm parking lot. The directions say to park in the Heckscher Farm parking lot and not in the museum parking lot at this time. The museum is not close or even in view from the farm parking lot. We were provided with 2 maps as we entered the grounds, one in black and white the other a Trail Map. The museum is not very distinctively marked on the map that is in black and white, it just blended in with everything else. The Trail Map had it designated in red. Nevertheless, it took a while to find the museum from the Hechscher Farm parking lot. We were glad the weather was very nice because if it had been rainy or cold out, the walk from the parking lot to the museum wouldn’t have been very nice, in particular because it is hilly. So wear comfortable shoes. However, there was plenty of free parking in the Heckscher Parking Lot at the time of our visit. It just wasn’t convenient to the museum. Special Exhibit: ‘Global Garden: Resonant Beauty, A Solo Exhibition of Orchid Paintings by Patricia Laspino’: The paintings in this exhibit were both beautiful and impressive and together with the write-ups depicted a great mixture of art, culture, history, science, nature and addressed the impacts of Climate Change and Global Warming on various species of orchids as well as other types of flowers, including peonies. Each painting had a write-up with a title, flower facts, including specie of orchid or flower, bird (if applicable), native range (where each orchid grows) and artist notes. The artist notes were definitely quite interesting and educational and depicted specific features and characteristics about each orchid, including historic and scientific information, growth patterns, and the stories and experiences that the artist had with the flower. This exhibit is truly amazing!! I never knew that there were so many diverse species of orchids from all over the world. The paintings and associated write-ups within this exhibit nicely reflect the many years of research studies that the artist put into their creation, effectively addressing the flowers and paintings from the perspective of their beauty, diversity, preservation and stewardship. It is definitely apparent that the artist was influenced by several artists, including Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as her botanist background. This exhibit was very well done and worth seeing. The Heckscher Farm, Gardens, River Otter, Nature Center and Much More: It was a nice walk through the farm, both to and from the museum. There was a nice variety of animals, to see and take pictures of that were all well-kept and had plenty of room to move about. The animals included chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, horses, cows and much more. The grounds and surrounding landscape were also scenic and nicely maintained. We particularly enjoyed the River Otter, who didn’t come out until we opened the gate to where you could view him. Interesting information about River Otters, their environment, including their habitat and diet, was on display. The Overbrook Nature Center and Gift Shop had taxidermy artifacts representing animals from the area on display, with educational write-ups as well as snakes and a rock collection. Interesting information about the seasons, bird migrations and the Atlantic Flyway were also on display. The vegetable gardens were not in bloom at the time of our visit but did have garlic and leaves to strawberry plants sprouting up. These gardens, which are planted with over 50 varieties of fruits and vegetables, including dozens of heirloom varieties, would be nice to see later in the season. The farm, which has an interesting history, is definitely great for families with young children but could also be enjoyed by adults. Picnic tables were available on the grounds making it nice for a family picnic. There were a variety of different trails, which we did not have an opportunity to take based on the amount of time we had available to us at the time of our visit. One that we missed, which would have been interesting to see, was the Sculpture Trail that appears to be relatively close to the museum based on the map in black and white. Our visit took about an hour and 20 minutes, with an emphasis on viewing the Special Exhibit in the museum, but included the areas mentioned above going to and from the museum. It is great that this museum has been able to remain open with a wide range of hours during the pandemic and that we didn’t need timed tickets, giving a lot of flexibility in terms of the time of our arrival. The only issue we had with our visit was that we were not able to park close to the museum.
7. John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,920 reviews
Relive the Kennedy era in this dynamic combination museum and library, where your visit starts with a short film and then leaves you on your own to explore a series of fascinating exhibits, including the Kennedy-Nixon debate, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the space program, 1960s campaign paraphernalia and displays about Jacqueline and other Kennedy family members. The striking, I.M. Pei-designed building overlooks the water and the Boston skyline.
Reviewed By IllyCoffeeDrinkers - Flagstaff, United States
One of us and two friends visited the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library on a cloudy Saturday morning in October. The facility itself is beautiful. There were no lines when we arrived in the morning and the introductory film was well worth watching. While no person is perfect, it was amazing to be reminded of how intelligent, passionate, charming, glamorous and successful the President and First Lady were. It was also inspiring to be reminded of all President Kennedy accomplished, dreamed to accomplish and inspired others to accomplish. There are numerous exhibits and short films which cover various aspects of President Kennedy’s life and career including his campaigns, his significant speeches, the Peace Corps, the Space Program and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Among the displays are numerous artifacts, photos and documents (some real and some facsimiles) which exquisitely personalize and dramatize the lives and careers of the President, the First Lady and his brothers Bobby and Ted (photos of a few of the items are attached). It was also awe inspiring to take the time to reread some of the President’s speeches and marvel at how he adeptly sought to inspire all Americans to work together in support of causes greater than themselves (photos of a few excerpts are also attached). Bottom line, if you are looking to be inspired or are a history buff, we highly recommend you spend a few hours at this wonderful Museum and Library. On the way out, the café and gift shop are both worth a visit too. Enjoy. If you found this review helpful and/or our photos helpful or pleasing, we hope you will click the “helpful/thank you” button. Those of us who write detailed reviews appreciate the feedback and it encourages us to write additional reviews for everyone’s consideration. Thank you.
8. Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,469 reviews
This monument commemorates the Pilgrim's first landing in Provincetown (not Plymouth), where they conceived, wrote and committed to the Mayflower Compact - the foundational document for the democracy America enjoys today. The Monument is the tallest all-granite structure in the U.S. rising 353 feet above sea level, and at the top, visitors are provided the most spectacular view of Cape Cod.In addition to the MOnument, the Provincetown Museum presents the unique cultural heritage of this historic town with special exhibitions and permanent displays.The Monument and Museum has ample parking, is open daily from APril 1st through November 30, and NEW this year - a food concession call the "Shallop Cafe" where visitors can enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking Provincetown and the Bay.
Reviewed By sls8806 - Sugar Land, United States
Taking the route of the Pilgrims landing all starts here. The museum is well set up and sets the story with artifacts, and timeline and explanation of the first landing. Step outside and walk to the monument. If you are in better physical health to climb the steps to the very top, you will get a breathtaking 360 degree view and a sticker at the end of the adventure! The day we went there were gale force wind warnings and rain. It really brought home what those early settlers went through and how brave they truly were!
9. Maine Maritime Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 689 reviews
Maine Maritime Museum is located on a beautiful 20-acre campus on the banks of the Kennebec River in historic Bath, Maine, and open year round. May through October, visitors can enjoy one of our daily lighthouse cruises or saiI on the historic 1906 schooner Mary E. Our BIW Story tour provides an exclusive look at modern-day shipbuilding. Indoors, visitors enjoy air-conditioned galleries with exhibits and hands-on activities for all ages. Outdoors, visitors can join a guided tour of the historic Percy & Small Shipyard, learn about lobstering, enjoy lunch under the sculpture of the schooner Wyoming (the largest wooden sailing vessel built in North America), see a blacksmith at work in his shop, watch wooden boats being built in the Boatshop, or play on a pirate ship. There's so much to see, admission is good for tow days. See why USA Today named Maine Maritime Museum the best museum in Maine!
Reviewed By SJBA64 - Syracuse, United States
Informative staff who led us on a tour of the former ship making building during the early 1900's. The guide tours knew so much history and then we had a boat tour on the river around the Bath Iron Works which took us by 2 ships being built for the US Navy. It was a WOW event. History buffs and former military should put this on their bucket list.
10. The Breakers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,904 reviews
The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages" and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's social and financial preeminence in turn of the century America. Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt established the family fortune in steamships and later in the New York Central Railroad, which was a pivotal development in the industrial growth of the nation during the late 19th century. The Commodore's grandson, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, became Chairman and President of the New York Central Railroad system in 1885, and purchased a wooden house called The Breakers in Newport during that same year. In 1893, he commissioned architect Richard Morris Hunt to design a villa to replace the earlier wood-framed house which was destroyed by fire the previous year. Hunt directed an international team of craftsmen and artisans to create a 70 room Italian Renaissance- style palazzo inspired by the 16th century palaces of Genoa and Turin. Allard and Sons of Paris assisted Hunt with furnishings and fixtures, Austro-American sculptor Karl Bitter designed relief sculpture, and Boston architect Ogden Codman decorated the family quarters.
Reviewed By BackPacker84936
The Vanderbilt family were fabulously wealthy and this grand “summer” house is an incredible testament to their social status and power!! Beautiful art and architecture and rich in history- this is a must see!! Our tour guide was great and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!! We will definitely visit again if we get the chance!!
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