Where to journey in New England in 2026

Scenic Six

Amtrak journey offers, canine sledding spots, winter festivals, and extra.

By Kristi Palma

January 14, 2026 | 8:00 AM

3 minutes to learn

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Newburyport is gorgeous, irrespective of the season. This previous weekend I had a scrumptious dinner downtown at Brine within the historic, coastal metropolis earlier than having fun with stay music on the quaint and comfy Firehouse Center for the Arts. The Firehouse, inbuilt 1823 as a market home and lyceum, has hosted Ralph Waldo Emerson and Daniel Webster.

There are so many historic gems like that throughout New England, which is why I requested the journey and tourism places of work throughout the area for one of the best locations to go in New England in 2026. This week, I’m additionally sharing details about journey offers in Maine, Lowell Winterfest, all-you-can-eat crab legs, and extra.

26 locations to go in New England in 2026

New England is stuffed with historic cities and cities bursting with eating places, museums, trails, and walkable downtowns. Check out 26 locations to go in New England in 2026 and begin daydreaming about your regional excursions. 

Attention, households: Here are 4 strong concepts for household journeys

Four New England inns and resorts simply ranked among the many finest within the U.S. for household holidays. Find out why it’s value reserving your subsequent household 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 cash in Maine this winter

Maine is stuffed with eating and lodging offers this winter for these with flexibility. Travelers can make the most of the state’s Winter Weekdays program, operating by means of April 30, which gives midweek reductions at inns, eating places, and breweries. For these touring in January, discounted Amtrak prepare fare to Maine provides to the financial savings. 

Travel Tips

• The 6th Annual RI VegFest, one of many largest plant-based occasions on the East Coast, is occurring at WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, R.I. Feb. 21-22. There might be greater than 90 vegan and vegan-friendly meals and beverage producers and final 12 months’s occasion attracted guests from 29 states and 11 nations.
• Embrace winter at Lowell Winterfest, happening Feb. 28. The pageant will carry stay music, meals vans, fireplace and ice sculptures, an arts market, soup competitors, chocolate pageant, scavenger hunt, and extra to Lowell. 
• Why not attempt canine sledding this winter? Spots in New England providing the exercise embody 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 within the new 12 months 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 nice by means of Jan. 28 for journeys taken by Jan. 31.
• Get all-you-can-eat crab legs at Summer Shack in Cambridge on Thursdays starting Jan. 15. Patrons get crab and corn fritters for the desk, adopted by a primary plate of crab legs and corn on the cob and countless refills of crab legs after that. The value is $69.95 per individual.
• Pat’s Peak in Henniker, N.H. has introduced again its all-inclusive Pay-One-Price (POP) program this winter. For between $79 and $99 (relying on arrival time) visitors get snowboarding and snowboarding, snowtubing, gear leases, and lesson recommendations on Saturday nights between 4 and 10 p.m. The program runs by means of March 28. 

For free metropolis enjoyable, try 10 free issues to do in Boston in January.

I’ll go away you with this photograph I took contained in the foyer of the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport. 

Where have you ever traveled recently? Please share your pictures by sending them to [email protected] they usually could also be featured in an upcoming Scenic Six e-newsletter. 

Whether you’re touring this week or planning your subsequent escape, benefit from the journey.

— Kristi 

Kristi Palma

Travel author

 

Kristi Palma is the journey author for Boston.com, specializing in the six New England states. She covers airways, inns, and issues to do throughout Boston and New England. She is the writer of Scenic Six, a weekly journey e-newsletter.