Beaches
All of the New England states have
beaches on ponds and lakes, and all but Vermont
have sea beaches. Pond and lake water can
be warm, the sea is usually cold,
but on a hot August day, it feels good! More...
Biking
Bicycling is popular in both New
England's cities and countryside. Leafy lanes,
easy grades and marked bike trails and paths
make it among the region's most pleasant
sports. More...
Birdwatching
New England has a history of preserving
wildlife areas and important migratory areas.
New England birders are active, welcoming,
helpful and enthusiastic. More...
Camping
Lots of public and private campgrounds in
local and state parks and national forests,
resort areas, and in the backwoods along
hiking trails. Because of heavy use and
fire danger, camping is regulated. More...
Canoeing
This is one of the original lands
of the canoe, its lakes and rivers perfectly
suited to small, light, maneuverable craft.
Lots of places rent canoes and provide equipment,
drop-off and pick-up service. More...
Fishing
New England's ponds and lakes are
good for trout and other fresh-water varieties,
and the deep Atlantic holds the really big
ones. Surf-casting from the beach or shore
is cheap, easy and often successful. More...
Hiking
The Appalachian
Trail and the Appalachian
Mountain Club's system of trails and mountain "huts" (hikers'
dormitories) are of prime interest, but there
are hundreds of shorter local trails in towns,
state parks, forests and wilderness areas.
More...
Kayaking
Both fresh-water and salt-water kayaking
are popular sports. If you come without
your kayak, lots of places will supply
them, with other equipment and drop-off,
pick-up service. More...
Skiing
Vermont, New
Hampshire and Maine have popular,
well-equipped ski areas on challenging
mountains, with lots of snowmaking capacity.
You can even ski easily in the southern
New England states. More...
Snowboarding
The larger ski resorts have well-developed
snowboard areas, with pipes, rails and boxes.
More...
Snowshoeing
When the snow is deep—as it
often is in deep winter—this is a great
way to exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Modern
snowshoes are small, light, sleek and comfortable.
More...
Whalewatch
The quintessential New England spectator
sport. In the 1800s, New England whalers
went after the behemoths of the deep for
oil, whalebone and ambergris. Now, just sighting
them is thrill enough. More...
Windjammer Cruises
Gliding with the wind along the verdant coast
of Maine in a historic sailing
vessel,
stopping at a remote island for a lobster
bake.... Sound good? It's a Maine
windjammer cruise. More...
