Scenic Six
Fill your fall travel plans with the best beach towns, Frances Perkins National Monument, and more.
You’re reading Scenic Six, Boston.com’s guide to New England travel. Sign up to get hidden gems, travel tips, and must-visit spots in your inbox every week.
Welcome back to Scenic Six.
I’m not quite ready for it either, but I’m writing foliage stories which means fall is right around the corner. This week, I’ve got information about beach towns that make great fall getaways, a new national monument in Maine, the 41st Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival, and more.
Beach towns well worth your time this fall
Contrary to what some may think, beach towns aren’t all washed up when summer is over. In fact, Nantucket, Kennebunkport, and Newport are “even better in the fall,” according to Conde Nast Traveler. Discover the lighthouses, lobster rolls, mansion tours, fall festivals, and more that make them great fall getaways.
How you should spend 36 hours on Nantucket
Speaking of Nantucket, The New York Times has tips for planning your next (first?) escape to the popular island. I wholeheartedly agree with many of the publication’s picks, including the White Elephant, Cisco Brewers, and renting a jeep and driving it along the beach to Great Point Lighthouse for a secluded picnic (one of the coolest experiences ever). But what do you think? Tell us your Nantucket must-dos.
Explore a new national monument in Maine
Fans of heritage tourism can explore one of the nation’s newest national monuments, the Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle, Maine. It is the homestead of Frances Perkins, the U.S. Labor Secretary from 1933-1945. I chatted with Amanda Hatch, executive director of the Frances Perkins Center, about what makes the site special, including the nature trail that stretches to the Damariscotta River.
Travel Tips
- Need plans this Labor Day weekend? The 41st Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival will take place Aug. 27-31 and feature parades, sails, deck tours, fireworks, and more.
- Watch a touch football tournament played in the mud at the 2025 Championship of Mud Football Sept. 5-7 at Hog Coliseum at the North Conway Community Center in New Hampshire. And attend the annual Tournament of Mud Parade, held Sept. 6 on Main Street in North Conway.
- Grab a meal in one of the nation’s 10 best hotel restaurants, according to USA Today. Three are in New England: The Wharf Restaurant at Madison Beach Hotel in Madison, Conn., The Shipright’s Daughter at The Whaler’s Inn in Mystic, Conn., and The Left Bank at the Weston in Weston, Vermont.
Deals and Steals
- Do you have a college kid in Boston? Revere Hotel Boston Common is offering a special university/college rate for families. Guests who book by Sept. 30 with the promo code COLLEGE will enjoy 20% off retail rates and a waived $35 daily guest amenity fee on stays by Nov. 1.
- Snag two passes to the Peabody Essex Museum when staying at The Hotel Salem (a $50 savings), plus a locally curated welcome amenity. Rates start at $315 per night and the deal, which began July 29, is available through Dec. 31. Note: the museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Attention skiers and riders: Indy Pass goes on sale to the public Aug. 28 at noon, with dozens of new resorts being added this season. The passes are only available while supplies last, but skiers can join the waitlist for an opportunity to buy a pass before the general public. Current Indy Pass holders will receive two referral codes for the new Learn-To-Turn pass for an additional $40 discount, lowering the price to $149.
Discover more travel deals in New England in August.
I’ll leave you with this photo I took recently of a cozy corner inside the newest Rapscallion Brewery located in a former mill building in Lawrence.
Where have you traveled lately? Please share your photos by sending them to [email protected] and they may be featured in an upcoming Scenic Six newsletter.
Whether you’re traveling this week or planning your next escape, enjoy the journey.
— Kristi
Sign up for Scenic Six
Navigate the endless possibilities of New England travel with Boston.com.
