New England's Boutique Hotels and Inns

Time to bid a fond farewell to Boston and hit the road for the start of your New England adventure. It’s a short drive today, affording plenty of time to enjoy a few stops along the way. Some of our recommended detours include Salem, site of the infamous ‘witch trials’ in the late 17th Century, the fishing port of Gloucester or the historic coastal community of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. On days 6 and 7, discover the seaside charm of popular Kennebunkport, famous as the summer home of former president George HW Bush.

Head inland to meander through the rolling hills and lakes of southern New Hampshire, before crossing into the more rugged state of Vermont to the quintessentially New England village of Woodstock, complete with its village green, whitewashed churches and covered bridge. Browse the cute independent stores on Central Street or use it as a base for impossibly scenic drives in the ‘Green Mountains’ (from which the state of Vermont takes its name). Just an hour’s drive north, the tiny state capital of Montpelier is well worth a visit.

Historic Rutland could be your first stop on Day 11, as you drive south towards Connecticut. Those with a keen interest in the arts might enjoy a visit to the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, or a chance to admire the extensive collection of Norman Rockwell’s paintings and illustrations at his eponymous museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Arrive into Connecticut for a relaxing two-night stay at an exquisite country retreat set in 58 acres of grounds.

It’s only a short drive across Connecticut into Rhode Island, America’s smallest state, so perhaps take the scenic route along the coast to the 17th Century seafaring town of Mystic, home to two of Connecticut’s most-visited attractions, the Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium. The restaurants lining Newport’s yacht-filled harbour are the place to enjoy clam chowder or a classic New England lobster bake, and the resort is famous for its elaborate Gilded Age mansions, once the summer homes of the rich and famous. On day 16, fly back to the UK.