The Ultimate New England Summer Bucket List

It’s never too early to start planning your summer trips. The New England area offers so many summer activities both along the coast and further inland. Discover some activities to add to your New England summer bucket list below!

Go On A Boat Ride

A white and yellow steamboat named "Sabino" floats on a river, with American and Sabino flags flying, and a green wooded shoreline in the background. — *Sabino* at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

New England features a lot of water from rivers to the ocean. Whether you’re looking to take a ferry ride, a sightseeing cruise, or a wildlife cruise, New England has plenty to choose from. I personally love the wildlife cruises and lighthouse cruises!

Discover boat rides across New England: Boat Rides And Ferries To Take In New England

Explore A Coastal Town

A beach with a few people walking by the shoreline and houses on a hill in the background under a sunny sky. — McCook Point Park & Beach in Niantic, Connecticut. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele

New England has so many different coastal towns to explore. Whether you’re looking for a quiet fishing village, a historic coastal town, or a lively city, this region has it all. While I tend to go to the quiet coastal villages, cities like Boston are also great to explore.

Discover some small towns to visit: Coastal Towns and Cities To Visit In New England

Go On A Puffin Cruise

An Atlantic puffin swims on the surface of the blue ocean, creating small splashes as it moves through the water. — Puffin photo taken on a cruise with Hardy Boat Cruises in New Harbor, Maine. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

There’s nothing quite like getting to see a puffin in person. Thankfully, there are plenty of opportunities to see them in the summer months off of the Maine coast. I’ve done two separate puffin cruises over the years. The best time to do this is late April to mid-August.

Learn about taking a puffin cruise: Taking a Puffin Cruise With Hardy Boat Cruises in Maine

Go On A Whale Watching Cruise

A humpback whale’s tail fin, or fluke, rises above the surface of the ocean, with water rippling around it. — Humpback whale photographed while on a cruise with 7 Seas Whale Watch out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Last year I made an effort to go on whale watching cruises. I ended up doing both of my cruises out of Massachusetts last year, but I have also done one out of Boothbay Harbor, Maine in the past. Honestly, seeing these beautiful creatures in person never ceases to amaze me. This should be high on your bucket list, especially if you’ve never done one before.

Discover whale watching cruises:

Visit An Island

Seaside village with gray houses, grassy fields, and scattered trees in the foreground, with a small island and boats in the background under a clear sky. — Views from Monhegan Island in Maine. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

I had never really thought about how many islands we have in New England to explore until I sat down and made a list of the ones I’ve been to. Some islands are easily accessible thanks to bridges, but others require a ferry ride. I’ll be honest, many of my island adventures in New England have been specifically to see lighthouses. But, these islands have a lot to offer. Although some offer more remote vibes, like Monhegan Island and Prudence Island.

Discover islands: Islands To Visit In New England

Climb A Lighthouse

A white modern building sits on rocky shoreline next to a curved road and sandy beach, with houses and trees along the coast under a cloudy sky. — Views from the top of the New London Harbor Lighthouse in New London, Connecticut. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

What’s more New England than a charming, historic lighthouse? The New England shoreline features so many different lighthouses that you can not only see, but also tour. Climbing to the lantern room of these lighthouses offers a great view of the ocean and surrounding landscape.

Discover lighthouses around New England:

Search For Thomas Dambo Trolls

A large wooden troll sculpture sits on a rock in a forest, holding a long stick across its lap, surrounded by green trees and foliage. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Did you know that there are Thomas Dambo trolls right here in New England? The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens was the first place in New England to get the trolls. However, there are now a total of five in the small state of Rhode Island!

Learn about where to find them:

Check Out A Historic Site

A large, ornate mansion with multiple chimneys and balconies stands on a green lawn, with a grazing sheep nearby. — The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

New England is steeped with history, so there’s no shortage of historic sites to visit. You can visit historic mansions and houses, battlefields, forts, and more. I really love exploring the colonial historic sites, but I do also enjoy checking out the extravagant mansions.

Find historic sites:

Explore Vineyards and Wineries

Stonington Vineyards in Stonington, Connecticut. Photo credit: Devon MarcAurele.

There are so many great vineyards and wineries throughout the region. Whether you’re looking for something laid back or upscale, New England has you covered. Vineyard hopping is a great way to spend a warm summer day.

Vineyards to check out: Vineyards in Connecticut That Are Worth A Visit

Go To The Top Of A Mountain

A woman stands next to the Mt. Washington Summit sign at 6,288 feet, with a weather station, rocks, and traffic cones in the background. — At the summit of Mount Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Whether you’re looking to hike, drive, or take a train, there are plenty of mountains to summit in the area. One of the most-well known is Mount Washington, which is the highest mountain in the Northeastern United States. You can hike, drive, or take the Mount Washington Cog Railway to the summit.

Discover more mountains:

Visit A Historic Garden

A wooden gazebo covered in green vines stands in a garden surrounded by bushes, flowers, and trees under a blue sky. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

There are a lot of historic gardens that you can visit throughout the region. As a Connecticut local, some of my favorites are at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, and Elizabeth Park in West Hartford. But, the other New England states have plenty of historic gardens to discover as well like at The Lincoln Family Home in Vermont and the gardens at the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island.

Rent A Kayak or Paddleboard

Person wearing a straw hat kayaks on a calm body of water in Mystic CT, with boats and marina buildings visible in the background. — Kayaking on the Mystic River in Mystic, Connecticut. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

A great way to spend a summer day is out on the water on a kayak or paddleboard. I enjoy getting a rental where I can go out on my own and explore at my own pace. If you’re looking to go with a group, that’s also always an option!

One of my favorite local rental spots: Adventure Mystic Rentals in Mystic, Connecticut

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