Arguably no part of the United States is more enthusiastic about welcoming the arrival of spring than New England. As the seasonal thaws, the hotels and resorts that get the best prices in the summer woo travelers with special offers, packages, deals and add-ons that give you even more bang for your buck.
Even better, when our parkas are tucked away to make room for lighter layers, destinations celebrate the return of warmer temperatures with fairs and festivals to ring in the arrival of spring so you can Benefits of pre-season travel can be enjoyed.
Here are six destinations that have put winter in the rearview mirror and welcome travelers with deals and steals:
Some of these places I visited during press conferences, and others I discovered on my travels in New England. All opinions are my own.
1. Bretton Woods
New Hampshire
History buffs take note: Surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest, the Omni Mount Washington resort in Bretton Woods has hosted four former presidents, including Calvin Coolidge, Warren G. Harding, Woodrow Wilson and George HW Bush. It was also the site of the signing of all major documents at the Bretton Woods International Monetary Conference in 1944, designating the popular New England resort as an official National Historic Landmark. In addition to the Commander-in-Chief, the sprawling idyll has been a favorite of poets, celebrities and generations of families. But recent renovations and additions, like the new Presidential Wing, show that the resort isn’t stuck in the past, but has a bright future ahead.
As the ski season comes to a close, the hills surrounding the resort are filled with spring flowers, best seen on a canopy tour. A zipline experience high above the hemlock trees offers panoramic views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range. The longest of the nine zips is over 1,000 feet above the forest floor, with two sky bridges and three rappels. This tour is designed for participants with average mobility, strength, and fitness, however, there is some short hike along unpaved trails, so people should be comfortable walking on uneven ground and walking along moderate slope walking. Now is the perfect time to experience it all with the resort’s “Take a Break” offer, allowing guests to book by 5/20/2023 and enjoy <>% off the best available rate.
2. Ogunquit
Maine
Nestled on Maine’s southern coast, Ogunquit has all the spoils of a quintessential New England summer beach town: miles of windswept sand, perfectly rugged cliffs, and buttery lobster on nearly every corner. It also has all the crowds that come with that time of year. However, spring is the perfect time to enjoy Ogunquit’s grandeur without the masses. The charming Marginal Way, a popular 2.5-mile paved trail along the coast, draws a lot of visitors in summer, but this time of year allows visitors to go at their own pace, stopping for bird watching or Enjoying the view from one of the many beachside benches.
Just minutes from Edge Road is the historic Colonial Inn, an impressive private residence in the mid-1800s, today welcoming travelers looking to experience the Maine coast. The hotel is believed to be the last of Ogunquit’s once many stately Victorian hotels and still operates as a hotel. To celebrate the season, The Colonial Inn’s Spring Bash package is offering 10% off two-night stays, including chilled sparkling wine and a charcuterie board.
3. Martha’s Vineyard
Massachusetts
An island getaway might seem like the perfect way to escape the winter chill, and Martha’s Vineyard delivers. The low season has its own magic, no more so than spring, and the excitement of summer is palpable, but you can still live like a local. This is also when you are most likely to meet the island’s regular guests and homeowners. Think Carly Simon, James Taylor, Oprah Winfrey and Diane Sawyer.
Be there to see the unofficial first sign of spring (if you don’t count the crocuses and forsythias in bloom on the 87-square-mile island): The Pegasus Carousel opens every year at Oak Bluffs. Built-in 1876 and welcoming young and old alike, this colorful carousel is the oldest operating platform carousel in the country. In summer, there are long lines for riding hand-painted horses or playing a game of brass rings.
After wandering around, you’ll have an appetite, spring is the best time to get that coveted reservation, and summer travelers wait months (such as l’étoile in Edgartown, which opens in May Reservations will be accepted from mid-term). Or, you can try scoring hot spots like La Dolce Vita Café.
The centrally located Vineyard Square Hotel & Suites in the heart of charming and walkable Edgartown is offering a Spring Offer: Stay any night Sunday through Thursday in May, Experience prices are 25-30% lower than in peak season. Relax on your private balcony or in a rocking chair on the front porch, hop on one of the hotel’s bikes, or borrow some board games for family fun.
4. Manchester
Vermont
In the shadow of the clover-hued vistas of the Green Mountains, Manchester seamlessly combines past and present, with its storybook city center punctuated by century-old storefronts and white church steeples. Experience an innovative culinary scene combined with modern comforts. Spring is arguably the best time to experience some of the region’s most famous and legendary hiking trails.
While Prospect Rock is a popular trail, it’s quite steep in places and you’ll find some mountain streams to cross. If just a casual hiker, stick to the Lye Brook Falls Trail. It’s a well-marked 4.5-mile round trip that rewards hikers with stunning views of the 125-foot waterfall, which has new growth on its rocky face this time of year. If you prefer to sit back and enjoy Southern Vermont’s springtime splendor from the comfort of your seat, Equinox Mountain Skyline Drive , opening at the end of March, is an amazing drive to the summit of the 846, <> ft. Enjoy panoramic mountain views. A hidden gem not to be missed in Manchester is the American Fly Fishing Museum. What it lacks in size it makes up for in interest, with exhibits and artifacts that attract the attention of even casual outdoor enthusiasts.
Located in the heart of historic Manchester Village, the Kimpton Taconic Hotel features traditional clapboard architecture and grand front porches while offering simplicity, convenience and luxury.
5. Newport
Rhode Island
When America’s wealthiest families made Newport the blue blood’s summer playground during the Gilded Age, it set the bar high for travelers for decades to come. Fortunately, more than a century later, the city by the sea still offers, mansions turned museums belonging to the social elite, allowing us an up-close look at their 19th-century decadence. As summer brings tens of thousands of people to this coastal enclave on the southernmost tip of Aquidneck Island, it also brings high prices. Even the most basic accommodation can cost hundreds of people per night. But spring allows travelers not only to enjoy what Newport is best known for—cliff walks, mansions, and world-class dining—they also get to experience more than a million daffodils in bloom and a host of spring events throughout the city.
In April, the Newport Beer Festival welcomes more than 50 craft brewers from near and far, with live music and food in Fort Adams on the shores of Narragansett Bay. May brings the Newport Oyster and Chowder Festival, where you can feast on savory bivalves from Rhode Island growers. Celebrate the season with creamy clam chowder, mopes and other marine spoils (and plenty of land lovers) and plenty of drinks to celebrate the season. Even better, the Round the World Yacht Race rolls into town in mid-October, bringing nearly <> days of excitement and buzz.
Best of all, accommodation prices are far from what you’ll find in summer and autumn. Rooms at the newly named Newport Harbor Island Resort on Goat Island can accommodate hundreds of people during the high season. But take advantage of pre-summer offers like Book Early and Save, 20% off Best Available Rate when you book a month or more in advance (requires a minimum of two nights; bookings are non-refundable). Ready to upgrade? Throughout the month of April, the resort will be offering a suite living package that includes 15 percent off a spacious suite, as well as a complimentary bottle of prosecco, daily breakfast for two, and two seasonal cocktails upon arrival.
6. Cape Cod
Massachusetts
Famous for the Kennedys, the sandy hook peninsula off mainland Massachusetts can shake off the wrath of winter with the best of them, so it’s no surprise Cape Cod feels different when spring arrives. The museums, galleries, shops and restaurants along the main streets of towns such as Falmouth, Dennis, Hyannis, Chatham and Wellfleet – yes, they all have a main street – have a palpable energy. Seasonal ice cream parlors are starting to reopen around this time of year; others, like Cape Cod Creamery, are moving forward year-round.
Perhaps the best manifestation of the spring thaw is the busy greens of Cape Town’s more than 40 public and private golf courses. One of the oldest buildings, Highland Links in Truro, built in 1892, sits on a windswept cliff overlooking a picturesque lighthouse (the tallest on the peninsula) and the sea. Bordered by scenic Coonasset Pond, Cape Cod Country Club in East Falmouth is open to the public for the enjoyment of golfers of all skill levels. Or stay and play at Blue Rock Resort in South Yarmouth, which has its own par 3 course. To celebrate the resort’s reopening in mid <>, the ” Goodbye, Winter Blues ” package includes benefits like early check-in and late check-out, a flexible cancellation policy and a special welcome gift upon arrival. Even better, guests enjoy reciprocal rights with other nearby Red Jacket resorts, including dining, pools, and a large stretch of private beach.
