After our 6 weeks in New York, we had a month to explore some of New England. We hadn’t traveled much in this northeast corner of the US (even before RVing), so it was a perfect time to visit and check things out. While we didn’t have time to see everything, we selected some fun sights in each of the 6 states that make up New England. This is the first time we have traveled with another RV couple and enjoyed having Steve and Joan along with us.
Connecticut:
Anytime there is chocolate around, I will usually find it! We stopped in Waterbury to visit Fascia’s Chocolates. The family-owned factory is 59 years old and continuing generations of the Fascia family still handcraft their delicious products. We signed up for the Chocolate Experience where we learned the history of chocolate, sampled different types of chocolate, and even got to make our own personalized chocolate bar to take home. Of course, we bought some yummy chocolates from the shop as well!
Another fun sweet experience was at the PEZ Factory. Remember all of those lovable character dispensers and the little candies that went inside? What was first invented as a breath mint for adults, later became the candy we know today. Interestingly the name PEZ was created using the first, middle, and last letters in the German word for peppermint, PfeffErmintZ. We enjoyed seeing the factory process and lots of cases of collectible PEZ dispensers.
We also took a ride on the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat excursion. The vintage train takes you on a short ride before boarding the Becky Thatcher Riverboat for a relaxing cruise along the Connecticut River. Connecticut is named after this river which bisects the state and is the longest river in New England.
Rhode Island:
Rhode Island is the smallest US state, but it has over 400 miles of coastline. We drove over to the coast one day to see the Newport Mansions. These amazing historic homes are situated along the cliffs overlooking the rocky Atlantic shoreline. You are transported back in time as you tour the magnificent homes of the super-rich during America’s Gilded Age.
There are 11 properties that you can visit including grand mansions and gardens. These “summer cottages” were built for some of America’s wealthiest families including the Vanderbilts, the Astors, and the Morgans. During the 19th century they would spend about 6 weeks each summer here in these opulent homes.
Maine:
We spent our time in Maine around Bar Harbor and in Acadia National Park. This 47,000 acre national park is the only one in the New England states and is one of the top 10 most visited parks in the country. We were excited to get timed tickets to see the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain (only 120 cars allowed each day). At 1530 feet, it is the tallest mountain on the eastern seaboard. Getting up at 4:00 am was tough, but it was pretty cool to be among the first people in the US to witness the dawning of a new day.
The Park Loop Road offers a 27 mile scenic drive through the park with stops at the major attractions like Jordan Pond, Otter Cliff, and Thunder Hole. We saw beautiful rocky coastlines, lakes, forests, and mountains. We also enjoyed driving around the rest of Mount Desert Island with its many unique inlets, harbors, and ligthhouses.
We learned that Bar Harbor rivaled Newport as a summer getaway for the richest Americans during the Gilded Age. It got its name from the sand bar that connects Bar Harbor to Bar Island, which is only accessible at low tide. We crossed over to hike on the small island and saw lots of signs warning that you will be stuck there if you don’t cross back over before the tide comes in!
I was amazed to hear that visitors consume over 5 million lobsters here each year! The rocky terrain and the water temperatures are said to make Maine lobsters more tender and taste better. I guess that’s why 90% of the country’s lobster supply is caught off the coast of this northern state.
We had lots of fun in these first 3 states on our New England travels. Next up is part 2 where we visit Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont!
You grabbed my attention at “chocolate” and the Train and Riverboat excursion looked so fun to ride. How exciting to be the first to see the sunrise in Maine that morning! I would have really enjoyed that too and visiting the Alpaca Farm. What a fabulous post. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Always the chocolate, lol! If there are sweets in a place, then I will find it.😊 Acadia National Park was very pretty and we did think the sunrise was amazing to see. We really enjoyed seeing the New England states–so much history and beauty.
I so enjoy getting to follow you guys on your journeys. Thank you so much!
We appreciate you following along with us Bobby!
I totally forgot about the Pez factory. And I lived in Connecticut for almost 20 years. I guess I need other bloggers to remind me of what’s in my own backyard. Ha!
We’ve had a few people tell us that! When you live in a place you are not always thinking of sightseeing. We enjoy looking up the lesser-known places and things from Atlas Obscura and Crazy Tourist in addition to the more popular sights.
So loved your adventures in NE. I love going through the mansions of ages past. And the Bar Island hike would be interesting. Thanks again for giving us your insights on your adventures.
Hi Kathy! I’m glad you liked the post on New England. It was a new adventure for us in that area of the country. Things are very different than out west, that’s for sure. We did love seeing all of the historic sights in the Northeast. I hope you are enjoying some trips in your new RV.