This 14 night self-drive tour is the perfect road trip for those looking to stay somewhere unique and special whilst on thier New England holiday!

Gone are old fashioned New England chintzy hotels that feel like you are staying at your grandma's house !, 

on this trip, staying in "Lark Hotels" you will be returning each night to properties that are new, fresh, bright and modern that break

the mold and reflect the character of their setting.

Choose how you want to Lark around!...

Lark Properties

Defining the boutique hotel experience!

No detail escapes attention at a Lark Hotel, and each property offers a highly specific sense of place. Created to capture the true spirit of independent hotels, Lark offers high design and impeccable quality, paired with a personalized guest experience. Think the best amenities and a sense of luxury, paired with a relaxed neighborhood feel and no stuffiness in sight

AWOL Properties

Come as you are!

AWOL guests travel to escape the ordinary—and to recharge in a place that offers both serenity and community. AWOL locations are designed to enhance the natural beauty that surrounds them, and soften the boundaries between outdoors and in. It’s about harnessing the energy of an environment; of both the natural world, but also of the people that occupy it.

There are communal spaces for kinship and coming together, paired with peaceful rooms and plenty of corners for solitude. Standards for quality apply of course, but AWOL doesn’t take itself too seriously.

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2 nights – Boston Massachusetts, 1 night  - Salem Massachusetts, 1 Night - Portsmouth New Hampshire, 1 night Kennebunkport Maine,

1 night East Boothbay, Maine, 2 nights Stowe Vermont, 2 Nights Sunapee New Hampshire,  1 night Newport Rhode Island,

2 Nights Marthas Vinyard Massachusetts, 1 Night Cape Cod Massachusetts

Days 1 & 2: Boston, MA

One of the most attractive cities in America, Boston is famous for everything from the Red Sox and Paul Revere to Cheers and clam chowder. With a history stretching back to the first colonists the city mingles its past with its present, its tradition with innovation. Home to Harvard, America’s first university, the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the famous Boston Symphony Orchestra and Museum of Fine Arts, the city is part history lesson, part modern metropolis, offering attractions to suit every taste and interest.

For an introduction to the city take a “Hop on, Hop Off” trolley tour with the guide pointing out all the historic sites and attractions, or walk the Freedom Trail, a well-preserved pedestrian path that weaves in and out of historic neighborhoods. Between landmarks, you can shop the fabulous stores on Newbury Street, or browse the antique shops and distinctive red brick buildings of Beacon Hill. Perhaps lunch in lively Quincy Market or a delicious authentic Italian meal in the North End.

Take time to visit the New England Aquarium or the nearby Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum to take part in the famous event that forever changed the course of American history! Just outside the city another attraction worth a visit is the John F Kennedy Memorial Library that displays the life and times of the 35th President of the United States.

2 nights Boston, Massachusetts 

Hotel: XV Beacon (There is no "Lark Hotel" currently in Boston)

Days  3: Salem, MA (25 miles)

Since 1626, when the first settlers arrived, Salem has been attracting people from all points of the compass.  It may be most widely known as the site of the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692, but this colorful, coastal city has much to offer visitors: a culturally diverse population, a rich maritime heritage, an impressive display of historic architecture and amazing stories that span almost four centuries.

A good place to start is the Salem Visitor Center at 2 New Liberty Street, across from Museum Place parking garage. From this central location, many of Salem's attractions are within an easy walk along The Heritage Trail (the red line).Just around the corner on Essex Street, you will find the Peabody Essex Museum, founded in 1799 as the Salem East India Society. Members of the Society were required by the society's charter to collect "natural and artificial curiosities" from beyond the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn. In 1992, the Peabody Museum of Salem merged with the Essex Institute to form the Peabody Essex Museum.

The large collections of art and history are diverse and fascinating. Ongoing and special exhibitions alone make a visit worthwhile.
The museum's beautifully restored Phillips Library contains local historical resources such as genealogical information, early photographs, local memorabilia, and documents dating back to Salem's founding. You can also tour a number of the museum's outstanding historic residences which are located nearby.
From the Peabody Essex Museum, as you continue west along the Essex Street walking mall you'll see many shops and restaurants, as well as the Witch History museum. Derby Square is on your left and here you will find Salem's old Town Hall, opened in 1816 and used as city government's headquarters until 1836/37.

The Heritage Trail will lead you along Essex Street to a right turn. It's a short block to Lynde Street and The Witch Dungeon Museum where live reenactments of a Salem Witch Trial adapted from 1692 transcripts are a unique experience.

1 night Salem, Massachusettes

Lark: Hotel Salem or The Merchant

Days  4: Portsmouth, NH (50 miles)

A quiet, soothing beach one day, a rollicking one the next … A stroll through history … A sea star cradled in your hand … A sunset cruise with lighthouse views … A restored Victorian grand hotel when you're craving a romantic escape … A brick brewery turned boutique inn when you're roadtripping with your coolest friends. Our ocean shoreline may be a mere 13 miles long (18 if you add in our islands), but Seacoast New Hampshire rivals any New England coastal destination.

You'll find Seacoast New Hampshire the perfect place to "seas" the day, the weekend, an entire week—especially if your idea of "carpe diem" includes concerts, cute coastal towns, and the catch of the day prepared in infinitely enticing ways.

In New Hampshire, we believe that the shore was meant to be shared, and you may be surprised by how much of our Atlantic frontage is accessible to the public. Not only are our sandy beaches inviting and affordable, but our waters are some of the cleanest in the country, as well. Hampton Beach isn't just a lively all-ages destination with a classic boardwalk, water-view dining, charitable gambling, and high-caliber performances at the historic Casino Ballroom. With a five-star rating for water quality from the Natural Resources Defense Council, it's a place where parents can feel confident introducing kids to the exhilarating weightlessness of bodysurfing and boogie boarding.

The Seacoast Region's most historic city, Portsmouth, is the best-value urban destination on the New England coast. A walkable city that simultaneously embraces old and new, Portsmouth draws visitors with its museums, historic sites, and cultural attractions, plus sophisticated dining and eclectic boutique shops. When you don't have to pay a small fortune for lodging, parking, and taxis, you can splurge on unique finds—and pay no sales tax in New Hampshire to boot.

But don't overlook the lesser-known southeastern New Hampshire towns, either. Find family-friendly beaches in Rye. Explore New Castle's Fort Constitution State Historic Site. Plan a leisurely scenic drive through old mill towns between Exeter and Dover, stopping for breakfast at Newfields General Store, where the community has shopped for provisions since 1896. 

1 night Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Lark: Hotel Portsmouth

Days  5: Kennebunkport, ME (30 miles)

Like many of Maine’s coastal towns, Kennebunkport first prospered as a shipbuilding center. In the late 1800s, affluent summer visitors would arrive by train from Boston and stay at the more than 30 grand hotels and mansions that peppered the coastline. Today, the town is a year-round community and remains popular as a summer destination. Kennebunkport offers an abundance of dining options with some of the best spots being low-key lobster pounds where great food at a good price can be found. Boutiques line the streets and visitors will enjoy taking the scenic drive along Ocean Avenue, which runs along the Kennebunk River to the ocean. The route provides equally stunning views of the Maine coastline and the palatial homes of Kennebunkport’s rich and famous, including the summer retreat of the 41st U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush.

Possible activities: Narrated tour on the Intown Trolley, Seashore Trolley Museum, Boat cruises aboard The Rugosa, Cruise aboard the Schooner Eleanor, Whale watching and ocean trips with First Chance
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.

1 night Kennebunkport, Maine

Choose from:

Lark: Captains Collection

AWOL: AWOL Kennebunkport 

Days  6: East Boothbay, ME (90 miles)

The coastal town of Boothbay Harbor Maine is a perfect destination for a reprieve from the hustle of every day. Between its rich history, quaint local shops and boutiques, delicious dining, and world-class boat excursions, there are all kinds of fun things to do in Boothbay Harbor.

A 1,000-foot-long footbridge connects the east and west sides of the Harbor, allowing easy access for visitors to enjoy a plethora of fun activities.

You will be captivated by the quiet coves, rocky shores, and island lighthouses and by the warmth and friendliness of the locals, turning strangers into friends.

Boothbay Harbor was developed as an important fishing center, able to hold hundreds of ships in its port. Within 40 years, fishing and canning industries. Today, Boothbay Harbor is visited by thousands of people each year as they come for fresh seafood, a glimpse of marine life, and seaside relaxation.

Take a scenic drive from Boothbay Harbor is out to Ocean Point, to see the sunrise and sunset – drive the Ocean Point loop, bring a picnic to savor on the rocks, and enjoy the passing sailboats and views of lighthouses.

Bootbay is the the boating Capital of New England. With over 25 daily boat excursions leaving right from the bustling harbor, there is an adventure waiting for travelers of all ages! 

Outdoor activities are among the best things to do in Boothbay Harbor because of the town’s beautiful scenery, which is one of its main draws. There are lots of hiking trails and gardens to explore, and many boating companies offer water-based harbor tours.

Harbor tours are a great way to explore the area and see nearby islands, like Burnt Island, and further out to sea Monhegan Island.

Enjoy a romantic sunset schooner or speeding windjammer ride led by captains who have sailed all over the world. Visitors can also check out local boat yards to see the tradition of world-class boat building that is still alive today.

There are also many excursions that offer up close and personal encounters with Maine wildlife like puffins, seals, and even whales!

Burnt Island Lighthouse, the second-oldest tower still standing in Maine, was constructed in 1821 and is accessible to the general public. It offers an outstanding, historic recreation and educational facility and is situated on a 5-acre island.

Through the living history lighthouse tour, you can travel back in time to the 1950s and discover how the lighthouse keeper and his family lived.

The best way to see Boothbay Harbor is by boat. Rent a kayak or paddleboard from Maine Kayak or Tidal Transet and paddle around the bay, passing lobster boats and magnificent pleasure yachts in the harbor, around McFarland Island, and out to Tumbler Island.

Take a trip to Monhegan Island, a small rocky island approximately 10 miles off the coast of Boothbay Harbor, accessible by ferry. With no paved roads, cars, or streetlights and limited shops and inns, Monhegan is a unique escape from bustling towns.

The wooded Island is blessed with 17 miles of beautiful walking trails for any nature-lover to enjoy, but paths can be rough and rocky so remember to wear sensible shoes and consult local trail maps before setting off.

The Lighthouse on Monhegan was built in 1824 and is still actively shining. Views from the Lighthouse site are incredible, as one can see the entire village, harbor, mainland, and nearby islands.

The former lighthouse keeper’s house is now a museum focusing on the history and culture of the island. A trip to Monhegan Island via ferry is an unforgettable experience, but it’s a long trip out, so plan accordingly Keep your eyes peeled for Maine birds, dolphins, and more.

1 night East Boothbay, Maine

Lark: Blue - Ocean Point Inn

Days  7 & 8: Stowe, VT (220 miles)

Only Stowe Vermont combines a classic 200-year-old village with Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. This unique juxtaposition imbues Stowe with a character reminiscent of great European mountain resorts.
Stowe is a vibrant, sophisticated, year-round, international mountain resort, offering abundant historical, cultural and recreational activities, while celebrating and encouraging the preservation of its natural beauty and serenity.

Visit Vermont's #1 tourist attraction: Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream plant, a mecca for lovers of premium ice cream. Not far up the road are a number of specialty food shops: Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Visitor's Center and Cafe, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Cabot Creamery Annex, plus maple syrup and other goodies for which this part of Vermont is famous.

If you want to shop ? Stowe offers everything from antique and craft galleries to outdoor clothing and equipment stores, Stowe is a paradise for shoppers. Stowe boasts an abundance of independently owned shops whose merchants have taken great care in selecting the merchandise they proudly offer.

Feeling hungry ? Stowe's dining consistently receives positive buzz from such sources as SKI Magazine, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, the New York Times and Boston Magazine. With over 45 restaurants, offering everything from haute cuisine to pub fare, Stowe has something to please everyone's taste.

Fancy a drive ? The Green Mountain Byway runs through the towns of Waterbury and Stowe, between the spine of the northern Green Mountains to the west and the peaks of the Worcester Range to the east. Traveling along the byway provides stunning views of open meadows, farmlands and forests, all with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Historic homes, farmsteads, villages and mill sites are accessible all along the route as well as the area’s most prominent natural feature, Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak.

Things to do in and around Stowe:
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Visitor Center, Ben & Jerry’s Factory tour, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Cabot Annex Cheese, Helen Day Art Center, Stowe Mountain’s attraction park, Stowe Mountain Alpine slide, Stowe Mountain’s gondola Skyride, Stowe Performing Art Center, Trapp Family Lodge Brewery, Stowe recreation path, Horse-drawn carriage ride, Hiking Mount Mansfield, the tallest mountain in Vermont, Vermont Ski Museum, Swimming at Little River, a Vermont State Park.

2 nights in Stowe, Vermont

Choose from:

Lark: Field Guide Lodge

Bluebird: Cady Hill Lodge or Talta Lodge

AWOL: AWOL Stowe

Days  9 & 10: Sunapee, NH (100 miles)

With more than 250 distinct lakes and ponds, the Lakes Region lives up to its billing. This is New Hampshire's headquarters for boating, paddleboarding, fishing, and swimming.

Lake Winnipesaukee, with its squiggly 180-mile shore, is the largest—a big blue gem in the heart of it all—and each of Winni’s lakeside communities moves to its own beat. Weirs Beach beckons with its boardwalk, train rides, and family amusements. Meredith offers beaches, boat launches, and a boutique winery. In Moultonborough, tour Castle in the Clouds and go horseback riding on the estate's phenomenal grounds. Then hike the Loon Center's Loon Nest Trail, and find loon souvenirs among the eclectic wares at the nation's oldest store. Visit museums in Wolfeboro; then get out on the lake on a Jet Ski or paddleboard or with a diving tank.

Squam Lake is in second place when we rank New Hampshire lakes by size, but it's been golden since its star turn in the 1981 movie On Golden Pond. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness offers wildlife-viewing lake cruises. And some of the Lakes Region's loveliest B&Bs are on or near Squam's shores.
But it's not just family attractions that lure travelers. The Lakes Region is a land of traditions, as well. Riders have returned year after year for more than nine decades for Laconia Motorcycle Week. The Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth has been staging memorable performances each summer since 1931. The old-fashioned Sandwich Fair, first held in 1886, draws crowds each Columbus Day weekend. 

The Town of Sunapee was first established as "Saville" in 1768, changing to Wendell in 1781 and then, through legislature in 1850, became known as "Sunapee" - an Algonquin word meaning "Goose Lake".

There is a long history of tourism in the Lake Sunapee area which began in the mid-1800's with the introduction of steamboats and trains. During this time there were many Grand Hotels and a few private residences around the lake, catering to the city people who arrived on the shores with their steamer trunks to spend the summer on Lake Sunapee. 

Sunapee Harbor is a pleasant place to be on a summer's day. It features a lively collection of shops and restaurants. Live music is regularly scheduled on weekends and two cruise boats offer a scenic trip around the lake. 

Known mostly for the 6th largest lake in the State, Lake Sunapee, the Town has a four season draw. Visitors come not only for lake activities in the summer, but also foliage in the fall, skiing on nearby Mt. Sunapee in the winter and hiking and biking in the spring.

2 nights Sunapee, New Hampshire

Bluebird: Bluebird Sunapee

Days  11: Newport, RI (180 miles)

Newport, summer resort of America’s first millionaires, Opulence reigned here for decades during the Gilded Age. The wonderful houses along the cliffs and Bellevue Avenue were the “summer cottages” of the rich and famous from New York and Philadelphia who descended on Newport for a summer social season. Houses modelled after French castles and other royal residences were the site of lavish parties, dalliances and intrigue. When no longer occupied by their owners, a collection of the mansions were purchased by the Preservation Society of Newport and have been opened to the public. You can pack your day in Newport as full as you would like. The Breakers and Rosecliff are must sees. Newport is also a great walking town. You can take the Harbour Walk North and The Harbour Walk South, both of which begin at Perrotti Park, and the Cliff walk, which follows the coastline and the cliffs. There is also 10 mile scenic driving tour which begins at The Elms and the Newport Winery.

The Preservation Society of Newport County has preserved 11 Gilded Age mansions, many the “summer cottages” of the rich and famous who created the Newport summer social season. The 70-room Breakers is likely the most famous. The interior features rare marble, alabaster and gilded wood. Marble House, also owned by the Vanderbilt’s cost a reported 11 million dollars to build in 1892, Rosecilff, which dates from 1902, was the site of some of Newport’s grandest parties. In addition to mansions, other properties of the Preservation Society also let you experience American colonial history, the years of prosperity before the Civil War, homes of 19th century merchant traders, and lunch in a garden setting second to none.

1 night Newport, Rhode Island

Lark: Gilded or Attwater or Cliffside Inn

Days  12 & 13: Marthas Vineyard, MA (70 miles + ferry)

Today you take the car ferry (Included in tour) from Woods Hole to spend two nights relaxing and exploring Martha's Vineyard, The Vineyard features pristine sandy beaches, golf courses, natural beauty, and more than its fair share of sun-seeking celebrities.   

Oak Bluffs’ brightly-painted "gingerbread" cottages began as a nineteenth-century Methodist summer campground; the town’s Flying Horses are the oldest continuously working carousel in America.

Vineyard Haven is a picturesque community and the island’s year-round ferry port.

Edgartown is an elegant yachting center, its streets still lined with whaling captains’ stately homes; the Old Whaling Church is now a performing arts center. “Up Island” are the rural communities of West Tisbury and Chilmark and the dramatic, color-streaked Aquinnah Cliffs. When 17th-century British explorer Bartholomew Gosnold discovered the island, replete with wild grapes, he named if for his youngest daughter, Martha.

The island has five lighthouses, all originally built in the 1800s and subsequently replaced, and, in some cases, moved back from the encroaching sea. The Gay Head and East Chop lighthouses are open for sunset tours on a limited schedule.

2 nights Edgartown, Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts

Choose from:

Lark: The Christopher, The Coco, The Edgartown Inn, The Richard, The Sydney or Summercamp (Oaks Bluff)

Days  14: Cape Cod, MA (20 miles + Ferry)

Time to leave Martha's Vineyard and take your car ferry over to Cape Cod to start your next adventure.

You have the day (or more if you extend your stay) to explore Cape Cod with its pretty villages and abundant attractions or enjoy the many attractions of your hotel. Chatham center, just a few minutes from your hotel, is the quintessential New England village by the sea. This is probably Cape Cod at its picturesque best with smart shops, inns, small restaurants, some typically colonial-style white churches, a fishing harbor and a lighthouse with dramatic ocean views the Cape Cod National Seashore has 40 miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds and diverse birdlife.

Drive to Provincetown at the very end of Cape Cod. This colorful and fascinating little town has attracted a wide spectrum of people. Artists live side by side with traditional fisherman and during the summer Commercial Street is filled with the most cosmopolitan mix of people, exploring the art galleries, tiny seafood restaurants, shops, narrow streets and pretty gardens. A morning to explore the town and this afternoon maybe take a whale watch cruise, an exciting adventure to view these majestic marine mammals, guided by an expert naturalist. Humpback whales are normally seen and you’ll never forget your first sighting of a whale blowing after a deep sea dive.

This evening enjoy dinner in town or perhaps try a New England Clambake Dune Tour, an exciting trip that combines the beauty of a sunset dune tour with a traditional New England Clam Bake dinner served picnic style.

1 night Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Choose from:

Lark: The Coonamessett (Falmouth)

Bluebird: Bluebird Dennisport (Dennis Port) or Parker Beach Lodge (South Yarmouth)

AWOL: AWOL Provincetown (Provincetown)

Days  15: Boston Logan Airport, MA (90 miles)

 A last leisurely day on the Cape before you drive to Logan Airport to return your car and take your flight home.

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Pre, post or extra nights: Pre, post & extra nights within the itinerary can be added to this tour, please let us know if you would like to extend your stay anywhere and we will be happy to quote the extra nights.

Included in the tour:
14 nights room only accommodation.

Return car ferry from Cape Cod to Marthas Vineyard
All taxes.
 

Not included in this tour:
Meals.
Overnight parking charges if applicable.

Flights – Please contact us for a competitive quote on flights direct into Boston with our airline partners British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Delta, American Airlines, United and JetBlue.
Car Hire - Please contact us for a competitive quote on car hire with our rental partners Alamo, AVIS, Dollar and Hertz. 

Prices

All 'from' prices quoted are per adult person per package in £ GBP and include all taxes. 

The exact cost of the tour will depend on the date of travel and the availability at the time you book.

Please call us on 0844 80 444 80 or email us reservations@purelynewengland.co.uk 

we can then check availability and provide you with a quote for your preferred departure date including tour, flights and car hire.

14 Nights from £2,499 per person, based on 2 sharing