Southern New England

The Southern New England showcases the 3 States of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhodes Island placing you in the heart of everything each State has to offer.
 
Day 1: Boston, Massachusetts
Incorporated as a town in 1630, and as a city in 1822, Boston is one of America’s oldest cities, with a rich economic and social history to match. Since its beginnings as a homesteading community, it has evolved into a centre for social and political change and is now the economic and cultural hub of New England.
In a city filled with interesting things to see and do, the historic Freedom Trail is the highlight of Boston for many visitors. The 2.5 mile red brick walking trail leads you to 16 nationally significant historic sites, everyone an authentic American treasure. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1958, when the wrecking ball threatened several important places, the Freedom Trail today is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution.
You can walk the Trail yourself, or take one of the many guided tours available through the National Park Service. Tours begin every half hour from the park visitor centre at 15 State Street opposite the Old State House. If you prefer to ride, you can take a trolley tour, which is an unofficial guided tour, but does include many of the most important sites along the Trail including Old Ironsides, the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church. Plan to stop and eat at Faneuil Hall, once the primary meeting place for America’s revolutionaries. It is now a bustling market of restaurants and shops
Day 2
If you were unable to experience a portion of the Freedom Trail yesterday, you can complete that journey today before choosing from the myriad possibilities for exploring that Boston offers. There are always a variety of fascinating exhibits at the Boston Museum of Science. Cheers, of the famous television show, is located on Beacon Hill. The Sam Adams Brewery is a recent addition, founded in 1984.  The Boston Museum of Arts, founded in 1876, has an outstanding, world-renowned collection that includes some 450,000 items. The New England Aquarium offers special whale watching trips until October. There’s also the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Newberry Street, with some of the best antiquing in America, and Cambridge, MA, home of Harvard University, right across the river.
2 nights in Boston at the Nine Zero Hotel:
Nine Zero Hotel, a beautiful Boston boutique hotel, brings together everything the discerning traveler seeks: an ideal location in downtown Boston, luxurious accommodations, personalized service and thoughtful amenities. Nine Zero is a welcome haven for business travelers, Boston vacationers and weekend leisure package seekers alike. Situated in the Ladder District in downtown Boston, Nine Zero is only minutes from Logan International Airport, and is just steps away from the Boston Common, Beacon Hill, the Financial District, Faneuil Hall, the Quincy Market, Broadway Theater, Red Sox baseball and everything this historic city has to offer. With four star accommodations that set the standard for Boston hotels, Nine Zero Hotel features a sophisticated setting that blends traditional red brick and limestone with sleek nickel, chrome, stainless steel and glass. The luxurious design carries through to the elegantly appointed guestrooms. Elegant, sumptuous and intimate, Nine Zero promises a welcoming sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the city. Nine Zero completes its luxury hotel services and amenities with exceptional meetings and events in our beautifully appointed meeting rooms (all boast views of the city). This hotel also features one of Boston’s most popular dining spots, KO Prime. An award-winning 4 star hotel, Conde Nast Traveler has placed Nine Zero on its Gold List of the world’s best hotels for three straight years. The hotel was also voted Boston’s Best Boutique Hotel 2003 by Boston Magazine. This Boston hotel evokes the sophistication, luxury and timelessness expected of a Kimpton Hotel, while echoing the character of this great city.

Days 3: Salem, Massachusetts (16 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 in Salem at the Salem Inn (Includes Continental Breakfast):
Located in the heart of Salem, the Salem Inn comprises three historical homes, blending the warmth and charm of yesterday with the comfort and convenience of today. Each building has been meticulously restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Centrally located in the heart of historic Salem, the city's impressive array of attractions, restaurants and activities are all within easy walking distance. Experience "history making hospitality" at The Salem Inn.
Each of the 40 guest rooms are individually decorated featuring antiques, period detail and homey touches. All rooms include an ensemble of amenities, flat panel cable HDTVs, individual climate control, telephone, private bath and coffee maker; many offer working fireplaces, oversized whirlpool baths or canopy beds. 
Free parking is provided as is a full and hearty continental breakfast each morning. Free wireless internet access is available in all the houses and a computer is at the Captain West House for guests to use, free of charge. For those who want a fitness center, the Inn provides guest passes to the Salem YMCA (around the corner).
 
Days 4 & 5: Lee, Massachusetts (147 Miles)
The Norman Rockwell picture perfect landscapes of The Berkshires are famous worldwide for summer theatre and musical performances of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. We heartily recommend travelling the Jacob’s Ladder Trail Scenic Byway, an untouched rural roadway that runs through the Berkshires, yet connects a number of the most famous venues. Follow the byway through vistas of forested hills, the rock-strewn Westfield River, open fields, small towns, wetlands and steep rock ledges. At times, towering ledges are laced with ice or running streams. 
Along the drive, you’ll be passing through several small towns and villages where a church spire is the highest building in sight. There are three entries into the Chester-Blandford State Forest where you can find parking areas for hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. The historic granite quarry in Becket operated into the 1950s, where the water-filled quarry, the 19th-century equipment, and vast piles of tailings are all still in place to illustrate the industry in a natural woodland setting.
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket a National Historic Landmark, hosts dance companies from around the world. The outdoor stage has a beautiful view into the Berkshire Hills. You can also attend performances of the Chester Theatre Company and the Vincent Dowling Theatre Company, which both draw actors from national and international stages to the Chester Town Hall Theatre in a National Register Historic District. Tanglewood, home of the Boston Symphony is 4 1/2 miles off the byway. 
If you enjoy 19th-century architecture in its original setting, spend time in Lee Centre, which has been a movie set more than once. The smaller town centre’s of Chester, Russell and Huntington offer many resources, including a restored railroad station from the 1840s, an Italianate Grange Hall, two mill villages, and churches with spires that mark the horizon from different locations on the byway.
Whether viewing the landscape alone, walking on old trails in the woodland forests along the byway, or attending cultural events in unspoiled landscape settings and historic districts, you'll become a part of the pristine natural world that characterizes Jacob’s Ladder Trail Scenic Byway.
Further north in the Berkshires, we expect that you’ll find Mount Greylock one of the highlights of the region. At 3,491 feet in elevation, it is the highest point in Massachusetts and southern New England, offering fantastic panoramic views into five states. It is also one of the most scenic mountains in the Eastern United States. It is so inspirational legend has it, that Greylock's long, saddle-like shape inspired Herman Melville to write "Moby Dick". He was, by all accounts, enamoured with the mountain, and he even set up a special observation deck at his home (near Pittsfield) so he could view Greylock
Whenever he decided.
When you travel to Greylock, it is obvious why people believe the legend and why Melville went out of his way to keep the mountain in his sites. Greylock can be seen for miles around, and is a quite impressive site given that is rises nearly 2,700 feet above the surrounding town of Adams, Massachusetts. Furthermore, it's very colorful, and has a steep slope that shoots up into the sky, unlike most mountains you'll find of this height in New England. 
After you savour the views from the mountain, savour the art at the new Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art in North Adams.
2 nights in Lee at the Devonfield Inn (Includes Breakfast):
Nestled in the beautiful hills of the Berkshires in the charming town of Lee, Massachusetts, Devonfield is an exquisite country inn that's airy and comfortable, the hospitality warm and welcoming, and the food delicious!
Devonfield is a gracious English-Style country house which was originally built in the late 1800's. It overlooks a pastoral meadow shaded by graceful birch trees, with the rolling tapestry of the Berkshire Hills beyond. Set on 32 acres it's a mile above Lee's Main Street, which has a rich history dating to 1798.
Each morning, a fireside (fall and winter) candlelit gourmet breakfast is served on fine china accompanied by classical music. Breakfast includes a bountiful buffet of fresh baked goods, fruits, granola, yogurt, juices and more, followed by a specially selected hot entree served tableside.
The guest pantry is always open and is stocked with fresh baked cookies, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, popcorn and other seasonal treats. A full-sized refrigerator and a microwave are available should you choose to bring any special refreshments.
 
Days 6 & 7: Litchfield, Connecticut (42 Miles)
In addition to the gorgeous rolling topography, the Litchfield Hills region of Connecticut is chock full of interesting historical and cultural treasures The American Clock and Watch Museum in Bristol illustrates the story of New England clock making and the Industrial Revolution. The Glebe House Museum and Gertrude Jekyll Garden in Woodbury served as home to the minister in the 1750s. Tapping Reeve House and Law School in Litchfield brings America’s first law school to life through the eyes of a real student. At the Danbury Museum and Historical Society, you can tour authentic historic buildings dating from 1785. Timexpo Museum in Waterbury traces the roots of Waterbury Clock from colonial times. The Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, CT features a Native American art collection. You can take a ride on the Naugatuck Railroad travelling on a 19th century train. 
On the cultural side, Mattutuck Museum in Waterbury features Connecticut art from the 18th and 19th centuries including works by native sons John Trumbull, Frederic Church, Josef Albers and Alexander Calder. Check out any of several theatres in the area, including Music Mountain and the Ridgefield Theatre Barn with regularly scheduled music festivals and theatre performances.
Mystic Connecticut has been a shipbuilding centre since the mid 1600s and retains a strong maritime connection to this day. Within the quintessential New England charm of Mystic, you can enjoy the Museum of America and the Sea, the largest maritime museum in the world. The museum has created a 19th century seafaring village surrounding the historic tall ships anchored off the coast. The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration features sea lion shows, beluga whales and a wide range of other deep sea creatures. Up to the minute maritime history can be found at the Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum which documents the development of submarines from the “turtle” first constructed in 1776 to the US Navy’s state of the art submarines of today. 
For a change of pace, you can explore the Florence Griswold Museum with world class exhibitions housed in the famed Griswold House where a generation of artists lived and worked.
2 nights in Litchfield at the Litchfield Inn: 
From the moment you enter The Litchfield Inn, you know that an exceptional experience is in store.  From the gleaming nine-foot chandelier in the well of the delicately carved main staircase, to the superb sporting prints on the walls of the dining room.  The Inn's decor bespeaks both elegance and a warm welcome. 32 Guest Rooms, all with private baths, upgraded cable television, direct dial telephones with modem capabilities, free local calls, and individual heat/AC units.
 
Days 8 & 9: Mystic, Connecticut (89 Miles)
Mystic Connecticut has been a shipbuilding centre since the mid 1600s and retains a strong maritime connection to this day. Within the quintessential New England charm of Mystic, you can enjoy the Museum of America and the Sea, the largest maritime museum in the world. The museum has created a 19th century seafaring village surrounding the historic tall ships anchored off the coast. The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration features sea lion shows, beluga whales and a wide range of other deep sea creatures. Up to the minute maritime history can be found at the Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum which documents the development of submarines from the “turtle” first constructed in 1776 to the US Navy’s state of the art submarines of today. 
For a change of pace, you can explore the Florence Griswold Museum with world class exhibitions housed in the famed Griswold House where a generation of artists lived and worked.
2 nights in Mystic at the Steamboat Inn, Includes Full American Breakfast:
The Steamboat Inn is a small and intimate luxury Inn on the Mystic River in historic downtown it’s the perfect escape, Romantic, yet exciting. Steamboat Inn - Mystic, Connecticut’s only waterfront property! The Steamboat is an 11-room, luxury Inn with the finest amenities and most beautiful views of the Mystic River. Located in the heart of Historic Downtown Mystic, just steps from fabulous shopping and fine dining. You’ll find Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium and many other attractions just minutes away. Each of the eleven rooms are uniquely decorated with antiques and are individually climate controlled. Other amenities include cable TV with DVD players, free local calling, complimentary signature toiletries, hair dryers, alarm clock radios, whirlpool baths.
 
Days 10 & 11: Newport, Rhode Island (80 Miles)
Get ready for the wonders of Newport today. 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.
2 nights in Newport at the Hotel Viking – Newport Wing:
The award-winning Hotel Viking situated atop Newport’s Historic Hill neighbourhood with breathtaking views of Bellevue Avenue mix in your mind’s eye with sightings of notable guests gone-by. There have been a few, since 1926, Will Rogers, Ella Fitzgerald, John and Jackie Kennedy. To many of those guests who have loved and treasured Hotel Viking, this year’s new seasons offer guests a new diversity of guestroom and luxury suite choices along with a sense of history, a unique Newport location, and a friendly ambience. Professional service and attention to detail have made the Hotel Viking consistently popular throughout its 80-year history. Recently renovated, guests visiting for the first time or returning once again will be delighted to choose from original and updated guestrooms and suites, complete with beautiful furnishings and luxurious bedding amenities. Experience the warmth and character of a small Rhode Island boutique hotel of yesteryear, registered with the Historic Hotels of America, yet updated with modern amenities, including the decadent pampering of SpaTerre and the acclaimed fine dining at One Bellevue.
Newport Wing Rooms - 310 sq. ft. - Featuring a progressive design which complements the Gilded Age look of the Hotel Viking. Rich textures and a subtle color palate create a stylish, comfortable and functional space. There is also the all-important nod to contemporary amenities Room Amenities: Flat screen LCD TVs in all guest rooms, Gourmet honor baskets, Iron / Ironing board, In Room Safe, Movie Rental, Renovated baths with rain head shower heads, terry robes on request, hair dryers and make-up mirrors, Air Conditioning, Complimentary High-speed Internet access.
Self & Valet parking: $28/night (fee subject to change), 24-hour Business Center.
Leisure Amenities: Complimentary Fitness Center, Indoor Swimming Pool, Onsite SpaTerre, One Bellevue.
 
Days 12, 13 & 14: Falmouth, Massachusetts (85 Miles)
Cape Cod is larger than most people imagine. The Upper Cape closest to the Massachusetts mainland is home to Sandwich and Falmouth, location of the famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Hyannis, of Kennedy fame, is located Mid-Cape. The narrow portion of land where it bends sharply north is considered the Lower Cape. The Outer Cape includes the Cape Cod National Seashore, forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds and uplands. 
Lighthouses, cultural landscapes and wild cranberry bogs offer a glimpse of Cape Cod’s past. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach, recently named Coast Guard Beach the 5th best beach in the US. Provincetown, at the very end of the Cape and long known as an art town, berths several whale watching fleets that patrol Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Several guarantee a whale sighting at the right time of year.
We suggest a trip by ferry to Nantucket Island, one of the most unique, historic and visually stunning places in the world. Originally a booming whaling port, the National Historic District of Nantucket has changed little since the 17th century, when many of the seaside cottages were built and old-fashioned whale oil lamps lit the streets. Today, nearly 40% of the remainder of the island is protected conservation land. You can walk wide sandy beaches, swim in the sparkling waters of Nantucket Sound or brave the Atlantic on the island’s south shore. If land is more to your liking, browse the many boutique shops, art galleries and museums or sign up for a tour of the island. 
Even though Edgartown is the most famous town on Martha’s Vineyard, the Vineyard, another island reached only by boat, actually has six different towns that are as different as night and day. Once a thriving whaling port, the island is now home to writers, artists, architects and designers who come here to get away from the hustle and bustle of Boston. There are no chain restaurants, no shopping malls and no speed over 45 miles an hour on Martha’s Vineyard. What a great way to end your journey through New England in complete relaxation!
3 nights in Falmouth at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel:
After being closed for a multimillion $ renovation the Sea crest resort sitting on its own private beach and will offer its guest a holiday experience and standard unrivalled in the area. In today's fast-paced culture, it sometimes seems difficult to appreciate the little things in life. Now is your chance to recapture these simple pleasures. The Sea Crest Beach Hotel provides a new look and personality that is light and airy, with a playful atmosphere and staff. Just minutes over the Bourne or Sagamore bridges, the Sea Crest Beach Hotel provides the perfect backdrop for business, and an equally alluring backdrop for a peaceful escape. Here along the cottage-lined streets of North Falmouth, you are a little over an hour away from Boston—but this unrivalled location feels like another world. Gulls cry over Buzzard's Bay, guests are lulled to sleep by the rise and fall of the Atlantic's tides, and even business feels more like pleasure at one of the Cape's largest conference facilities. Whether you are there to unwind or host the social event of the season, you will encounter nothing but personalized service—in a setting that is not only affordable, but adds value to your life. This is your chance to capture the lifestyle enjoyed by generations before you. Slip on your flip-flops, bring the beach towel, and allow us to help you re-learn the art of relaxation. What's New: Complete lobby renovation in New England beach style that is bright and vibrant, renovated guestrooms, fresh Indigenous landscaping, newly planted trees and shrubs, welcome pavilion at entry, new I-Café, renovation of Indoor and outdoor saline pools with Improved deck space for relaxation, renovation of restaurants & lounge, renovation of fitness facilities, spacious guestrooms and suites are complete with an array of thoughtful amenities and provide a soothing escape from the rest of the busy world. Standard room Amenities: Each guestroom and suite provides a set of comforts that no traveller should be without. Complimentary wireless Wi-Fi, a mini refrigerator and personalized voicemail are just a few of the details we include to make your stay more enjoyable. Sealy® pillow top mattress, personalized voicemail, flat screen cable television, HBO®, Family HBO® & ESPN, alarm clock, hair dryer, mini refrigerator, complimentary wireless Wi-Fi, writing desk, sofa beds available, sitting area available, Individual temperature control, ADA handicap accessible rooms.
 
Day 15: To Boston, Massachusetts (75 Miles)
En route to Logan Airport, visit Sandwich, The Cape’s oldest town. In Plymouth, visit Plimoth Plantation, a living museum depicting life in 1627. Time for lunch before driving to the airport and 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 Night Accommodation.
All hotel taxes.
Rooms provide private facilities and are based on the hotels standard or lead in room type.
 
Not included in this tour:
Meals other then the breakfast’s mentioned above.
Overnight parking charges if applicable.
Flights – Please contact us for a competitive quote on flights direct into Boston with our airline partner British Airways or Virgin Atlantic.
Car Hire - Please contact us for a competitive quote on car hire with our rental partner Alamo rent a car.
 

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 Night tour only from £1,099 per person, based on 2 sharing.

Single, Double/Twin, Triple and Quad occupancy available.

 Up to two children under 12 can normally stay free when sharing the same room with two adults.