Best FarmStay INN AT VALLEY FARMS, Walpole The 18th-century house on this glorious 105-acre organic farm is elegantly comfortable. Angus cattle graze on the hillside and free-range chickens “contribute” to the candlelit breakfasts. Rooms: from $175, including full breakfast. 633 Wentworth Road. 877-327-2855, 603-756-2855; innatvalleyfarms.com Best Reason to Rise & Shine WILDERNESS INN, North Woodstock […]
Best Pancakes LITTLETON DINER, Littleton Pancakes are the signature dish, served all day at this gleaming yellow diner, a welcoming landmark since 1930. Choose from whole wheat, buckwheat, or buttermilk, made with flour that’s stone-ground down by the river. 145 Main St. 603-444-3994; littletondiner.com Best Deli With WiFi WENDLE’S DELICATESSEN, CAFE & THEN SOME, Franconia […]
Worth the Admission WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST RECREATION PASS It may be a hassle, but $3 per day, $5 per week, or $20 per year (rates as of summer 2010) still seems like a reasonable fee to access 12,000 miles of hiking trails. Stop by the WMNF service desk at the White Mountain Visitor Center […]
Best Yarn and Accessories HARRISVILLE DESIGNS, Harrisville A riot of colorful wools and woven creations, this shop is set at the heart of a photogenic mill village where woolen yarn has been spun since 1794. 41 Main St. 800-338-9415 (products), 603-827-3996 (workshops); harrisville.com Best Hiking Maps and Guides THE MOUNTAIN WANDERER, Lincoln Owner Steve Smith […]
Best Free Therapy BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY COURTYARD, Boston One of the most peaceful, secluded, and historic places in the city. Walk into the library’s McKim Building and you’ll come upon a breathtaking Italianate central courtyard surrounded by an arcaded gallery. Sit on the bench with a book, or head to the adjoining restaurant for a […]
Yankee‘s Editors’ Choices for the best food, lodging, and things to do in the Granite State are here. Don’t miss the Best Bargains and Local Secrets, too! You could win one of three fabulous New England getaways in our Editors’ Choice Photo Contest. Get details!
Best Pub MATT MURPHY’S, Brookline A no-frills, friendly spot straight out of an urban Dublin neighborhood. The cheese platter with soda bread is a meal in itself; and the fish-and-chips comes with spicy ketchup and pickled onions–all of it wrapped in newspaper. 14 Harvard St. 617-232-0188; mattmurphyspub.com Best Romantic Restaurant L’ESPALIER, Boston After years of […]
Best Movie Theater KENDALL SQUARE CINEMA, Cambridge There is life beyond the megaplex, and here it is: a smart mixture of classics, foreign, and independent films. Perks include fresh pastries and coffee, plus inexpensive parking. 1 Kendall Square. 617-499-1996; landmarktheatres.com Best Toy Store HENRY BEAR’S PARK, Brookline, Cambridge, Arlington Books for all ages, retro and […]
Best Ocean Stroll ‘SCONSET BLUFF WALK, Siasconset This public path provides a front-row view of the Atlantic’s ceaseless undermining of the island’s sandy foundations. Dawn to dusk, you’ll stroll like an accidental gate crasher through the hedgerows and wind-sculpted arboreal bowers of neighboring seaside mansions. Begins at north end of Front St. 508-228-3643; nantucketchamber.org Best […]
Best Inn for Foodies INN AT SWEET WATER FARM, Great Barrington The Berkshires may be full of cozy 19th-century inns, but none offers such an effortless blend of contemporary folk art, luxurious bedding, and gourmet food. The owner’s passion for showcasing local farms, with special help from the inn’s own egg-laying hens, bears fruit with […]
Best Paella VIVA, Glendale Sharing is at the heart of Spanish dining, and nothing invites communal eating more than a steaming pan of paella. The full-flavored paellas for two or more ($27 and up) at this rural hotspot are as bold and bright as the chili-red and saffron decor. 14 Glendale Road (Route 183). 413-298-4433; […]
No Red Lobster THE OTHER BROTHER DARRYL’S, Otis It may look small, but this fish market has a deservedly outsized reputation for providing landlocked Berkshirites with exceptionally fresh seafood at wholesale prices. They also do a brisk takeout business. Claim an outdoor table, select a live lobster to be steamed while you wait, and in […]
