Yankee’s annual travel guide is filled with inspiration for the ultimate New England summer getaway. Here are some of our favorite ideas for culture hounds, from Cape Cod to the White Mountains to the Maine coast.

EVENTS

JUNE

JUNE 2
Aretha Franklin
It’s a chain of fools who’ve missed the chance to see the Queen of Soul in the flesh (and hear that voice hit the rafters). Don’t be one of them. Boch Center Wang Theatre, Boston, MA. bochcenter.org

JUNE 2
“Frederic Church: A Painter’s Pilgrimage”
Debuting in Church’s hometown: an exhibit showcasing the faraway landscapes that took him, well, to church. Runs through 8/26. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT. thewadsworth.org

JUNE 15
The Decemberists
The other Portland’s most popular export shows off its new dance floor–friendly sound (and most likely some fetching vests). Mass MoCA, North Adams, MA. massmoca.org

JUNE 15–17
Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival
Father’s Day plans still … up in the air? Let our dad joke guide you and your pop to New England’s longest-running balloon festival. Quechee, VT.quecheeballoonfestival.com

JUNE 21–24
Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival
Attention, campers: There’s a whole lot of bluegrass in the Green Mountains at this annual session of summertime strumming. Tunbridge, VT. jennybrookbluegrass.com

JUNE 24–30
Windjammer Days Festival
Nothing brings summer to the shores of Maine like a weeklong celebration of maritime heritage (and the schooner, the better). Boothbay Harbor, ME. boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org

JUNE 26
Bimini Twist
Following Slipknot, Fisherman’s Bend, and Shiver Hitch, sea captain Linda Greenlaw releases her fourth mystery novel, and this one’s even tougher to untangle. Author reading on 6/26 at Jesup Memorial Library, Bar Harbor, ME. lindagreenlawbooks.com

JUNE 26–JULY 14
The Closet, starring Matthew Broderick
You don’t have to come out to see the world premiere of Douglas Carter Beane’s new comedy. But if you do, just know that we support you 100 percent. Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA. wtfestival.org

JUNE 27–JULY 1
Ephrat Asherie Dance
Part of the lineup at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Asherie’s blend of modern dance and voguing strikes a curious pose—somewhere between Twyla and Tyra. Becket, MA. jacobspillow.org

JUNE 27
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
The world-premiere stage adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s wildly popular 2001 film marks the grand reopening of one of Boston’s most storied theaters. (Bring your own mocha-chocolate-ya-ya.) Runs through Aug. 5. Emerson Colonial Theatre, Boston, MA. emersoncolonialtheatre.com

JUNE 30
“Sally Mann: A Thousand Crossings”
The controversial photographer takes the family portrait to haunting new places in her first major traveling exhibition, which is hitting such cities as D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Paris—and, oh yes, Salem. Runs through 9/23. Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA. pem.org

JULY

JULY 3
Bound for Gold
In the latest page-turner from Massachusetts novelist William Martin, a lost journal puts Boston treasure hunters Peter Fallon and Evangeline Carrington on the westward trail of a New England forty-niner (which just feels weird to say). williammartinbooks.com

JULY 3
Macbeth
Something wicked impressive this way comes. Runs through 8/5. Shakespeare and Co., Lenox, MA. shakespeare.org

JULY 13–15
Moxie Festival
An altogether different kind of roots festival—gentian, to be precise—celebrates this unique Maine flavor. Do you have what it takes to beat seven-time Moxie chugging champ Beau Bradstreet of Bridgewater? (Tip: You do not.) Lisbon Falls, ME. moxiefestival.com

JULY 13–22
Maine International Film Festival
Blockbusters, schmockbusters. Save the superhero movie for a rainy day and settle in for a week of fresh films from around the world. Waterville, ME. miff.org

JULY 14
Marlboro Music Festival
Spoiler alert: You won’t know who or what you’ll be hearing at this renowned chamber music series until a few days before the performance. (OK, so that wasn’t much of a spoiler.) Runs through Aug. 12. Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT. marlboromusic.org

JULY 14–15
North Atlantic Blues Festival
Time to head to the harbor for some serious wail-watching. Rockland, ME.northatlanticbluesfestival.com

JULY 27-29
Lowell Folk Festival
Didn’t click fast enough for Newport Folk tickets? No matter. Lowell’s free (free!) festival of sounds from around the globe will soothe the sting. And let you shake your thing. Lowell, MA. lowellfolkfestival.org

JULY 31
Moby-Dick Marathon
This 24-hour public reading of Herman Melville’s monster masterwork aboard the Charles W. Morgan makes your book club look like, um … a book club. Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT. mysticseaport.org

AUGUST

AUGUST 4
Andra Day

Though the Newport Jazz Festival’s lineup of the best and brightest spans a full three days, the prospect of catching this diva-in-waiting’s set is giving us serious Saturday-night fever. Festival runs 8/3–8/5. Fort Adams, Newport, RI. newportjazz.org

AUGUST 4–12
Annual League of N.H. Craftsmen’s Fair

Dozens of lowercase weavers, potters, smiths, and even some hookers (hey, they make rugs) converge on Mount Sunapee for the 85th annual celebration of high-quality Granite State handiwork. Mount Sunapee Resort, Newbury, NH.nhcrafts.org

AUGUST 7–12
Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Fest
Much like those things your husband wears to mow the front lawn, the shorts on view at RIIFF tend to end up the talk of the town. Providence, RI. film-festival.org

AUGUST 10–11
Trevor Noah
He may play it relatively safe on The Daily Show, but odds are good that Noah will go all in for his two-night Foxwoods stand. Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashatucket, CT. foxwoods.com

AUGUST 25
Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood
You can feel the Bern throughout Tanglewood’s summer schedule, but it all comes together at this rousing romp through the composer’s best-loved works. Season runs 6/15–8/26. Lenox, MA. bso.org

COMING IN SEPTEMBER

Hamilton
This might be out of line, but if you somehow manage to score an extra ticket, just remember who told you it was coming. Runs 9/18–11/18. Boston Opera House, Boston, MA. bostonoperahouse.com

STAY TUNED

American Masters: Ted Williams
Teddy Ballgame is the first baseball player to be featured on public television’s high-profile documentary series. And just in time, too: The famed Sox slugger is due for his centennial tribute this August. Check website for premiere: pbs.org

Castle Rock
Just when you thought it was safe to live in Maine again, Stephen King returns with 10 episodes of terrifying tourist repellent. Shot in Massachusetts, this Hulu miniseries draws on The Shawshank Redemption, Pet Sematary, It, and other King classics. Check website for premiere: hulu.com