New England Spot Named One Of The Best Under The Radar Destinations

Traveling in the Northeast allows tourists the ability to escape to mountains or waterside locations. A New England destination that travel website  Fifty Grande has highlighted as an "under-the-radar" destination can offer both, in close proximity.

People are looking to explore new adventures nowadays. Often that entails packing up the car and heading on a road trip to a location you may not know much about. There's a thrill to stumbling across an environment you may never have known was there, or had no expectations for.

That's what Fifty Grande has showcased in their latest report, which aims to inspire travelers to look outside their comfort zone. "Some will be eye-opening thanks to glorious landscapes, others for musical hot spots, and many are recommended if you’re just looking to rejuvenate yourself," they explain.

This particular destination they have featured for being an under-the-radar area is the only one from New England to make the list. So, how about we hop on interstate 95 and head north to check it out.

From Boulder Loop hiking trails to lighthouses and the South Mill Pond, Portsmouth has something nature-filled for everyone. Market Square is where you can find a wide range of restaurants. Cobblestone streets emphasize the historical charm of the city. The libraries and independent bookstores also help reinforce that.

Fifty Grande highlights the waterside views of Portsmouth by saying, "It fronts the Piscataqua River, just half a mile from the ocean and a short bridge ride away from tourist hub Kittery, Maine."

Live music is also popular throughout the area. The Victorian-style music hall has become a popular concert spot at this New England under the radar destination.

Lastly, the layout of Portsmouth allows for a wide range of tours to embark on to explore the area. Everything from walking tours, to food tours, to historic tours can give you a firsthand look at why places like Go Portsmouth also describe the area as "New Hampshire's Gateway To The World."

Now that it is officially summer, it's only natural to start daydreaming about your getaway plans. In the northeast, we are fortunate to have many waterside areas that are ideal for campsites. Here, we are featuring six of the best RV sites in New England to explore.

We will highlight one RV site per New England state. Each of them are unique in their own right. But they all contain the essentials that you look for in a site.

Recreational vehicles offer their own living quarters. So when going through the various location options, lodging accommodations were not of the utmost importance. What was, however, is ample space to comfortably park your RV. Ideally, these sites offer the ability to leverage your vehicle as simply a resting stop to call it a day in. In addition, it was imperative the sites also are flexible enough that you can pull start up the RV and pull out and drive around where need be.

Once you have your spot, the surrounding environment is equally as important. Being lakeside is always a plus. Furthermore, RV and campsites are synonymous with families. Having a playground or firepit to cook up some smores is also encouraged. This area of the methodology responds to a simple question - what is there to do when you are not inside the RV?

The assumption is that regardless of where you go, there are trails to navigate the many New England mountain ranges adjacent to the best RV sites. A nice hike up to earn the appetite to grill hot dogs is a major site seller. The same holds true for bike paths.

Lastly, when settling on these six best RV sites in New England, they have to be a picture of fun, and represent a place that you can't wait to return to.

These grounds were completely renovated and reopened in November 2020. It is located in Sturbridge, which is in the south-central region of the state. There is an eight-acre lake onsite, a large pool, and an indoor recreation center for movies and games. Pine Lake also has cottages that you can rent.

Labeled a "luxurious camping resort," Acres High is open year round. It is located in East Lyme, CT off Chesterfield Rd. There's a large fishing pond that has a beach area on the south side and a brook with paddle boats available. There are great hikes right at the base of the grounds. Moreover, if you'd like to explore attractions in close proximity to the park, Foxwoods Casino and the Children's Museum are a close drive.

Settled peacefully near Westerly, RI, Ashaway inspires relaxation. It's more of a flat ground, but does allow bikes to explore the all the sites. You can chill with your feet up at Ashaway or you can be very active. There are go-carts, basketball courts, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, and mini-golf.

There are 152 campsites with 65 full hookups for RV’s. Sea Coast is right off US Route 1 in North Hampton, NH. It is surrounded by green trees. The closest shoreline beach is just four miles from the grounds. Onsite they are pet friendly and offer a large playground. While there is not a ton of swimming options outside your door, this is a great location to hit multiple New Hampshire vacation favorites. In addition to the stretches of beach, Portsmouth is only eight miles up the road.

Sugar Ridge is settled on 68 acres of maple and pine trees. You can even rent 40-foot campers at this family-friendly village. It is located on Old Stagecoach Rd. in Danville, VT. There are two swimming pools, horse wagon rides, and dedicated hiking and bike trails. Sugar Ridge organizes daily activities you can partake in as well.

Spacious Skies has two locations in Maine, however, Balsam Woods is where RV's go to really feel the spacious sky overhead. This is in Abbot, Maine, and while you share the grounds with cabins, you have the choice to pull your RV up to a woods or non-woods site. Regardless, there are miles of hiking trails. As for unique amenities - gem mining or jumping on a giant pillow trampoline anyone?