This New England Boat Show Was Named Among The Best In The U.S.

It's the time of year when boats across the country come out of their winter hibernation and start their engines. USA Today's 10BEST recently compiled the best boat shows across the country, and a New England boat show made the list.

"Boat shows in the United States captivate enthusiasts with a showcase of the latest in maritime technology, vessels ranging from personal watercraft to luxury yachts, and a vibrant atmosphere where the boating community comes together," they said.

Depending upon which type of boat show you are interested in, typically, these events have two different purposes. Some boat shows allow owners to browse boating, fishing, and yachting items that are new for the season. These are more convention-style shows that display booths or docks full of boating items. We're talking everything from the best cleaner spray to fishing poles to thousands of dollars worth of high-end engine gear.

Then, you have more of a car show-style boating show. As you would assume, this gives boat owners and enthusiasts the opportunity to showcase that pride and joy. This is a chance to explore that massive yacht that houses people for a few months of the year, or that custom Stingray motorboat with crazy speed that can pull every level of water skier.

Regardless of your boat show preference, these events seem to be synonymous with sunshine and positive vibes. Certain boat shows even make an experience out of the day, bringing in food trucks and live music.

In Newport, Rhode Island, the Newport International Boat Show every September. This year the event takes place from September 12-15. The show describes itself by saying it is the "most prestigious boat show in the country, spans over fifteen acres with six connecting show sites within historic downtown Newport."

Given that this area of New England is quite a popular yachting community, this show spans a large portion of the Newport area when in town. It draws people from all over the region.

"Shop for boats, services, and accessories, or attend nautical-themed seminars and workshops while you walk the docks and sidewalks of historic downtown Newport," 10BEST states.

Each day, the boat show starts at 10 AM. A highlight from last year's show included in-water training for both sailboats and powerboats. You can get a glimpse of what is on tap for this year by browsing all the brands that are already onboard to partake this fall.

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?