New England Travel and Vacation Gazette and Other Wicked Good Content

We couldn't resist showing you a few more perspectives of Salem, Mass., this one from the Salem Common. Founded in the 17th century, this large, historic district provides a wonderful setting for a downtown district stroll. Amazing, well-preserved 18th century homes surround this eight-acre Common that also features a beautiful gazebo (pictured below), well developed paths, plenty of benches and an overall sense of peace and quiet. Directly across from the Salem Witch Museum and a couple minutes' walk to the impressive downtown Salem shopping district , be sure to put this on your list of things to do when visiting Salem! Book a room in Salem MA at the lowest available rate

Cupcake display at Butter Cafe and Bakery, Walpole, Mass. (photo by Eric) We have tasted many fine cupcakes through the years, but Butter Cafe and Bakery in Walpole, Mass., comes up with flavors that "take the cupcake" in the Boston area. Root beer, blueberry pie, red velvet, orange creamiscle, Andes mint, ice cream sundae, peanut butter cream, Boston Creme Pie, and their own version of a Hostess cupcake (much, much better than the Hostess brand!) are just a few of the cupcakes offered at Butter Cafe and Bakery that are nothing short of mouthwatering. Butter Cafe and Bakery is also a great spot for breakfast and lunch with some creative, delicious dishes like the braised short rib grilled cheese and pressed duck sandwiches -- but be sure to not to miss out on these delicious cupcakes! Butter Cafe and Bakery is located at 935 East St., Walpole MA. Tel. (508) 668-2123                     ...

Today's New England public service announcement (PSA) podcast focuses on a cheese rolling competition to be held this summer in the beautiful coastal town of Belfast, Maine. This calcium-rich event is one of the more unusual attractions that has come across our news desk in quite sometime, but it sounds awfully fun and an event we might just attend ourselves! For full details, click on the audio clip above. Thanks to the Office of Maine Tourism for tipping us on the event. If you have a travel-related PSA that you'd like to hear announced through our blog, drop us a line and we'll consider it for broadcast. Thanks, and happy travels! Book a room in Belfast Maine, at the lowest available rate

Source: visitingnewengland.com via Visiting on Pinterest Last night, I had this rather interesting dream about a social media competition, and the judges were Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler from American Idol . Their focus was on judging the hot social media site, Pinterest. In the dream, Randy started out by saying, "Yo, yo, yo! Dawg, every time I think I have seen it all, someone like you comes along and gives its own special voice to social media. When you hit your visual note, I was like, "yo," this social media site can rock! You are definitely in it to win it! Dude, you were unbelievable! I mean, that was dope, man!" Next in the dream, J Lo said, "Pinterest, you know how much I love you -- you know, that you make your social media site so visual and full of pretty images like flowers, arts and crafts, and fashion. And it's that visual element that makes you so special. I know you're new to the social media game, so yo...

 We are excited to bring you our first New England Travel News Network podcast, focusing on a great resource for outdoor adventures in northern Maine. You can access this news by clicking on the audio player above. Thanks to the Office of Maine Tourism for tipping us on the valuable resource! If you have a New England travel related news item that you'd like to hear announced at the New England News Network, drop us a line at feedback@VisitingNewEngland.com. Have a great New England day!

I was thinking this morning about a nice place to visit in New England on a great spring day like this.  Kennebunkport, Maine, instantly came to mind. In reality, I won't be able to travel there due to prior work commitments, so the following pictures will be a prime motivator to put Kennebunkport on the "very near future" travel calendar... Colorful Dock Square (pictured above), is such a fun place to shop -- so many neat, colorful mom and pop shops there. For dining, we always go to Allison's for a great cup of chowder and  fresh catch" seafood special... There's nothing quite like getting out to Goose Rocks Beach and enjoying the spring solitude while strolling the expansive beach... Or enjoying some windy weather and fantastic water views by the rocky Maine coast at Cape Porpoise... Driving along Ocean Avenue (pictured below), is always a treat with more great water views. Farther up the road from Dock Square, you'll find some am...

Cheers Boston (Photo by Eric) We're generally not big on over hyped tourist attractions, but sometimes you just have to say "Cheers" to some of these popular spots. Case in point: Cheers Boston, the inspiration for the hit TV series "Cheers" and where exterior shots were filmed for the show. From the crowds to the souvenirs, Cheers Boston indeed has tourist attraction written all over it. On the other hand, it's a very well run bar/restaurant with friendly service (including the bartenders) and a casual, comfortable atmosphere. For a burger and brew -- or other bar food basics and drinks -- Cheers is a perfectly acceptable restaurant to dine. I think if it wasn't a tourist attraction, some of media hipsters and various elitists would like this restaurant. I like to look beyond the obvious. In this case, I really see Cheers not only as a tourist destination but also a very solid restaurant. Plus, what would a visit to Boston be without doi...

Newport, R.I. , is a favorite vacation destination to many visiting "The Ocean State," but let's not forget about the less-hyped towns and cities worth seeing in this small but packed-with-things-to-do state. The other day I was driving through Jamestown, R.I., and felt instantly attracted to the small town charm in this community with little more than 5,000 residents. The downtown is low-key with a few restaurants (a few with outdoor seating), galleries and service shops, but it looks great when juxtaposed with the pleasant, scenic views of the Narragansett Bay. At the small park area located by the Bay, you'll also see fine views of the Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge that leads to Newport.  You can really have the best of both worlds in Jamestown, enjoying its peaceful coastal setting or driving the bridge en route to Newport. Here are some photos I think capture the serene feeling of Jamestown... This view of the Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge is one I could look at ...

Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, Salem, Mass. (photo by Eric) The Essex St. Pedestrian Mall in Salem, Mass., rivals some of the best northern New England small coastal city downtown districts like Market Square in Portsmouth, N.H., the Port Exchange in Portland, Maine, and central Newburyport, Mass. In this section of a great North Shore city, you'll find an extended brick and cobblestone stretch of mom and pop shops, boutiques and galleries, coffeehouses, cafes and restaurants -- many that are housed in beautifully restored historical buildings. I had a chance to walk the Mall on a warm spring day, and, quite simply, was amazed by its appeal. We all know Salem is most famous for its witch attractions and the Peabody Essex Museum (known for its outstanding art and cultural exhibits), but the Essex St. Pedestrian Mall is a destination by itself. The restaurant scene has grown significantly with diverse cuisines (I had a terrific lunch at the cozy, eclectic Front Street Coffeehou...

I had a chance a few weeks ago to revisit Woodstock, located in the "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut. Largely unspoiled and with quintessential New England elements intact, this beautiful little town best represents the "Quiet Corner" region with its downtown skyline being a tall white steeple, well kept old homes that never fail to make me say "Wow!" and an absence of commercial and industrial development that fly in the face of our modern world. I highly recommend visiting here is you like peace and solitude, a sense of historical preservation and memorable rural scenery of farms, forests and landscapes that seem virtually endless. It really feels like you're a million miles from civilization here. I'll now let the pictures do the talking to give you a taste of one of my favorite towns in New England... The Roseland Cottage was once a summer home to a wealthy New York family and now can be toured between June 1 and October 15. As you can see,...