Northeast States

Road tripping

Experience the Northeast States

My first taste of out-of-state travel introduced me to the Northeast states of the USA. When I was in 8th grade (Middle school) our class took a trip east and one of our stops was Gettysburg Battlefield National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The terrain wasn’t much different than my home state, but the significance of this historical site made a huge impact. Later, when I was an adult, the Northeastern states continued to call out to me and I’ve returned again and again to enjoy the natural beauty and rich history.

The Northeast Region of the U.S. is a lesson in contrast. This territory has the smallest state in the country (Rhode Island) and is the smallest in overall size in terms of land. In contrast, it contains the largest city in the country by population. New York City, NY houses over 8 million residents and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Northeast states.

Getting Around

One of the great things about the Northeast Region is that more transportation options are available than in most other areas of the U.S. Many rural destinations and small towns are less than two hours by car from a major airport. You’ll also find the larger cities to be more walkable and have convenient city transit systems. The Amtrak national rail system also offers frequent train options between many Northeast coastal cities.

Five states in New England border our closest friend and ally to the north, Canada. Our two countries share the longest border between any two nations in the world [5,525 miles, 8,891 km]. Crossing the border between countries now requires a valid passport for United States and Canadian citizens, but it’s well worth a visit while you’re in the area. Find out more about crossing the border here.

Historical Sites in the Northeast

In addition to the Native Americans in the region, European settlers began arriving in the early 1600s. Ships from across the Atlantic Ocean landed in the coastal areas of the Northeast seeking religious freedom and new lands to explore. Historical sites are abundant there. Rich natural resources like fishing, timber, and farming have always helped sustain the growing population.

The Plimoth Patuxet Museums, near Boston was named the best open air museum in the USA. It’s a living history museum where reenactors portray the everyday life of the Plymouth Colony settlers and Patuxet Native Americans from the 1620s. You can even tour a reconstruction of the famous Mayflower ship that brought immigrants to the New World. What a wonderful way to be immersed in the daily lives of early Americans.

Boston and Philadelphia are two Northeast cities in the Top 25 largest by population. These cities and the whole region are loaded with history. Did you know that the United States had eight different capital cities before the District of Columbia [Washington DC]? Every one of those cities was and is located in the Northeast Region.

Celebrating Arts and Culture

From blockbuster Broadway hits like the “Hamilton” musical in New York City to intimate live music performances at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, the Northeast states have endless opportunities to enjoy the Performing Arts.

If your interest is in Fine Art, you can find a wide range of museums and galleries in the region. The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass is one of the oldest museums in America. If you visit the unique Corning Museum of Glass in the small town of Corning, NY you’ll not only learn about the history of glass making. You can also learn how to create glass works yourself.

One of my favorite artistic families, the Wyeth’s spent much of their lives in Maine. You can visit the Wyeth Center at the Farnsworth Art Museum to see three generations of Wyeth art along with many others. If the art of nature is more your style, look for the gorgeous public gardens sprinkled throughout the Northeast States. The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine is the largest botanical garden in New England at 300 acres [121 hectares]. It displays changing exhibits of nature-inspired art and sculpture on the property as well.