10 Beautiful Places in New England

10. Franconia State Park, New Hampshire

Franconia Notch State Park is located within the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Franconia Notch refers to a mountain pass within the White Mountains. This state park, in northern New Hampshire, is home to an iconic symbol of New Hampshire: the Old Man Of The Mountain. Also known as "The Profile" or "Great Stone Face", it is composed of a series of granite ledges located on Cannon Mountain. First mentioned in 1805, this iconic rock formation has since been featured on the US quarter. Unfortunately, Old Man Of The Mountain formation collapsed in 2003. Cannon Mountain itself is home to a ski resort. This mountain can be reached via aerial tram. At the base of the mountain, there is a museum dedicated to skiing, known as the New England Ski Museum. Eagle Cliff, located on the eastern side of Franconia Notch, was named so as it is where bald eagles are known to roost.

9. Cliff Walk, Rhode Island

Cliff Walk, also known as Newport Cliff Walk, is a 3.5 mile long hiking trail in Newport, Rhode Island. It is a National Recreation Trail, meaning it contributes to conservation, well being, and recreation purposes. Newport is located on the coast of Aquidneck Island in southeast Rhode Island. Being on an island, part of the Newport Cliff Walk is located on the island's rocky coast offering stunning ocean views. The coastal vistas are not the only feature of the Newport Cliff Walk. The trail goes behind some of Newport's Gilded Age mansions, such as the Rosecliff, Marble House, and Ocher Court.

8. Wadsworth Falls State Park, Connecticut

Wadsworth Falls State Park is located near the cities of Middlefield and Middletown, Connecticut. The Coginchaug River flows through this park. Along the river are Wadsworth Falls, which shares its name with the park, and Little Falls. Wadsworth Falls plunges 30 feet over Hampden basalt, and Little Falls has a plunge of 40 feet over Portland arkose, a sandstone outcrop. This park was named for Colonel Clarence C. Wadsworth, a member of the New York National Guard, and a conservationist. His estate, Long Hill, was located where the park stands today at his insisted that it would be used for conservation purposes. After his death, Long Hill was donated to the state of Connecticut, and today, functions as a state park.

7. White Mountains, New Hampshire

The White Mountains of New Hampshire are a major symbol of New Hampshire, covering about one quarter of the state. The mountain range also extends into the state of Maine. The White Mountains include the federally managed White Mountain National Forest, as well as several state parks and other mountain ranges. There are several theories as to the naming of the White Mountains. One theory is that sailors named the mountains after seeing the white snow caps of the highest peaks. Another theory is that the mountains were named after the white appearance of the granite summits. The White Mountains are home to several famous attractions. Mount Washington, the highest mountain in New Hampshire, is located in this range. This mountain is where the highest recorded wind speed, unrelated to a tropical storm, took place. A weather station is located on this mountain.

6. Quechee State Park, Vermont

Quechee State Park is located in eastern Vermont, near the border of New Hampshire. This state park shares its name with Quechee Gorge, located within the park. Quechee Gorge is 165 feet deep, making it the deepest gorge within the state of Vermont. The Ottauquechee River flows through the lower part of the Quechee Gorge. The river itself was used to power the Dewey wool mill, as well as other mills. After the wool mill closed, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bought the land that makes up this state park. The state of Vermont leases this park from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The park today is a popular place for kayaking.

5. Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park is located on Maine's Atlantic coast. Founded in 1916, it is the oldest national park east of the Mississippi River. The area of this park is 198.51 sq km (76.65 sq mi), covering less than one percent of Maine's land area. Although Acadia National Park is a small national park, it is rich in plant biodiversity. 50% of Maine's vascular plant species are found in this park. Over 400 plant species have been found within the park thus far. Acadia National Park's geography is very diverse as well. The park consists of several islands, among them are Baker Island, Mount Desert Island, and Isle Au Haut. Mount Desert Island is the largest island within the park, the largest island in the state of Maine, and one of the largest islands on the USA's Atlantic coast. In addition to islands, the park features mountains, forests, ocean coastline, and lakes.

4. Green Mountains, Vermont

Vermont is named for the Green Mountains mountain range found within the state. Vermont comes from the French words "vert" and "mont", meaning "green mountain". The Green Mountains are not limited to Vermont. While the state of Vermont contains the largest part of this mountain range, it extends into the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut where they are known as the Berkshires. Part of the Green Mountains also extend into the Canadian province of Quebec, where they are called Monts Sutton. These mountains are heavily forested. With their heavy tree cover, it is fitting that this mountain range is known as the Green Mountains. They are not only a major geographic feature of Vermont, they are part of the state's identity. From 1777 to 1791, Vermont was the Vermont Republic, and sometimes called the Green Mountain Republic. A paramilitary infantry led by General Ethan Allen during the American Revolution was called the Green Mountain Boys. University of Vermont is called Universitas Viridis Montis in Latin, meaning "University Of The Green Mountains". This mountain range is known for its skiing areas. There are several ski resorts within the Green Mountains of Vermont. These resorts are a major part of Vermont's tourism industry.

3. Bash Bish Falls, Massachusetts

Bash Bish Falls is a waterfall located in the western part of Massachusetts, in the Taconic Mountains. The headwaters of this waterfall start in the town of Mount Washington, Massachusetts, originating from a spring, the Bash Bish Brook. The Bash Bish Brook passes through a gorge before making its descent. The falls traverse a series of cascades for 200 ft before finally plunging a final 80 ft into a pool. At the final plunge, Bash Bish becomes two waterfalls, separated by a rock cropping out of the waterfall. This is the highest single drop waterfall within the state of Massachusetts. This waterfall is part of the Bash Bish Falls State Park.

2. Baxter State Park, Maine

Far from Maine's Atlantic coast is Baxter State Park, located in the North Maine Woods. Like Wadsworrth Falls State Park, Baxter State Park has its roots in a wealthy donor. Percival P. Baxter was the governor of Maine from 1921 to 1925. During his time as governor, he donated a large tract of inherited forest land to the state of Maine. Baxter State Park is home to Mount Katahdin. At 5,267 ft (1,605 m) above sea level, this is the highest mountain in the park, as well as the highest mountain in the state of Maine. There are three lakes within the park, as well as several ponds. There are streams and rivers that connect the ponds and lakes. This park is not controlled by the Maine State Park system.The Baxter State Park Authority controls this park. Overnight camping is allowed within the park during certain months of the year. In order to preserve the integrity of its nature and to keep the park "Forever Wild", noisy electronic device audio, or visual, are not allowed within the park.

1. Squibnocket Beach, Massachusetts

Squibnocket Beach is located on the island of Martha's Vineyard. This beach is known for its high surf and its rocky shore. One reason for its high surf is its location. Squibnocket Beach is located on the southwestern portion of Martha's Vineyard, directly facing the Atlantic Ocean. Surf coming from the Atlantic Ocean is particularly strong. In fact, Squibnocket Beach is known on Martha's Vineyard for consistently having some of the strongest surf on the island. Squibnocket also has a distinction of being a restricted access beach. The town of Chilmark, Massachusetts is the municipality that this beach is located in. Only persons who are residents of Chilmark, their guests, or those who are summer tenants are allowed to have access to the beach. A pass is required for accessing Squibnocket Beach.