Issues → January/February 2010 → Interact → 10 Things to Do →
Readers' Choice for Best of New England: 2010 Favorites
READERS! You told us about your favorite New England B&B, amusement park, museum, pizza place, ski resort, diner, and so much more in an online survey. Thanks for your participation. Here are the top three results in each category. (NOTE: A few categories didn't have three nominations.)
ATTRACTIONS
State Park
NH Franconia Notch
ME Acadia
ME Baxter
Lake
VT Lake Champlain
NH Lake Winnipesaukee
VT Lake Willoughby
Beach
NH Hampton
ME Ogunquit
NH Rye
Amusement Park
MA Six Flags, Agawam
NH Canobie Lake Park, Salem
CT Lake Compounce, Bristol
Ski Resort
VT Jay Peak, Jay
VT Okemo, Ludlow
VT Burke, East Burke
Museum (History)
VT Shelburne Museum, Shelburne
VT Fairbanks Museum, St. Johnsbury
CT Peabody Museum, New Haven
Museum (Art)
MA Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
NH Currier Museum of Art, Manchester
ME Portland Art Museum, Portland
Art Gallery
CT Celebrations Gallery, Pomfret
VT Memphremagog Arts Collaborative, Newport
NH Currier Museum of Art, Manchester
Music (Indoor)
MA Symphony Hall, Boston
CT Chevrolet Theatre (Oakdale) Wallingford
VT Higher Ground, South Burlington
Music (Outdoor)
MA Tanglewood, Lenox
NH Meadowbrook, Gilford
VT Shelburne Farms, Shelburne
LODGING
Inn
VT Wildflower Inn, Lyndonville
ME Beachmere, Ogunquit
MA Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge
B & B
VT Wildflower Inn, Lyndonville
VT Golden Stage, Proctorsville
VT Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast, Montgomery Center
Small Hotel
NH Gale River Motel, Franconia
MA Hawthorne Hotel, Salem
Large Hotel
NH Mount Washington, Bretton Woods
RI Westin, Providence
RI Providence Biltmore, Providence
Luxury Hotel
NH Mount Washington Hotel, Bretton Woods
NH Balsams Grand Resort, Dixville Notch
NH Wentworth By the Sea, New Castle
Budget Lodging
ME Hampton Inn & Suites, Wells
Family Hotel
NH Gale River Motel, Franconia
VT Wildflower Inn, Lyndonville
Campsite
MA Nickerson State Park, Brewster
Romantic Lodging
VT Rabbit Hill Inn, Lower Waterford
VT Wildflower Inn, Lyndonville
NH Adair Country Inn & Restaurant, Bethlehem
DINING
Clam Chowder
MA Legal Seafood, various locations
ME Saco Island Deli, Saco
MA Captain Parker's Pub, West Yarmouth
Lobster Roll
ME Reds Eats, Wiscassett
MA Kelly's Roast Beef, various locations
Fried Clams
MA Clam Box, Ipswich
MA Woodman's, Essex
RI Flo's Clam Shack, Middletown
Pizza
ME Alex Pizza, Biddeford
VT Parker Pie, West Glover
VT Hoagie's Pizza & Pasta, Newport
Baked Beans
MA Durgin Park, Boston
Micro-Brew (Microbrewery/Craft Brewery)
VT Long Trail Brewing Company, Bridgewater Corners
VT Trout River Brewing, Lyndonville
MA Samuel Adams (The Boston Beer Company), Boston
Family Restaurant
VT Killarney, Ludlow
MA Tabellas Restaurant, Amherst
VT Juniper's Restaurant, Lyndonville
Seafood Restaurant
MA Legal Seafood, various locations
NH Weathervane, various locations
VT Anchor Restaurant, Wilmington
Ice Cream Stand
NH Sweet Kathy's, Plymouth
CT We Lik It, Abington
VT Ben & Jerry, Burlington
Bar
VT Killarney, Ludlow
MA Tabellas Restaurant, Amherst
Deli
ME Saco Island Deli, Saco
CT Rein's Deli, Vernon
MA Debra's Natural Gourmet, Concord
Bakery
VT Baba-A-Louis, Chester
VT Crow's Bakery & Opera House Cafe, Proctorsville
RI Scialo Brothers, Providence
Coffee Shop
RI Dunkin' Donuts, various locations
MA Dunkin' Donuts, various locations
NH Dunkin' Donuts, various locations
Diner
VT Miss Lyndonville Diner, Lyndonville
ME Maine Diner, Wells
ME Moody's Diner, Waldoboro
Cheap Eats
VT Miss Lyndonville Diner, Lyndonville
GETAWAYS
Weekend Getaway
RI Newport
MA Centerville
ME Ogunquit
Romantic Getaway
RI Newport
VT Northeast Kingdom
ME Bar Harbor
Family Getaway
CT Mystic
MA Cape Cod
VT Northeast Kingdom
Shopping Getaway
ME Freeport
NH North Conway
VT Manchester
Reader Comments
Comment from Mark Becker on January 26, 2010
Dunkin Donuts?
Comment from Jeanne Klump on January 26, 2010
Absolutely Dunkin Donuts! This is truer for those forced to face winter away from New England. Happiness is the medium roast!
Comment from Kay Landreth on January 26, 2010
And, where is Jasper White's Summer Shack, MA, on your list for Seafood Restaurants?
Comment from Marie McGarrell on January 26, 2010
We always enjoy a hearty breakfast at the Maine Diner in Wells. Great choice!
Comment from Houston Taylor on January 26, 2010
Great choice,s I would like to try most of them.
Comment from Kathy Bugay on January 27, 2010
Anyone for Pizzeria Regina's pizza from Boston's North End? ( And while we're in the North End, let's add Mike's Pastry for best bakery. )
Comment from Peter & Ann Connors on January 27, 2010
Great pick of Killarney in Ludlow, VT for a family restaurant.
I can't believe there are three ice cream stands in the world much less New England that are better than Kimball Farm in Jaffrey, NH.
Comment from Margaret Hoffman on January 28, 2010
How about adding a category for gardens next time? Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Tower Hill Botanical Gardens (MA), McLaughlin (ME), and so many more!
Comment from susan orr on January 30, 2010
I could easily eat all my meals at the Maine Diner, but the commute from Bufalo NY is just toooooo much!!
Comment from Don Goodrich on January 30, 2010
Are you kidding, Dunkinn Donuts, what about the Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans on the Cape, And Dr. Mike's ice cream in Bethel CT for ice cream parlor. Come try it.
Comment from Herbert Jensen on February 3, 2010
The Brockton Cafe or George's Pizza in Brockton, MA, are the best in the world. We often have our friends in the area ship one or two pies by mail.
Comment from James Pye on February 3, 2010
In Duxbury, Massachusetts, we have the following bests: Ice cream: FarFars, Family restaurant: The Milepost Restaurant and Tavern, Seafood: Island Creek Oysters, Seafood takeout: Snug Harbor Fish Market, Bakery: French Memories, Coffee shop: Uncommon Grounds, Public beach: Duxbury Beach Park. I may be a homer, but these places are great!
Comment from John robichaud on February 22, 2010
Polls like this are very misleading. I would like to know how many people actually replied to these surveys.. people that actually travel throughout New England would never pick Dunkin Donuts as their favorite spot, we have so many inns and hotels, and you only had two nominations in some categories? It's unfortunate that you single out certain businesses based on a "certain" number of readers who have the time to fill out these surveys, and meanwhile you missed the truly great places to vist, shop and dine through out New England.
Comment from jean jordan on February 24, 2010
Lake Seymour is very clean and with the mountain and fresh streams a great place to be. It has a public beach that is free with a great parking lot, a nice store on the lake and a great inn ,Seymour Lake Lodge that allows pets and free use of kayates , canoes to travel on the lake . It is the largest lake entirely in Vermont and great fishing and rates are so low 59.$ and up. I also think the rt 114 is the best in Vermont for scenery. I have to be careful driving at night because of moose and deer. Thank you for such a great article
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