If downtowns are “downtown” on your travel agenda, New England won’t disappoint with several communities offering vibrant and attractive downtown districts.
While many New England centers have collapsed due to the “superstore” boom, budget problems, and lousy community planning, other communities have prospered through vision, determination, and a commitment to excellence. These are the cities that realize that a viable downtown makes more money, keeps people drawn to that particular community, and ultimately serves as a kind of barometer for what the rest of the community is like. There really is nothing like a beautiful downtown area for residents to use, travelers to visit, and those considering a move to call their own.
Topping our list of the best downtowns is Guilford, Conn. Located about 20 minutes southeast of New Haven, downtown Guilford sports an impressive large town common framed by well-maintained historic colonial homes, independently run restaurants and cafes, and shops. It’s not really a mom and pop town, as many of the shops are of the boutique and gallery type, but the overall feel is old-fashioned, quiet, and safe. Perhaps the best thing to do in downtown Guilford is sit on a bench in the town common and soak up the flavor of New England.
A close second behind Guilford is Wolfeboro, NH. Perhaps if Wolfeboro didn’t have mountains and a lake then it would be just another downtown, but when you combine the cute shops with all that glorious Lake Winnepesaukee water and the mountain ranges behind it the town comes alive. It is a beautiful center for walking with the lake and mountains behind a few blocks of shops and restaurants. Maybe that’s why Wolfeboro is known as the oldest resort town in America.”
In third place is the city of Concord, Massachusetts, site of the Revolutionary War. This city in the western suburbs of Boston has wonderfully maintained its considerable historical origins with some of the most impressive colonial houses in the region, a magnificent-looking public library, the peaceful public park of Monument Square and many small shops and restaurants in the downtown and nearby depot. Square neighborhoods. The tree-lined side streets have a classic New England look with one grand house after another, many with beautiful front porches, white picket fences, and rears that go on and on. The beautiful and historic Walden Pond, the Concord River (great for canoeing), and the Old North Bridge are all within walking distance.
Weston, Vt., is our next choice for the best downtown. The entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places! The iconic Vermont Country Store serves as the town’s commercial center (you could spend a day shopping at this charming rustic store specializing in a host of “hard to find” goods), with beautiful rural scenes, a gazebo in the town common, classic white Vermont churches, inns and surrounding views of the revered Green Mountains.
Bringing up the rear, but still finishing as one of our favorite hubs, is Bristol, RI Known as “America’s Most Patriotic City,” Bristol has American flags displayed throughout the city, a center stripe painted red, white, and blue in the center and America’s oldest 4th of July celebration (it really is a lively celebration!). Bristol seems like the proverbial “all-American” city where everyone seems to know each other, and shops that cater to locals and tourists alike (books, toys, photo supplies, coffee shops, and other charming small-town local shops). Bristol is also packed with restaurants, many of them specializing in seafood (Lobster Pot, Quito’s, to name a few). Of course, Bristol’s location is ideal: Located on picturesque Narragansett and Mt. Hope bays, you can get nice views of the water from downtown and even better views on the outskirts, especially beautiful Colt State Park and impressive Mt. .Hope. Bridge. Bristol is so special that many locals prefer it to another wonderful Rhode Island destination, Newport. That is saying a lot!
New England has many other memorable centers including Keene, NH, Hanover, NH, Stonington Borough, Conn., Bar Harbor, Maine, Welfleet (Cape Cod), Mass., and Montpelier, Vt., further validating than many streets Majors can serve as part of your New England “major” trip planning, or possible move.
