Top Travel Spots on the East Coast of America
20/01/2018
Portland, Maine
Portland is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine and the seat of Cumberland County. Portland’s population was 66,417 as of 2018. The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, more than one-third of Maine’s total population, making it the most populous metropolitan area in northern New England. Portland’s economy relies mostly on the service sector and tourism. The Old Port district is known for its 19th-century architecture and nightlife.
Portland was named after the English town of Portland, Dorset. In turn, the city of Portland, Oregon was named after Portland, Maine.[7] Portland itself comes from the Old English word Portlanda, which literally means “land surrounding a harbour”
Lighthouses and lobsters and surf crashing on the rocky shore – these are the enduring images that come to mind when people think of the classic Maine seacoast. In Greater Portland, you’ll absolutely experience the quintessential Maine coast, as well as an urban sophistication that’s creating quite a stir. TripAdvisor named Portland one of the Top 10 Destinations, based on positive feedback and interest shown by their well-travelled community. If you haven’t already been, perhaps it’s time you come to see what the buzz is all about for yourself!
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States, founded on the Shawmut Peninsula in 1630 by Puritan settlers from the English town of the same name. It was the scene of several key events of the American Revolution, such as the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston. Upon gaining U.S. independence from Great Britain, it continued to be an important port and manufacturing hub as well as a centre for education and culture.
Explore architecture and works of art at the renowned Museum of Fine Arts, where tours in multiple languages are offered or discover avant-garde art at the Institute of Contemporary Art on Boston’s waterfront. Another gem is H.H. Richardson’s masterpiece, Trinity Church, consistently ranked among the USA’s most significant architectural landmarks.
Take in music, art or cultural festival. Wander Boston’s quintessential Beacon Hill neighbourhood full of Greek Revival and Federal-style homes, exquisite squares and historical sites. Stroll Boston Common and the Public Garden, and ride in one of the pedal-powered Swan Boats. Take a tour by foot, trolley, bike or boat. Everyone will enjoy Boston’s lively waterfront, whale watches and sunset sails. Wind your way through Harvard Yard or the mile-long campus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Providence, Rohde Island
Find yourself in Federal Hill, called “One of the Five Best Little Italys in the U.S.” by Chef Mario Batali. More than 100 restaurants, boutiques, galleries and food markets preserve the city’s Italian influence while also showing off its inventive modern spirit. Head to the East Side to encounter the Colonial past; you’ll be greeted by 18th and 19th-century homes, cobblestone streets and flickering streetlamps. Tour Brown University’s campus or visit the Rhode Island School of Design’s RISD Museum, home to more than 91,000 works of art. Shop Thayer, Wickenden and Hope streets for indie fashions and antiques, or go downtown to The Arcade, the oldest indoor shopping mall in the U.S. In Rhode Island.
Explore the city on foot on a historic walking tour or, for the foodies, a behind-the-scenes Savoring Rhode Island walking (and eating) tour. Follow up with a trip to one of Providence’s renowned bakeries, including Seven Stars, North Bakery, Ellie’s and Scialo Bros. Bakery.
Catch a Broadway act at Providence Performing Arts Center, originally a Loew’s Movie Palace built in the 1920s. At Tony Award-winning Trinity Repertory Company. Kids can enjoy a trip to Providence Children’s Museum or Roger Williams Park Zoo, 16 hectares full of African elephants, snow leopards and moon bears. For a romantic night out, take a Venetian gondola ride on one of downtown’s three rivers, where WaterFire, one of Providence’s newest attractions.
New Haven, Connecticut
Be sure to arrange a campus tour to visit hallowed Yale University, founded in 1701. Marvel at the architecture of the historic buildings, from stately old brick facades to the unusual, mid-century structure that is the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Also on the must-see list is Yale’s Art Gallery, Peabody Museum of Natural History, the Center for British Art and the Collection of Musical Instruments.
The Green, a 6.4-hectare park in downtown New Haven, is popular for festivals like the New Haven Jazz Festival. Sprawling East Rock Park’s 172 hectares are all part of the National Register of Historic Places. Grove Street Cemetery, a national historic landmark, was the first chartered burial ground in the USA. See the carousel at Lighthouse Point Park; the 1840 lighthouse is not open to the public, but the park is.
Stroll the Chapel Historic District for shopping, museums, art galleries and, frequently, live entertainment. See a wide range of performances at Shubert Theater or the Tony Award-winning Long Wharf Theatre. Go to the Knights of Columbus Museum to see Catholic-focused exhibitions and to New Haven Museum for a deep look at the rich history of this area. Pizza in New Haven consistently tops the “best” lists; visit restaurants in Little Italy to judge for yourself. The region is also considered the birthplace of the hamburger. Visit beach towns and partake in fresh seafood.
New York, New York State
They have seen a million times in the movies, but there’s nothing like taking in these iconic New York City landmarks in person. First stop, a tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, capped with a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry for fantastic views of both.
Immerse yourself in the bustle and bright lights of Times Square followed by the incomparable spectacle of a Broadway show – both experiences that you can’t find anywhere else Explore Rockefeller Center, and take a trip to the top of the Empire State Building. Experience Grand Central Terminal, a unique architectural gem and the city’s major transportation hub.
Central Park – the city’s urban park centrepiece – is a 341-hectare oasis of meadows, arches and sculptures, as well as running paths and playgrounds. Other green spaces dot the city, including Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, the Bronx’s Pelham Bay Park, Staten Island’s Greenbelt and Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens’ largest, with a huge recreation centre, plenty of room for sports and a botanical garden.
As panoramic scenes go, NYC can’t be beaten. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for views of New York Harbor and the city’s skylines or scale 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s Art Deco skyscraper to Top of The Rock, an observatory offering 360-degree views of the city. Newly-opened One World Observatory on the 100th floor of One World Trade Center shows off Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey.
Culture buffs love the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art’s modern masterpieces and the Whitney Museum of American Art’s many contemporary works. Stop at the enormous American Museum of Natural History to marvel at the rich collections on display.
It’s a cliché to say that New York is the “city that never sleeps,” but it’s true. No matter what you’re looking for – karaoke, live music, dancing – you can find it at all hours. See the New York Yankees’ historic home ballpark. Head to Madison Square Garden to catch an ice hockey match, basketball game or concert.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Baltimore, Maryland
Washington, District of Columbia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
