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Greetings from Scenic Six again.
Last week, I drove to Allen, Texas, for my daughter’s figure skating competition, and I noticed that the temperatures there were significantly warmer than those back home. The weather in New England is usually chilly one week and hotter than Texas the next. Although we didn’t have much time for sightseeing, we nevertheless had a great time at the BBQ and with the people of Texas!
This week, in honor of Independence Day, I’m blogging about the best beach towns in our area, free activities in July, the Charlestown Seafood Festival, the Best of Vermont Summer Festival, and $17.76 nightly prices at a number of hotels.
Soak in the rays at these top-ranked New England beach towns
There are many highly regarded beach towns in New England, and I’ve compiled a list of them for you. They have famous boardwalks, outdoor dining options, charming stores, and stunning beaches. Ogunquit in Maine and Provincetown and Nantucket in Massachusetts are a couple of my favorites.
Fill your calendar with free city fun
The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade, one of the biggest Fourth of July festivities in the country, is coming up, and admission is free. Take a look at some free activities in Boston in July.
Put this college town on your travel list
CNN claims that a town in western Massachusetts that is well-known for its bustling downtown, eateries and coffee shops, and the stunning Smith College is a must-visit location this year. One of the top ten American towns to visit in 2025 was Northampton.
Travel Tips
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Boston is kicking off a free summer concert series on July 7. Enjoy live music weekly in Boston s parks through Aug. 8 during the 2025 ParkArts Citywide Neighborhood Concert Series. Check out
the schedule
.
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The 40th annual
Charlestown Seafood Festival
, billed as one of the biggest events in New England, takes over Ninigret Park in Charlestown, R.I. Aug. 1-3. Guests will enjoy live music, amusement rides, fireworks, and plenty of seafood.
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Mark your calendar for the fifth annual
Best of Vermont Summer Festival
, taking place Aug. 23-24 in Ludlow. The event will feature live music, a beer garden, maple, honey, and cheese sampling, classic cars, and more than 125 vendors.
Deals and Steals
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Benchmark Resorts & Hotels properties is celebrating Independence Day with its first
Independent Hotel Sale
, featuring nightly rates that begin at $17.76 between June 27 and July 11. New England properties taking part include
Wayfinder Newport
in Newport, R.I.;
Spruce Point Inn
in Boothbay Harbor, Maine;
The Kendall
in Cambridge, Mass.; and
The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa
in Manchester, Vermont. The rates are subject to availability.
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Enjoy discounted meals in Rhode Island during
Providence Restaurant Weeks
, taking place July 6-19. You ll find deals on cocktails, meals, and prix fixe menus at
participating restaurants
.
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Are you more of a self-tour kind of person when you travel? Did you know you can get a
free audio tour of Boston
through the National Park Service? Just download the
NPS App
and choose your tour.
I’ll close by sharing this picture I shot over the weekend at Historic Downtown McKinney, which is regarded as one of Texas’ largest historic districts and is situated roughly 30 miles outside of Dallas.
Where have you been recently? Your images might be included in a future Scenic Six newsletter, so please submit them to [email protected].
Enjoy the trip, whether you’re planning your next getaway or taking a trip this week.
Palma, Kristi
Kristi Palma writes about New England tourism as a culture reporter for Boston.com. She writes about hotels, airlines, and activities in Boston and New England. She is the writer of the weekly travel newsletter Scenic Six.
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