Last time I chimed in with a vacation pick, I suggested Nova Scotia–and the response from readers was overwhelming. So I thought I’d offer up another favorite, a little closer to home this time, for those who’d rather stay stateside but still crave those cozy New England vibes.

But the New England trip I’m going to paint for you isn’t the one you’ll find splashed across glossy travel magazines. This is the backroads version–the kind only locals would suggest–and you’re just going to have to trust me on it.

First off, unless it’s been a lifelong dream, skip Cape Cod on this trip. I say that as someone who lived there for more than two decades. Over the years, I’ve watched prices climb out of reach for the average family, while traffic has gone from bad to unbearable. You’ll need special stickers to park at most public beaches, and unless you’ve rented a house right on the sand, that Cape Cod beach dream can quickly dissolve into stress and disappointment.

As for Nantucket–lodging prices are sky-high, restaurants book up fast, and once you’re on the island, getting around isn’t exactly a breeze unless you’ve packed your patience and your platinum card.

Martha’s Vineyard isn’t much better.

What I suggest is a leisurely drive to Western Massachusetts your first day. It’s about seven hours from Jamestown, and my husband and I love Route 86, which is dotted with green mountains, fields, and small New York towns from beginning to end.

I love Western Massachusetts in the Berkshire Mountains. It’s a place that doesn’t try so hard to impress, yet somehow always does. Culture, charm, and countryside all mingle in a way that feels both grounded and quietly enchanting.

Now, I realize when most people think “New England getaway,” their minds don’t immediately jump to the Berkshires. It means there are still places where you can stumble upon a roadside farmstand with fresh berries, wander through an art museum that moves you to tears, or hike a ridgeline trail and not see another soul for miles. It’s New England with breathing room. And heart.

The Norman Rockwell museum in Stockbridge should not be missed. Even if you think you know his work–those nostalgic Saturday Evening Post covers, the small-town Americana–seeing it in person is something else entirely. It hits you differently when you’re standing in front of the originals. It’s not just a museum–it’s a love letter to a version of America we’re all quietly longing for.

As for where to stay, you’ve got options–charming, character-filled, and far more memorable than any chain hotel. Lenox and Stockbridge both offer a lovely mix of historic inns and boutique bed-and-breakfasts, many tucked into leafy side streets with gardens and wraparound porches. The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge is a classic–it’s been welcoming guests since the 1700s and still manages to feel like a living piece of New England history.

Moving east, we’re skipping Boston here–again, expensive, hectic, overwhelming for the peaceful getaway we’re planning. Let’s spend day three weaving our way through Vermont. Don’t rush it. This is a day to take the scenic route, roll the windows down, and let Vermont charm you with its quiet magic.

Start the day early, maybe grabbing coffee and a pastry in Great Barrington before heading north. From there, wind your way up Route 7, stopping in towns like Bennington or Manchester. Bennington’s got that lived-in, historic feel.

Manchester is more polished–great shopping, antiques, and a little upscale without being snooty. If the mood strikes, detour to Hildene, the Lincoln family estate.

As you continue east toward New Hampshire, you’ll pass rolling farmland, covered bridges, and classic New England villages. You might even want to stop for maple syrup or local cheese at a roadside farm shop. This is the kind of drive that makes you fall in love with New England all over again.

By day’s end, you’ll be crossing into New Hampshire, where a whole new kind of beauty awaits–more rugged, more remote. Pick up the main thruway, Route 93, and head toward Lincoln.

This stretch of New Hampshire is where the landscape begins to lift–literally. The mountains rise up around you, the air turns crisp, and there’s an almost electric freshness to it all. The vibrancy here is uncanny: clean rivers, deep green forests, and skies so clear they feel scrubbed. If you’ve never been, it’s unforgettable.

Next week, we’ll head to Maine from New Hampshire. There’s something about crossing into Maine that feels like you’re exhaling.

Until then, man your maps!