Top 5 Summer Road Trips & Fun Getaways in New England

No matter where you live in New England, there are plenty of beautiful, affordable and family friendly places to visit. The longest drive you may have to endure is five hours on the road, but even then you can stop along the way to take a rest and enjoy the scenery. The great thing about driving in New England is the ability to travel through 5 states all in one day! Below is a list of 802 Toyota’s top 5 favorite places for a road trip in New England and which Toyota we would choose to get there.

1. Hampton Beach & Portsmouth, NH
You can do both in a weekend. Spend time at the beach or at the Casino Cascade Water Slide Park alongside Hampton Beach’s famed boardwalk. There you can grab some salt water taffy at one of the mom & pop shops in the village, catch a concert at the Casino Ballroom, and play in the arcades on the main strip. Then cruise on up to Portsmouth to enjoy a nice day roaming through shops or journey out to Peirce Island. For dinner, grab some freshly caught lobster at any of the many local seafood restaurants and enjoy the sunset by the seashore. Our Toyota of choice for this trip is a 2014 Corolla S Plus Sedan!

2. Route 100, Vermont
Long and Lovely. Route 100 runs straight up the middle of Vermont. For a taste of its pleasures, drive the 90 miles from Ludlow to Waterbury. Up in the Green Mountains are famous ski resorts such as Okemo, Killington, Sugarbush, and Mad River Glen, all of which have great trails to hike or bike during the warmer months. Stop along the way and swim in the Mad River. In the valleys are villages such as Warren and Waitsfield, with their craft shops and local eateries. Be sure to visit local breweries such as Long Trail Brewery in Bridgewater Corners, Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Warren and Rock Art Brewery in Morrisville. End your trip in Waterbury, VT, by grabbing a bite to eat at Prohibition Pig where they have amazing pulled pork and craft beer, drive a few miles and get samples or blocks of cheese from Cabot Creamery, and end your day taking a tour and eating some freshly made Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. It is totally worth the drive! Our Toyota of choice for this trip is a 2014 Rav4 LE!

3. Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, ME
If you’re like the people who work at 802 Toyota of Vermont, you enjoy everything about being outdoors! Acadia National Park has everything you would ever want when it comes to enjoying mother nature. From Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Biking, Swimming, Bird Watching and Scenic Drives, Acadia National Park is simply breathtakingly beautiful. Our Toyota of choice for this trip is a 2014 Highlander SUV!

4. Jiminy Peak, Hancock, MA
Located in the beautiful Berkshires of Massachusetts is a fun for all ages place called Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort. First and foremost, no matter which direction you are driving from the views and scenery are breathtaking. Once there, you can venture up the mountain on the scenic chairlift ride. Then shoot on down the alpine slide or hop on the Mountain Coaster to get your adrenaline running. Jiminy Peak is also home to an Aerial Adventure Park, where you can glide though the surrounding forest at great heights. Bring your kids, you’ll have a blast! And if you don’t have kids, it’s still a blast! Our Toyota of choice for this trip is a 2014 Sienna Minivan (aka the Swagger Wagon)!

5. Route 7, Connecticut
The Housatonic Valley—Route 7 follows the Housatonic River through one of the most beautiful parts of western Connecticut. From New Milford to Canaan, you can drive through a 160-year-old covered bridge (Bulls Bridge) and see the 250-foot Kent Falls, meet hikers on the 2,000-mile long Appalachian Trail at Cornwall Bridge and watch fly fishermen casting for trout. Fans of motor racing visit Lime Rock Park, history buffs head for Lakeville’s two intriguing museums and railroad enthusiasts stop at Canaan’s Victorian station. Our Toyota of choice for this trip is a 2014 Venza Crossover!

We hope you get outdoors this summer and enjoy the beautiful scenery that is all around you. 802 Toyota’s staff does their best to take advantage of the warmer days by hopping in their car or truck and heading out on the open road to new destinations. We hope you will do the same!