The warm summer days on the coast of New England seem far behind now, though I’m glad it took me that long to publish this post as I get to relive this charming town on a cold, late fall day. With history around every corner (it was settled in the 1600s) and a thriving food and cultural scene, it’s fair to say Portsmouth, New Hampshire is a coastal gem worth exploring.

It’s an easy day trip from Boston although you’ll want to stay at least a night or two to make the most of it. While there are a few key sites to check off your tourist list, the small town beckons you to stroll its quiet neighborhoods (almost everything is within walking distance – fantastic!) and take in the myriads of Georgian homes gracing the streets.

The south waterfront area is particularly picturesque. 18th century homes with clapboard sidings in a rainbow of colors will quickly zip you back in time.

You’ll undoubtedly notice the more upscale Wentworth-Gardner House on your stroll which sits on the waterfront. It’s a National Historic Landmark which you can tour to get a peak at the design and architecture as well as learn a bit of history. But don’t spend too much time in here as you’ll be doing a lot of house visits shortly…

Get a fresh breath of coastal air and a peak at the nearby harbor, still pretty busy these days. Water played a big part in Portsmouth’s history as it was built on the Piscataqua River exclusively for the King’s commerce – to build British ships.

Walk along the water to reach Prescott Park and its formal gardens which were in full bloom when I visited in September.

You’ll find gorgeous oasis of calm with fountains and benches to rest for a bit.

An old cemetery features some fascinating gravestones (skulls and crossbones were in vogue) belonging to the elite from back in the days.

When lunchtime comes, the buzzing old harbour is the place to be. Portsmouth has a huge choice of amazing and modern restaurants all within a few blocks of each other so having a great meal here is no issue and will be a highlight of your stay. For a quick and delicious seafood fix, check out the Old Ferry Landing on the docks.

The old seafood shack has a large outdoor terrace so you can watch the boats go by, super friendly staff, and most importantly a very decent menu of local seafood specialties. Seeing the popularity of the place and the turnover, you know it’s all insanely fresh and you can taste it too. I got the fried scallops basket and can still remember biting into their smooth, buttery flesh… the stuff of dreams.

Now you should be ready to tackle Portsmouth’s main attraction: The Strawbery Banke Museum. An absolute ‘do not miss’ in the heart of the historic downtown area, this living indoor-outdoor museum packs a punch within its 10 acres. You might have walked by on your morning stroll without realizing it…

Opened in 1958, the complex of 36 buildings spanning 300 years of American history is considered to be the first urban preservation project in the United States. Plan for a few hours here so you can explore at a leisurely pace and partake in some of the ‘living’ demonstrations.

Besides the houses and buildings, there are eight well maintained gardens to wander through, some aesthetic and others recreated to showcase the edibles grown a few centuries ago.

I think the last time I experienced a similar outdoor museum was during my school years! I must say I really enjoyed the exploration, the ability to come in and out of the buildings in whichever order you chose, and all the details that brought to life Portsmouth from the late 1600s until the 1950s.

The randomness of the visits also meant I would walk into a 1950s living room one minute…

…and step into a 17th century wood-framed English house the next.

While some structures are more modest, others like the Chase House, which belonged to a merchant family, have incredible architecture and woodwork which are beautifully accompanied by period furniture and costumes.

Cooking demonstrations are also taking place – ah, the smell of an open hearth!

Fragments of original tapestry have stood the test of time in more ways than we thought. What was fashionable then is making a comeback and I for one would love to adorn a wall with such an exquisite pastoral scene – wouldn’t you?

The time warp is real when walking into the general store…

Brands are familiar still, but not the prices!

A few buildings have costumed role-players which add to the history and frankly, it’s just fun to play along! I had an enlightening conversation with the store owner’s daughter Ines who was mending some apron while checking in on clients in the store (connected to their house of course). A rewarding and charming afternoon it was…and possibly the best 300 years of history telling you can get in New Hampshire!

Back in the 21st century, there’s a lively downtown area filled with great restaurants and shops to explore.

And more beautiful houses to admire from the street.

You’ll need a drink after all that walking and I can’t think of a better place than The Wilder. The gastropub makes the best craft cocktails in town and their food looked really good too even though I didn’t indulge.

Just up the street you’ll find The Franklin, a modern tavern and oyster house with glowing reviews. I was intrigued…

Retro look, very decent cocktail menu and a shucking station greeted me at the door and I knew this would be a good dinner.

Of course, the local oysters are a marvel and you should try every one they have available.

The rest of the menu is tapas-style and won’t disappoint.

Before heading out the next day, get your caffeine fix at Caffe Kilim. The Turkish coffee shop is a local favorite and has a super cozy interior where you can also shop for Middle Eastern goods while having breakfast.

Of course, the strong Turkish coffee is the reason to come here!

One last stop before hitting the road as it wouldn’t be a true New England getaway without that iconic shot… There’s a lovely lighthouse a 5 minutes drive away in New Castle with gorgeous harbor views and plenty of coastal pedigree.

A quick New England getaway for kissing goodbye to summer led me to the artsy coastal town of Rockport in Massachusetts. A favorite vacation spot less than an hour’s drive north of Boston, its popularity thankfully doesn’t dampen its appeal or its photogenic quality.

Get down first to the harbor to feel its pulse and relish in some rare moment of tranquility.

You likely won’t be alone exploring Rockport’s main attraction of Bearskin Neck and that’s all good. The peninsula jutting out into the harbor is full of quirky shops, restaurants and art galleries that seem to put a smile on everyone’s face, making for a very pleasant stroll.

Even if what’s inside the shops doesn’t interest you, the buildings themselves are a fine backdrop to any curious wanderer, with some houses dating as far back as 300 years ago.

Another reason to get excited about a walk in these parts is to join the line at Roy Moore Lobster Co.

The tiny operation has been here since 1918 and is totally worth the hype and short wait. While it might look like takeout-only at first glance, you only need to walk past the jovial employees to find yourself on their back patio. If it’s full, as it often is, you have a scenic harbor perfect for an impromptu picnic.

Order a caught-that-day steamed lobster roll and anything else you fancy (they have clam chowder, shrimp cocktail, smoked mackerel, etc.) and take your lunch outside.

There’s the breeze, seagulls and clapping of the water to accompany this quintessential New England summer meal. And this still being an active fishing harbor, you might also have the chance to observe lobstermen hauling their traps while you enjoy a glorious sample of their catch.

Notice that red fishing shack that seems to hug the spotlight wherever you look? If it seems familiar, it’s no coincidence. What is commonly called “Motif #1” has the reputation of being one of the most painted and photographed building in New England.

The original from 1884 has been destroyed by blizzards and storms over the years but is always rebuilt as the symbol of the town.

Walk to the end of the peninsula to get to “the point” where you’ll enjoy great views of the open seas and passing boats.

From there, get back to the main street for some more shopping, although I much prefer wandering the impossibly cute residential streets for a peek at New England Coastal architecture…

If you need a break from summer in NYC and the crowded Hamptons, a weekend getaway to the Finger Lakes is calling. Just a few hours drive will bring you to one of the best wine regions in the country with gorgeous scenery, a thriving food scene, and plenty of outdoor pursuits to get your mind off the city grind.

The Finger Lakes region is quite vast with 11 long and narrow lakes giving its name to this beautiful upstate destination. Attempting to cover it all over a weekend would be crazy so you’re better to concentrate on a single of the larger lakes – and I’d hastily recommend Seneca Lake. It’s the largest of the Finger Lakes but most importantly, it’s home to the biggest wine trail in New York State and three of the best parks in the region.

There are a lot of wonderful towns around the lake but you should base yourself either at the southern tip in Watkins Glen or the northern one in Geneva for the best access to all there is to do here.

The bigger of the two though still pretty quaint, Geneva has a beautiful lakefront state park and a growing culinary scene that make a good case for staying here. Even if you’re not spending the night, make sure you try one of the F.L.X. spots, whether it’s the intimate farm-to-table dinner of F.L.X. Table or the fried chicken and waffle creations from F.L.X. Fry Bird.

With just about 40 wineries surrounding Seneca Lake, the hardest part of planning your trip will be choosing which ones you wish to stop at (and who’s driving!). Going down the western side of the lake from Geneva, I made sure to stop at Shaw Vineyard near Himrod after reading much praise about the artisanal operations.

The sustainably minded winery hosts tastings in its small and rustic barn-like room and is notable for having a great selection of reds in a region known mostly for white wine. The small production and cellar-aging (often five years or more for reds) means the bottles here aren’t the cheapest but the complexity and character of each bottle makes this a great stop on any wine tasting route.

A very different experience awaits at Lakewood Vineyards, a family-owned winery producing wine and mead.

The outdoor patio with scenic views of the vineyard and the lake is a big draw, and so is the wide variety of wine on offer. It’s the kind of winery that has something for everyone and many different tasting flights from dry to sweet and everything in between.

Sample a bunch, buy a bottle and some snacks and settle at a picnic table to enjoy the magnificent views. I fell in love with their dry Riesling, their sparkling and their Cabernet Franc and left with quite a few bottles to fill the trunk of my car!

I honestly never thought I would sample such fine wines up here, and apparently the answer lies in the topography… It has been observed that the large size of Seneca Lake moderates the temperature which creates ideal conditions for growing grapes on the surrounding land. That’s the reason Seneca Lake has more wineries in the region than any other lakes and is now widely considered by winemakers to have the region’s best terroir.

When you need a break from all that drinking, just past the southern tip of the lake you’ll find the small, charming village of Montour Falls. Its main attraction is a big waterfall called Shequaga that suddenly appears in between houses in a spectacular and surprising effect.

A small park with benches allows you to linger for a while and admire that frothy cascade pouring down the cliff. The resemblance to a lacy wedding veil won’t be caused by the amount of wine you’ve ingested I can assure you…it’s nature’s own striking show once again.

A few minutes drive back up north and you’ll find yourself in the town of Watkins Glen, a very fine lakeside home base from where to hit all the wonders around Seneca Lake.

Most people who have heard of Watkins Glen are more familiar with its racing history of which you’ll find numerous reminders around town. Nicknamed ‘The Glen‘, its automobile race track was once known around the world as the home of the Formula One Grand Prix as well as a number of other famous racing events.

The new face of Watkins Glen though is very much centered around the burgeoning wine industry and fantastic outdoor adventures available nearby. For a local taste, I stopped by the highly praised Graft Wine + Cider Bar on the main street (*it has unfortunately recently closed its doors after four years in service – its owners wanting to do something different). The casual eatery offered wine and drinks all made in New York State with a daily changing menu of locally sourced sharing plates.

The next day, wake up as early as you can for what I consider the highlight of the region – a hike through Watkins Glen State Park. I confess that this park only is what brought me here, over 4 hours drive from my home, and it was more than worth it.

The most famous park in the Finger Lakes has its entrance right in the middle of the village and will undoubtedly blow your mind. You’ll want to devote at least 1.5 hours to exploring the world-class Gorge Trail and my early start recommendation will be the best gift you can give yourself around these parts.

The Gorge Trail starts climbing up right after the entrance of the park and will show you some of Nature’s most spellbinding work along the way.

7am – pretty much the only time in high season you’ll have the trail to yourself and it’ll mean the world to not only your photographs but to be able to enjoy this grand spectacle in peace and quiet… The trail follows the glen’s stream which descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, creating 19 waterfalls along its course.

For 1.3 miles, you’ll wind your way over and under all of these waterfalls in a light, color and sound show that can’t truly be captured by mere photos.

While the hundreds of stone steps you’ll be climbing are man-made, the erosion of the cliffs surely isn’t and it’s incredible to see the sheer size of the chasm created over thousands of years.

With the early morning sun bouncing off every which way and water splashing against the cliff sides, rainbows are a regular occurrence and only adds to the magic of the place.

Approaching the thundering Cavern Cascade…

…if you’ve never stood behind a waterfall you’ll get your chance here.

The wide setting of ‘The Cathedral’ is an imposing sight after the closed-in and narrow start of the trail, and things are just beginning to get grander.

It’s hard to explain the palpitations felt of being a tiny individual in this stunning setting, approaching what she knows is the exact shot that draws everyone for hundreds of miles to this little state park. I can still feel the excitement as I slowly made my way up these narrow steps in the cool morning air…

…to witness the Rainbow Falls in all their glory. No. Word. I’m not exactly sure how long I stood there – it never felt like enough time to capture it all.

With a few photo and contemplative stops, you can hike the trail up in about an hour and then you’ll have the choice to catch a shuttle at the top end of it to bring you back to the entrance, or walk the Gorge Trail back in reverse. I obviously advise you to do the latter. You’ll find many angles you’ve missed on the way up, the light will have changed dramatically, and you’ll be able to wave to the hordes of tourists who didn’t wake up early enough to have this natural wonder all to themselves for a spell…