Scenic Six

Vote for your favorite Cape Cod town, plan a spring hike near Boston, tour historic homes, and look ahead to jazz, rafting, and anniversary events.

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Welcome back to Scenic Six.

I just looked at the calendar and did the math: my Cape Cod vacation is 81 days away (but who’s counting?). I love the feeling of peace that washes over me when I think about our annual escape to the Cape. So this week, I’m asking for your favorite Cape Cod town and why. 

I’m also sharing information about great hiking spots near Boston, the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, events celebrating America’s semiquincentennial, and discounted rafting trips in Maine. 

What is your favorite Cape Cod town?

Cape Cod’s 15 beautiful towns have stunning beaches, charming downtowns, excellent restaurants, and more. But which is the very best of them all? This is a hard one because each town is so full of beauty and hidden gems. So I’m going with the sentimental vote and picking Harwich, where we’ve rented the same beach house for 12 years. Please cast your vote.

Where to hike near Boston

You don’t have to travel very far from the city for a good spring hike. Check out 10 places to go hiking within an hour of Boston. I’ve hiked the Skyline Trail at Middlesex Fells Reservation in Stoneham with my kids and it’s a great way to spend an afternoon. 

Take a historic house tour this spring

I love old homes and the stories of the people who once lived there. If you do too, step back in time this season by touring one of the many historic homes located across New England. The “Gilded Age” tours at The Elms in Newport, where the HBO show was filmed, begin May 12. Both Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, N.H. and Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House in Gloucester, open for tours on May 23. 

Travel tips:

• Looking for an out-of-the-box experience? Check out this list of 5 New England summer travel experiences you’ve never had before, located in Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine.

• Celebrate America’s semiquincentennial in Massachusetts at museum exhibits, historic reenactments, and by climbing aboard the Tall Ships sailing into Boston Harbor this summer. 

• Attention, jazz lovers: Billed as its most ambitious program yet, the 43rd annual Burlington Discover Jazz Festival will take place June 3-7 in downtown Burlington, Vermont.

Deals and steals: 

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• Travelers can book a “Sail Away Stay” package at Boston’s Liberty Hotel in celebration of Sail 250 this summer that includes an overnight stay for two, champagne toast, kayaking on the Charles River, and a voucher (valued at $156.21) redeemable at CLINK or Liberty Bar for one dozen Wellfleet oysters paired with a bottle of Decoy Brut. Available for stays in July (the Tall Ships are in Boston July 11-16) 

• Massachusetts residents can enjoy free admission to open houses taking place at the Museum of Fine Arts on May 25 and also June 19-20.  

• During the off season in May and June, travelers can get up to 35% off rafting trips and lodging rates at Northern Outdoors Adventure Resort, a four-season outdoor adventure resort in The Forks, Maine. 

I’ll leave you with this photo of tulips in the Public Garden, taken by Kelly Chan.

Where have you traveled lately? Please share your photos by sending them to [email protected] and they may be featured in an upcoming Scenic Six newsletter.

Whether you’re traveling this week or planning your next escape, enjoy the journey.