Kim's New England Travel Blog

Many people planning New England trips go online to get free driving directions. But which online driving directions tools are the best and most accurate? During my travels, I've had the opportunity to field test many free driving directions services. Here's my review of six sites where you can get free driving directions online.

Poll: Which Online Driving Directions Site Do You Use?

In New England, of course, the fastest way isn't always the best way to travel from place to place. New England's country roads beckon to drivers throughout the year, but there's no more magnificent time for a drive than autumn. Here are some driving tours for exploring New England's winding highways, covered bridges and secluded spots. You'll find suggested driving tours for all six New England states, plus neighboring New York.

New England's Most Spectacular Drives

• Motoring Through Moose Alley
• One Drive, Five Covered Bridges
• Portland to Rangeley Lake
• New Hampshire's National Scenic Byway with the Tongue-Twister Name

_{Fall photo © 2001 Kim Knox Beckius.}

It's almost back-to-school time. Tie on your most comfortable sneakers, flex those shopping bag-carrying biceps and head for New England, where outlet shopping is more than a mere added vacation attraction--it's a reason to visit all by itself!

Before you go, read my tips on how to be a smart outlet shopper, so you'll know when a deal is a deal.

Extra Savings Next Weekend! Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday is August 16-17.

_{Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets photo © 2007 Kim Knox Beckius.}

New additions this week to Kim's New England Deal Sheet:

• Spend the weekend of October 10-12 in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, enjoying leaves and lobster with a three-night package priced from $297 per person;
• Plan a quick, cheap, last-minute escape to the Massachusetts North Shore this weekend with a $91 Marriott eBreak room rate at the TownePlace Suites in Danvers; and
• Save 10 percent on gourmet blueberry goodies from Maine's Stonewall Kitchen this month.

Mark Your Calendar for Another Great Deal!
Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday Weekend is August 16-17, 2008.

_{Stonewall Kitchen Company Store in York, Maine, photo © 2008 Kim Knox Beckius.}

August is peach picking season in New England, and the farm markets and grocery stores will soon display fragrant, fuzzy, juicy and delightful peaches grown locally. Whether you pick your own peaches or simply purchase them, here are two dozen recipes direct from New England that take full advantage of the flavor of fresh peaches.

More Summertime Recipes from New England

• How to Grill Lobsters
• Summer Harvest Penne Recipe, from my New England Kitchen
• Beer-Basted Cheeseburger Recipe, from Beer Works restaurants in Massachusetts
• Lavender Lemonade Recipe, from Cape Cod's Ocean Edge Resort

_{Getty Images/Bread and Butter photo.}

Summer isn't over until the first leaf falls. If you'd still like to plan a summer escape, here are a few suggestions:

• Find sun and fun at Maine's Old Orchard Beach;
• Play all day at Six Flags New England (I'll even tell you how to save money on tickets);
• Catch a concert at Tanglewood in the Berkshires;
• Delve into a mystery in New Hampshire at America's Stonehenge;
• Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Boston's Freedom Trail;
• Take the kids to America's oldest theme park, Connecticut's Lake Compounce;
• Have a memorable stay on Boston's North Shore;
• Stroll along Newport, Rhode Island's famous Cliff Walk.

_{Old Orchard Beach photo © 2004 Kim Knox Beckius.}

New additions this week to Kim's New England Deal Sheet:

• BJ's wholesale club members and their guests can see LPGA women's golf action free this weekend in Quincy, Massachusetts;
• New Hampshire's Under the Elm B&B encourages guests to leaf peep longer by offering 20 percent off on Sunday with a Friday and Saturday stay this fall; and
• The two-night Autumn Brilliance package at Vermont's Green Mountain Inn includes a scenic horse and carriage ride and a picnic lunch.

Looking for a Six Flags New England coupon or discount offer to help you save money on admission to New England's premier amusement park? Here is a round-up of ways to make your day at the park more affordable, from printing your discounted tickets before you go to taking advantage of coupons and special offers from organizations and retailers.

Related Resources:

• Six Flags New England Guide
• New for 2008 at Six Flags New England
• Hotels Near Six Flags New England

_{Darren McCollester / Getty Images}

Though you may not be in a hurry to see the summer season come to a close, now's the time to start thinking fall if you're planning to join the thousands of "leaf peepers" who will descend on New England in the next few months for a glimpse of the blaze of foliage that is unparalleled anywhere in the world. Here's your guide to great fall lodgings in all six New England states, plus neighboring New York.

Need Help Planning Your New England Fall Foliage Trip? I'll hold your hand every step of the way with my free, eight-day email course.

_{Red Lion Inn photo © 2008 Kim Knox Beckius.}

This weekend, head for the largest free folk festival in the U.S.--three days of traditional music and dance, crafts, ethnic foods, street parades and more on six outdoor stages throughout Lowell, Massachusetts. The 22nd annual Lowell Folk Festival runs July 25-27, 2008.

There's still plenty of summer left!

• Find more great events in my New England Summer Festivals A-Z Guide.
• Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Boston's Freedom Trail.
• Discover 10 new things to see and do in New England this summer.

_{Photo Courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. Jim Higgins, photographer.}

New additions this week to Kim's New England Deal Sheet:

• Enjoy an overnight indoor water park escape for just $239 for a family of four at CoCo Key Water Resort near Boston;
• Print an online coupon and save on admission to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts; and
• Buy one ticket for a Tuesday sail out of Gloucester aboard the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon, and get a second ticket for half-price.

_{Raising the sails aboard the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon photo © 2007 Kim Knox Beckius.}