Looking Back at 2012

A shiny new year is just a handful of days away, and I hope visiting New England tops your list of resolutions (here are some reasons why).

To jump start your New England travel planning, here's a look back at some of my favorite New England stories and adventures from 2012:

• In March, I went snowmobiling for the first time ever in New Hampshire's incomparable White Mountains... and heard from one reader that my story gave her the guts to try it, too. I also had the pleasure of announcing the eight winners of the inaugural New England Travel Readers' Choice Awards.
• April found me at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut, where I had the chance to talk to Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard about spaceships during the unveiling of a fascinating new permanent exhibit: Titanic - 12,450 Feet Below. April marked not only the 100th anniversary of Titanic's demise but the 100th birthday of a cherished Boston landmark: Fenway Park.
• In May, I shared adorable photos from our night at a Massachusetts alpaca farm bed & breakfast.
• June's highlight was photographing fast, graceful sailing yachts when America's Cup Racing returned to Newport, Rhode Island, for the first time in almost three decades.
• July was a busy month, as I shared a video from my most remarkable experience of the year: sailing into Boston Harbor aboard the Coast Guard tall ship Eagle! I was back on the water for a Carnival cruise out of Boston to Canada and shared details about what makes cruising a fun and affordable option for New England travelers.
• In September, we found a restaurant near Boston where lobster is so cheap, you can even eat it for breakfast.
• October featured two memorable Massachusetts road trips: one to see the first pumpkin to ever tip the scales at more than one ton and the other to observe the cranberry harvest.
• Sadly, two tragic events shook my beloved New England late this year, and while my focus is usually on inspiring readers to travel, I felt compelled to ask them to open their hearts to aid Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts and to participate in the Snowflakes for Sandy Hook campaign.

Browse the complete 2012 New England story archive for more features you may have missed. And come along on all of my 2013 expeditions! Subscribe to my free New England Travel newsletter now, become a fan of New England Travel on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter. Wishing you fabulous stories to tell from 2013!