20 Things to do this Spring in New England

Winter in New England can seem never-ending. March can be a long month, leaving most New Englanders itching for spring. As the buds on the trees come to life and the flowers start to bloom, many people are coming out of hibernation and looking for things to do. I have pulled together a list of 20 things to do this spring in New England.

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Boston’s Public Garden and the Swan Boats.

Spring in New England- Swan Boats

The Boston Public Garden was the first botanical garden in America. It contains 80 species of plants and is home to beautiful swan boats. Since the 1800s, the swan boats have sailed around the park’s lagoon and become a symbol of the city of Boston. Robert Paget invented this style of boat, and four generations later, the Paget family still owns and operates the Swan boats.

The boats open for the season on May 8th and will remain open through Labor Day. The cost is $4.50, an adult, $3.00 for children 2-15, and under two are free. It is one of my favorite things to do in the city.

Attend a Baseball Game or Tour Fenway Park

Spring in New England – Fenway Park

If you are a baseball fan, one can not come to Boston without visiting the oldest and most beloved ballpark in America. Pick up tickets to a game and experience firsthand why Red Sox Nation loves this ballpark and their Sox. Sox not in town while you are here? No fear, take an hour-long tour of the park. Feel the presence of Ted Williams, Yaz, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek, and Big Papi. Sit on top of the famous Green Monster. Tours are available year-round and depart every hour.

Boston Duck Tours

Spring in New England – Boston Duck Tours.

One of the best sighting seeing tours in Boston is the Duck Tours. It is a fully narrated historic tour of Boston that is seen by both land and sea! Well, the Charles River, but you get the point. These boats are a W.W.II style amphibious landing vehicle that travels on land and water. A conDUCKtor will be narrating your tour as you drive through the streets of the city, hitting many of its famous marks. Kids even get to drive the boat!

Attend one of New England’s Many Flower Festivals

Spring in New England – Wicked Tulip Farm

Many festivals have been canceled, postponed, or are being held virtually for 2021. Please check with the event organizers before planning your trip.

A couple of years ago, we spent Mother’s Day at the Wicked Tulips Farm in Rhode Island. We explored the beautiful gardens and picked our own tulips. In doing my research, I have discovered New England has several flower festivals through the spring. According to Trip Savvy, these are the best Springtime Flower festivals in New England.

Daffodil Days at Blithewold

Blithewold Mansion is located in Bristol, Rhode Island, and its Gateway Event to Spring takes place every April. Fifty thousand daffodils are growing on 33 acres of gardens and woodland paths. In addition to the daffodils, in early May, flowering cherry trees, primroses, and star magnolias show their stuff, and by late May, the grounds come alive with columbine, forget-me-nots, and lupine.

Nantucket Daffodil Festival

Hop on board a ferry and head over to Nantucket, Massachusetts, for the annual Daffodil Festival.
Due to the pandemic, this year’s festival will be held virtually. It is quite the show with more than three million daffodils, complete with a seaside view and an iconic lighthouse.

Meriden Daffodil Festival

The Meriden Daffodil Festival is held in Meriden, Connecticut, each year at the end of April. It is called Connecticut’s most colorful April event. Usually, there are carnival rides, a food tent, games, and more.
However, due to the pandemic, this year’s festival is canceled. However,
Hubbard Park is still open to the public to drive through and enjoy the beautiful flowers.

Lilac Sunday

At Arnold Arboretum in Boston, Massachusetts, the grounds are home to 408 lilac plants representing 179 different varieties. For this reason, Lilac Sunday is one of North America’s most significant lilac-focused events. Embark on a self-guided tour after printing a tour brochure, and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy. The lilacs are in bloom for approximately four weeks, starting in late April to mid-May.

Maple Sugar Festival

Spring in New England- Maple Syrup tap

On the last week of March, head on up to Maine and visit one of the 100 sugar shack participants in this annual event. See how maple syrup is made, sample some tasty treats, and bring home some of the country’s best maple syrup. You can find more information here.

Covered Bridge Tour

Spring in New England- Covered bridge (Photo credit Dreamstime)

Jump in the car and head on up to either New Hampshire or Vermont and hunt for covered bridges. You can easily find a map online that lists all of the cover bridges. Why not make a weekend of it and spend the time exploring some of the most beautiful covered bridges on this side of the Mississippi.

Acadia National Park

Spring in New England-Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is one of the top 10 national parks in the United States to visit. There are twenty-seven miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads to drive and hike throughout the park. It has earned its title Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast. The park houses the highest mountains along the Atlantic seacoast.

Coastal Highway U.S. 1 in Maine

Spring in New England – Bar Harbor (photo credit Dreamstime)

Take a drive up the Maine coastline and experience some breathtaking views. Along the way, stop for a lobster roll and steamers. Make sure to visit some of Maine’s iconic lighthouses. The route will take you from the New Hampshire and Maine border all along the coast of Maine, the St. Croix River, and then along the border of the U.S. and Canada. I suggest you take a few days to enjoy this adventure.

Race Point Beach, Provincetown, MA

At the tip of the National Seashore is Race Point Beach. This gorgeous beach is a great beach to watch wildlife (seals, dolphins, whales, and perhaps a great white) and see one of the most amazing sunsets.
If you are so inclined, you can walk the three-mile trail to see the Race Point lighthouse or bike the eight-mile Cape Cod Province Lands Bike Trail, which winds through towering dunes.

Baby Animal Day at Billings Farm

Spring in New England – baby animals

Head to Woodstock, Vermont, and attend Baby Animal Day at Billings Farm, an annual tradition to meet the baby animals. Surrounded by the Green Mountains, Woodstock is a great place to visit, from sampling Vermont’s famous cheeses to hiking to strolling the historic downtown.

Boston Food Tour

Spring in New England – Boston Food Tour

Boston has some fantastic food tours. One year my best friend and I, along with our husbands, took a Historic Pizza and Taverns Tour. It started in the North End, went to Charlestown, and back to the Faneuil Hall area. It was a lot of fun and yummy. There are so many to choose from. You can find a list of Boston’s best food tours here.

Whale Watching off the Maine coast.

Spring in New England- Whale Watching

Mid-April is when the humpbacks make their way to Kennebunkport’s waters and other coastal areas of Maine.

Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Dinosaur State Palk has one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. On display in the museum are early Jurassic fossil tracks that were made 200 million years ago. In addition to the exhibit center are two miles of nature trails and the Dinosaur Arboretum. The arboretum contains over 250 species and other living representatives of plant families around during the dinosaur’s age.

Mark Twain House

Spring in New England – Mark Twain House

Designated National Historic Landmark, the Mark Twain House is located in Hartford, Connecticut, and showcases Mark Twain’s life and career. The museum chronicles his life and works, including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, which he wrote while living there.

Mystic Seaport, Connecticut

Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea is the most significant maritime museum in the United States. The museum is known for its collection of sailing ships and boats and the re-creation of the crafts and fabric of an entire 19th-century seafaring village. The maritime town consists of more than 60 historic buildings. There is also a fantastic aquarium, and make sure to grab some pizza from Mystic Pizza.

Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth, NH

The Strawbery Banke Museum is an outdoor history museum that brings more than 300 years of American history to life. The museum spans 10 acres in downtown Portsmouth’s waterfront neighborhood and features 32 historic buildings and eight heritage gardens.

The Sandwich Boardwalk, Sandwich, MA

Spring in New England- Sandwich Boardwalk

Named one of the top 10 boardwalks by National Geographic, the Sandwich boardwalk spans 1,350 ft over a marsh before it connects to Boardwalk beach. It an excellent place for birdwatching and watching ships enter the Cape Cod Canal.

Cape Cod Canal

The Cape Cod Canal is a man-made canal connecting Cape Cod Bay in the north to Buzzards Bay in the south and is part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The canal is used extensively by recreational and commercial vessels. You will access fishing and trails for in-line skaters, bicyclists, and walkers on both sides of the canal. Several parking areas are maintained at access points. The Corps of Engineers lease bourne Scenic Park to the Town of Bourne Recreation Authority for use as a tent and R.V. campground adjacent to the canal.

Castle Island, South Boston, MA

Spring in New England- Castle Island

Castle Island is a peninsula on the shores of the Boston Harbor. It a recreation site and home to Fort Independence. Attractions include a playground, beach and swimming access, and Sullivan’s restaurant. You can also take a tour of Fort Independence.

Explore a Massachusetts State Park

With 151 state parks to choose from, you could spend the entire season exploring the state parks. Some of our favorites include Halibut Point, Natural Bridge, and Bash Bish Falls.

So there you have it, 20 things to do this spring in New England. Which one would you do first?

About The Author

Heather

34 COMMENTS

  1. Allison | 22nd Mar 21

    It is beautiful up there as all your pictures show. I’m originally from upstate NY – very close to the New England area. I can’t wait to visit up there again after the pandemic passes. I have pinned this post for a future reference.

    • Heather | 23rd Mar 21

      I am glad you found this helpful. I hope you can visit soon!

  2. Jill DeMasi | 22nd Mar 21

    I live near a couple of these places in CT! I would love to go whale watching. Mystic is a cool place to visit!

    • Heather | 23rd Mar 21

      Mystic is a cool place. We loved taking the kids to the aquarium when they were small.

  3. Sandra Whitmore | 22nd Mar 21

    I love visiting New England. Great list. Some I have done, some I want to do.

    • Heather | 23rd Mar 21

      Thank you! I hope you get to check the others off your list as well.

  4. Alexis Farmer | 22nd Mar 21

    I don’t know which of these I want to do more! All I know is that a New England road trip needs to happen. Would love to take my baseball loving husband to Fenway.

    • Heather | 23rd Mar 21

      There is a TON to see here. The list goes on and on.

  5. Lee Anne | 22nd Mar 21

    I want to do all of these Spring things in New England! It’s such a lovely time of year!

    • Heather | 23rd Mar 21

      It is lovely. My preference is still fall, but there is something to be said with everything blooming.

  6. Julie Gazdecki | 22nd Mar 21

    So many great things to do this spring in New England. I am all about the historic places.

    • Heather | 23rd Mar 21

      You have quite a few to choose from here!

  7. Marianne | 23rd Mar 21

    We have been to a few of these places in Summer… but to see all the flowers blooming in spring would be sooo nice as well! And well, the maple sugar festival goes without saying! LOL

    • Heather | 23rd Mar 21

      LOL! I knew you would like that one.

  8. Tricia Snow | 23rd Mar 21

    Oh my gosh, those daffodils are killing me! I grew up with them all over our yard. I would love when they bloomed. Spring in New England looks amazing! I bet everyone is excited to get out!

    • Heather | 23rd Mar 21

      People are excited to get out. We did have a mild winter, so that helped.

  9. Kristen W Allred | 23rd Mar 21

    I’ve been to Boston before but I would love to go back to do these things on your New England list. I think a food tour and visiting the Mark Twain house would be at the top of my list.

    • Heather | 29th Mar 21

      Doesn’t the Mark Twain house look incredible?

  10. Kendra | 23rd Mar 21

    These are some fantastic ideas for things to do this spring in New England! I seriously loved our visit to New England and can’t wait to return. I loved Acadia National Park, and would LOVE to do a Boston food tour!

    • Heather | 29th Mar 21

      I am hoping to explore Acadia National Park this summer. I can’t believe I have yet to go there. The Boston Food Tours are amazing. There are so many to choose from.

  11. kmf | 24th Mar 21

    I miss New England so much! And would love to do all 20 of these fun things to do this spring. I especially want to check out Lilacs Day (among many others!).

    • Heather | 29th Mar 21

      Yes, this is one we are planning on attending. Though I believe the event itself is cancelled, but you can still go and walk around to see the flowers.

  12. Barbara | 24th Mar 21

    Looks so peaceful and lovely! What a great place to explore!

    • Heather | 29th Mar 21

      Thanks. There is something for everyone.

  13. Emily | 24th Mar 21

    I have never been to New England. I think it’s about time for a trip!

    • Heather | 29th Mar 21

      Yes!!! Come on over. 🙂

  14. Angela | 24th Mar 21

    Food tour sounds amazing – the cannoli photos are making me drool. Duck tours would be great too.

    • Heather | 29th Mar 21

      The duck tour is so much fun. The Conducktors are hysterical and really liven up the tour.

  15. lisa Manderino | 24th Mar 21

    A boston food tour sounds so fun. This are great suggestions for things to do in the Spring in MA!

  16. Sabrina DeWalt | 24th Mar 21

    I always wanted to go to the Daffodil Festival on Nantucket when I lived up there.

    • Heather | 29th Mar 21

      I am sad they are not having it this year. I had planned on attending.

  17. Cindy Moore | 28th Mar 21

    Spring would be a beautiful time to visit the New England area!

    • Heather | 29th Mar 21

      Yes, before the humid weather comes out way.

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