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East Coast Classics

New Haven, Connecticut

Much of what makes New Haven, Connecticut, worth a visit is a result of Yale University and the arts and architecture that have developed within its footprint since 1701. The best way to begin a visit is with an official campus tour.

“A student will guide you through campus and share their experiences, as well as Yale’s unique history,” said Barbara Malmberg, director of marketing and communications at Visit New Haven. “You’re also going to see the most spectacular display of architecture, including the Louis Khan buildings, art galleries and the ice rink for the Yale hockey team, which is still in the shape of a whale.”

Campus tours are offered daily, but visitors should also be on the lookout for the architectural walking tour, Malmberg said. It sells out immediately.

A visit should also include several hours in the Yale library and museums. The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library contains 600,000 rare volumes preserved within a Modernist translucent marble cube. Inside, visitors get to peek at one of the only surviving Gutenberg bibles in the world, as well as original Audubon bird prints and changing exhibits.

The Yale University Art Gallery, which contains an impressive collection and is open to the public for free, is also famous as a Modernist masterpiece designed by Kahn. The British art, musical instrument and natural history museums are also worth touring.

For a panoramic cliffside view of New Haven and Long Island Sound, visitors can drive or hike to the top of East Rock Park. It’s the most popular of New Haven’s many parks and a great spot to watch the sunset.

www.visitnewhaven.com

Portland, Maine

Maine’s largest city has mastered an enchanting balance; the old seaport of Portland has maintained its Old World charm and remained entirely cosmopolitan. Lobster lovers can attest that it has become the culinary mecca of northern New England.

“We’re authentic by nature,” said Robert Witkowski, media relations director at the Greater Portland Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’ve kept out the chains and stayed true to our heritage.”

The best example of this balance is in the revitalized Old Port District. Brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets lead to an impressive collection of bookstores, boutiques and top-tier restaurants. Not far from the Old Port is the Portland Museum of Art. In addition to a strong European collection, the museum exhibits works by Maine’s renowned artists John Singer Sargent, Andrew Wyeth and Winslow Homer.

Beyond the Victorian homes of downtown, several of which are open for tours, are protected shorelines on both sides of the city.

“We want you to feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere within a few moments, in a good way,” Witkowski said.

After soaking up the shoreline, visitors should pay a visit to the Islands of Casco Bay, a collection of 365 islands sometimes called the Calendar Islands. Ferries run from Portland to seven of the main islands throughout the day. 

Within 20 miles of Portland are six historic lighthouses, and the most famous is Portland Head Light, possibly the most-photographed lighthouse in the nation. George Washington commissioned the lighthouse in 1791, and it’s still in use at the entrance of the shipping channel into Casco Bay.

www.visitportland.com