Most people think of visiting Cape Cod and Nantucket in the summer, but these destinations are just as magical in the Spring, Fall, and Winter. This week we talk all about our favorite local New England destinations to visit during the off-season. Listen to episode 12 for our top off-season New England travel tips.

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Transcript:

Juliana: Most people think of visiting Cape Cod and Nantucket in the summer, but the off-season can be just as amazing with fewer crowds, the off-season in New England is a hidden gem.

JQ: This is travel babes. We’re just two sisters trying to travel the world in style, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. Each week we talk about important travel topics to help you decide when, where and how to explore the world in style. I’m JQ from the travel blog jqlouise.com.

Juliana: And I’m Juliana from Travel with Juliana. This month, we’re discussing our favorite outdoor trips, it’s important to stay safe while traveling right now. This week, we’re talking about our favorite New England trips. First up is Nantucket.

New England Travel – Nantucket

JQ: Nantucket is definitely one of those quintessential American summer destinations, but I think it’s almost even better in the fall.

Juliana : Yeah. So why is that so?

JQ: I mean, there’s no crowds. The sun is still shining and, you know, it’s just a lot more affordable to visit. Yeah.

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Juliana: I mean, in the summer, it’s definitely normally always crowded. Probably this past summer, it may have even been more crowded than usual because people who would normally go elsewhere in the summer could really only state, local. So if you like visiting, you know, in the off season is a great idea.

JQ: Definitely. I mean, basically, any time after Labor Day, you can expect to see lower prices and smaller crowds. And it’s important to know that September is still like a very it’s a very nice time to visit the island because you still have that summer weather. But there’s just fewer crowds.

Juliana: Right, exactly. So what is the weather normally like in Nantucket in the fall or winter?

JQ: So, I mean, in September, you can still you know, you’ll have 70 degree days, maybe even an 80 degree day. The night will be a little bit cooler, but the water is still as warm as it is in August. So, you know, it’s still a great time to go swimming, get out on the boat and just really do all those things that you would normally do in the summer, but maybe wait a few weeks and do it in the middle of September instead.

Juliana: Right. So where do you normally stay when you’re there?

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JQ: So, I mean, there’s so many great little boutique hotels on Nantucket. I mean, some of our favorites are the large hotels. So there’s a few different large hotels. One that we love is 21 Broad, and it’s located right in the heart of downtown. So this is a great hotel to stay in, especially if you don’t plan on bringing your car with you, because even if you fly or take the ferry, your hotel is right in downtown. So you can just walk everywhere once you’re there.

Juliana: Yeah, I love that. I love being like close to everything, not having to need a car. I mean, in the summer, it can be great to have a car because it’s nice to drive. But in the winter or, you know, when it’s colder, you want to just be able to walk quickly everywhere.

JQ: Exactly. And Lark hotels are known for their small plates breakfast. So everybody who stays at a lark will get a complimentary breakfast. And like this isn’t just like your basic hotel breakfast. You know, it’s kind of funky. They do lots of interesting little small plates. So they make their own, you know, overnight oats and yogurt parfaits, really unique egg dishes like egg frittatas or, you know, lots of different cool things. And, you know, they always have lots of coffee and juices and things like that. So it’s definitely a treat. And it’s one of the perks that, you know, keeps us coming back to Lark.

Juliana: Yeah, it sounds really good. So obviously in if you go off season, it’s a bit colder. So what do you normally do while you’re there?

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JQ: So even if it’s a little chilly, don’t skip the beach when you visit Nantucket in the fall, even if it’s 40 degrees, 50 degrees, a walk on the beach is amazing, especially if there’s no one else that really feels like a private beach.

Juliana: Exactly. And I feel like especially now people are looking for that all the time. I mean, we’ve talked about it in previous episodes. People need to feel like they have their own private outdoor setting because with covid, obviously, if you’re in a city like we are, you’re always having to wear a mask all the time outside. And that can just feel, you know, it can get old really fast. So I think, you know, it’s important when you’re around people, but if you have space to feel like you’re not around anyone, it’s just amazing.

JQ: Exactly. And like Nantucket is just filled with world class beaches and typically they’re full of people during the summer. So in the spring or fall, when you visit like my comment, Jedis Beach Masticate Beach, I mean, just treat yourself to a classic like long walk on the beach.

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Juliana: Yeah. I mean, with covid, I think many people have realized that just taking long walks is a huge luxury. So I think, you know, why not do it on the beach? It’s such a beautiful setting.

JQ: Exactly. And then when you head back into town, there’s tons of fun shopping. I mean, there’s lots of like classic shops like Murry’s Chaudhury Shop where you can get the original Nantucket red pants. But there’s also lots of High-End shopping. And there’s, of course, plenty of fun boutiques filled with like I love Nantucket shirts and cute things like that to bring home as gifts.

Juliana: Yeah, I love the boutiques in Nantucket. I feel like there’s just so many different options, so many different price points. And it’s also nautical and just really Nantucket for me.

JQ: Awesome. So Nantucket is definitely a great off season choice, but I think for our next one, we’re going to head up to New Hampshire.

New England Travel – Inn at Thorn Hill

And that dinner was just so delicious. My favorite part were obviously the desserts. We had to try three different desserts.

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Juliana: Yeah. So I recently visited the Inn at Thorn Hill in Jackson, New Hampshire, and it was honestly just so amazing. It’s kind of feels like a little bit in the middle of nowhere. But I love that feeling because it’s really remote. I know, you know, it’s almost Valentine’s Day. They’re kind of doing like Valentine’s Day specials. But we went there in early January and it was just a great, you know, oudoor indoor experience. The rooms are obviously, super private, all of them have spa bathtubs, so it really is just like a remote luxury getaway and you know, there’s views of the White Mountains from almost every room. The rooms are really like presidential suites. So I just love how luxury and remote it feels.

JQ: That’s awesome. I know the views look amazing. And I think just being out there in New Hampshire, in the mountains is just a nice escape, especially if you’re coming from the city and in all of these different little perks that the hotel definitely make for relaxing stay. I mean, like the spa bathrooms and just the large suites. And then I think they also do a private dinner, right?

Juliana: Yeah. So they have a private wine cellar where you can do like smaller group dinners or, you know, just a dinner for two. So I in that feels super private. You know, they have music playing on in the background. It’s really just an amazing setting. And, you know, again, very private.

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JQ:  And it’s just super cozy. I mean, I think this is exactly what you want in the winter is just a nice, cozy private meal, and especially this time of year when I think people are just wanting to get out of their normal routine. This could be a great option.

Juliana: And honestly, the food and it Thornhill. So the restaurant I went to was called Fourty at Inn at Thorn hill was so good, their menu was super seasonal. And one thing I really love and wanted to mention was the dessert. So they have their own in-house baker called Gypsy Sugar Bakery. And we had this caramel cake with popcorn ice cream. It was so good and crazy that it literally tasted like popcorn.

JQ: Wow I would love that, I mean, both of us definitely have a sweet tooth. So, yeah, for sure. Good desserts are definitely required for us.

Juliana: Yeah, I was like so full before we got the dessert and I was like, oh my God, I don’t know if I’ll be able to finish it, but we basically finished it so it was delicious. And then obviously, you know, they have a ton of different wine in there and you can see all of it in the wine cellar. So we you know, we had a really fun time, like picking out which ones we wanted to try.

JQ: That’s awesome. And then I think it’s also really close to some of the covered bridges that you can go check out to.

Juliana: Yeah, exactly. So it’s honestly, it’s about like a two hour drive from Boston. So really quick, you know, perfect weekend trip and it is close to some of the covered bridges in New Hampshire. I think it’s really close to Jackson Bridge because it’s in Jackson. So, again, it’s just like a great, you know, scenic route if you want to. You know, it’s perfect to get out and take some photos. It’s just a really pretty route to the Inn.

JQ:  Exactly. I know. And this is a great option if someone’s looking to do a little road trip where they want to, you know, go state and one of these fun boutique hotels, but then maybe they want to do some sightseeing on the way. So covered bridges are so picturesque. So it’s great for photography or just for sightseeing. And we have lots of blog posts about that. So we’ll definitely leave the link below. But I highly recommend checking out the covered bridges.

Juliana: OK, great. So now let’s move on to the Cape. All right.

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Cape Cod

JQ: So Cape Cod is another classic New England summer destination, but it’s also a great place to visit in the winter and spring and the fall, of course, as well. I mean, just like Nantucket, the beaches are not crowded. The hotels are easier to book. And, you know, you can get those restaurant reservations that you may have not been able to scoop up in the peak season. But there’s so many places to visit on the Cape in the off season. I mean, one of our favorite places is kind of the upper cape area near Mashpee and Falmouth, because it’s not too far from Boston. There are only about an hour south there, just over the bridge. So if you usually visit the Cape in the summer months, you definitely have to go back in the winter and spring because you can experience everything just with fewer crowds and you’ll have, you know, more of these areas to yourself.

Juliana: Yeah, and Mashpee Commons looks like a really fun neighborhood. So what do you normally do there?

JQ: So Mashpee Commons is an awesome little neighborhood in the center of Mashpee. It they have shopping, dining in lots of other activities, and especially now when people want to be outside. This is awesome because you can walk along the neighborhood, you know, pop into the little shops, pop into some of the restaurants, but you can also spend most of your time outside.

Juliana: Yeah, that sounds awesome.

JQ: It’s great. And they they have places for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So you could really spend a whole day here and get a latte at Cape Cod Coffee, which is a really cool local brand. They have a great location in Nashville Commons and then maybe you can stroll around and do some shopping. I mean, they have some popular brands like Williams-Sonoma and Talbets, but they also have some local brands like Puritan, Cape Cod, Motion, Cape Cod and like, you know, lots of other little shops. So you can support local brands as well as, you know, grab some things that you might need from the bigger brands.

Juliana:Yeah, that sounds so good. I love, you know, even just going for a day is great because it’s a quick little trip from Boston. Like you said, it’s not that far. And I love when they have, you know, all these cute little like boutique shops, whether they’re big brands or not, I just love being able to have a ton of options like there is in Mashpee commons.

JQ: And a fun fact is that the Vineyard Vines location here is actually the original brick and mortar vineyard vines.

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Juliana: Oh, wow. I didn’t know that. That’s cool.

JQ: So the founders, they started selling the ties off of the back of their truck on Nantucket. You know, that’s where Vineyard Vines reign comes from. But their first, you know, actual brick and mortar location was right here in Mashpee.

Juliana: Oh, wow. So cool. And so you can go there and shop now ?

JQ: so you can go there and shop. And they have lots of things that you will only find at this store. So it’s great for souvenirs and it’s definitely worth checking out.

Juliana: Awesome.

JQ: And you know, after you’ve shopped a lot, you know, make sure to try some of the restaurants and you can really make a day out of it.

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Getaway House, NH

Juliana: OK, so now let’s move on to Getaway House in New Hampshire. So I went there two years ago now or maybe almost three years ago, and it’s just gorgeous. My favorite time to go is in the Fall, but I would love to go, you know, in any other season as well. I think it’s another great option, especially right now, because you kind of get your own area when you go to get away house, obviously your own cabin. There’s tons of outdoor things to do nearby. So we actually hiked up at Waterville Valley in the south of the White Mountains. It was perfect because, you know, you can just drive up in one weekend hike, you know, a relatively strenuous four point five mile hike with elevation gain of 1800 feet. So it’s pretty high. And, you know, it’s a great outdoor workout.

JQ: Yeah, it sounds like it. I mean, four point five miles is a long hike, but I mean, the pictures look beautiful. I mean, the foliage super colorful. You get to see, you know, the rolling hills in the valley. And then I think there’s the mad river is there as well.

Juliana: Yeah, it’s just gorgeous. I mean, I love fall foliage anywhere in New England, but I think in New Hampshire, especially if you go like around October, end of October, it’s just gorgeous. And you really get to see all the bright, you know, luminous colors. And I love the reflection against the water. So, yeah, it’s just gorgeous. I mean, if you really want, like, a quick escape from a city, it’s definitely a must go.

JQ: And we actually did a getaway house, I think, that same year, but we did it in towards the winter. So I remember when we went, it was actually snowing. There was snow on the ground. So the view from our getaway house, it felt like we were in, you know, a winter cabin, like out, you know, kind of like in a ski mountain is what it felt like. So different experience than what you guys had. I mean, whether you visit in the fall and you get the foliage, you visit in the winter and you get kind of that winter wonderland, it’s definitely a great escape.

Juliana: Yeah, for sure. I mean, I’d love to go back in the winter because I’ve seen pictures on Instagram of Getaway House in the winter and the summer in the spring. So I feel like no matter what season you go, you really feel that season. And especially in Getaway House, the cabins are very minimalistic. So, you know, they’re their slogan. It’s like everything you need and nothing you don’t. So you’re really meant to kind of like relax and get away from screens. And they have huge windows near every bed in the cabin. And so no matter what season it is, you really get to take it all in which I love.

JQ: Exactly. And I think they really want you to unplug because I remember they have those boxes where you’re supposed to put your phone for your whole stay.

Juliana: Yeah, exactly. I know I put my phone in there like as soon as we got there and then I knew took it out because I wanted to take photos.

JQ: Yeah. So, I mean, whether you want to really unplug or you want to, you know, do a little bit of both, I mean Getaway House helps to enable that.

Juliana: Yeah, definitely. And it’s also, you know, on the way we drove through Concord, New Hampshire, and we stopped and had dinner at the Granite Restaurant and Bar in the Centennial Hotel.

JQ: We went there, too. I remember the food was really, really good.

Juliana: And I think actually we went there when I was at St. Paul’s in New Hampshire for my birthday at one point, like a long, long time ago. And so it was nice to really go back. And that hotel is super pretty. It’s really historical. I think it might be, you know, one of the most original ones in Concord, New Hampshire. So I think it is I yeah, I would definitely want to go back. And then my other favorite place in Concord, New Hampshire, that I want to mention was Life Juice. And they actually started when I was in high school. And so, you know, when it opened up, it was like kind of probably one of the most healthiest places to eat at that time, kind of when being healthy really started to become a huge trend. And so I just loved it. They make like bowls and salads and smoothies and juices all like really fresh, really local ingredients. So it was just so good. So I definitely recommend if you want a healthy option, if you know, but a healthy and quick option, definitely stop by juice.

JQ: Yeah. That one looks like a great option. I mean, their salads look so good, super colorful and really fresh. So looks like a great option.

Juliana: Yeah, definitely. We hope you like our recommendations for off season New England trips, you should take catch us next week for some of our top travel tips. Thanks JQ.