How to Vacation in the Woods of New England

Whether you enjoy roughing it in a tent or the luxury of a three-bedroom lakefront cottage with all the amenities, you can find the relaxation you seek in an old fashioned New England summer vacation.

Things You'll Need

• Clothing
• Suitcases
• Food
• Supplies
• Sunscreen
• Maps

Instructions

1. House swapping is getting more and more popular and there are various websites you can visit if you are interested in trading houses with another family. Usually, you also share a means of transportation, food and supplies. Compare notes carefully with each other so you will know what you need to pack.

2. 

   Wildlife is abundant in this area so if you are camping, keep all your food locked up in the car to avoid attracting bears and raccoons among other small animals. If you are looking for them, moose and deer are most abundant at the dawn and dusk time frames and they prefer quiet, secluded places to eat and drink.

3. Make sure you have bug spray and sunscreen as well as warm clothing like sweatshirts and long pants. It can get very cold at night in the woods, especially in the woods of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Bring a first aid kit, which includes ointment for insect stings. Always have a hat with you to protect your head from the sun. Wear comfortable walking shoes when in the woods, or hiking boots for longer walks and hilly terrain.

4. Have a barbecue and sing-a-long at your camp. Invite the other campers over to join in the fun. Grab your guitars and reminisce to the old sounds of folk singers like Dylan and America. Give everyone a turn to sing their own song.

5. Play yard games like Bocci or badminton. Blow bubbles or give the kids squirt guns or water balloons and sit back to watch the fun unfold or–as the case may be--explode. At night, have an outdoor campfire and sit around after dark telling ghost stories and toasting marshmallows or hot dogs.

6. Attend the local parade or memorial services in honor of our veterans. If it is legal, set off a few fireworks over the lake. Use protective equipment and never shoot fireworks into a wooded area. Sparklers and citronella candles are also a necessity. Make a smoky “smudge” fire to keep the black flies at bay, particularly early in June.

7. 

   If you prefer the shore, go out on a deep sea fishing charter or take a scenic ride on one day cruise boat and watch the world float by. Though crowded on holidays, there is nothing better than a cool dip in the water at a local beach or lake on a hot summer day. Be sure to pack a picnic lunch with plenty of drinks to keep hydrated. Buy the kids ice cream cones or Popsicles at the concession stand.

8. Even if the weather is less than wonderful, go to a museum, art show, concert or theater presentation. Grab the kids and go to the movies or the local bowling alley. Contact the local Chamber of Commerce in the area you will be visiting before you go to get details on the major attractions for that area.

9. 

   Some of the top attractions in this area include Storyland, for small children in Glen, NH, the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine and the Desert of Maine, also in the Freeport area. Hampton Beach is the best people watching area in the northeast and for historical fun, day trip over to Portsmouth, NH. There are hundreds of lighthouses along the coast of Maine and many of them are accessible.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget your sunscreen, bug spray and hat.

• If camping, dig a water runoff so the tent will not flood.