Our Boston airbnb hostess recommended we stop for lunch at the quaint town of Newburyport en route to Portland (Maine), and we duly followed her advice. It was a sunny and rather hot day (at least for this part of the country!), and to top it all, it was Mother’s Day. Americans truly are the friendliest people I’ve ever met – throughout the whole day strangers on the street were popping over to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day, it really did make a difference and everyone seemed, on the whole, like they were having a blast.
The atmosphere was great, and the town was gorgeous! We had a stroll around the pretty streets just before lunch, packed with quaint little boutiques, upscale restaurants and ice-cream places – all full to the brim with shoppers. I popped into a couple of very cute kids’ clothing and toy stores, and some small bookstores too 😉 All the shop signs are beautiful, in traditional styles, with windowsill flowers and colourful doors. I love the pride that many small American towns take in their appearance, and to be honest we have found this all throughout New England, which is lovely to see.
After our great Newburyport lunch, we queued up for a lush ice-cream at Gram’s ice-cream (so worth the wait) before taking a gentle stroll around the port area. Despite the sunshine and summer atmosphere, the sea was a deep, icy blue – a reminder that these waters were not so long ago frozen under one of the worst winters the region has suffered, and no one should be tempted to dip in even a toe! From the port you can go whale-watching, although it wasn’t really in season, so we’re hoping to go in New Zealand instead.
We found Newburyport to be the perfect half-day trip for families in New England, or for a lovely weekend break. Not too big, but with enough entertainment, great food and beautiful scenery to fill your days.
Just a tip, 3 year old don’t like it if you smudge ice-cream on their noses 😉
