6 Reasons To Love New England, USA

Reasons to love New England, the charming northeast corner of the USA.

There’s nothing quite as comforting as coming home.

Whether it’s coming home after a long day at work, or coming home after a year abroad; settling into a familiar place and letting your mind, body, and soul fall into a state of peace is one of the best feelings in the world.

There are a few different places I consider home. But central Massachusetts is the most familiar, comfortable, and beloved of these homes.

This is where I’ve spent most of my life, and I don’t truly feel like I’m coming home until I’m on a flight into Boston Logan Airport.

I’ve also spent lots of time in Maine and New Hampshire, and a little time in Rhode Island and Vermont.

Sorry, Connecticut, I’ve barely spent any time with you but I’m sure you’re great.

All the reasons to love to New England remain true for all the states.

Though I tend to spend more time abroad than I do at home these days, I’ll always appreciate the beauty of New England.

So whenever I need to be reminded of how lucky I am to call this place home, I think of these 6 reasons to love New England.

1. The Diversity of the Seasons

The best part about growing up in New England is getting to fully enjoy each season.

The summer is warm, breezy, and green. (Check out 7 Fun Summer Things To Do In New England for more on this topic)

The spring is crisp and promising, full of refreshing rainstorms and sprouting flowers (As shown in the classic saying, April showers bring May flowers).

Even the winter can be beautiful despite its tendency to drag on for much longer than its allotted 3 months of the year.

Driving through a quiet street with frosted trees hanging overhead like a snowy canopy is a truly stunning sight.

But autumn is the best season! I am thrilled to experience fall in Massachusetts for the first time in four years. I think autumn is so amazing that it deserves its own section.

2. The Autumn Leaves

Autumn in New England is magical.

The summer sun still warms the earth but sharp, chilly winds drift through the colorful trees to signal the coming seasonal change.

I’ll never sleep as well as I do in autumn at home, with the crisp, icy breeze rolling in through the open window.

And, of course, the changing leaves bring vibrant natural colors to every street.

The scent of fall that lingers in the air alone is enough to lift my spirits and rekindle my appreciation for New England.

3. The Woods

Growing up in central Massachusetts meant countless hours spent frolicking in the woods. Rich, welcoming forests line every street, beckoning you to come and explore the dense wilderness.

In the summer, sweet, juicy berries grow all over the bushes whereas in the spring, beautiful flowers ornament the landscape.

Foxes, deer, rabbits, squirrels, and other animals roam the woods year-round, and there are plenty of marked hiking trails for strolling through the woodland.

But always beware of turkey families, which like to randomly waltz into the road and terrify drivers.

Also, beware of the deer that like to prance in front of your car while driving at night.

4. The Scenery

New England may not be the most scenic place in the world. It’s not Switzerland or Norway or Patagonia.

But there is something charming about the historic towns and forests you pass while roaming through the region.

Every long drive at home blesses me with views of deep blue lakes and scenic winding roads.

Reservoirs, rivers, hills, mountains (small ones), lakes, and quaint little homes line the entire area, and it’s lovely to see.

5. The Local Food

New England also may not be one of the culinary capitals of the world like Italy or Japan. And the USA is known for having an overwhelming amount of junk food and processed stuff on its grocery store shelves.

I did indulge in lots of the crap as a kid, and some classics still have a fond place in my heart even though I’ve outgrown the junk food (I’ll never say no to Double-stuf oreos and flavor-blasted goldfish).

But some of the more natural and delicious local classics are definitely one of the reasons to love New England.

There are no apples in the world as good as those from a New England orchard in autumn. My high school soccer coach would always bring a bag of apples to give us after a game, and my family and I would always go apple picking at least once a year.

The crisp and juicy apples are to die for, as are the big jugs of fresh apple cider, the apple cider donuts, and the apple pie that comes from them.

Heading from autumn into winter, you’ll also get to enjoy fresh pumpkin and pumpkin pie, as well as other winter vegetables and Christmas classics like gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate.

Summer brings the most delicious blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries, and s’mores around the campfire.

And of course, you can’t forget the seafood. Lobster rolls, clam chowder (sorry, clam chowdah), crab cakes, fried clams, and fresh lobster dipped in butter all make an appearance during the summer in New England.

New England has so many delicious treats to accompany each distinct season, which is part of the fun of living here.

6. It’s Home!

The foliage, the forests, and the fruit definitely contribute to the unique pleasantry of New England. But this area holds something intangible and special that really makes me feel at home.

The wilderness is somehow regal, the weather is fearless and consistently charismatic. The spirit of New England is majestic and heartwarming, even in the dead of winter.

Maybe it’s because after shoveling five feet of snow off your porch, you can sit inside by the fire with a hot mug of tea, watching the snowflakes dance around each other until they find their place on the branches of a giant oak tree.

Or after mowing the lawn in the scorching summer sun, you can dive into a pool, lake, or pond to cleanse your sunburned body with the cold refreshing water.

Or after raking thousands of leaves off the lawn, you can jump off a tree into the massive leaf pile that you just made (this was my favorite part of autumn as a kid).

No matter what the scenario, New England gives you the opportunity to embrace nature and enjoy life in simple ways.

That is what I love about coming home.