| If downtowns are the "center" of your travel | | | | stunning colonial homes in the region, a magnificent |
| agenda, then New England will not disappoint with | | | | looking public library, the peaceful Monument Square |
| several communities offering vibrant, appealing central | | | | town common, and plenty of small shops and |
| districts. | | | | restaurants in its downtown and nearby Depot |
| While many New England downtowns have fallen | | | | Square neighborhoods. The tree-lined side streets |
| apart due to the rise of the "superstore," budgetary | | | | have a classic New England look with one big home |
| woes and abysmal community planning, other | | | | after another -- many with beautiful front porches, |
| communities have thrived through vision, | | | | white picket fences, and backsides that keep on |
| determination and a commitment to excellence. | | | | going and going. Beautiful, historic Walden Pond, the |
| These are the towns that realize that a viable | | | | Concord River (great for canoeing) and the Old North |
| downtown brings in more money, keeps people | | | | Bridge are within walking distances. |
| attracted to that given community, and ultimately | | | | Weston, Vt., is our next choice for the best |
| serves as a barometer, of sorts, to what the rest of | | | | downtown. The whole center is on the National |
| the community is like. There's really nothing like a | | | | Register of Historic Places! The landmark Vermont |
| beautiful downtown for residents to use, travelers to | | | | Country Store serves as the village's retail |
| visit, and those considering moving to potentially call | | | | centerpiece (you could spend a day shopping at this |
| their own. | | | | rustic, charming store specializing in lots of |
| Topping our list of the best downtowns is Guilford, | | | | "hard-to-find" merchandise), with beautiful rural village |
| Conn. Located about 20 minutes southeast of New | | | | scenes, a gazebo at the town common, classic white |
| Haven, downtown Guilford sports a stunning, large | | | | Vermont churches, inns and surrounding views of the |
| town common framed by well-maintained historic | | | | revered Green Mountains. |
| colonial homes, restaurants and coffee shops and | | | | Bringing up the rear, but still finishing as one of our |
| independently-run shops. It's not really a "mom and | | | | favorite downtowns is Bristol, R.I. Known as the |
| pop" store-type town as many of the shops are of | | | | "most patriotic town in America," Bristol has American |
| the boutique and gallery type, but the overall feel is | | | | flags displayed throughout town, a red, white and |
| old-fashioned, quiet and safe. Perhaps the best thing | | | | blue painted median strip in its downtown and the |
| to do in downtown Guilford is sit on a bench at the | | | | oldest Fourth of July celebration in America (it's truly |
| town common and soak in the New England flavor. | | | | a spirited celebration!). Bristol seems like the proverbial |
| Running a close second behind Guilford is Wolfeboro, | | | | "all-American" town where everyone seems to know |
| N.H. Perhaps if Wolfeboro had no mountains and a | | | | each other, and stores that serve residents and |
| lake, then it would just be another town center, but | | | | tourists, alike (books, toys, photo supplies, coffee |
| when you combine the cute shops with all that | | | | shops, and other delightful local small town |
| glorious Lake Winnepesaukee water and the | | | | storefronts). Bristol is also packed with restaurants, |
| mountain ranges behind it, the town comes alive. It's | | | | many specializing in seafood (the Lobster Pot, Quito's, |
| a beautiful downtown to walk with the lake and | | | | to name a few). Of course, Bristol's location is ideal -- |
| mountains behind a few blocks of shops and | | | | located on scenic Narragansett and Mt. Hope Bays, |
| restaurants. Perhaps this is why Wolfeboro is known | | | | you can get pleasing glimpses of the water from the |
| as America's Oldest Resort Town." | | | | downtown and even better views on the outskirts, |
| Coming in third is the town of Concord, Mass., home | | | | especially at beautiful Colt State Park and the |
| of the Revolutionary War. This western suburban | | | | stunning Mt. Hope Bridge. Bristol is so special, many |
| Boston town has beautifully maintained its | | | | locals prefer it to another wonderful Rhode Island |
| considerable historic origins with some of the most | | | | destination, Newport. Now that's saying a lot! |