There are ten heritage areas in New York and New England, and all of them protect places frequently described as beautiful, historic and quaint. Growing up in the region, I am biased, but I highly recommend visiting all of them.

• Blackstone River Valley NHC, explore the mill towns that defined the Industrial Revolution
• Champlain Valley NHP, hike in the canyons of the Adirondacks on this route to Canada
• Downeast Maine NHA, catch the first rays of sunrise on the scenic coast of Maine, have tea in Campobello, and learn about the Acadians near St Croix IHS
• Erie Canalway NHC, take five looking for a mule named Sal, and sing a few bars
• Essex NHA, wander the old streets of Salem past Hawthorne’s house of the seven gables and go see the 17th century Saugus Ironworks
• Freedom’s Way NHA, see where the Minute Men fired the shot heard round the world and the small towns where they lived and dreamt revolutionary ideas
• Hudson River Valley NHA, FDR, Van Buren, Vanderbilt, Saratoga, St Paul’s, Thomas Cole…
• Last Green Valley NHC, step back into an authentic 19th century village (below)
• Niagara Falls NHA, besides the obvious, visit the Old Fort and learn some history
• Upper Housatonic NHA, visit Edith Wharton’s historic Mount in the Berkshires