RoadTrip New England

In 1816, New England endured what became known as the “Year Without a Summer,” when prolonged cold and repeated frosts disrupted the region during what should have been its peak growing season.

Snow fell in June in parts of the region, and killing frosts returned in July and August, damaging crops like corn and hay and leaving fields unable to recover. Farmers reported ice forming in ponds during mornings, and communities faced mounting shortages as harvests failed and prices for basic food rose sharply.

The conditions were traced to the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia, which sent massive amounts of ash into the atmosphere and reduced global temperatures. In New England, the result was a season that reshaped settlement patterns, as many families moved west in search of more reliable farmland, leaving a lasting imprint on the region’s history.

On this day: May 3rd in the year 2003 New Hampshire lost the Old Man of the Mountain when the iconic granite profile in Franconia Notch collapsed after centuries of erosion, ending its long presence above Profile Lake and marking the disappearance of a natural symbol documented since 1805 and long used across the state’s identity.

The drumlin islands of Boston Harbor are a unique cluster of glacial hills formed about 15,000 years ago as the last ice sheet retreated, leaving behind smooth, oval-shaped mounds of till that now rise above the water. Unlike rocky coastal islands, these are composed of compacted clay, sand, and gravel, giving them their rounded profiles and grassy slopes. Many of the harbor’s islands—including Spectacle, Peddocks, and Georges—are drumlins, and together they create one of the only drumlin island groups in the United States, shaping both the harbor’s geography and its long history of forts, farming, and maritime use.

Elephant’s Head is a well-known rock formation along Smuggler’s Notch in Vermont, where natural erosion has shaped the cliff into the profile of an elephant overlooking Route 108. The Notch itself is a narrow mountain pass through the Green Mountains, long used as a hidden route for cross-border smuggling in the early 1800s and later during Prohibition. Today, it’s one of Vermont’s most scenic drives, with steep cliffs, tight turns, and multiple pull-offs that make it easy to stop and spot formations like Elephant’s Head while exploring the historic corridor between Stowe and Jeffersonville.

In 1902, the Chestnut Hill Fire Station reflects a transitional era in American firefighting, when departments were still powered by horse-drawn steam engines and hand-pulled apparatus. Firefighters of the time worked in heavy wool uniforms and relied on coordinated manual effort, with horses housed on-site for rapid response. Stations like this were built as both working facilities and civic landmarks, marking the shift from volunteer brigades to more organized, municipal fire services in growing Boston neighborhoods.

Fenway Park, opened in 1912 and located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, is the oldest active ballpark in Major League Baseball and home to the Boston Red Sox. Known for its tight urban setting and distinctive features like the Green Monster, it sits at the center of a lively game-day scene along Lansdowne Street, where crowds gather before and after games. More than a stadium, it remains one of Boston’s most enduring landmarks, closely tied to the city’s identity and baseball history.

The Paul Revere House in Boston’s North End, built around 1680, stands as the oldest surviving home in the city and offers a direct connection to colonial life. Once owned by Paul Revere during the time of the American Revolution, the preserved timber-frame structure contrasts sharply with the surrounding brick buildings, making it a rare and tangible piece of 17th-century Boston along the Freedom Trail.

The Nantucket Lightship served as a floating lighthouse anchored off the treacherous Nantucket Shoals, marking one of the most dangerous shipping routes on the East Coast. First stationed in the 19th century, these vessels carried powerful lights and fog signals to guide ships where traditional lighthouses couldn’t be built. Known for their bright red hulls marked “NANTUCKET,” they became iconic symbols of maritime safety until being replaced by automated buoys in the late 20th century.

New Haven, Connecticut brings together a dense mix of history, architecture, and offbeat stops centered around the New Haven Green and the Yale University campus. Within a few blocks, it’s possible to move from historic churches and early American landmarks to striking modern buildings and museums, creating a city that feels layered rather than spread out. The walkable layout makes it easy to explore at a steady pace, with each turn offering something tied to a different period of New England history.

Some of the city’s most distinctive sites lean into that mix of the familiar and the unexpected. Louis’ Lunch is often credited with serving one of the earliest hamburgers, still prepared in a way that reflects its early roots. The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library stands out for both its architecture and its collection, while the Yale Peabody Museum and the Cushing Center preserve everything from natural history to early medical research. Just steps away, the Center Church crypt holds centuries-old burials beneath the active church, quietly preserving one of the city’s oldest layers.

What makes New Haven stand out is how closely these experiences sit together. Parks like East Rock offer a quick shift into open views over the city, while the surrounding streets return to dense clusters of historic and cultural landmarks. It’s a place where colonial history, academic influence, and everyday New England life intersect in a compact area, making it easy to explore deeply without traveling far.

William M. Hart’s New London, Connecticut (1870) presents a quiet coastal landscape shaped by atmosphere and observation, reflecting the artist’s Hudson River School training. The composition balances land and water with soft light, low horizon lines, and carefully rendered trees, emphasizing stillness over drama. Hart, known for his pastoral scenes, focuses less on narrative and more on tonal harmony, using muted greens and grays to capture the natural character of southeastern Connecticut’s shoreline. The painting reflects a late 19th-century shift toward mood and realism within American landscape painting, where subtle light and everyday scenery became the subject rather than grand wilderness spectacle.

Connecticut’s scenic drives wind through coastal roads, forested hills, and historic villages, with routes like the Merritt Parkway, Route 7, and the Quiet Corner offering classic New England views, fall foliage, and access to small towns, state parks, and preserved countryside landscapes.

We select a community photo from New England each day to feature. Please tag us on Instagram if you’d like to submit one! We’re seeking new photographers of all levels for our daily pic!
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This is a glimpse at your New England, thanks for sharing!!
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We’d love to see your New England adventures!
1. Tag RoadTrip_NewEngland (bit.ly/2qyTftg)
2. Please note the location, must be New England, only.