Best New England US Travel Books of 2026

Connecticut Gardens is a captivating book that showcases the beauty of historic, public, and private gardens in Connecticut. The book features stunning photographs and informative text that highlights the stories, inspirations, and designs behind these breathtaking gardens. Readers will learn about notable luminaries such as Frederick Law Olmsted, Gertrude Jekyll, and Beatrix Farrand, who have contributed to Connecticut's garden landscape. With its lush photography and engaging content, Connecticut Gardens is an excellent guide for discovering new gardens to explore. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty of gardens and wants to learn more about Connecticut's rich garden history.

Northeast Foraging: 120 Wild and Flavorful Edibles from Beach Plums to Wineberries is a comprehensive guide for foragers in the Northeastern United States. The book includes clear photographs, identification tips, and suggestions for eating and preserving wild plants. It also provides a seasonal planner to help readers know which plants are available during every season. Written by a lifelong forager and certified ethnobotanist, Leda Meredith, the book emphasizes local varieties and traditions, and provides information for safe identification and sustainable harvesting. Overall, this book is an invaluable resource for both new and experienced foragers in the region.

Beer Hiking New England is a must-read for beer lovers and hiking enthusiasts. This book takes readers on a journey through stunning landscapes in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island while introducing them to local breweries and craft beers. Each hike description includes details on access, difficulty, duration, and points of interest, along with a recommended beer to enjoy at the end of the trail. The full-color guidebook also provides an insider's look at each brewery and its passionate craftspeople. The unique combination of hiking and beer makes this book a standout in the Beer Books category.

Northeast Medicinal Plants by Liz Neves is a comprehensive guide to identifying, harvesting, and using 111 of the region's most powerful wild plants for herbal medicines. The book includes clear plant profiles with identification tips, medicinal uses, and herbal preparations, as well as suggestions for safe and ethical foraging. With lists of what to forage for each season, this guide is a valuable resource for foragers, naturalists, and herbalists in the Northeast. Overall, this Timber Press book is a must-have for those interested in herbal remedies and the benefits of wild plants.

Frommer's Maine Coast is a comprehensive guidebook, written by resident expert Brian Kevin, Editor in Chief of Down East magazine. The book covers all the highlights of the region, including the best beaches, lobster rolls, and scenic places to hike, kayak, and sail. It also provides in-depth advice on Acadia National Park and small-town gems like York Village, Camden, and Castine. With updated reviews of restaurants, hotels, attractions, shopping, and nightlife, the guidebook includes exact prices for every venue and activity listed, plus detailed maps and suggested itineraries. This is a must-have for travelers looking to explore Maine's stunning coastline.

This waterproof and tear-resistant topographic map of Acadia National Park by National Geographic is an essential guide for visitors who want to explore the park's islands and bodies of water. With over 120 miles of trails, ferry routes, and key points of interest, the map also includes insets of Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula, and Isle Au Haut. The map provides trail charts for each of these three areas with area descriptions, distances, difficulty ratings, and trail features, making it easier to choose the best trail. It also covers the historic carriage road system that covers most of Mount Desert Island. The map is printed on "Backcountry Tough" paper and includes a full UTM grid to aid with GPS navigation. This map is an excellent resource for anyone planning to visit Acadia National Park.

Fodor's Maine Coast: with Acadia National Park is a comprehensive travel guide for those planning to visit Maine. The guidebook features multiple itineraries, detailed maps, and local recommendations for restaurants, hotels, nightlife, shopping, and more. The book also includes historical and cultural insights, special features on traveling with kids and Maine's cuisine, and photo-filled "Best of" features. With its easy-to-read layout and beautiful color photos, this brand new title is an excellent resource for anyone looking to simplify their trip-planning process and make the most of their time in Maine.

The Acadia: The Complete Guide is a must-have for anyone planning to visit Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island. This comprehensive travel guidebook, written and photographed by Maine native James Kaiser, offers an in-depth look at the park's best destinations, history, geology, ecology, and wildlife. With fascinating chapters and beautiful color photos, the book showcases the highlights and hidden gems that Acadia and Mount Desert Island have to offer. The detailed color maps make travel planning easy, and the book has received over 400 five-star reviews for previous editions. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to explore the beauty of Acadia National Park.

The Stranger in the Woods tells the intriguing story of Christopher Knight, who disappeared into the woods at the age of 20 and lived alone for 27 years. The book explores Knight's solitary life, his survival skills, and his stealthy burglaries of nearby cottages for food and supplies. Michael Finkel's writing style is both riveting and thought-provoking, raising profound questions about the role of solitude and the value of suffering. The book provides a powerful portrait of a man determined to live life on his own terms.

Fodor's Boston (Full-color Travel Guide) is an excellent resource for anyone planning a trip to Boston. The guidebook features multiple itineraries, detailed maps, and beautiful color photos to help visitors make the most out of their time in the city. The book also includes honest recommendations from locals on the best sights, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, shopping, performing arts, and more. Additionally, the historical and cultural insights provide rich context on the local people, politics, art, architecture, cuisine, music, geography, and more. Overall, Fodor's Boston is a must-have for anyone visiting the city for the first time or returning for a repeat visit.