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Adventure

50 States of Awesome: Northeast

What's not to love about the U.S. of A.? From east to west, north to south, our 50 states offer an unparalleled mix of the cool, unexpected, classic, quirky and downright bizarre. Experience the best of it all while earning serious bragging rights with Jetsetter’s guide to what's new this summer.

See recent posts by April Ellis

Next up: The Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and Northwest.

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1

Maine Feast on farm-to-table dishes at Portland's newest hotspot

Ah, Portland, Maine — it's the land of rocky shores, picture-postcard lighthouses, and a food scene that rivals most big cities. The latest addition to the ever-evolving culinary landscape? The Press Hotel's just-opened UNION restaurant, decked out in marble and suede banquette seating, with a buzzy bar facing the open kitchen. Start with the Maine oysters, followed by the ricotta gnocchi and local lobster or farm fresh chicken with hen egg, cheddar grits and truffles. And if you've got room for dessert, the Snickers Chocolate Cake is worth the calories.

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Delaware Drink local brews across the state

Artisanal beer and local vintages? Sign us up. The Diamond State is quickly making a name for itself on the microbrewery and winery scene with the recent expansion of its Beer, Wine and Spirits Trail and the debut of the Vintage Atlantic Wine Region Trail. Beach bums can get their hops fix at just opened coastal breweries like Dewey Beer Co., Fins Ale House & Raw Bar, and Crooked Hammock Brewery, among others. Upstate newcomers Blue Earl Brewing Co., Stone Balloon Ale House and Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen are also joining the movement, which culminates in the American on Tap Festival, set to swing by Wilmington this August. We'll cheers to that.

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Photo courtesy of the Klip Collective

3

Pennsylvania Watch a trippy light show in Philadelphia

The Klip Collective, the edgy set designers behind the stunning projections at Sundance Film Festival, are ready to wow us with a super-surreal project in downtown Philly. "Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience" will transform Kennett Square’s biggest park, Longwood Gardens, into a high-octane light show, with neon patterns and moving images projected onto tree trunks, all set to music. Bonus: You can take it all in after a couple of drinks at the square’s new beer garden. (Wednesdays through Saturdays, July 1 to October 31)

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New Jersey Join the hipsters in Millville

It's summer, people! And that means music festival season is upon us. Join the hordes of hipsters in Millville, New Jersey for its new Pinelands Music Festival, which will showcase more than 30 alternative and indie rock bands in one day. On the lineup: killer acts like Early November and up-and-comers like Man on a Mountain, performing on three stages. It’s one party you don’t want to miss.
(August 15)

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Photo courtesy of Field of Artisans

5

Rhode Island Buy some Rhodie art in South Kingstown

Hippie-chic culture hits Rhode Island this summer. At South Kingstown’s seasonal pop-up Field of Artisans, you'll see works by 20 of the best local artists, photographers, and craftsmen. Browse eye-popping stone trinkets, custom woodwork and original art while listening to live acoustic folk music. And when you've scooped up enough treasures, join a free yoga class. (June–August)

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Photo courtesy of The Wild Center

6

New York Take a walk on the wild side in the Adirondacks

See the Adirondacks as you’ve never seen them before — from towering treetops, swinging steel walkways and rickety wooden bridges. Wrapping up eight years of construction, the $5.5 million Wild Walk will open on July 4 as part of the 81-acre Wild Center campus at Tupper Lake. Get ready for an epic forest expedition: chill in a four-story twig treehouse, hang in a human-size spider’s web or kick back in a full-size bald eagle’s nest, intricately designed in a canopy of 160-foot white pines. This adult playground/ropes course takes outdoor adventure to new heights, literally.

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Vermont Try some finger-licking good jerk chicken in Killington

"Caribbean" and "reggae" are two words we don’t usually associate with Vermont. But this summer Killington will host its first Vermont JerkFest & Reggae Festival. Nosh on Jamaican jerk-spiced dishes smothered in hot sauce, then cool off your scorched palate with local craft beer, cider or mead at a rum and brew tasting, while live reggae plays in the background. Don’t miss Killington’s other new attractions, including a 4,800-foot alpine roller coaster, a skyride that flies over Snowshed Pond, a four-story ropes course and a 5,000-square-foot maze.
(July 31–August 1)

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New Hampshire Go caving at Lost River Gorge

New Hampshire is all about getting wild in the wild outdoors. At Lost River Gorge you can climb over jagged granite boulders, descend into dark caves and hike past thundering waterfalls. If that doesn't give you enough of an adrenaline rush, see the gorge from a 60-foot suspension bridge that leads to a treehouse and birdcage overlook, or take a nighttime lantern tour through the haunted woods and creepy alcoves.

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Photo by Gentl & Hyers

9

Massachusetts Get your sake on in Boston

Something big is brewing in Boston. James Beard Award–winning duo Tim and Nancy Cushman, from the city’s acclaimed O Ya restaurant, are set to open the summer’s hottest new restaurant near Fenway Park. Hojoko, in the retro-chic Verb Hotel, will be a rock and roll–themed izakaya specializing in Japanese dishes like bluefin tuna nigiri, sushi and a cocktail menu crafted by a sake sommelier. We’re drooling just thinking about it.

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Photo by April Ellis

10

Connecticut See world-class art in Hartford

After a five-year renovation, America’s oldest public art museum, the Wadsworth Atheneum, is unveiling its new look this September. The 32 existing galleries and public areas have been spruced up and 17 new spaces added, including the Beaux-Arts Morgan Memorial Building, where you can see more than 1,000 pieces of European painting and sculpture. While you await the opening, check out works by Andy Warhol and Kara Walker at the Wadsworth's contemporary art gallery, which was unveiled alongside its postwar collection in January 2015.

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Maryland Catch an outdoor film in Baltimore

What’s summer without alfresco flicks? We dig Baltimore’s Pics in the Park, held every last Saturday of the month at Central Plaza. Grab grub and a craft beer from the on-site food trucks, then curl up in the grass and watch a blockbuster like Jurassic Park or The Imitation Game. Or head to Bromo Arts District’s reel B.A.D. film nights, which screens classics like The Sandlot and Ghostbusters, alongside independently produced shorts.

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