New England News

What’s New from Discover New England

Connecticut

Joshua’s Worldwide Global Expansion Across Land, Sea, and Air. Joshua’s Worldwide continues to expand well beyond its New England roots, growing into a fully national and global transportation and travel concierge partner operating across land, sea, and air. With an expanded worldwide network, the team now supports seamless travel planning for clients arriving in North America from around the globe, while remaining a 30-year veteran partner and trusted on-the-ground expert for New England travel.

From single executives and families to large-scale conferences and incentive programs, Joshua’s Worldwide manages every leg of the journey, including airport arrivals, ground transportation, marine transfers, private aviation, destination logistics, dinner reservations, and bespoke experiences, delivering end-to-end coordination with local expertise and global reach.

DNE Member Partner – Joshua’s Worldwide

Mystic River Inn, Mystic. Featuring luxury accommodations and waterfront views, this new boutique hotel is located steps away from downtown Mystic. The inn blends coastal elegance with inviting warmth right next to the bustling heart of Mystic, while still maintaining a quiet retreat atmosphere.

Lake Compounce Amusement Park, Bristol. The oldest amusement park in the country opened for the season on May 9 and will debut a new history museum featuring photos, memorabilia, and more, showcasing generations of Lake Compounce guests, rides, attractions and shows.

Brownstone Adventure Sports Park, Portland. Opening for the season on May 23, this thrilling water park is adding two new obstacle courses: one for swimmers 12 and under and another for adults looking for a challenge.

Wells Boat Hall at Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic. Often regarded as the preeminent maritime museum in the world, Mystic Seaport Museum is constructing a 35,000-square-foot expansion space to house its American Watercraft Collection of 650 vessels. Visitors will be immersed in fascinating sea stories through one of the most expansive maritime collections in the U.S.

Connecticut Science Center, Hartford. “To be great is to be misunderstood.” Debuting May 9, The Connecticut Science Center’s Sharks exhibit brings visitors face-to-face with some of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures. Featuring dozens of life-sized models, ancient fossils, immersive media and engaging interactive experiences, explorers will be able to uncover the truth behind sharks and why protecting them is vital to our oceans’ health.

Hartford Bonanza 2026 & America 250, Hartford. Featuring the region’s largest fireworks display and free admission for all, the Connecticut capital city’s Independence Day festival celebrates community through music, art, civic pride, recreation and creative connections. This year, the festival also serves as a statewide commemoration and celebration of American independence with an epic program on two stages, interactive exhibition spaces, activity zones, diverse history tours and more.

America’s 250^th at Lake Compounce Amusement Park, Bristol. The country’s oldest amusement park celebrates America’s birthday all summer long! Featuring patriotic parades, dazzling entertainment, fireworks, refurbished rides and more, Lake Compounce transforms into a red, white and blue wonderland you won’t want to miss.

“For Which It Stands…” at the Fairfield University Art Museum, Fairfield. Visitors can examine more than 70 depictions of the American flag from World War I through modern day at the Fairfield University Art Museum. The exhibit includes artwork from artists like Jasper Johns, Faith Ringgold, Robert Rauschenberg, Shepard Fairey and Julie Mehretu, and challenges visitors to consider if justice is truly available to all.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Living at the American Mural Project, Winsted. Through December 31, the American Mural Project brings together personal storytelling workshops, live performances, exhibits, film screenings and lectures to explore how work has shaped national consciousness and Connecticut communities across history.

Wethersfield 250 Jubilee, Wethersfield. This free, family-friendly celebration on May 23 will mark America’s 250^th birthday on the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum grounds. Demonstrations will occur all day and will include colonial music, games, open hearth cooking, textile weaving, drills, butter churning and more.

Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, Hartford. The festival will celebrate its 35th anniversary in July 2026. As New England’s largest free jazz event, it offers a world-class experience in the heart of the city — a perfect attraction for international visitors who value iconic American music.

The Foundry, Stamford. Opened in 2025 on the 20^th floor of the One State Street building, The Foundry offers a refined, sustainable New England dining experience with panoramic views of the city skyline, representing the modern “New England” culinary movement.

Connecticut Pizza Trail, statewide. Connecticut is the Pizza Capital of the U.S. It’s just a fact. And now, we’ve unveiled our first-ever Pizza Trail — a crave-worthy celebration of the local pizzerias that prove why the state reigns as the Pizza Mecca of the United States.

Dinners at The Farm (July 31-August 1 & 8-9), Quaker Hill. Experience summer at its freshest with an open-air, farm-to-table feast held in the fields of Hunts Brook Farm in Quaker Hill. Each night features a chef-curated, five-course menu paired with local wines, craft beers and homegrown live music.

The Bedford by Martha Stewart, Foxwoods. Inspired by Martha’s iconic 1925 farmhouse, The Bedford brings Martha’s hospitality, tradition and favorite dishes to Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Felice, Westport. Inspired by the Tuscan countryside, this acclaimed NYC restaurant group opened their first Connecticut location, serving rustic Italian dishes and an extensive Italian wine list.

Yamashiro, Foxwoods. Bringing over a century of Hollywood traditions to New England, this Japanese-inspired restaurant will offer an immersive dining experience that seamlessly transitions to vibrant nightlife. On Friday and Saturday nights, Yamashiro will set the standard for Connecticut nightlife, featuring top DJs, curated music and unmatched late-night energy.

The Kelsey at Savin Rock, West Haven. A new waterfront restaurant and event venue projected to come to life by the end of 2026. The Kelsey plans to seamlessly blend fine dining and celebrations to create a sense of community. Visitors can indulge in coastal-inspired dishes and traditional American comfort food.

Maine

Nauti Sisters Tours & Charters. New private boat tours are tailored to every guest—offering everything from hands-on oyster farm visits and tastings to customizable charters, sunset cruises, and lobster demo tours.

DNE Member Partner – Visit Portland Maine

The Docent’s Collection, Portland. Unlike traditional hotels, The Docent’s Collection provides private, spacious lofts that feel like a luxury residence for solo travelers and families. In 2025, we announced the expansion of the collection to include 16 new lofts at 178 Middle Street, known historically as the Boyd Block. Available in one- and two-bedroom layouts, the new lofts will offer the same high level of service and design signature to The Docent’s Collection. The Boyd Block is ideally located within Old Port Square – a distinctive urban destination centered within the heart of the historic Old Port neighborhood.

DNE Member Partner – Visit Portland Maine

The Evalina Hotel, Portland. The new hotel will open in May, and will be managed and operated by Fathom Companies, a Portland-based hospitality management group.

DNE Member Partner – Visit Portland Maine

Minibar, Portland. Newly opened and locally owned and operated, minibar is Portland’s premier 18-hole Indoor minigolf course, sports bar and restaurant for all ages, year-round.

DNE Member Partner – Visit Portland Maine

Mast Landing’s Wavy Days Beer Fest, Portland. Located at Thompson’s Point, Mast Landing’s Wavy Days Beer Fest brings 60+ breweries from all over the country to come together to share their beer at one of the biggest beer festivals in the Northeast.

DNE Member Partner – Visit Portland Maine

By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth, Rockland. This exhibition is co-organized by Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine; Brandywine Museum of Art, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania; and Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville, Maine; in association with the Wyeth Foundation for American Art. It will be presented simultaneously at the three museums in summer 2026 and will be accompanied by a catalog published by Rizzoli Electa. The exhibition runs from May 2 to October 16.

Lewiston Auburn Balloon Festival, Lewiston. The 32nd Annual Lewiston Auburn Balloon Festival will take flight August 21-23 at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston. This year’s festival celebrates the spirit of America’s 250th anniversary with a patriotic theme of “Red, White, and Balloons.” Set along the scenic Androscoggin River, the three-day festival will feature colorful hot-air balloons in shapes that celebrate the nation’s milestone birthday.

Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor. This contemporary art exhibit at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor aims to deepen understanding of the Wabanaki Nations’ place within our ongoing national narrative. Using the Semiquincentennial and Wabanaki involvement in the Revolutionary War as a starting point, “In the Shadow of the Eagle” focuses on themes such as military service, treaties and self-governance. It features new artworks by leading Wabanaki artists and loans of work by important Native artists from outside the Dawnlands. The exhibit runs through October 30, 2026. Details at the Abbe Museum.

Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland. A yearlong landmark exhibition asserts Maine’s enduring imprint on American art, honoring the artists whose vision and creativity have shaped the nation’s ongoing artistic legacy. Featuring Maine artists and those with Maine connections, including John Marin, Marsden Hartley, George Bellows and Charles Demuth, the exhibit runs through January 3, 2027.

York History Center, York. For nine months, from September 30, 1777, to June 27, 1778, York was the nation’s capital. The York History Center has mounted an exhibition called “Revolutionary York” to explore York County’s pivotal role in the American Revolution. While headquartered in York, the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, and negotiated treaties with France that helped secure victory in the war. The exhibit will run from July 2026 through December 2028.

Maine Accolades

Maine was selected as one of the 25 Best Destinations in 2026 by Lonely Planet.
Maine’s ski resorts ranked in The Best Ski Resorts in the East for 2026 | SKI: Saddleback No. 1, Sugarloaf No. 2, Sunday River No. 10.
Lady Oyster won the global culinary award, “Best Rural Culinary Heritage Experience” by the World Food Travel Awards.
Schoodic National Scenic Byway ranked one of the 10 best drives in the U.S. by USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards.

Massachusetts

Picturing the Revolution, Deerfield. Picturing the Revolution, which will run from April 18th, 2026, to January 3rd, 2027, in historic Deerfield, Massachusetts, will showcase the American War for Independence. Drawing from Historic Deerfield’s rich collection of Revolutionary-era materials, this exhibition explores the diverse ways that 18th-century individuals “pictured” or understood the Revolution as it unfolded. Looking across prints, drawings, maps, broadsides, portraits, powder horns, ceramics, and satirical cartoons, picturing the Revolution highlights how images shaped local and global perceptions of the war. Mining these complex visual records reveals the often-overlooked importance of pictures in the shift from revolt to revolution, and in envisioning a future for the new nation. This exhibition has been made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism.

DNE Member Partner – Mohawk Trail Region

New Presidents Trail, Walking Tour, Quincy. Step into Historic Landmarks on the Presidents Trail. Follow this urban walking trail through Quincy’s rich history and learn more about this Presidential community. The Presidents Trail brings together a unique and diverse collection of 10 historic and cultural sites in the historic City of Quincy. Ranging from colonial burying grounds and historic houses museums to Presidential homes and local historical monuments, each site along the trail offers unique entry points and connections to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Presidential history of Massachusetts and the United States. Learn more here.

DNE Member Partner – Discover Quincy

Rebranded Revolutionary Valley, Lowell, Concord, Lexington area. As of June 2025, The Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitor’s Bureau rebranded as the Revolutionary Valley, Massachusetts because of its rich history for being at the center of both the American Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. Just north of Boston, the Revolutionary Valley brings together 21 communities that still hold onto the things that make a place feel like home. It includes historic towns like Concord and Lexington, the cultural energy of Lowell, the natural beauty of Lincoln and Carlisle, the shopping and dining of Burlington, and the many neighborhoods and small-town centers that make up the landscape in between.

DNE Member Partner – Revolutionary Valley

Lowell Folk Festival Expansion, Lowell. One of the nation’s leading folk festivals continues to broaden its multicultural performances, food programming, and community storytelling.

DNE Member Partner – Revolutionary Valley

The Groton Inn, Groton. One of Massachusetts’ newer boutique inns continues helping position Groton as a growing destination for agritourism and small-town luxury travel.

DNE Member Partner – Revolutionary Valley

FIFA World Cup 2026, Greater Boston. Experience Massachusetts on the global stage as the Commonwealth hosts FIFA World Cup matches and regional celebrations.
DNE Member Partner – Meet Boston

Sail Boston 2026, Boston Harbor. Watch 50+ tall ships from around the world return to Boston Harbor as part of one of the city’s most iconic waterfront celebrations.

DNE Member Partner – Meet Boston

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, Boston. This year, one of the nation’s most iconic July 4th celebrations becomes a centerpiece signature event of both MA250 and the nation’s commemoration.

DNE Member Partner – Meet Boston

Museum of American Finance, Boston. Explore America’s financial and entrepreneurial history at the museum’s new Boston location, opening summer 2026.

DNE Member Partner – Meet Boston

Pennyweight Hotel by Curio, Boston. Discover a stylish new stay in the heart of Boston. Hilton’s Curio Collection continues expanding in Massachusetts with a boutique property rooted in local character.

DNE Member Partner – Meet Boston

Garden Gables Inn, Lenox. Relax in a refreshing Berkshire retreat. This beloved boutique inn continues evolving with elevated guest experiences and classic New England charm.

DNE Member Partner – Berkshires

Hinata Retreat, Berkshires. Unplug in a luxury wellness escape inspired by nature and simplicity. This serene retreat adds to the Berkshires’ growing reputation for restorative travel.

DNE Member Partner – Berkshires

Huttopia Berkshires, Southern Berkshires. Go glamping in the woods of Western Massachusetts. This internationally known outdoor hospitality brand is bringing elevated camping experiences to the Commonwealth.

DNE Member Partner – Berkshires

Prospect, Berkshires. Experience contemporary luxury in the hills of Western Massachusetts. This highly anticipated hospitality concept brings design-forward accommodation to the Berkshires.

DNE Member Partner – Berkshires

Ames Mansion Tours, Easton. Newly expanded public tours are bringing visitors inside one of Massachusetts’ most significant historic estates and landscapes.

MA250, Statewide. Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with hundreds of events, exhibits, performances, and community activations across Massachusetts.

Hydrangea Festival, Cape Cod. The region-wide summer celebration continues expanding garden tours, design experiences, and nonprofit partnerships across the Cape.

Nantucket by Design, Nantucket. This growing festival of art, interiors, architecture, and design continues drawing national attention to Nantucket’s creative community.

Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival Expansion, Martha’s Vineyard. One of the country’s leading cultural film festivals continues to grow its national profile through expanded programming and celebrity participation.

Cape Arundel Inn Residences at the Red Inn, Provincetown. Experience a refreshed luxury coastal stay at the edge of Provincetown’s iconic waterfront and arts scene.

Shore Haven Inn by Lark, Dennis Port. Formerly the Beach Breeze Inn, this reimagined coastal stay blends laid-back comfort with modern seaside style.

The Atlas Hotel, Cambridge. Stay in the center of innovation and culture. This new boutique property brings modern hospitality to one of Massachusetts’ most dynamic neighborhoods.

Massachusetts Accolades:

Condé Nast Traveler recognized The Verb Hotel, The Langham, Boston, and Eurostars The Boxer among the top hotels in the United States in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Time Out ranked Boston as the second most walkable city in the world in 2025, highlighting the city’s historic neighborhoods, waterfront access, and vibrant cultural districts.
Travel + Leisure readers recognized Winnetu Oceanside Resort among the top 15 resorts in the continental United States in 2025, celebrating the property’s iconic Martha’s Vineyard setting and coastal New England hospitality

New Hampshire

Mill Falls at the Lake, Meredith. Experience a classic New Hampshire icon, newly refined. Celebrating a resort-wide renovation in early 2026, this Meredith staple has never looked better.