30 not so mainstream day trips vetted by weathered adventurers

New Hampshire

A stone’s throw from your own back door!

Massachusetts

Plenty to do that the tourists will never know about!

Connecticut

Connecticut is awful. Consider this section as a last resort.

Rhode Island

Hikes. History. Fish!

Vermont

Every season is stunning!

Maine

You hear that? Me neither… Welcome to Maine!

New Hampshire

Madame Sherri's Castle

Ruins of the elaborate house where the enigmatic costume designer threw glamorous parties for New York's theatrical elite.

Ann Stokes and Daniels Mountain

American Classic Arcade Museum

The largest arcade museum in the world chronicles the golden age of video games which ended promptly in 1987.

579 Endicott Street North Laconia, New Hampshire

Chutters Candy Store

According to the experts at the Guinness World's Record office, this is the longest candy counter in the world.

43 Main Street Littleton, New Hampshire

The Yankee Siege Catapult

This modern medieval weapon of war was built to toss pumpkins.

1290 Forest Road Greenfield, New Hampshire

Gruits at Earth Eagle Brewings

One of the few brewers in the U.S. experimenting with hop-free beers.

165 High St Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Two thousand artifacts from around the world collected by one woman with an addiction.

25 Evans Way Boston, MA

Hammond Castle Museum

An eccentric inventor's castle home with its own indoor weather system.

80 Hesperus Avenue Gloucester, MA

Art of Jack Kevorkian

The macabre paintings created by famous suicide proponent Jack Kevorkian, or "Dr. Death."

65 Main St Watertown, MA

The Bridge of Flowers

In the village of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, a bridge is groomed to bloom beautifully with flowers all summer long.

75 Bridge Street Shelbourne Falls, MA

Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation

A steampunk wonderland that preserves America's history of industrial innovation.

154 Moody Street Waltham, MA

Connecticut

Wild Bill's Nostalgia Store

A reliquary of pop culture marvels, including the world's largest (and most terrifying) Jack-in-the-Box.

1003 Newfield St Middletown, CT



Submarine Force Museum

The US Navy's only submarine museum is also home to the world's first nuclear submarine.

One Crystal Lake Road Groton, CT

Timexpo Museum

This strangely amalgamated museum explores the history of the Timex clock company as well as archaeology.

175 Union Street Waterbury, CT



Cushing Brain Collection

A historic collection of diseased brains in a new, custom-built home.

Whitney Medical Library at Yale University

333 Cedar Street New Haven, CT



Gillette Castle

Quirky castle designed by the American actor best known for portraying Sherlock Holmes on stage.

67 River Road Lyme, CT

Rhode Island

Green Animals Topiary Garden

Unicorns, elephants, and bears, oh my!

380 Cory's Lane Portsmouth, RI

Newport Cliff Walk

Three and a half miles of cliffs, rocky beaches, Gilded Age mansions and 40 Steps to nowhere in particular.

Memorial Drive and Eustis Avenue Newport, RI



Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health

A safe space and resource for anything and everything relating to sex and sexuality.

250 Main St Pawtucket, RI



The Swiss Village

A railroad magnate's replica village has become home to a genetic seed bank for rare breeds of livestock.

152 Harrison Avenue Newport, RI



Touro Synagogue

Oldest synagogue in the United States.

85 Touro Street Newport, RI

Vermont

The Museum of Everyday Life

This "common-as-dirt" museum celebrates the glory of normalcy.

3482 Dry Pond Rd Glover, VT



Crown Point Bridge

Lake Champlain Bridge, the recently demolished and rebuilt bridge where they filmed "What Lies Beneath".

Route 17 and Route 125 Addison, VT



Flying Monkey Sculptures

Scary metal statues adorn some of the signature buildings of

1 Main Street Burlington, VT

The Forgotten Village at Greenbank's Hollow

Industrial ruin decimated this tiny New England company town in a fashion no one saw coming… and even fewer remember today. Greenbanks Hollow Road Danville, VT



Main Street Museum

Taxonomy experiment known for quirky collections.

58 Bridge St Hartford, VT

Maine

International Cryptozoology Museum

The world's only international cryptozoology museum is host to an unrivaled collection of cryptid specimens.

4 Thompsons Point Portland, ME



Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory

The first bridge observation tower in the U.S. offers one of the best views of Maine.

U.S. 1 Verona Island, ME



Maine State Prison Showroom

Trinkets and toys lovingly handmade by maximum security prisoners.

358 Main St. Thomaston, ME



Owls Head Transportation Museum

Every plane, auto, and bicycle in this collection is kept in working order and are regularly demonstrated to the public.

Museum St Owls Head, ME



America's First Mile

A monument marks the beginning of the longest north-south road in the United States.

341 W. Main Street Fort Kent, ME

If you enjoyed these dank detours, don't forget to donate a dollar or two toward our trade scholarship fund!