new england fishing trips

Our Season is in Full Swing! Join us on the Water Today!

Deep Sea Fishing

Quick details.

• Users Ages: All ages
• Clock Duration: 4 or 8 hours

Rod and Reel Rental

Experience reel excitement in plymouth.

Captain John Boats in Plymouth has been fishing the waters of New England for more than 60 years. We’ve learned a few things over time. We know the species of fish our groups are in search of and where to find them. Our crews also know the equipment and fishing techniques, and we share our knowledge to ensure you have a worthwhile experience. Cod, haddock, mackerel, pollack, and flounder — we can find the fish. We have four hour and eight hour trips available.

• Chevron down Can we bring our fish home with us?

Yes. You can bring home all the fish that are of legal size limit. You may also have them cleaned for free and, for a small fee, filleted by one of our crew members.

• Chevron down Can we buy food and beverages on the boat?

We offer full galley service on board where you can purchase hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and a variety of snacks. Hot and cold beverages are available, and those 21 and over can purchase alcoholic beverages. Our state liquor license prohibits you from bringing your own alcohol on the boat. We only accept cash on board the boats.

• Chevron down Are there restrooms on the boats?

All of our boats are equipped with clean men’s and ladies’ restrooms.

• Chevron down Directions

10 Town Wharf Plymouth, MA 02360

Be early for your departure. You’ll want to get to our dock with time to spare to board our vessel and make yourself comfortable. Allow about 60 minutes for ticketing and boarding.

For parking information visit  parkplymouth.com

Related Activities

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• Users All ages
• Clock 3.5 - 4 hours

Whale Watch Plymouth

Witness some of the rarest, most graceful mammals in the world on an educational, exciting and exhilarating experience guided by our knowledgeable naturalists.

• Clock 3 - 3.5 hours

Whale Watch Provincetown

Discover the great whales of the North Atlantic during a Provincetown whale watching adventure! Sightings may include humpback, finback, minke, right, and pilot whales.

Deep Sea Fishing Adventures Targeting Cod, Haddock, Shark, Tuna, Striped Bass & Bluefish

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Deep Sea Fishing in Cape Cod with Big Fish Charters

Looking for an award winning sport fishing charter settle your craving for deep sea fishing in cape cod and book your next trip with us today.

Make reservations now for a deep sea charter in 2024. It's going to be an adventurous and a wicked thrilling year for Fishing in Cape Cod! We are now taking reservations for all types of our deep sea fishing charters.

Saltwater Sportfishing Charter Service in Cape Cod

Best time to fish for the following species:

The Official Website Of

Pinwheel tuna fishing charters.

Gloucester MA.

catch the new season in march

Now streaming on disney+, pinwheel tuna fishing charters , the most fun and exciting boat to fish on located in gloucester ma., pinwheel tuna fishing charters is new england's premier sport fishing charter and is the most fun and exciting boat to fish on from gloucester ma. specializing in bluefin tuna, striped bass, & haddock, captain tyler mclaughlin (tv show wicked tuna) will consistently put you on the fish..

Bluefin Tuna Charters

FALL BLUEFIN CHARTERS AVAILABLE

9-Hour Haddock Charters

SEASON CLOSED

CHARTER PRICES ARE FOR THE ENTIRE CHARTER, NOT PER PERSON.

Do I need to bring fishing gear or tackle?

No, all bait and tackle are included, however, if you want to bring your own you may.

Is there a bathroom?

Yes, on a boat they are called a head.

Is there parking?

Please text 603-860-9010 for information about parking and any questions you may have, or fill out our Contact Form.

Is there WIFI?

No, there is no WIFI on the boat.

What should I bring?

Suggestions – sweatshirt, rain gear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, camera, food, beverage, a cooler. Ice is available aboard if needed.

How many passengers are allowed?

6 Passengers are allowed by law per boat. This is regulated by the US Coast Guard.

What do I wear?

Dress in layers. It can get cold and/or wet. And then hot and/or dry.

What about food?

Bring your own food and beverages. Beer and Wine are welcome but no hard liquor as per insurance requirements. You may bring a cooler if you would like to keep items chilled. We do not supply any food or beverage.

Drug Policy

All drugs are prohibited – including marijuana. Any state laws are not applicable as the ocean is under federal jurisdiction.

Do I need a saltwater fishing license?

No, you are covered under my charter boat’s fishing license.

What do I get to keep?

On haddock trips, clients keep all they catch pending catch limits and size restrictions. Filleting and bagging are included. You may also bring a cooler to take home your catch. If you don’t have a cooler though, don’t worry – we can keep the fish on ice until the end of the trip for you.

On Tuna trips, the laws do not allow the clients to keep the fish. That is governed by federal laws and only a permitted fishing vessel is allowed to keep a tuna. You will be credited 20% on your next trip for all commercial sales of tuna. If we land a short, under the recreational rules, pending quota restrictions, that one can be cut up and taken home.

Suggestions – sweatshirt, rain gear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, camera, food, beverage, and a cooler. Ice is available aboard if needed.

What happens if it is raining on the day of my trip?

We go out rain or shine and weather cancellations are at the Captains’ discretion.

Do I tip the crew?

YES! Crews work hard for the tips and they are appreciated and earned. A 20% tip on the cost of the trip is customary for good hard work and service by the crew.

What is the cancellation policy?

Your deposit is completely refundable until 14 days prior to the Charter Date. After 14 days prior, it is NON-REFUNDABLE, subject to circumstances.

If the weather is bad, the charter will be rescheduled. If not able to reschedule the Captain will offer a refund less processing fees. For any questions please email [email protected]

CANCELLATION POLICY

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PINWHEEL FISHING CHARTERS

Owned & Operated by

Captain Tyler McLaughlin of

National Geographic’s ‘

Wicked Tuna’  television series.

Gloucester, MA.

27 Harbor Loop, Gloucester, MA

OFFICIAL SITE OF PINWHEEL TUNA CHARTERS

Copyright 2023  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | SITE BY BDESIGN360

Our proximity to the vast watersheds of Northern Maine and the Penobscot River puts you on the fishing trip of your dream! Fish some of the best lakes, ponds, and rivers in the Northeast for smallmouth bass, brook trout, and landlocked salmon. Choose from an action-packed bass fishing vacation trip, a hike into a pristine pond to fish for native brook trout, or try fly fishing in Maine for landlocked salmon on the famous West Branch of the Penobscot River.

Guided fishing option one.

Trips Include  a Licensed Registered Maine Guide, boat or canoe (if not on land), all equipment, and lunch - fun day trips only.

Trips Do Not Include:   State of Maine Fishing License , warm clothes, or personal items, such as rain gear, sunglasses, bug spray, hat, etc. ( children 16 and older must have a license )

FULL DAY FISHING TRIP: 1 Person= $375 $175 per each additional person. 

HALF DAY FISHING TRIP: 1 Person= $250 $150 per each additional person.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Smallmouth bass fishing in Maine is ideal from late May through the end of September. The shores of the West Branch of the Penobscot River in Millinocket are the perfect location for your Maine fishing adventure. Our great resort location allows anglers the ability to wake up and be bass fishing in some of the most productive waters in Maine. *Guided Location to be determined by Guide

Brook Trout Fishing

Brook Trout is one of the most sought-after game fish in the state of Maine. Our Resort location is located just minutes from the many pristine ponds in and around Baxter State Park. At NEOC you’ll experience the thrill of casting a dry fly to rise Brook Trout while enjoying a beautiful view of Katahdin. *Guided Location to be determined by Guide

Landlocked Salmon

Fishing during the caddis hatch on the West Branch is guaranteed to be one of the more memorable experiences in an angler's lifetime. The West Branch of the Penobscot River is famous for its Landlocked Salmon and is one of the best natural landlocked salmon fisheries in the eastern United States. Many local anglers rave about the size of the fish that live in these waters where the average catch size is between 12-14 inches. From May-September, we customize amazing fishing trips on the West Branch with our awesome guides. *Guided Location to be determined by Guide

To plan your FISHING OPTION ONE , call 1-800-766-7238

GUIDED FISHING OPTION TWO

Trips Include  a Licensed Registered Maine Guide, drift-boat, all equipment, and lunch - full day trips only.

FULL DAY FISHING TRIP: 1 or 2 Anglers = $550 *Includes space up to two people + Guide + Drift Boat *If interesting in booking more anglers, please call for pricing. 

HALF DAY or EVENING FISHING TRIP: 1 or 2 Anglers = $325 *Includes space up to two people + Guide + Drift Boat *If interesting in booking more anglers, please call for pricing. 

LEARN TO FLY FISH: 1 or 2 Anglers = $300 *Each additional Angler +$50. 

Big Eddy - Landlocked Salmon | Brook Trout | Smallmouth Bass

With stunning sunsets and relentless caddis hatches, Big Eddy on the Penobscot River in Maine stands as one of the best Landlocked Salmon fisheries in the world. Tumbling through the Class V rapid The Cribworks, the water settles, providing respite in an oxygen and food rich pool. Consistent, cold water flows hold Brook Trout and Landlocked Salmon all summer long. While prime time is late spring and early summer, Salmon hold in the West Branch through July, August and September. The Salmon here average 12-16 inches, with some lunkers growing beyond 26 inches. Half-Day, Full-Day and Evening-Only trips are available. And with a drift boat...you can access all of it!

Big Eddy Guided Fly Fishing Trips Include: Knowledgeable, experienced, and friendly guide All fly fishing equipment (rods, reels, line, flies, net, etc) Drift boat (the most comfortable way you will ever cast a fly rod!) Snacks, water and, on full day trips, a shore side lunch cooked by your guide

Half Day: Learn to Fly Fish

Want to try fly fishing but don’t have the gear or a friend to teach you? Let us demystify fly fishing for you. All gear is provided for your first fly fishing adventure along with a knowledgeable guide to get you started! Learn to cast, and drift a fly. Learn to set the hook and play a fish into the net. We guarantee you catch a fish!

To plan your FISHING OPTION TWO , call 1-800-766-7238

Largest "Male" Mako Shark Recorded by Science

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Patriot Party Boats

Fishing charters on cape cod, open boat fishing trips.

• Most Popular
• Users All ages
• Hour Glass 4 hours , 6 hours

Bottom Fishing

4 hours  8am to 12pm & 1pm to 5pm

6 hours 6am – 12pm & 8am-2pm

Cape Cod fishing is among the best in the world, especially in the calm waters of Vineyard Sound. Our experienced captain and crew help you catch porgy, tautog, sea bass, and more! Recreational Black Sea Bass season closed as of September 4 th . The primary catch going forward will be Scup, until early October. After October 7th our primary catch will be Tautog.

• Hour Glass 5 hours
• Clock 8:30am-1:30pm

Sport Fishing

Spend an exciting day fishing the rips and shoals of Nantucket and Vineyard Sound. Our experienced captains show you the best striped bass and blue fishing in our well-equipped vessel.

Patriot Party Boats, Inc. is a family-owned and operated business started over 40 years ago. Our greatest joy is to share the beauty and grandeur of the waters surrounding Cape Cod. Come fishing or cruising with us for one of the high points of your visit to Cape Cod. At Patriot Boats, our goal is to improve the recreational lives of our customers, and to achieve this, we have captains and crew that will make your experience memorable. All Patriot Boats associates are committed to boating, and it is evident in everything we do.

Reel in These Five-Star Reviews!

This is the best party boat for fishing. It is located at Falmouth Harbor and goes out twice a day. A fun fishing day for a group of men and youngsters. They always have a good time.

We had a fantastic day out on the boat. Captain Mike and mates Matt and Adam were great with the kids. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and polite. It was definitely a highlight of our vacation.

One of the nicer open boat experiences on the Cape. Nice size boat and very nice captain and first mate. Very reasonably priced, especially for the Cape Cod. Free parking, rod, bait. Great boat for the kids.

Great time on the afternoon half day. Plenty of fish and great staff. Adam took the time to explain everything for my family and always around when we needed a hand. Great capstone to a quick getaway on the Cape!

• Lake Winnipesaukee
• Spofford Lake
• Connecticut River
• Webster Lake
• Northeast Fishing Reports
• What To Bring

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PERCH FISHING TRIP NOW FOR 2024

Head out on a memorable Bass fishing trip with Northeast Bass Guide

Guided trips on the greatest fisheries in new england.

There’s more to bass fishing than just casting out a bait! Learn how to utilize your technology! From finding fish to learning how to read contours.

I am a fishing guide in New England. The goal of these guided trips is to give everyone from a beginner to an advanced angler the most memorable day of Bass fishing that they have ever had! I want to spread my passion for bass fishing to as many people as possible! Don’t go at it alone! Make your time on the water is as fun as possible and hire an experienced guide!

Book your fishing trip now!

F/V Nor'easter

Daily deep sea fishing trips * private charters for all occasions * evening cruises to perkins cove, ogunquit * ash scatterings at sea * christmas prelude boat rides.

DAILY DEEP SEA FISHING 6:30AM-3PM

Open Boat Deep Sea Fishing Trips Check in by 6:15AM, Boat leaves at 6:30AM: All Passengers Must Check in with the Captain in parking lot before 6:30am.

Step aboard the roomy 42′ F/V Nor’easter and you’re off for a day of fun and fishing with lifelong, multi-generational commercial fisherman and USCG Master Captain Michael J. Perkins. Captain Mike’s family has been fishing off the New England coast for over 200 years.

We steam 20 miles off shore daily to jig for haddock, pollack, cod, cusk, hake, halibut and more! We will teach you how to fish if you have never fished before and we will fillet and package your fish for you to take home to cook and eat or freeze. We ask that you tip our mate for providing the filleting service.

All fishing gear is included in the $95-per person fee. No fishing license is required. The captain will meet you in the parking lot and show you where to park. The boat departs at 6:30AM sharp and will not wait. We will return at approximately 3PM. Bring your own lunch and drinks – if you are over 21 you may bring alcohol on board. This trip is NOT recommended for children under 8 years old. Reservations are required. We REQUIRE 48 hours cancellation notice for daily fishing trips.

NOTE : Prices subject to change depending on current fuel cost.

DEEP SEA FISHING TRIPS

Gloucester fleet offers some of the best bottom fishing off the shores of cape ann.

Here in Gloucester, Ma., we are lucky to be close to some of the best bottom fishing grounds off of New England. We fish areas such as Tillies Ledge, Stellwagen Bank (a National Marine Sanctuary), Jefferies Ledge, Straw Hat as well as a few other “hot spots”.  Having so many areas to fish within two hours steam from Gloucester lets us offer exciting trips that cover a lot of bottom while giving you plenty of fishing time.

These areas are rich with fish such catch as: Cod, Haddock, Pollack, Cusk, Wolfish, Red Fish, Mud Hake, Conger Eel to name a few!

All Day Fishing

3/4 Day Fishing Trip

Half Day Fishing

• Book A Trip

Looking to get started fishing in New England? Look no further.

You've come to the right place. fish new england has the experience, resources, and expertise to put you on the fish. take a look around our site, where you'll find helpful articles, photos and information to help you get started fishing one of the most beautiful areas in the country, welcome to fish new england.

Subscribe to our blog below!

Opportunities Abound

 freshwater or saltwater you decide - there's plenty of options.

The waters of New England are as impressive in their beauty as they are in biodiversity. In the region's lakes, ponds, river systems, and estuaries, anglers can target roughly two dozen freshwater species depending on their location. Some of the primary freshwater gamefish in New England include:

- Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass

- Rainbow, Brown, Brook & Tiger Trout 

- Pickerel & Pike

- Landlocked Atlantic Salmon

- Catfish & Carp

- Yellow & White Perch, Crappie, Sunfish

For saltwater pursuits, the waters off the coast of New England offers an excellent range of inshore and offshore opportunities. Primary  saltwater gamefish in New England  include:

- Striped Bass

- Bluefin Tuna

- Fluke & Flounder

- Cod & Tautog 

- Mako, Blue & Thresher Sharks 

Ocean fishing by boat? Exploring lakes & rivers by kayak? Shore fishing? 

At Fish New England, we pursue a variety of different species in dozens of locations using a wide array of techniques and approaches. Whether it's surfcasting for blitzing bass and blues, trolling live mackerel for lunker striped bass, or pursuing the quieter side of things in the rivers & lakes of the North County by kayak, we have experiences for everyone. Options vary by state, and include but are not limited to the following:

Massachusetts

- Guided striped bass saltwater trips by boat & kayak

- Freshwater shore & kayak fishing for trout & largemouth bass

- Traditional ice fishing excursions

New Hampshire

- Kayak and canoe lake fishing trips for bass

- River & stream fishing for trout

Rhode Island 

- Striped bass surfcasting experiences

- Kayak fluke fishing trips

- Guided hardwater jigging adventures

- Trophy freshwater bass fishing

Interested in learning more?

At fish new england, our mission is to spread the love of fishing and help newcomers to embrace this amazing sport. to stay up to date with fishing content and guided opportunities, please subscribe., frequently asked questions.

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Contact Us!

[fa icon="phone"]  781.910.6874

[fa icon="envelope"]   [email protected]

[fa icon="home"]  25 First Street Cambridge, MA 02141

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Captain Matty

Call or text

(603) 731-1804

BOOK YOUR NEXT TRIP WITH HOOKED ON SALMON FISHING CHARTERS

Freshwater & Saltwater Trips Available

ABOUT CAPTAIN MATTY

Hooked On Salmon Fishing Charters is owned and operated by Capt. Matty Groves.  Matty has more than twenty years of fishing experience ranging from New England's salt water coast to several of New Hampshire's inland freshwater fisheries.  

Whichever fishery you choose, you'll be certain to have a fun filled day of fishing.  Imagine a forty pound Striped Bass smoking your drag or a Landlocked salmon tail-dancing along a Lake Winnipesaukee sunset! Any way you fillet it you are guaranteed the time of your life!

NH Licensed Guide # 23 USCG Certified Fully Insured

Fully licensed 2004 23' Sea-Fox that fishes 4 people very comfortably.  

All equipment supplied

6 Pack licensed 23' Regulator center console that fishes 4-5 people very comfortably.  

Hooked on Salmon Fishing Charters offers a variety of customizable packages to suit all your fishing needs. Whatever you’re looking for in a guided trip, we can make it happen.  Whether it’s targeting freshwater species such as Landlocked Salmon or Trout or New England's popular saltwater game fish - Striped Bass/Tuna, you will have a great time, have some great pictures and have many  stories to tell!

All equipment supplied by Captian Matty!

Winnipesaukee Trip

4 Hour Trip

1 to 3 Anglers $400

4 Anglers $450

5 Hour Trip

1 to 3 Anglers $500

4 Anglers $550

SALMON 

Ontario NY Trip

1 to 3 Anglers

6hrs - $600

8hrs - $750

*Doesn't include Lodging

STRIPED BASS (MA)

TUNA TRIP (MA)

Newburyport MA

1 to 4 Anglers

6hrs - $800

  1 to 4 Anglers

8hrs - $110 0

5hrs - $700

( Afternoon Trip)

*Add 5th An gler for additional $150

Newburyport MA (Offshore)

8-10 Hour Trip

1 to 3 Anglers $1200

*Offshore trip that may include offload etc.

All equipment and tackle provided by Captain Matty!

All trips are secured with a credit card.  Failure to cancel at least 5 days before your trip will result in a charge to your card of the full amount of your trip. 

Where We Fish

Lake winnipesaukee, (salmon & trout).

Merrimack River / Open Ocean (Striped Bass & Tuna)

Lake Ontario

Oswego/pulaski area.

For quickest reply please call or text

Bluefin Tuna Fishing Charters Gloucester, MA, Cape Ann

Bluefin tuna fishing charters out of gloucester, ma.

Gloucester Massachusetts is centrally located to some of the most productive Bluefin Tuna Fishing grounds that New England has to offer.

Gloucester is the perfect choice for your Bluefin tuna fishing charter due to the close proximity to all of the North, East and South fishing grounds in the New England area which include Jeffries Ledge, Tillies Bank, Stellwagen Bank, and Cape Cod Bay just to name a few.  Gloucester is in the middle of all the productive waters of New England which equates to the shortest ride out of any port, which means more time fishing and more choices of fishing grounds to choose from.

A typical bluefin fishing charter begins with a 1-5 am departure depending on what trip you book and arrives back after the allotted time. All bluefin tuna fishing charters are 12 hours minimum (full day), or 15 hours minimum (marathon day).

Travel times from the port of Gloucester average 30-120 minutes depending on which type of fish we are targeting. No other port in New England can offer you such short ride times to so many fishing grounds. If we need to stay longer or travel further we will!

We have a large and fast new charter boat and can get anywhere quickly if we need too. Our boat is by far the nicest charter boat in the area.

What To Expect On A Bluefin Tuna Charter

A typical catch can vary greatly with each charter.  Some days we have up to 10 bites and other days we have no bites, however we are one of the most productive tuna boats in New England!

Our past track record speaks for itself.  Our best year was over 100 giant tuna hooked and 88 landed in 2016. To date we have 9 giants over 1,000 pounds and many other years just as close to our all time best.

As for school tuna each year, there are too many to count!  And yes, there are days we don’t catch tuna, but we do give it 100% effort every day.  We will stay longer or travel further if we have too.  You will call it quits before we do.  The majority of the school tuna we catch are between 180 and 220 pounds and are getting bigger each year with their return.

A successful day is one nice 200 pounder in the boat or maybe a 1,000 pounder if you’re lucky and up to it!  It does often happen, so be ready.  If we do land a giant tuna(s) it will automatically become property of the boat (per NMFS) and we will give you 10% of the sale of the tuna(s) (after fuel) to a maximum of $1200 for any length trip.

Bluefin Tuna Fishing Techniques

Technique varies; some days we are bait fishing, kite fishing, or jigging on the anchor and other days we are trolling. Fishing the kite when the wind permits is the most exciting bite you will ever see!!! Watching a tuna, giant or school, launch out of the water chasing a bait hanging from a kite just a few feet from where you are standing is something to see. That alone, as some of our tuna charters have said, even though they lost the fish, was worth the trip! You have to come and see for yourself.

Trolling for bluefin tuna can vary with using baits or trolling artificial lures. We prefer using baits as they are most productive, but it takes lots of time and experience (31 years) to do it properly. Typically we troll 4 to 5 rods. If you are watching the baits or lures, it also is an amazing bite to see but you are not as close as you are on the kite bite.

Bluefin tuna fishing begins in June and generally ends at the end of sometime in November, even though we have caught giant tuna in December.

The best bluefin tuna months are difficult to say as we do catch the entire season, but if I had to choose, I would choose July through October. We had many days with double and triple headers and up to 6 fish being released in this time period. On many of our bluefin tuna fishing charters if you’re not too tired from cranking the handle for hours, we will stop on the way home and load up on haddock! We have had amazing tuna and haddock combo charters the last couple of years.

To book a bluefin tuna charter out of Gloucester MA, email at [email protected] For rates visit our Charter Pricing

Guide Services

Welcome to some of new england’s best fishing.

The Upper Connecticut Region of New Hampshire is considered one of the prime fly-fishing grounds of the Eastern United States. The headwaters of the mighty Connecticut River rise near the Canadian border. As the river begins its 440-mile route to the sea, it is collected in a series of impoundment lakes. The tail-water dams release the icy cold water into fast-running streams. They are the perfect environment for Brook, Brown, Lake, & Rainbow Trout, as well as Landlocked Salmon to make their way into the river during spring to chase smelt and return in the fall to spawn on their annual spring and fall spawning run.

Sections of the Connecticut River below 1st Connecticut Lake and 2nd Connecticut Lake are reserved for fly fishing anglers only. There are shallow, rocky rapids, quiet backwater pools, and fast-running deep channels. On both banks the native vegetation gives rise to the amazing variety of insect life that provides the main source of food for the voracious fish: Caddisflies, Mayflies, and the Duns. This results in a fly-fishing paradise that results in some of the best fly fishing in New England.

All around us in this pristine section of New Hampshire are lakes and ponds, most open to fishing of all kinds. Starting as a trickle near the Canadian border in Pittsburg, NH, the river forms a chain of the deep, cold-water Connecticut Lakes before flowing some 440 miles south to Long Island Sound. The river has two fly-fishing only sections equating to approximately 6 miles of river. Two tail-water dams provide cold, clean water for miles downstream making the summer fishing on the Connecticut River some of the best in the state. One of which is the “Trophy Stretch” of the Connecticut River begins a mile south of Lopstick. This is a tail-water release, fly fishing only stretch which is famous to anglers from all over. The river from Lake Francis is also tail-water release south through town is open to general regulations. This section will maintain cold temp for approximately 30 miles downstream.

Deposit Policy: full payment for the entire trip, including multiple days, up front of guide service is required at the time of the reservation. Contact information is 603.538.6010, [email protected] & visit their website at www.lopstickoutfitters.com

Guide Service Type   1 Person  2 People

Full-Day Wade           $350      $400

Half-Day Wade          $200      $250

Full-Day Drift             $450      $450         (Connecticut & Androscoggin)

Half-Day Drift            $350      $350         (Connecticut River Only)

Pike Trips                    $450     $450

Casting Lesson $45 an hour for 1 or 2 people.

View Lopstick Trophy Stretch Map

Best Upland Bird Hunting in New England

Fall comes early in the Great North Woods, and that’s great news for our guests who like to don their orange vests and hats and head out into the woods in search of game. Our rugged, mountainous terrain provides an ideal habitat for bird species like grouse, woodcock, and pheasant. There are more than 200,000 acres here in Pittsburg which includes dense spruce forests that give way to areas of clearcut woods. With ample mountain streams, high mountain bogs, and the fertile river valleys are all accessible thanks to numerous logging roads. The State of New Hampshire generously allows recreational use of the land.

Hunters Welcome

At Lopstick, we welcome our hunting guests, many of whom return year after year. Lopstick Outfitters offers experienced hunting guides with their trained bird dogs. They know the best fields and roads where the birds can be flushed out for excellent action. With our unbeatable terrain, comfortable accommodations, the Lopstick Hunting Experience is hard to beat anywhere in New England. Call us today at 603-538-6010 and begin planning your next hunting adventure in the Great North Woods.

Deposit Policy:full payment for the entire trip, including multiple days, up front of guide service is required at the time of the reservation.

Here are the rates & contact information is 603.538.6010 or [email protected]

Guide Service for 1 Person 2 Person Full-Day Hunt     $400      $450

What you will need:

• Shotgun, any gauge you are comfortable with
• Shots Sizes 8 or 7.5
• Choke tubes Skeet or IC
• Rubber Boots are a must
• Orange Hat and Vest
• Clothing for weather ranges of snow at 20 degrees to sun at 70 degrees
• Always let your guide know of any medical conditions

Visit Our New Lopstick Outfitters Website

Meet Our Guides

Head Fishing Guide William Bernhardt Head Fly Fishing Guide

Fishing Guide Chuck DeGray Fly Fishing Guide

Fishing Guide Paul Starring Fly Fishing Guide

Head Upland Bird Hunting Guide Dave Trahan Upland Bird Hunting Guide

Upland Bird Hunting Guide Sean Searles Upland Bird Hunting Guide

All of lodging needs to be reserved by calling Lopstick  (Main Lodge) at 603.538.6659 45 Stewart Young Road – 8am-5pm

All of our Recreational rentals need to be reserved by calling Recreation at Lopstick at 603.538.6473 6 Fern Drive on the corner of Route 3 – 8am-5pm

Guide Services need to be reserved by calling   Lopstick Outfitters & Fly Shop at 603.538.6010 – 10 Metallak Drive – 7am-5pm

Check-in time is 3:00 pm and check out time is 10:30 am. Please let us know if you will be​ a​late arrival. Cancellation Policy: Deposits will be refunded if 7 days notice is given. If less than 7 days notice is given, the deposit will be refunded only if the dates reserved are rented to others.

We hope to host you soon!

New England Deep Sea Shark Fishing Adventures ​​​

Newburyport, ma.

Not Just a Fishing Charter;  An Offshore Adventure! 

Click Here to Book a Shark Fishing Charter Today!

Shark & Deep Sea Fishing Charters

Offshore Shark Fishing (Full Day)

Our Signature Charter! Y ou'll enjoy deep-sea fishing for Cod and Haddock w hile we chum  the water for large sharks

S harks & Big Game : 

​ Great Blue Shark s

Mako Sharks

Porbeagle Sharks

Sand Sharks

Bluefin Tuna

Deep-Sea & Ground  Fish:

Atlantic Cod

Haddock 

Whiting ​ ​

Mackerel 

Herring 

False  Albacore

We will fillet and store on ice all legal-limit cod and haddock your party catches upon request. Nothing's better than fresh fish for dinner!  Information on tagged sharks is submitted to a publicly available online database accessible to conservation researchers worldwide. 

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O ur 40 foot sportfishing catamaran is unique in

New England waters.

Built by Perfection Boats for offshore fishing,  she propels us to New England's premier fishing spots quickly,

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As a catamaran, FISHACAT is more stable and considerably faster than mono-hull fishing boats.  ​

Let US Coast Guard licensed Capt. Chris and his crew give you a fishing trip to remember! 

All of our charters include beverages and onboard dining experience. Click HERE to see our menu.  

** Discounts are available for corporate events/charters **

Video By Marcos & Friends Charter Sept 2022

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New England's Best Family Fishing Vacations

It's June and vacation time is fast approaching. Most of New England's outdoor-oriented families are likely to be engaged in serious discussions concerning the activities (in addition to topnotch angling) each member of the family would like to see included in the 2003 summer vacation agenda.

There's no need to travel deep into the bush and rough it like Lewis and Clark to find superb fishing action in the Northeast. All of the New England states teem with outstanding angling destinations that also feature a variety of family-style activities nearby. A sensible vacation schedule that includes angling during the dawn and twilight hours, and then engaging in other activities when the fish are most apt to be active during the midday doldrums makes for a harmonious and fun-filled vacation for everyone.

Below is a sampling of New England's best vacation destinations, each one offering great fishing and intriguing enterprises for the family to savor.

RHODE ISLAND "Little Rhody" contains a heap of bountiful angling hotspots. One example is 395-acre Beach Pond, a border lake in Voluntown, Connecticut and Exeter, Rhode Island. Largemouth bass are the dominant species here, but the lake also contains viable populations of big, holdover brown and rainbow trout. The lake's shoreline features a shallow flat that drops off abruptly from 3 to 12 feet, a prime area to connect with a jumbo largemouth or trout.

The best way to get here is via Interstate Route 95 west to Noosenook (Exit 5), and then take Route 102 south to its junction with Route 165. This leads to the Beach Pond boat launch. Camping is available at nearby Acadia State Park campground off Route 165. Call (401) 539-7117.

Attractive midday pursuits in the area include visiting the University of Rhode Island's Environmental Center in West Greenwich or walking the nature trails of the Audubon Bird Sanctuary in Charlestown, and the kids will have a ball at The Enchanted Forest amusement park in Hopkinton.

Recommended

If your dream vacation includes tying into a wallhanger largemouth, a trip to Aquidneck Island on Narragansett Bay is highly recommended. There are 10 underfished but prolific bass ponds on the island. No boating is allowed, but all of the ponds have public access and can be fished from shore.

Aquidneck Island's ponds yield an inordinate number of bragging-sized lunkers. Seven-pounders are not unusual, and bass over 9 pounds have been taken here! This wealth of trophy bass can be attributed to the ponds' rich food supply. Several of these ponds drain into the ocean, and others connect to those that do, thus the bass grow fat and sassy on a copious diet of mummichogs, alewives, herring and other saltwater minnows.

To fish here, catch I-195 out of Providence to the Route 24 turnoff, and take this route to Aquidneck Island. Accommodations are a bit pricey here, but there's a first-rate campground in Middletown. Call (401) 846-5781. While here, sailing fans may opt to stop at the Newport Sailing Center in Fort Adams State Park, rent a sailboat and sail around Narragansett Bay, or visit the Equestrian Center in Middletown for a horseback trail and beach ride. Maybe you'd prefer to swim or sift through the sand at a few of the many public saltwater beaches on the island.

CONNECTICUT For a shoreline that's mostly undeveloped, has light fishing pressure, beautiful scenery and blue-ribbon angling, try 467-acre Quaddick Reservoir in Thompson, Connecticut. A terrific vacation destination for the angling family, Quaddick is one of the best lakes in the state for trophy 6-pound and up bigmouths, but use a heavy shock tippet leader because the reservoir also contains some monster pike.

If the opportunity to hook one of these trophy bass or northerns sounds exciting, take Route 44 east out of Hartford to Thompson. A secondary road leads to Quaddick State Forest and a state boat ramp. Overnight camping is available at Grosvenor Dale state recreational area 10 miles north of Thompson on Route 12 in West Thompson.

During off time from fishing, history buffs may want to drive to Hartford, the state capitol, and tour the Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe houses, the Lutz Children's Museum and the Museum of Connecticut History, which houses the Colt firearms collection and other Connecticut memorabilia.

Bob Jacobs, the Nutmeg State's bass program director, said 201-acre Mudge Pond in Sharon is one of Connecticut's top four waters for consistent catches of 18-inch-plus largemouths. There's a 12- to 18-inch slot limit, and a six-bass daily bag limit of which no more than one may be 18 inches or over. Mudge Pond's shoreline is mostly undeveloped and weeds, rocks and blowdowns provide an abundance of potent bass-holding structures.

To access Mudge Pond, travel Route 7 from Danbury to Cornwall, and take Route 4 west to Sharon. The state boat landing is off Route 41 out of Sharon. Campers will find a state campground at nearby Housatonic Meadows in Cornwall. While in this area, you may want to skip over to Norfolk and attend one of the Yale summer concerts, browse about the many antique and gift shops in the village of Kent, or hike along the Appalachian Trail which crosses Route 7 near the campground.

MASSACHUSETTS For a crackerjack Bay State trout-fishing vacation, put a trip to the Miller River, a tributary of the Connecticut River, in northcentral Massachusetts on your 2003 vacation agenda. The Miller receives an annual stocking of browns and rainbows, but the big attraction here is the prolific number of big, holdover trout, many over 4 pounds, in the river.

Two sections of the Miller are regulated under catch-and-release, artificial lures-only regulations, and these areas offer the best angling for big, holdover trout. The upper section, a remote and lightly fished run, starts in South Royalston and ends seven miles downstream at Athol. The lower catch-and-release water begins in West Orange and runs three miles downstream to Erving.

The easy way here is I-91 north to Greenfield, and then Route 2 east to West Orange and the river. Camping is available at Erving State Forest also on Route 2. Call (508) 544-3939

After fishing the morning hatch, take a drive over the 63-mile scenic Mohawk Trail from West Orange to Williamsport, or take in a performance at the Williamsport Theatre Festival; or if you

prefer to stay closer to camp, you can bike, hike or horseback ride over the trails of Erving State Forest.

If you fish out of a canoe or other light carry-in craft, a potent bigmouth lake that biologists say may be the best trophy bass water in the state is the A-1 Site, also called Stump Pond, in Westboro. This 325-acre flowage averages about 3 feet in depth, but it's loaded with 4- and 5-pound trophies. Trees, stumps, rocks, etc., were not removed before the lake was flooded, and these provide prime cover for bass, though anglers may find it perilous to maneuver a canoe and a lunker bass through the many obstructions. Topwater or weedless lures are a must here.

The best way to access the A-1 Site is to take the Route 135 south turnoff off Route 9 (out of Boston) to Westboro. Mill Street leads to the carry-in boat landing.

Nearby camping can be found at Moore State Park in Paxton. Call (508) 792-3969. To get to the campground, take Route 9 west to Leicester, and then Route 56 north to Paxton and the park.

There are some interesting tourist attractions available in nearby Worcester. Perhaps you'd like to tour the Worcester Art Museum, or stop at the Ecotarium, a center for environmental exploration. West of the city is Old Sturbridge Village, a living recreation of a rural 1830s New England settlement.

VERMONT Vermont's Northeast Kingdom is renowned for its outstanding trout fishing, but the Kingdom also has some prolific smallmouth waters. Most of the brown bass enthusiasts who visit the area direct their attention to 6,000-acre Lake Memphremagog, but Eric Palmer, state fisheries director, urges smallie anglers to consider a couple of Lake Memphremagog's tributaries: 778-acre Crystal Lake in Barton and 177-acre Lake Seymour in Morgan. Both lakes, he says, harbor a mother lode of 3- and 4-pound bronzebacks. There's also potent trout and panfish angling in both lakes.

If wetting a line in Crystal and Seymour lakes intrigues you, travel I-91 north to Barton (Exit 25), and then take Route 16 east to Crystal Lake. For Lake Seymour, continue on I-91 to Derby Center, and then take Route 111 to Morgan and Lake Seymour. Full-service camping facilities are available at the Char-Bo Campground in Derby. Call (802) 766-8807.

Here in the backcountry, most activities for off times from fishing are outdoor-related, i.e., hiking, observing wildlife, etc. For something different, try a side trip to Lydonville where there are five covered bridges dating back to 1795.

Chet McKenzie, regional fisheries biologist for west-central Vermont, recommends 985-acre Lake Dunmore in Salisbury, 191-acre Glen Lake in West Castleton and 852-acre Lake St. Catherine in Poultney for bountiful rainbow trout fishing. The prime time to hit the water during the summer months, the biologist advises, is around twilight, when anglers can take advantage of the evening hatches. However, if the rainbows are off their feed, these lakes also contain a heap of bragging-sized pike and lunker largemouths.

If a vacation safari to these lakes sounds appealing, take Route 4 west to Rutland, and then Route 7 north to Salisbury. Route 53 takes you east to Lake Dunmore. To fish Lake St. Catherine or Glen Lake, return to Route 4 and go west to Castleton Corners, and then take Route 30 south to Poultney and Lake St. Catherine. Or turn north on West Castleton Road to the carry-in access trail to Glen Lake.

There's a full-service campground on the shore of Lake Dunmore. Call (802) 352-4501 or visit their Web site at www.kampersville.com . There's also a state campground on Lake St. Catherine.

Activities in addition to fishing include a visit to the New England Maple Museum and Maple Market in Rutland, a trip to Manchester to tour the Fly-Fishing Museum and a stop at The Orvis Company to shop for fishing gear and gifts.

NEW HAMPSHIRE An exciting vacation destination the entire family will enjoy is 3,017-acre Lake Wentworth in the heart of the Lakes Region in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

"Lake Wentworth," said Don Miller, the regional fisheries biologist for the Lakes Region, "is perhaps the best white perch lake in the state and it also bristles with obese smallmouths and husky rainbows."

To fish here, head north via I-93 to New Hampton, Route 104 east to Meredith, Route 25 to Moultonboro, and then take Route 109 to Wolfboro and Lake Wentworth.

Accommodations here include the Family Campground on Lake Wentworth at (603) 569-9848, and there's also a first-rate motel on the lakeshore at (800) 732-8507.

If fly-fishing for lunker brook trout turns you on, it's not necessary to head for the remote North Country to satisfy this craving. There are several small fly-fishing-only ponds in the Granite State's lakes region, including 13-acre Skye Pond in New Hampton, 17-acre Cole Pond in Enfield, 24-acre Upper Hall Pond in Sandwich and 15-acre Shaw Pond in Freedom. All of these ponds are managed as Special Regulations, Quality Initiative waters, with a 12- to 16-inch slot limit, and a two-trout daily bag limit, only one of which may be over 16 inches. Cole Pond, a remote hike-in access pond, has yielded the best trout, some over 5 pounds, Miller said.

The easy route to these ponds is Route 104 west out of New Hampton to Danbury, and then take Route 4 west to Enfield and the hike-in trail to Cole Pond. To fish Skye Pond, retrace your steps to New Hampton. For Upper Hall Pond, travel Route 104 east to Meredith and take Route 25 east to Sandwich and Upper Hall Pond. For Shaw Pond, continue on Route 25 to Freedom and the Shaw Pond Road. For information about lodging, contact The Lakes Association at (800) 60LAKES.

Family attractions in the Lakes Region include visits to Waterslide Park in Weirs Beach, the Loon Center in Center Harbor and the Castle In The Clouds, a $7-million mansion on a 6,000-acre estate in the Ossipee Mountains in Moultonboro, where you can, among other things, feed the giant trout in Shannon Pond, picnic at scenic areas where you can view breathtaking vistas of the mountains and lakes, or take a guided, Western- style horseback ride over mountain trails.

MAINE If you're looking for a vacation destination offering extraordinary smallmouth fishing where you're more likely to observe wildlife than other anglers, a safari to Indian Pond at The Forks in the Maine North Country should turn you on.

My wife, Lillian, and I have been making annual bronzeback angling forays to Indian Pond for the past 10 years, and on practically every trip we've caught and released a heap of 3- to 5-pound brown bass.

To get there, take Route 201 north out of Waterville to The Forks, and then take Indian Pond Road to Harris Dam and the boat landing at the foot of Indian Pond. We usually stay at Northern Outdoors in The Forks. Call (800) 765-7238 or visit them on the Web at www.northernoutdoors.com . They offer a choice of campsite, cabin tent, cabin, mini-condo or lodge accommodations. Northern Outdoors also offers, if desired, American Plan and guide services.

Interesting activities other than fishing at The Forks include whitewater rafting adventures on the Kennebec and Dead rivers, "sportyaking" on the Dead River, kayak touring on a nearby wilderness lake and rock climbing.

If a monster brook trout tops your wish list, David Basley, the regional fishery biologist for the Pine Tree State's far northern region, suggests putting a trip to the Fish River on your 2003 vacation agenda.

"The Fish River abounds with big, feisty speckled trout," Basley enthused.

His picks for the best opportunity to land a bragging-sized speckled trout are in the thoroughfares connecting Long, Mud, Cross, Eagle and St. Froid lakes, and the Fish River Falls section of the main river. A wealth of jumbo landlocked salmon also inhabits the river.

However, before heading for the river there are some special regulations anglers should be aware of. Between Aug. 16 and Sept. 30, fly-fishing only is allowed on the thoroughfares connecting Long, Mud, Cross, Eagle and St. Froid lakes, while only artificial lures are permitted on the main river upstream of the Route 1 bridge in Fort Kent to Eagle Lake. The total daily bag limit of trout, salmon or togue is one fish on all of these waters.

The best travel itinerary for southern New Englanders is to take I-95 to Sherman (Exit 58), and then take Route 11 to Fort Kent, the Fish River and its thoroughfares. Accommodations are available at the Birch Haven Camping Area in Eagle Lake, a full-service campground at (207) 444-5102. Cabin rentals are available at Dean's Den in Eagle Lake at (207) 444-5379.

Most of the activities in this remote area are tied to the outdoors and include canoeing the Fish River and nearby lakes, observing and photographing wildlife, swimming, etc.

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By Brett Sokol Photographs by Jesse Burke

Brett Sokol, who writes regularly about art and culture for The New York Times, has visited Provincetown for the past 14 summers.

Located at the tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown has overlapping — and sometimes competing — identities: one of America’s oldest art colonies, nature preserve, thriving L.G.B.T.Q. resort and historic Portuguese fishing village. Among the few points of agreement in P-town, as locals call it, is that soaring housing costs and a creeping sense of Hamptons-style gentrification present an existential threat to this self-styled bohemian idyll that has over the years inspired literati with sensibilities as disparate as the pugilistic novelist Norman Mailer and the pacifist poet Mary Oliver. Yet while everybody likes to complain about how Provincetown is changing, the filmmaker and summer resident John Waters wrote in his 2019 “Mr. Know-It-All” collection of essays, “I feel that if I dropped a piece of gum on the corner of Bradford and Court in the late ’60s, it would still be there today.”

Recommendations

• Provincetown Art Association and Museum , a local cultural standard-bearer since 1914, is an institution that balances a keen sense of history with an appreciation for today’s avant-garde.
• Commercial Street is chockablock with shops, art galleries, restaurants, bars and prime people-watching.
• Herring Cove Beach can be either meditatively still or sociable, depending on whether you join the crowds near the entrance, head for the areas favored by gay men and lesbians, or stroll to a more deserted stretch along Cape Cod Bay.
• The Dune Shacks Trail leads deep into the strikingly beautiful Cape Cod National Seashore , which many consider the spiritual soul of Provincetown.
• Race Point Beach faces the Atlantic Ocean, and its stunning views help explain why the Outer Cape can transform even the most hardened urbanites into born-again nature buffs.
• The Mary Heaton Vorse House , an 18th-century landmark and the namesake of the muckraking journalist who once owned it, now hosts pop-up art shows and cultural gatherings.
• Bakker Gallery spotlights work from Provincetown’s artistic pioneers.
• Berta Walker Gallery features local artists with an emphasis on Provincetown’s distinctive painters from decades past.
• The Schoolhouse Gallery is focused on emerging talent and steeped in all things Outer Cape.
• William Scott Gallery is home to local contemporary artists, including the painter John Dowd, whose annual summer openings draw enthusiastic throngs.
• Womencrafts is a proudly feminist bookstore that also sells all manner of related goods, including “Keep Ptown Queer” T-shirts and “Shuck the Oysters and the Patriarchy” towels.
• East End Books offers an array of new titles, with particular strength in cultural affairs and literary fiction.
• Tim’s Used Books is stuffed with affordably priced paperbacks and hardcovers, including tough-to-find art catalogs, tomes on queer studies, and fiction that skews high, low and all brows in-between.
• Yesterday’s Treasures sells an array of curios and ephemera, including local art, vintage postcards and old Provincetown publications.
• Mauclère Leather has handcrafted leather goods, including shoulder bags, belts and sandals.
• The Old Baby offers Provincetown-themed clothing with its tongue placed firmly in its cheek.
• Respoke recycles high-end fashion items into homespun footwear and hats.
• Freemans serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine in an upscale, leave-the-children-at-home setting.
• Mac’s Fish House offers half-price happy hour specials on its locally sourced Wellfleet oysters.
• Chach is a beloved brunch spot where tables of last night’s partiers refuel on fluffy French toast.
• Liz’s Cafe, Anybody’s Bar is a breakfast destination whose outdoor patio attracts hungry noshers from around the West End.
• Far Land Provisions has sandwiches and freshly baked goods to eat in or grab en route to the beach.
• Pop+Dutch has a cheeky motto — “Sandwiches. Salad. Lube.” — that tells you both what’s available and the playful spirit in which it’s presented.
• The Squealing Pig pours cold glasses of Guinness to accompany its Irish-pub-styled menu.
• The Canteen has a harborfront backyard whose relaxed vibe perfectly suits its array of New England culinary classics.
• Spiritus is a magnet for late-night revelers seeking pizza slices and ice cream cones, fueling an adjacent social scene sparked by those post-midnight munchies.
• Angel Foods is a small East End market with sandwiches and prepared foods, as well as an outdoor area perfect for planning out the day over coffee.
• The Art House was built in the 1960s as a movie theater and now serves as a performance space favored by drag acts.
• Crown & Anchor is a sprawling entertainment complex with multiple bars and nightclubs catering to the L.G.B.T.Q. community.
• Grotta Bar , an intimate basement space underneath the Local 186 restaurant, is home to the popular Friday-night Scream Along With Billy show.
• The Crowne Pointe is an upscale inn with an on-site spa and restaurant, conveniently in the center of town. Rooms from $339, although rates spike dramatically — here and throughout Provincetown’s hotels — in July and August.
• Gabriel’s Provincetown Hotel offers well-appointed rooms and larger apartments in a relaxed setting, also in the center of town, from $275.
• The Breakwater Hotel , once a modest roadside motel, now has chicly renovated rooms directly across from the bay’s tidal flats on the eastern edge of town, from $159.
• Short-term rentals in Provincetown abound, but they can be pricey in the summer. A more economical option is the Beach Point neighborhood, just southeast of town in North Truro, where waterfront condos and homes line Shore Road. A shuttle runs hourly ($2) into Provincetown through Sept. 2.
• Between the lack of parking and crowds spilling into the streets, driving in the heart of Provincetown can be a nightmare. But Commercial Street, home to most restaurants, shops and cultural attractions, is eminently walkable as well as bike-friendly . (Rentals are available from Arnold’s Bike Shop and Provincetown Bike Rentals .) Avoid the stress and park your car in either the MacMillan Pier lot or the Grace Hall lot, which sits on a hill above the town.

Don’t even bother unpacking. Instead, head straight for Mac’s Fish House to catch its daily 3-to-5 p.m. happy hour with half-price Wellfleet oysters (12 for $18), harvested from Wellfleet’s harbor bed just to the south and prized for their tangy brininess leavened by a hint of sweetness. Equally appealing is Mac’s itself. Though the establishment is part of a Cape-wide group of restaurants and markets, complete with its own fishing fleet, this seafood mini-empire first opened as a single clam shack in 1995 by the then-20-year-old Mac Hay with a $5,000 loan from his friends and an emphasis on all things local. That appealingly modest vibe endures and continues to draw diners seeking shellfish and sushi alike. (The free parking — a rarity among Provincetown eateries — doesn’t hurt either.)

On Friday evenings, many of Provincetown’s nearly three dozen galleries open new shows. Most of the galleries are tucked inside the quaint 19th-century homes sitting cheek-to-jowl along the brick sidewalks of Commercial Street’s East End, making it easy to dip in and out. For impressive dives into Provincetown’s past, head to the Bakker Gallery and the Berta Walker Gallery , where prewar painters like Charles Webster Hawthorne and Blanche Lazzell still reign. The cream of this local scene’s contemporary crop is showcased at the William Scott Gallery , with John Dowd’s noir-infused Cape landscapes, and the Schoolhouse Gallery , with Breon Dunigan’s faux-taxidermied trophy heads and Joel Janowitz’s beguiling beach tableaux. (Full disclosure: Letter16 Press, a nonprofit publisher of photography books co-founded by this reporter, has helped curate shows at Schoolhouse.)

The rows of stately oil-on-canvas portraits silently gazing out from the walls of the intimate dining room at Freemans say it all: Keep it serene. And just in case you missed that message, Freemans refuses to seat parties larger than four or anyone under the age of 21: “We are an Adult Only environment,” warns their website. In spite of those rules — or precisely because of them, for diners exhausted by high-end restaurants acting more like nightclubs — Freemans sees full houses for its inventive takes on Mediterranean cuisine. Start with a bowl of palate-cleansing chilled pea soup ($16), followed by pappardelle in a braised-short-rib ragout ($38) or the roasted branzino with tzatziki and fennel, apple and radish salad ($46).

Many of the singer and pianist Billy Hough ’s evenings revolve around performing jazzy standards and crowd-pleasing torch songs. But Fridays at the basement Grotta Bar (free) are devoted to what Mr. Hough wants to play. That repertoire leans heavily toward the proto-punk pantheon: Imagine the Great American Songbook with Cole Porter and Dorothy Fields swapped out for Lou Reed and Patti Smith. The arrangements are stripped-down, but their furious energy remains intact as Mr. Hough all but assaults his piano keys, often dragged back from the emotional edge (or a spiraling monologue) by his accompanist on bass, Sue Goldberg . Turns out there’s an audience hungry for this edgier take on the classic piano bar setting, and as this weekly event’s name, Scream Along With Billy, suggests, it’s happy to join in the chorus.

MacMillan Pier, where ferries arrive from Boston and where whale-watching — and increasingly, shark-spotting — boats depart.

Liz’s Cafe, Anybody’s Bar

Comfort food is the specialty at Chach , located just northwest of the town’s center. A classic diner vibe is in full effect here, and tables of close friends pick up on the previous day’s conversations without missing a beat. Fuel yourself with vanilla-infused French toast topped with fresh fruit ($15) or eggs Benedict with applewood-smoked bacon, tomato and avocado ($17). You’ll find that same inviting atmosphere — and more brunch favorites — at the West End’s Liz’s Cafe, Anybody’s Bar , which also offers outdoor dining. Go for the chicken and waffles ($15) and order a plate of Portuguese flippers — sugar-dusted hole-less doughnuts ($11) — for the group.

Provincetown’s dunes occupy a prominent position within local lore; as the philosopher Henry David Thoreau wrote of them in 1865, one can look out “and put all America behind him.” Now part of the federally protected Cape Cod National Seashore , the dunes stretch out behind the length of the town like an unspoiled and uninhabited sandy backyard — with the exception of 19 shacks originally built for ocean rescuers that became off-the-grid getaways for writers and artists including Jack Kerouac and Jackson Pollock. The National Park Service provides free ranger-led walks into the dunes. Experienced hikers can explore on their own by following the Dune Shacks Trail for about two miles north from where Snail Road meets Route 6. For a less strenuous hourlong journey, hop into one of Art’s Dune Tours ’ S.U.V.s ($41), driven by guides well versed in the terrain and its tales.

Herring Cove Beach

Since you’re now a bit sweaty, return to the center of town to pick up sandwiches and drinks at Far Land Provisions or Pop+Dutch and then head to one of Provincetown’s two marquee beaches ($15 per entry on foot or bicycle, or $25 per car, during the summer ). Herring Cove Beach is a bit more social, with a snack bar, a summer concert series , and separate areas favored by gay men, lesbians and those who prefer to sunbathe au naturel. Race Point Beach offers bigger waves, as well as more striking visuals with steep dunes behind you and the expanse of the Atlantic stretching out endlessly ahead. It’s also frequently a lounging area for a horde of seals — as well as the great white sharks that cruise the shoreline to feast on them. Keep your distance.

Yesterday’s Treasures

Provincetown’s legal ban on national chain stores isn’t airtight, but it has helped usher in an array of quirky shops that line Commercial Street in the heart of town. Book lovers have several winning options, including Womencrafts ’ unabashedly feminist-themed stock (look for its “48 Years Grateful for My Abortion” street sign), East End Books ’ carefully curated new titles, and Tim’s Used Books ’ selection of Cape authors and out-of-print art catalogs. Yesterday’s Treasures is packed with all manner of town ephemera, vintage postcards and unique gifts (a copy of “ The Ethel Merman Disco Album ,” anyone?). Mauclère Leather features handcrafted belts, bags and sandals; the Old Baby offers locally themed clothing with a wry edge; Respoke repurposes haute couture into no-less-haute hats and footwear (its motto, “I once was an Hermès scarf,” says it all).

The Canteen

Stay on Commercial Street for dinner in an invitingly casual setting at the Irish-pub-style Squealing Pig , where you can order the lightly battered fish and chips ($23) and pair it with a glass of Guinness stout ($9). The Nepali chicken curry ($19) is a less obvious, but no less savory, option (thanks to its Nepal-born chef). Or grab a seat in the Canteen ’s backyard, where the beach party atmosphere draws a lively cross section of Provincetown — townie and tourist, young and old, gay and straight alike. Start with the crispy brussels sprouts ($10) and then settle in for a classic New England lobster roll ($28). The outdoor bar makes it easy to linger over drinks and bask in the harbor view as the sun sets behind you.

Thespians love to cite Provincetown’s role as the birthplace of modern American theater thanks to the playwright Eugene O’Neill’s legendary productions here in 1916. (The cultural buzz from those stagings followed him back to New York, where he soon went from unemployable to Pulitzer Prize winning.) Such emotionally wrenching plays are a bit thin on the ground in Provincetown these days, but drama — at least in the form of over-the-top drag — is alive and well. There are plenty of performers paying dutiful tribute to divas past and present, but more interesting are the drag queens pointedly — and hilariously — taking aim at all manner of sacred cows, both gay and straight, in venues like the Art House and the sprawling Crown & Anchor complex (most tickets $35 to $45). You can’t go wrong with anything featuring Dina Martina, Varla Jean Merman or the Little Rascals-meet-Russ Meyer ensembles directed by Ryan Landry . (Needless to say, don’t bring the kids.)

Once the bars close at 1 a.m., Provincetown quickly goes dark. One of the few exceptions is Spiritus , started in 1971 by two visiting hippie entrepreneurs who were astonished to discover the town was without a single pizzeria. Over five decades later, Spiritus is still owned by the co-founder John Yingling, though you are more likely to find his grandchildren behind the counter, slinging pizza slices ($4) and scoops of locally made Lewis Brothers ice cream ($4.25) to hungry late-night revelers until 2 a.m. A fun crowd tends to gather out front in the wee hours, but the benches facing the street are prime people-watching real estate day or night.

Provincetown’s legal ban on national chain stores isn’t airtight, but it has helped usher in an array of quirky shops that line Commercial Street in the heart of town.

Provincetown Art Association and Museum

Start the day at one of Angel Foods ’ waterfront picnic tables with a cup of coffee ($3) and an egg-and-bacon breakfast sandwich ($7.50). Then head across the street to the Provincetown Art Association and Museum ($15 admission), the town’s cultural flagship since 1914. The days of its members bitterly dividing into aesthetic camps over Abstract Expressionism versus figuration, complete with hurled insults and threats, are long gone, although an intensity of purpose still prevails. Current exhibitions include a selection of maritime-themed works curated by the museum director Christine McCarthy, showcasing both the town’s fishing tradition and its artists’ stylistic breadth. Continue next door to the Mary Heaton Vorse House (free), once owned by its eponymous crusading journalist, now lovingly restored to its original 18th-century glory and playing summertime host to pop-up art shows installed throughout its rooms.

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Provincetown, Mass.:  Located at the tip of Cape Cod, P-town (as locals call it) has overlapping — and sometimes competing — identities : one of America’s oldest art colonies, nature preserve, thriving L.G.B.T.Q. resort and historic Portuguese fishing village.

Lake Como, Italy:  Stars like George Clooney frequent this scenic corner of northern Italy, but you might be surprised by how affordable it can be. Here’s an insider’s guide .

South of France:  Horses, bulls and birds of all types live among the pink marshes of the Camargue, a rugged landscape shaped  by the relentless push and pull of sea and river.

Disney Theme Parks:  As Disney has raised the cost of tickets and hotel rooms at its theme parks, and added pricey, difficult-to-navigate tools, even its most loyal fans are asking themselves  if they should rethink their vacations.

Helsinki, Finland:   Explore the stunning architecture  of the new central library, browse treasure-filled shops in the Design District, sweat in a wood-burning sauna, sip cocktails on a schooner and trek across islands in the surrounding archipelago.

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9 Beautiful Road Trips for Exploring New England

Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, there’s a road trip (or two) for each season..

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View of Horsehead-Marbella, a historic house near Beavertail State Park.

Photo by Trevor Fairbank/Shutterstock

New England may be known for its autumn reds and yellows, but to us, there’s no bad time to cross the region by car. Officially consisting of the six states of Maine , Vermont , New Hampshire, Massachusetts , Connecticut , and Rhode Island , New England is filled with picturesque seaside towns, mountains, clear lakes, and yep, some of the best fall foliage around. To see the region’s most beautiful sites, head out on one of these great New England road trip itineraries.

1. Vermont Route 100

• Start: Heartwellville, Vermont
• End: Troy, Vermont
• Distance: 217 miles
• Recommended season: summer

At 217 miles long, the Scenic Route 100 Byway hugs the eastern edge of the Green Mountains and travels nearly the entire length of Vermont. (Most of Vermont’s ski resorts are located along the highway, so it can actually have fewer cars in the summer than in winter.) If cute old-school stores are your thing, be sure to stop at the Vermont Country Store in Weston—it’s been open since 1946 and offers free cheese and maple syrup samples.

Dramatic scenes like these are delightfully par for the course along Maine’s coast.

Courtesy of Stephen Crane/Unsplash

2. Maine State Route 9 East

• Start: Ogunquit, Maine
• End: Calais, Maine
• Distance: 263 miles

Much like California , Maine is also known for its stretch of Route 1, aka “the lobster trail.” This trip crawls along the coastline and passes through Ogunquit, Kennebunk, Portland, Rockport, and more until it hits Canada. Must-dos along the way: Eat at the Clam Shack , on the bridge between Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, snap a photo at Portland Head Light, and stop by Project Puffin Visitor Center in Rockland—especially fun with kids in tow.

Cape Cod is known for its appealing beaches and coastline.

Courtesy of Christopher Ryan/Unsplash

3. Old King’s Highway in Cape Cod

• Start: Sandwich, Massachusetts
• End: Provincetown, Massachusetts
• Distance: 60 miles

Route 6A is popular in summer, when visitors to the Massachusetts Cape begin their trip in Sandwich and follow the road east to Provincetown, passing cranberry bogs, salt marshes, historic homes, and some of the oldest villages in the United States. Get your lobster roll fix at places like Kate’s Seafood (Brewster) and Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar (Eastham). For overnights, head over to South Dennis and stay at the Sesuit Harbor House , originally built in 1735.

The Kancamagus Highway is known for being one of the top spots to see fall foliage.

Courtesy of Jonathan Ng/Unsplash

4. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

• Start: Conway, New Hampshire
• End: Lincoln, New Hampshire
• Distance: 35 miles
• Recommended season: fall

Curving for 35 miles on country roads through New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, the Kancamagus Highway has earned its place on several “best of” road trip lists, thanks to its picturesque ponds, hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and hairpin turns. Colloquially known as the “Kanc,” the byway draws millions of visitors every year. With the highway’s plentiful hiking trails taking up daylight, spend the night in one of the six White Mountain National Forest campgrounds located on the byway.

This road trip passes through quaint towns like St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Photo by Snehit Photo/Shutterstock

5. Connecticut River Byway

• Start: South Hadley, Massachusetts
• End: Pittsburg, New Hampshire
• Distance: 242 miles

Another way to reach New Hampshire’s White Mountains is to take the Connecticut River Byway , which is Vermont’s only designated National Byway. The route cuts from South Hadley, a little college town home to Seven Sisters school Mount Holyoke, straight up through Vermont to the top of Vermont and then just east to New Hampshire. Along the way, stop by some of Massachusetts’s historic district villages like Northfield and Montague Center, or take a few nature-led detours to Molly State Park near Brattleboro, Vermont. (The food co-op here is a good place for picnic fare.)

If you’re unable to do the whole route, no worries. In the words of Afar deputy editor Tim Chester : “Pick a stretch and you can’t go wrong—particularly in fall when the leafy backdrop is painted shades of red, orange, and yellow.”

End your road trip in Burlington, Vermont’s most populated (and delightfully walkable) city.

Photo by Julie Deshaies/Shutterstock

6. Burlington to Woodstock, Vermont via I-89 S

• Start: Burlington, Vermont
• End: Woodstock, Vermont
• Distance: 90 miles

While several road trips on this list go through Vermont, this road trip itinerary specifically focuses on the state’s delicious dishes . Starting in Burlington, road-trippers can visit the local farmers’ market for breakfast before continuing south on Route 89 to Stowe. Around here, try places like Long Trail Brewing Company and Hen of the Wood (dinner only). The drive concludes in Woodstock, where you can find salted goat’s milk caramels at Fat Toad Farm.

7. Mohawk Trail (Route 7), Massachusetts

• Start: Pittsfield, Massachusetts
• End: Greenfield, Massachusetts
• Distance: 63 miles

Massachusetts’s Berkshire Mountains and its famed 63-mile Mohawk Trail are the stuff of leaf-peeping legends . Starting in Pittsfield, take Route 7 north until hitting Williamstown, home to Williams College and art museum the Clark , and continue on Route 2 to Western Gateway Heritage State Park, Natural Bridge State Park, and MASS MoCA , among other attractions. Eventually, you’ll hit the Hoosac Range—where the views only keep getting better. For a stay along the way, consider Miraval Berkshires in Lenox .

Stowe is one of the East Coast’s top ski destinations.

Photo by FashionStock.com/Shutterstock

8. Skiers’ Paradise via Route 100, Vermont

• Start: Stowe, Vermont
• Distance: 80 miles
• Recommended season: winter

Come winter, heavy snow drifts mean good things for skiers in New England. Visit several ski resorts on this road trip—including Stowe Mountain Resort and Saskadena Six Ski Area —which starts in Stowe and finishes in Woodstock, Vermont. It’s 80 miles between the two towns on Vermont Route 100 (allow two hours) or 73 miles on the highway (allow an hour and 20 minutes); the slopes—and attractions—in each mean you’ll want to spread the trip out over a long weekend. Things not to miss in Stowe: the family-run Alchemist brewery, Stowe Maple Products sugarhouse, and the thin-crust pies at the aptly named Piecasso .

In Woodstock, be sure to carve out time for Richardson’s Tavern , Billings Farm & Museum , and F.H. Gillingham & Sons , a store that has been open for nearly 140 years.

The manicured gardens at Roseland Cottage are prettiest in spring.

Photo by Lee Snider Photo Images/Shutterstock

9. Quiet Connecticut via I-395 N

• Start: Norwich, Connecticut
• End: Woodstock, Connecticut
• Distance: 39 miles
• Recommended season: spring

If you’re a fan of quaint towns and farmsteads, this road trip from Norwich to Woodstock might be for you. (Fun fact: Woodstock has more dairy farms than anywhere else in the state.) The route, on I-395 N, clocks in at 39 miles, but you’ll want to slow down and take your time—yep, it’s that scenic. Do some bird-watching at Aicher Preserve or Border Woods Preserve , both of which come alive with greenery and flowers in spring. The manicured gardens will be in full bloom at Roseland Cottage in Woodstock, a pretty 1846 Gothic revival–style former summer home that’s a history museum. Bed down for the night at the Inn at Woodstock Hill , where you can enjoy Connecticut’s serenity near the small town of Putnam.

This article originally appeared online in 2020; it was most recently updated on August 14, 2024, to include current information.