If you’re feeling a little stressed to get a gift for the holidays and only a few days left then consider a New England book from this selection.

I’m often asked, as a regional travel writer, what references and sources I use for my articles about New England.

The truth is most of my writing is based on first hand experience.

I rarely write about a destination or attraction I haven’t visited myself. And I expect this in others.

This is one of the reasons why in 2009 we invited a number of guest bloggers to post their content with us.

The fact is I can’t get to every place in New England, but having a team of staff writers helps us give you more destinations from a “been there – done that” perspective. And it also gives you different styles and views about places.

However, some of the destinations I write about change over the years since my visit, and maybe I didn’t get to see everything at the destination. In those circumstances I resort to my vast library of New England travel books – well two bookshelves of a bookcase to be exact.

Within this library I have a few trusty and dog-eared books that are my favorites and I reference time and time again. If the person for whom you’re looking to purchase a gift loves New England then any one of these will make a perfect gift.

Guide to America’s Outdoors – New England

by: Gary Ferguson

If you held a “gun to my head” and told me to choose only one resource to plan outdoor trips in New England… this would be it! It’s compact, lovingly produced and Gary Ferguson knows what he’s talking about. Every major area is represented and some welcome hidden gems.

New England Hiking

by: Michael Lanza

This is my number one reference guide for planning hikes.

The Foghorn Outdoors series is well known for meticulously researched and down-to-earth approach to trail guides and you’ll find over 380 choice hikes for all abilities. My favorite thing about this book is the Top Ten lists. You’ll find a top ten list for any type of hiking theme you can imagine and it saves you sifting through hundreds of hikes to get to your final selection. The book has a smattering of family oriented short hikes as well.

The Most Beautiful Villages of New England

by: Tom Shachtman, Len Rubenstein

This is one of the few New England “Coffee Table” books I own.

But it covers all the gems and must-see beautiful villages in New England. And just about any of these towns make for a memorable trip. The book provides plenty of information on the history and architecture of each village. In the depth of a New England winter this is a book I take to bed with me and dream of spring.

Not Without Peril

by: Nicholas Howe
This book documents why the Presidential Range, and Mount Washington in particular, deserve your respect. It’s a compelling read about people that got in “over their heads.”

A few of the stories – like MacDonald Barr’s – are real chokers.

Backroads of New England

by: Kim Knox Beckius

This is a great New England scenic drive book with pictures.

You get five scenic drives each from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Rhode Island offers up another four, and Maine weighs in with a larger six. The drives cover the best of New England, from mountains to the ocean, and from the lakes to the beaches. Kim doesn’t spend a lot of time on directions. They tend to be brief and on the side of the pages – enough to get you around but not much more. Kim focuses her travel writing skills on making sure you experience in words the sights, sounds, and smells of each region. The beautifully produced photography greatly enhances this experience.

And finally a book that celebrates New England fall foliage season…

A New England Autumn

by: Ferenc Mate

I bought this book for all the wrong reasons.

I thought I’d gain new vantage points and secret places to view New England fall foliage I’d not discovered yet. But Ferenc doesn’t divulge where the places are he photographs, although if you know New England you can make some good guesses – at least the general area.

But the book has grown on me. It is now a treasure to look at regularly.

Ferenc is also an accomplished photographer with an eye for subject and color. He is well-read on New England authors, and he sprinkles his stunning photos with prose and verse from many of their great works and passages.

This book – released in 2007 – belongs on any bookshelf collection that celebrates nature and the seasons and the best places in the world to view the shows that only a guiding force greater than mere mortals can produce.

The book is a celebration of New England in what is considered her finest days – and they return each year and more or less about the same time.

This list of six gift books could so easily be twenty or more. But I return to these every year looking to validate my memory and accuracy or just to gain inspiration for an article. And remember  you don’t have to purchase these for others. This is the season to indulge yourself as well.

Have a wonderful holiday season and if you’re looking to do something special in New England this holiday season don’t forget our special New England Christmas Guide here.

Another New England post by one of our writers is being prepared right now so be sure to visit again or just subscribe to our RSS Feed here and get notified automatically of events and news.

Cliff Calderwood
Publisher
New England Online Magazine

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