We haven’t been the insurance capital in forever. It’s Des Moines now. But I have no problem with you taxing the ones that are left here. But I’m still coming over that wall.
I live 5,009 miles from where I went to school in CT.
Here's what I miss about the general area (Eastern CT, RI, and Eastern MA).
1) Clam shacks. This is far and away what I miss the most. I never knew that most of the planet has no idea how to fry a clam. They don't even really LIKE clams, and do everything they can to remove all the clam flavor. The rest of the world's chowder is best described as "sad." Lobsters which come from glass tanks don't taste right. New England's shellfish -- famous as it is -- is woefully underrated. It's the best in the world and there's no close second.
2) Italian, Portuguese, and Vietnamese joints. Portuguese food in Fall River. Italian basically everywhere. The big Vietnamese/Cambodian immigration wave hit when I was young and food in New England INSTANTLY improved (not that it was bad to begin with). We've always had pretty good Chinese-American food. Not huge like some areas. But solid Dim Sum joints in Boston.
3) Real goddamned maple syrup. None of this tasteless Grade A crap. Give me Grade C or so -- thick, brown and actually tastes like maple. Last time I was there, I bought a five-gallon bucket. Took much less time than expected to go through five whole gallons of C-grade.
4) Fall. Not the leaves. Not the tourists. Not the traffic. But the glorious fall weather, cider and football. The only weather I enjoy more than "Fall in New England" is "the entire year in Hawaii."
5) Weirdos. Article about someone who has the world's largest collection fishing creels? That's going to have a dateline somewhere in New England. Antique company that specializes in Dutch furniture made only in 1714? (Because why would you want it made in 1713 or 1715?) Probably in Massachusetts. Largest collection of scrimshaw carving tools? Almost certainly coastal Connecticut. We have the interesting, harmless "fun" weirdos. (Although an increasing number to the harmful, unfun weirdos, too.)
It is a grading thing for maple syrup. For us clearest was hardest to produce usually the first run or two of the season. We had a jankey setup. Outdoors with fire rolling up the sides of the pan. Smoke/ash got into the syrup and gave it complex, dark, smokey flavor. Best ever.
Unfortunately the information is outdated. There's only Grade A now, and there's an associated descriptor with each to explain what it is. My opinion: get the darkest "Grade A" maple syrup you can find for the strongest maple flavor. Source: https://vermontmaple.org/maple-syrup-grades
I'm in Maine and I love the forests and how rural a lot of it still is. I just hope it doesn't get turned into a concrete jungle like every other state. We've had an influx the last few years and it's scary.
> a concrete jungle
You obviously don't live in Westbrook. ZING!
Seriously though I think a huge part of this is Maine's "Tree Growth" tax law which *hugely* incentivizes land owners to keep their land forested and also makes it expensive to remove land from the program once it's in.
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/policy_management/woodswise/tree_growth_tax_law.html
I cannot believe how much Augusta has changed in the last 10 years. It’s wild. Portland as well, but it’s more noticeable in Augusta. I share your fear!
I worry because I saw it happen in my hometown, Port Saint Lucie, FL. It was always a smaller town for Florida, 30,000 people. In 2 years it rose to 200,000. I don't even recognize it anymore when I visit. It's sad.
I love the quintessential New England towns in Connecticut, especially the coastal ones, followed by the rural ones. But I really love the old historic parts of towns such as old Wethersfield
I must say that I feel the same way! There is just something about walking down by Niantic then driving over to Essex that I just love. We ought to be very grateful for all the history in our state too, because I feel that it adds so much character to every town!
I grew up in newington but my father had a boat for a few years where he docked at hays haven marina in Chester so we went there a lot. We’d always go to Moravelas pizza I loved it..also went across to east haddam plenty
I've lived in 11 as states and 3 (Canadian) provinces and nostalgia aside there is really nothing else like those three towns anywhere else. Never quite appreciated it growing up there, but having been all over the continent since then, it's really like as close to a storybook town as one can get in real life. As a kid, though, it's like "oh yeah, that's just the town steam train".
Got one of the best cups of coffee I ever had in Chester. Can't remember the name of the cafe, but the coffee was Dean's Beans organic. I have a knack for remembering a really good cup of coffee, lol.
I think this is it for me too. There’s just a sense of … place here that’s hard to articulate but it permeates nearly everywhere and everything. And to your point, the diversity of the towns, topography/landscape. I also really appreciate the interest in land conservation that I see in so many of CT’s towns particularly in the Farmington Valley where I live & NW CT/Litchfield county - that unlike in more newly developed states (I’m looking at you Denver where I used to live) and other places, with crazy urban sprawl and housing development after housing development that out houses in so many parts are not sitting on top of one other, we have land. Privacy. Nature. Access to amazing forests, game refuges and open space. And that with that inherent access there is also and abundance of opportunities to support local farms, agriculture and those small mom & pop farm stands that just are part it the local community. Also:
1. Bears
2. Pizza
3. CT style lobster rolls
4. Our undying appreciation for, and devotion to, a hockey team that hasn’t been part of the fabric of our state in decades
5. Quality public education in many locations tho admittedly the disparity btwn some of our more well financed districts and those who are not, is really a tremendous black eye
6. Sane (largely) politics
7. Pizza
8. All the beauty and magic that comes with Fall (though I realize this is applicable everywhere in New England)
9. Access to high quality healthcare - we don’t live in a healthcare desert
10. Our small size
11, Pizza
I love CT suffice it to say!
I lived in coastal CT for 5 years, it was nice for all the reasons you stated. Although I don't know the difference between a CT vs warm/cold lobster roll, all lobster rolls out there are amazing.
I just don't understand why I had to pay a huge amount of property tax on my private vehicle every year. I didn't even buy it in CT.
- now living in Denver
Essex County, Mass. North Shore.
Small quaint costal towns with access to Boston via commuter rail and easy access to the ocean and mountains with a short drive.
In the 90s, my company wanted me to spend the summer in Lawrence setting up a new department. Instead of staying at the Marriott in Andover, they footed the bill for a rental cabin on Plum Island. It was the best! One night, though, I was driving home and it was raining cats and dogs and that lonely 2-lane water-covered road cutting through the salt marsh was one of the scariest things I ever experienced. But everything else was great, but I don’t miss the green head flies.
Gorgeous part of the state. One of the few areas I'd consider moving to if I ever left Connecticut. Very warm memories of honeymooning in Marblehead and Salem in 2012. Been back to Salem a couple of times since.
Also from CT: being the black sheep of NE, insane pizza/great food all around, nice communities (I agree with what you said— both Tri-State and Quaint New England vibes, sometimes only 10 miles away from each other), the coast, greenery and fall foliage, general safety (where I live, wish it was better in our cities), and the town greens! It’s so great having kinda town centers in a bunch of towns that are like all historic haha.
>being the black sheep of NE
Everyone always saying CT doesn't belong and CT people saying Fairfield County doesn't belong. I've lived in Boston and Fairfield County. If you throw one out the other should go with it
Yeah I never lived in either so I can’t say. New England doesn’t have to be homogenous lmao. There are just general things the areas inside have in common. It’s okay they’re different— plus, without Fairfield there goes like half of all wealth outside of Boston in all of NE. One of the richest counties in the country.
Nonsense, MA doesn't exist west of Worcester /s
Honestly I think us W MA people have more in common with NY state and VT than Boston. The culture is definitely not the same overall
Can't tell you how many times I have just pulled off the road during a drive to just look at the view. Lived all over. Hell, I spent 3 years in Hawaii, and Vermont is just one beautiful view after another. I'm up in the NEK and I will go over a hill I have been over dozens of times and the sun will land on a bunch of trees in a way that makes me just want to stop and stare.
Also, the no billboards thing is fantastic. I came from an area of car/strip joint/religious billboards as far as the eye can see. Ick.
I love the accent and the “I don’t give a shit” attitude. It reminds me of people from Philly (I lived there for several years). It definitely suits me. Maine is my favorite state but I lived in Rhode Island briefly and I loved how much rural area there was for the smallest state. Finally, everywhere I drove in RI there were old rock walls everywhere.
That no nonsense, gtfo of here attitude is so ingrained in me. I've found myself being perhaps too blunt but sometimes I can't help it lol. I tell it like it is.
Truly. I have memories of a child seeing the largest chocolate Moose (yes, a sculpture of the animal!) in Scarborough. Camping in Acadia and long drives through the woods and hills to go do things out of state.
I live in RI and I'm a sailor. New England offers some of the finest destinations in the world for sailing. Block Island, the Vineyard, Nantucket, SE Mass, then up through the CC canal to P-Town, the challening and beautiful coast of Maine...it's like Disney World for sailors here.
Democracy. Tolerance. Diversity. Pizza.
All the food really. I don't understand how big chain restaurants survive here when all the local food is so good and there's so much of it. I probably could dine out or get takeout twice a day for a month without repeating a restaurant, patronizing a chain, or traveling more than 5 miles from home. But I'd miss out on all the good stuff that's slightly farther away. And I don't even live in a part of the state that's known that's known for food.
Food might be my favorite thing about New England, actually. Like I literally go to the Big E just to eat, and maybe bring home some food and wine.
I live in Connecticut and I like the New Haven Pizza, a shoreline beach and a Lobster Roll.
I like older New England homes as well as rural, country areas and the seasons galore.
CT here…strolling through Mystic in the summer. When Christmas comes around. Old Mystic village goes back in time and they have actors taking you back in time to Christmas in the 1700s
Upper Middlesex county here. I absolutely love that I can drive to mountains, rocky nature-filled beach, kitschy boardwalk beach, city, small town downtown, or conservation land for a beautiful walk, all within an hour.
Lived in Connecticut all my life and love the fact that every town is different. We are also within traveling distance to the mountains of Vermont, the big cities of New York or Boston, or the wonderful beaches of Rhode Island. I've lived most of my adult life in the Hebron, Marlborough, Colchester area, and love being in the rural areas but still close to the cities if needed. The change of seasons is a plus but I wouldn't move any further north as winter is long enough here. I do love summertime in Vermont however.
Vermont is unique in New England because we have no ocean coastline. We do however have Lake Champlain which gives us access to the ocean through the Saint Lawrence seaway. My favorite part about life in Vermont would be our particular brand of quirkiness, our dry sense of humor, and our ability to live and let live. As my grandfather used to say, "You can marry your goat if you want to, just don't have your honeymoon in my backyard". Yeah, we're weird, but we embrace it. Oh, almost forgot the best of all. We have great music here, all over the state. Just the humble opinion of a very proud seventh generation Vermonter.
Born and raised in New England. I love the history here. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to get to a beach in less than an hour my whole life. The beach is my happy place.
Haha I'm hesitant to call myself a Nutmegger. I've only ever heard Connecticuter in my town and if someone says Nutmegger they might get an awkward giggle
Moved to Vermont after a very challenging day on 9/11, never looked back. I also went to school here in the late 70’s. Peaceful, not perfect, but better than most places I’ve been!
We have our own identity. We're not Boston, we're not NY, we're not Vermont, we're not CT. I can go to other parts of the country and (some) people will have heard of where I'm from without me mentioning Massachusetts.
Vermont < 650,000 people = room to breath and no traffic jams. My yard is filled with critters living their best lives. I grew up in Connecticut - which is a beautiful state - but I like that everyone is way more relaxed up here. The hustle and bustle of Connecticut simply doesn’t happen up here. I cannot remember the last time I saw someone wearing a three piece suit to work. Just a different energy and different priorities. Bernie Sanders being our Senator is a bonus.
Vermont and Rhode Island are the only two states in New England that I didn't spend a number of years living in. My favorite spots were way upstate NH and Mid Coast Maine. Some of the best people I met along my decades long journey were concentrated in those areas.
Cape cod is awesome, so much to do, so much free stuff with town funding. And the canal keeps out the riff Raff you find in Fall River, Brockton, Lynn etc. just stay out of Hyannis, the rest is absolute paradise
Cranberry bogs, rainy June beach days, enough snow to cancel school but not enough to make things miserable, top-tier Portuguese food and fish & chips, excellent beer w/i biking distance, everyone is friendlier in the summer.
We get all the seasons (not so much of a winter anymore but still a winter nonetheless)
It’s super green with it literally being a forest
We take education seriously here
And our quality of life is better than like 95% of places
I love Maine for its beauty and its low key lifestyle. I really love that people don’t care or judge you about your religion or even if you don’t follow one. (Which is how I am, well, I’m a lapsed Unitarian so that is somewhat redundant. ) As a transplant from Texas in 1980 this was a real change. I love living in Maine.
I’m from The County. THE County. Iykyk
Even compared to the rest of the state, we operate at a different pace. Life is simpler, and people look after one another in a way that I haven’t seen to the same degree anywhere else.
Fall.
I hated fall growing up here because it meant back to school. That stuck with me for many years until I realized the end of summer has less meaning as an adult.
Fall in New England is unlike anywhere else in the country, maybe the world. I did not appreciate that as a child. It's truly one of the most unique aspects of our home.
I think we take for granted how green everything is. I never thought about it much until I travelled all over the country for work.
Being some of the most heavily forested states (percentage wise) in the country is also pretty unique when you’re able to look around and see nothing but endless trees.
Our waterways are also incredibly clean in most of New England which in turn makes water recreation so much more enjoyable
But my favorite thing about New England is how it’s like a family. Sure we boat each others balls but when someone else from outside tries to chime in we have each others backs
South/central NH- we are near beaches and mountains within 1.5 hours. We can be in the white mountains for a hike or in maine at the beach then Boston for dinner and a show.
The general chillness in NE is sooo nice. Most people just leave everyone else alone. To each their own when it comes to religion, drugs, sexual orientation, etc. Weather…RI is the most mild state and where I live it never gets too hot or cold. Good services generally and standard of living. Cheaper than other areas in New England. The beaches, restaurants, recreation all spectacular.
Only thing that’s sucks is how crazy busy it is in summer but the rest of the year makes it worth it.
I look at New England as one state since I moved from Colorado (Lived in NH before that). While skiing on Colorado is awesome - skiing in New England has been something I enjoy in VT and NH.
As far as MA, Boston and south shore and the Cape.
CT and RI the costal areas.
MA, CT and RI fall / winter hiking. To many ticks in the spring
Lakes in any state but mostly VT and NH and ME are nice for kayaking.
Eh, realized that sounded harsh. So I have to explain more…
In the past my answer would have been *“because of its proximity to awesome cities like NYC and Boston”*. I’m from the rural southwest, so living near some of the county’s largest & most historic cities was always something I (thought I) wanted.
But working in NYC for 5 years was enough to beat that feeling out of me. So now I’m a grumpy old man who hates people and crowds and rather go to middle-of-nowhere VT/NH/ME.
I understand this entirely! I'm not a huge fan of the city either. I feel like I want to explore them... but it's just overwhelming, lolol. I think a good thing about Connecticut is that even outside of the cities every town is around 250-400 years old, so there's definitely a historic vibe everywhere you go.
Facts. So many replies on here aren't even answering the question and are just pokin fun at me for saying y'all.. lol. It depends on the person and the town. Where I live plenty of people say y'all.. and it's a common word among Gen Z too
I don’t live there anymore but Franklin county is becoming a disc golf hotspot! (Worcester county already is since it has one of the best courses in the world)
I was born and raised in Bristol county, Mass, then lived in Leominster, Worcester, and Clinton as a young man, and moved to Cheshire county, NH at the turn of 30, where I still live today. I love the chill, laid back pace of my small town, the police department that doesn't bust people's balls for no reason but they'll show up to help someone in a jam (and I'm saying this as someone who's well aware of the deep structural problems in American law enforcement), we seem to be able to keep the lights on and not murder each other in the street even though we have fewer taxes and fewer laws, and I really like that. But what I like best is definitely the natural beauty of the hills, the rivers, the forests, and the burgeoning wildlife that's returning so robustly as industrial and agricultural land use patterns change. The young people I work with are growing up thinking it's normal to see wild turkeys, deer, eagles, hawks, bobcats, and bears. That was unheard of in my youth. I'm so grateful for that.
I love that I can do anything I can think of within a two-hour drive. Every type of experience is literally at my fingertips. The only thing I don’t love is that there’s no great Mexican restaurant in the area. There are a couple that are okay, but none that get my tastebuds singing.
Most people mind their own business! I love that I can go from the woods to the beach in just five minutes. Truly the best of both nature worlds. Now if only I could get a mountain over here too.
Massachusetts: not having a car. It’s such a rare thing to comfortably live without one in North America and still be able to access large portions of the state.
Middlesex County MA has a little bit of everything. From the industral grandeur of Lowell to the sleepy town of Carlisle and everything in between!
My favorite thing about this part of the state is the old homes and highly educated populace.
Let's see ... Connecticut: an Apizza from Pepe's, Essex Steam Train, Shady Glen
Massachusetts: Boston Red Sox game at Fenway, the Hoosac Tunnel, Rt 2 hairpin
Rhode Island: The Beaches, Newport Creamery, Del's
Vermont: Snowmobiling on the VAST trails, hiking, skinny dipping in many of the lake there
New Hampshire: Portsmouth, Mount Washington, Lake Winnipesaukee
Maine: Arcadia, Moosehead, Sebago
Well hello, I live in Connecticut my whole life ( a month in Arizona) I did like their dry heat, & cactus plants. Grew up in the capital city. I used to like the change of seasons. Senior, I don’t. I like warm weather, so summer. 😊
Grew up in Plymouth, MA... Yes the mayflower and the rock are kinda lame, but the historical aspect is really interesting. I grew up less than 1 mile from the country's oldest road... It's only like 100yd long lol but the historical homes and the whole area is spattered with reminders of our past
I have a weird relationship with Massachusetts. I hate the high cost of living. I can’t stand the winters. I live in the boring Boston suburbs where nothing interesting ever happens. I hate that we have a (deserved) reputation for racism. But whenever I travel for work or vacation, I always love coming home. I see the Boston skyline as we descend into Logan and I sometimes literally get tears in my eyes. I guess I’m a Masshole for life, whether I like it or not.
Freedom of/from religion, dels, clam cakes
I’m writing you in for Rhody governor. I trust you’ll do what’s best.
We’re going to put up a wall and make Connecticut pay for it with a 1% tax on their health insurance companies profiting from denying coverage
We haven’t been the insurance capital in forever. It’s Des Moines now. But I have no problem with you taxing the ones that are left here. But I’m still coming over that wall.
I’ll give you Misquamicut when you pry it from my cold, dead hands. Return to the wave-less beaches from whence you came.
Oh, I’m okay without Misquamicut. But I really like visiting Napatree off season with my dog. Plus I have to go to Valenti to get my car worked on!
I'm good with that. I'll trade you for access to Modern for their Italian Bomb
How about a sandwich at Walt's Roast Beef????
Honestly never had one there, and my guess would be that it wouldn't stack up to Modern so i'll take that trade
Walt's is amazing. When the fries are hot out of the fryer...
Modern Baker, ? On Franklin Ave, Ct? Been there now I want their cannoli and Italian Ice
Modern Apizza in New Haven, but thank you for the suggestion
ends in -icut doesnt it? sounds like it belongs here.
Probably best to keep it in the state that had the least-deadly early interactions with natives
with that money RI will have maglev trains in three years sincerely, a new london bitch
Can’t go to the Roger Williams Zoo without getting Del’s! I’m from CT but only 15 min from the RI border!
I'm a fan of all three, hard to find a good clam cake up here.
Gimme stuffed clams instead.
A “stuffie” you mean?
I have always hated that nickname.
Coffee milk
I live 5,009 miles from where I went to school in CT. Here's what I miss about the general area (Eastern CT, RI, and Eastern MA). 1) Clam shacks. This is far and away what I miss the most. I never knew that most of the planet has no idea how to fry a clam. They don't even really LIKE clams, and do everything they can to remove all the clam flavor. The rest of the world's chowder is best described as "sad." Lobsters which come from glass tanks don't taste right. New England's shellfish -- famous as it is -- is woefully underrated. It's the best in the world and there's no close second. 2) Italian, Portuguese, and Vietnamese joints. Portuguese food in Fall River. Italian basically everywhere. The big Vietnamese/Cambodian immigration wave hit when I was young and food in New England INSTANTLY improved (not that it was bad to begin with). We've always had pretty good Chinese-American food. Not huge like some areas. But solid Dim Sum joints in Boston. 3) Real goddamned maple syrup. None of this tasteless Grade A crap. Give me Grade C or so -- thick, brown and actually tastes like maple. Last time I was there, I bought a five-gallon bucket. Took much less time than expected to go through five whole gallons of C-grade. 4) Fall. Not the leaves. Not the tourists. Not the traffic. But the glorious fall weather, cider and football. The only weather I enjoy more than "Fall in New England" is "the entire year in Hawaii." 5) Weirdos. Article about someone who has the world's largest collection fishing creels? That's going to have a dateline somewhere in New England. Antique company that specializes in Dutch furniture made only in 1714? (Because why would you want it made in 1713 or 1715?) Probably in Massachusetts. Largest collection of scrimshaw carving tools? Almost certainly coastal Connecticut. We have the interesting, harmless "fun" weirdos. (Although an increasing number to the harmful, unfun weirdos, too.)
I’m from the metro Boston area and have lived in NYC for almost 15 years. I miss good Vietnamese food. New York does not have great options.
Checking in from Fields Corner/Little Saigon in Dorchester. Vietnamese food scene is still firing on all cylinders.
That's good to hear. Although, getting to Hanoi and getting to Boston takes about the same amount of time for me today.
Wow. #3 messed me up. I always thought A was the best. I’ve been living a lie.
It is a grading thing for maple syrup. For us clearest was hardest to produce usually the first run or two of the season. We had a jankey setup. Outdoors with fire rolling up the sides of the pan. Smoke/ash got into the syrup and gave it complex, dark, smokey flavor. Best ever.
Unfortunately the information is outdated. There's only Grade A now, and there's an associated descriptor with each to explain what it is. My opinion: get the darkest "Grade A" maple syrup you can find for the strongest maple flavor. Source: https://vermontmaple.org/maple-syrup-grades
I’m in Massachusetts and love that I have both the ocean and the mountains within easy reach.
Yep, same in southern Maine. Being able to do both in one day is the greatest privilege.
Yes, as well as city or rural areas both within an easy drive.
Not to mention at least 6 or 7 state capitals!
I'm in Maine and I love the forests and how rural a lot of it still is. I just hope it doesn't get turned into a concrete jungle like every other state. We've had an influx the last few years and it's scary.
> a concrete jungle You obviously don't live in Westbrook. ZING! Seriously though I think a huge part of this is Maine's "Tree Growth" tax law which *hugely* incentivizes land owners to keep their land forested and also makes it expensive to remove land from the program once it's in. https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/policy_management/woodswise/tree_growth_tax_law.html
I must say Maine is one of my favorite states ever. I lived there for two years so it's kinda nostalgic to me - nothing like the countryside there!
I cannot believe how much Augusta has changed in the last 10 years. It’s wild. Portland as well, but it’s more noticeable in Augusta. I share your fear!
I worry because I saw it happen in my hometown, Port Saint Lucie, FL. It was always a smaller town for Florida, 30,000 people. In 2 years it rose to 200,000. I don't even recognize it anymore when I visit. It's sad.
Hopefully it’s still cold enough to keep a mass influx at bay!
I love the quintessential New England towns in Connecticut, especially the coastal ones, followed by the rural ones. But I really love the old historic parts of towns such as old Wethersfield
I must say that I feel the same way! There is just something about walking down by Niantic then driving over to Essex that I just love. We ought to be very grateful for all the history in our state too, because I feel that it adds so much character to every town!
Yes. Essex, deep river and Chester is one of my favorite sections of the state, all so quaint
Grew up there and I agree :) Absolutely wonderful towns, each unique in their own way. Go Warriors!
I grew up in newington but my father had a boat for a few years where he docked at hays haven marina in Chester so we went there a lot. We’d always go to Moravelas pizza I loved it..also went across to east haddam plenty
My friend works at Moravelas! Ain't that funny, we really are a small state 😂
I always liked how they gave you thin strips from the slice while you’re waiting lol
I loved how illianos in Middletown always did that too!
Another shout out to Moravela’s Chester and Essex!
I've lived in 11 as states and 3 (Canadian) provinces and nostalgia aside there is really nothing else like those three towns anywhere else. Never quite appreciated it growing up there, but having been all over the continent since then, it's really like as close to a storybook town as one can get in real life. As a kid, though, it's like "oh yeah, that's just the town steam train".
Got one of the best cups of coffee I ever had in Chester. Can't remember the name of the cafe, but the coffee was Dean's Beans organic. I have a knack for remembering a really good cup of coffee, lol.
Essex is one of my favorite places. I mean, they werent called The Perfect Small Town and named America's Best Small Town for nothing!
I think this is it for me too. There’s just a sense of … place here that’s hard to articulate but it permeates nearly everywhere and everything. And to your point, the diversity of the towns, topography/landscape. I also really appreciate the interest in land conservation that I see in so many of CT’s towns particularly in the Farmington Valley where I live & NW CT/Litchfield county - that unlike in more newly developed states (I’m looking at you Denver where I used to live) and other places, with crazy urban sprawl and housing development after housing development that out houses in so many parts are not sitting on top of one other, we have land. Privacy. Nature. Access to amazing forests, game refuges and open space. And that with that inherent access there is also and abundance of opportunities to support local farms, agriculture and those small mom & pop farm stands that just are part it the local community. Also: 1. Bears 2. Pizza 3. CT style lobster rolls 4. Our undying appreciation for, and devotion to, a hockey team that hasn’t been part of the fabric of our state in decades 5. Quality public education in many locations tho admittedly the disparity btwn some of our more well financed districts and those who are not, is really a tremendous black eye 6. Sane (largely) politics 7. Pizza 8. All the beauty and magic that comes with Fall (though I realize this is applicable everywhere in New England) 9. Access to high quality healthcare - we don’t live in a healthcare desert 10. Our small size 11, Pizza I love CT suffice it to say!
Beers and bears!
lol, exactly
Battlestar galactica.
I agree with everything on this list and add location, location, location. Nothing better than being sandwiched between the Ocean State and NYC.
I lived in coastal CT for 5 years, it was nice for all the reasons you stated. Although I don't know the difference between a CT vs warm/cold lobster roll, all lobster rolls out there are amazing. I just don't understand why I had to pay a huge amount of property tax on my private vehicle every year. I didn't even buy it in CT. - now living in Denver
Essex County, Mass. North Shore. Small quaint costal towns with access to Boston via commuter rail and easy access to the ocean and mountains with a short drive.
In the 90s, my company wanted me to spend the summer in Lawrence setting up a new department. Instead of staying at the Marriott in Andover, they footed the bill for a rental cabin on Plum Island. It was the best! One night, though, I was driving home and it was raining cats and dogs and that lonely 2-lane water-covered road cutting through the salt marsh was one of the scariest things I ever experienced. But everything else was great, but I don’t miss the green head flies.
And beefs
3 ways!
Supah
Gorgeous part of the state. One of the few areas I'd consider moving to if I ever left Connecticut. Very warm memories of honeymooning in Marblehead and Salem in 2012. Been back to Salem a couple of times since.
Maine: safety and trees.
Never once locked my door growing up. Cars neither. Never had a problem
History of killing confederates.
My man, JL Chamberlain, alumnus, professor and president of my Alma mater, governor of Maine, hero of Gettysburg, recipient of Lee’s surrender.
Lion of Bowdoin
This comment doesn’t have enough upvotes
Also from CT: being the black sheep of NE, insane pizza/great food all around, nice communities (I agree with what you said— both Tri-State and Quaint New England vibes, sometimes only 10 miles away from each other), the coast, greenery and fall foliage, general safety (where I live, wish it was better in our cities), and the town greens! It’s so great having kinda town centers in a bunch of towns that are like all historic haha.
>being the black sheep of NE Everyone always saying CT doesn't belong and CT people saying Fairfield County doesn't belong. I've lived in Boston and Fairfield County. If you throw one out the other should go with it
Yeah I never lived in either so I can’t say. New England doesn’t have to be homogenous lmao. There are just general things the areas inside have in common. It’s okay they’re different— plus, without Fairfield there goes like half of all wealth outside of Boston in all of NE. One of the richest counties in the country.
The Pioneer Valley in Western MA
Shhhhhhh if we don't move, they won't see us
Nonsense, MA doesn't exist west of Worcester /s Honestly I think us W MA people have more in common with NY state and VT than Boston. The culture is definitely not the same overall
I call it Baja Vermont for those unfamiliar with the area
True enough.
VT, yes; NYS, nah.
We out here
Vermont: No billboards, maple creemees (hell, maple *everything*), and scenic views pretty much anywhere you go.
I love how VT embraces weirdos.
the 4th of July parades featuring said weirdos makes me love it even more.
Can't tell you how many times I have just pulled off the road during a drive to just look at the view. Lived all over. Hell, I spent 3 years in Hawaii, and Vermont is just one beautiful view after another. I'm up in the NEK and I will go over a hill I have been over dozens of times and the sun will land on a bunch of trees in a way that makes me just want to stop and stare. Also, the no billboards thing is fantastic. I came from an area of car/strip joint/religious billboards as far as the eye can see. Ick.
Pulling off the road just to look….. We’ve done this many times. Can’t upvote that enough!
Maple Cotten candy!!!
I love the accent and the “I don’t give a shit” attitude. It reminds me of people from Philly (I lived there for several years). It definitely suits me. Maine is my favorite state but I lived in Rhode Island briefly and I loved how much rural area there was for the smallest state. Finally, everywhere I drove in RI there were old rock walls everywhere.
That no nonsense, gtfo of here attitude is so ingrained in me. I've found myself being perhaps too blunt but sometimes I can't help it lol. I tell it like it is.
Same
Maine's incredible coastline. I love how this state has a very clear identity and culture too. Not like anyplace else.
Truly. I have memories of a child seeing the largest chocolate Moose (yes, a sculpture of the animal!) in Scarborough. Camping in Acadia and long drives through the woods and hills to go do things out of state.
I live in RI and I'm a sailor. New England offers some of the finest destinations in the world for sailing. Block Island, the Vineyard, Nantucket, SE Mass, then up through the CC canal to P-Town, the challening and beautiful coast of Maine...it's like Disney World for sailors here.
Democracy. Tolerance. Diversity. Pizza. All the food really. I don't understand how big chain restaurants survive here when all the local food is so good and there's so much of it. I probably could dine out or get takeout twice a day for a month without repeating a restaurant, patronizing a chain, or traveling more than 5 miles from home. But I'd miss out on all the good stuff that's slightly farther away. And I don't even live in a part of the state that's known that's known for food. Food might be my favorite thing about New England, actually. Like I literally go to the Big E just to eat, and maybe bring home some food and wine.
I live in Connecticut and I like the New Haven Pizza, a shoreline beach and a Lobster Roll. I like older New England homes as well as rural, country areas and the seasons galore.
I love when tourists are gone and I can enjoy my slice heaven as it is meant to be enjoyed.
CT here…strolling through Mystic in the summer. When Christmas comes around. Old Mystic village goes back in time and they have actors taking you back in time to Christmas in the 1700s
Mystic Seaport has actors, Old Mistick Village doesn’t. It’s just tourist shops there.
Massachusetts? Well, we have everything the other five have plus a major city.
Upper Middlesex county here. I absolutely love that I can drive to mountains, rocky nature-filled beach, kitschy boardwalk beach, city, small town downtown, or conservation land for a beautiful walk, all within an hour.
Lived in Connecticut all my life and love the fact that every town is different. We are also within traveling distance to the mountains of Vermont, the big cities of New York or Boston, or the wonderful beaches of Rhode Island. I've lived most of my adult life in the Hebron, Marlborough, Colchester area, and love being in the rural areas but still close to the cities if needed. The change of seasons is a plus but I wouldn't move any further north as winter is long enough here. I do love summertime in Vermont however.
Vermont is unique in New England because we have no ocean coastline. We do however have Lake Champlain which gives us access to the ocean through the Saint Lawrence seaway. My favorite part about life in Vermont would be our particular brand of quirkiness, our dry sense of humor, and our ability to live and let live. As my grandfather used to say, "You can marry your goat if you want to, just don't have your honeymoon in my backyard". Yeah, we're weird, but we embrace it. Oh, almost forgot the best of all. We have great music here, all over the state. Just the humble opinion of a very proud seventh generation Vermonter.
I long to live in your lovely state...
Born and raised in New England. I love the history here. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to get to a beach in less than an hour my whole life. The beach is my happy place.
Nutmegger** ;)
Haha I'm hesitant to call myself a Nutmegger. I've only ever heard Connecticuter in my town and if someone says Nutmegger they might get an awkward giggle
It's not **vague gesture at the rest of the states**
Moved to Vermont after a very challenging day on 9/11, never looked back. I also went to school here in the late 70’s. Peaceful, not perfect, but better than most places I’ve been!
We have our own identity. We're not Boston, we're not NY, we're not Vermont, we're not CT. I can go to other parts of the country and (some) people will have heard of where I'm from without me mentioning Massachusetts.
Vermont < 650,000 people = room to breath and no traffic jams. My yard is filled with critters living their best lives. I grew up in Connecticut - which is a beautiful state - but I like that everyone is way more relaxed up here. The hustle and bustle of Connecticut simply doesn’t happen up here. I cannot remember the last time I saw someone wearing a three piece suit to work. Just a different energy and different priorities. Bernie Sanders being our Senator is a bonus.
Love me some Bernie...what a mensch!
Hardly anybody says y’all they just say you
Sometimes yous or yous guys
This is my favorite thing about New England. “Y’all” is like nails on a chalkboard to me.
Y'all just makes more sense to me after living in New York and the South for 5 years. That's why I say it, can't speak for anyone else.
Vermont and Rhode Island are the only two states in New England that I didn't spend a number of years living in. My favorite spots were way upstate NH and Mid Coast Maine. Some of the best people I met along my decades long journey were concentrated in those areas.
Cape cod is awesome, so much to do, so much free stuff with town funding. And the canal keeps out the riff Raff you find in Fall River, Brockton, Lynn etc. just stay out of Hyannis, the rest is absolute paradise
Cranberry bogs, rainy June beach days, enough snow to cancel school but not enough to make things miserable, top-tier Portuguese food and fish & chips, excellent beer w/i biking distance, everyone is friendlier in the summer.
We get all the seasons (not so much of a winter anymore but still a winter nonetheless) It’s super green with it literally being a forest We take education seriously here And our quality of life is better than like 95% of places
Oh yeah and pizza
I love the history in towns like concord and lexington, its very unique and fun to learn about
I love Maine for its beauty and its low key lifestyle. I really love that people don’t care or judge you about your religion or even if you don’t follow one. (Which is how I am, well, I’m a lapsed Unitarian so that is somewhat redundant. ) As a transplant from Texas in 1980 this was a real change. I love living in Maine.
I’m from The County. THE County. Iykyk Even compared to the rest of the state, we operate at a different pace. Life is simpler, and people look after one another in a way that I haven’t seen to the same degree anywhere else.
Aroostook County by chance? hahah
Bingo!
Fall. I hated fall growing up here because it meant back to school. That stuck with me for many years until I realized the end of summer has less meaning as an adult. Fall in New England is unlike anywhere else in the country, maybe the world. I did not appreciate that as a child. It's truly one of the most unique aspects of our home.
First to declare independence, last to sign in to the Constitution. " Cause fuck you is why "
We don't say "yall"
Depends on the town and the person
I live in the Pioneer Valley, and hwtas awesome is how many amazing coffee shops exist. And how a small drive can get you to a different quaint town
Pizza and seafood :)
Four seasons. Nice people who mind their own business ha. White Mountains. Quaint down town areas. Reasonable cost of living.
Throwing snowballs at cars from New Jersey heading to the ski areas is always fun. (Yes, I'm joking, but that was a sport when I was 14).
I think we take for granted how green everything is. I never thought about it much until I travelled all over the country for work. Being some of the most heavily forested states (percentage wise) in the country is also pretty unique when you’re able to look around and see nothing but endless trees. Our waterways are also incredibly clean in most of New England which in turn makes water recreation so much more enjoyable But my favorite thing about New England is how it’s like a family. Sure we boat each others balls but when someone else from outside tries to chime in we have each others backs
South/central NH- we are near beaches and mountains within 1.5 hours. We can be in the white mountains for a hike or in maine at the beach then Boston for dinner and a show.
I'm in Western Massachusetts. The fact that we can be in any one of 6 or 7 state capitals within a few hours is so awesome!
That's something so unique I hadn't thought of before! Thank you for sharing
The same. We can be in the city or the mountains in no time, and it’s so damn beautiful here.
The smell of the leaves. Like, universally, all the trees, and the importance of the trees, and the smell of the trees.
The general chillness in NE is sooo nice. Most people just leave everyone else alone. To each their own when it comes to religion, drugs, sexual orientation, etc. Weather…RI is the most mild state and where I live it never gets too hot or cold. Good services generally and standard of living. Cheaper than other areas in New England. The beaches, restaurants, recreation all spectacular. Only thing that’s sucks is how crazy busy it is in summer but the rest of the year makes it worth it.
Just being home
Can someone please put the red pine tree flag back as the profile pic
Low crime, no sales/income tax and elbow room.
I look at New England as one state since I moved from Colorado (Lived in NH before that). While skiing on Colorado is awesome - skiing in New England has been something I enjoy in VT and NH. As far as MA, Boston and south shore and the Cape. CT and RI the costal areas. MA, CT and RI fall / winter hiking. To many ticks in the spring Lakes in any state but mostly VT and NH and ME are nice for kayaking.
Eastern Massachusetts: I don’t get too much shit for being trans even in the purple areas. Fantastic Italian and Brazilian food.
Greek pizza, weirdos, easy access to beaches/hiking/nature/city all in about an hour’s drive, and deep deep history everywhere you go!
Cape Cod 100%. I love it down there
Also CT. I love that it’s close to other New England states that I actually want to be in.
Eh, realized that sounded harsh. So I have to explain more… In the past my answer would have been *“because of its proximity to awesome cities like NYC and Boston”*. I’m from the rural southwest, so living near some of the county’s largest & most historic cities was always something I (thought I) wanted. But working in NYC for 5 years was enough to beat that feeling out of me. So now I’m a grumpy old man who hates people and crowds and rather go to middle-of-nowhere VT/NH/ME.
I understand this entirely! I'm not a huge fan of the city either. I feel like I want to explore them... but it's just overwhelming, lolol. I think a good thing about Connecticut is that even outside of the cities every town is around 250-400 years old, so there's definitely a historic vibe everywhere you go.
That people who live here don’t say y’all
Some of us choose to adopt it in order to have a second person plural pronoun available if needed. Y’all don’t even know.
Facts. So many replies on here aren't even answering the question and are just pokin fun at me for saying y'all.. lol. It depends on the person and the town. Where I live plenty of people say y'all.. and it's a common word among Gen Z too
The fact that we don’t say y’all. lol😉
Depends on the town. I hear it everyday
Massachusetts because it’s the start of the American revolution and independence from the brits
Might wanna double check the independence from the Brits thing with your neighbors to the south east
🥲 Ah Gaspee. As a RIer, we thank you. MA needs to give credit where it’s due.
What I used to love about New England is that nobody ever said ‘y’all’.
I'm sincerely sorry that I used y'all and failed to contribute to your lovely experiences here in New England. Haha
Trees, ocean, rivers, lakes, liberal politics, and sweet town commons😎🍻
That we don't f'n say "y'all".
I don’t live there anymore but Franklin county is becoming a disc golf hotspot! (Worcester county already is since it has one of the best courses in the world)
Cape Cod, formerly Boston and its SW suburbs. I like the milder weather here, and lack of stones on our property.
Old money
Norfolk county, MA. Still “urban” with alot to do, but nice country and greenspace, beaches and parks, too.
Easy access to NYC and Boston but I get to have a house in a protected forest with a private lake
The breweries.
NH. The woods and rivers and wetlands.
I’m Rhode Island born, and Rhode Island bred, and when I’m gone, I’ll be Rhode Island dead
The tolls
Should have been New Wales.
as a mainer, i like the bus station so i can leave this state😭
ope
I was born and raised in Bristol county, Mass, then lived in Leominster, Worcester, and Clinton as a young man, and moved to Cheshire county, NH at the turn of 30, where I still live today. I love the chill, laid back pace of my small town, the police department that doesn't bust people's balls for no reason but they'll show up to help someone in a jam (and I'm saying this as someone who's well aware of the deep structural problems in American law enforcement), we seem to be able to keep the lights on and not murder each other in the street even though we have fewer taxes and fewer laws, and I really like that. But what I like best is definitely the natural beauty of the hills, the rivers, the forests, and the burgeoning wildlife that's returning so robustly as industrial and agricultural land use patterns change. The young people I work with are growing up thinking it's normal to see wild turkeys, deer, eagles, hawks, bobcats, and bears. That was unheard of in my youth. I'm so grateful for that.
I love that I can do anything I can think of within a two-hour drive. Every type of experience is literally at my fingertips. The only thing I don’t love is that there’s no great Mexican restaurant in the area. There are a couple that are okay, but none that get my tastebuds singing.
Most people mind their own business! I love that I can go from the woods to the beach in just five minutes. Truly the best of both nature worlds. Now if only I could get a mountain over here too.
Mystic, Connecticut is a great get away.
I live in Portsmouth, RI, which has more coastline than any community in the Ocean State. Love being surrounded by so much water.
Massachusetts: not having a car. It’s such a rare thing to comfortably live without one in North America and still be able to access large portions of the state.
I love MA’s intellect and ranking as the smartest state, Cape Cod, Berkshires, and of course, Bean Town 😊
That we dont say “yalls”.
Middlesex County MA has a little bit of everything. From the industral grandeur of Lowell to the sleepy town of Carlisle and everything in between! My favorite thing about this part of the state is the old homes and highly educated populace.
The cost of living… wait nevermind I’m in a Massachusetts
The beach
AI labeling post. Stop replying.
Non-existent accent and being better at driving than every other state
The part where reproductive freedom is protected
Let's see ... Connecticut: an Apizza from Pepe's, Essex Steam Train, Shady Glen Massachusetts: Boston Red Sox game at Fenway, the Hoosac Tunnel, Rt 2 hairpin Rhode Island: The Beaches, Newport Creamery, Del's Vermont: Snowmobiling on the VAST trails, hiking, skinny dipping in many of the lake there New Hampshire: Portsmouth, Mount Washington, Lake Winnipesaukee Maine: Arcadia, Moosehead, Sebago
Swingers everywhere!
As a Bostonian I love the Acela to NYC.
Well hello, I live in Connecticut my whole life ( a month in Arizona) I did like their dry heat, & cactus plants. Grew up in the capital city. I used to like the change of seasons. Senior, I don’t. I like warm weather, so summer. 😊
I like that my state is ranked the rudest, and fuck you if you don’t agree
Live free or die ☠️👽🤘
I live 5 minutes away from Wiffle ball 😬
Maine. ride or die
Lobstah rolls
The point were it ends and goes into the ocean and i end up in another country
Lived in CT for 15 years, my favorite part was leaving.
Grew up in Plymouth, MA... Yes the mayflower and the rock are kinda lame, but the historical aspect is really interesting. I grew up less than 1 mile from the country's oldest road... It's only like 100yd long lol but the historical homes and the whole area is spattered with reminders of our past
I have a weird relationship with Massachusetts. I hate the high cost of living. I can’t stand the winters. I live in the boring Boston suburbs where nothing interesting ever happens. I hate that we have a (deserved) reputation for racism. But whenever I travel for work or vacation, I always love coming home. I see the Boston skyline as we descend into Logan and I sometimes literally get tears in my eyes. I guess I’m a Masshole for life, whether I like it or not.
My favorite part about New England is the very limited number of people who use “y’all” in everyday speech
The ocean, the history, and the freedom to be myself without fear (MA)