18 Feb 2008 04:33:25 | Norm Goldman, Editor SketchandTravel.com & Bookpleasures.com
Today Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel.com and
bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest, Bethany Ericson
author of New England Cabins & Cottages. Bethany is an expert on
the New England States.
Welcome to Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com Bethany and
thanks for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.
NORM:
Please tell our readers something about yourself and your
expertise pertaining to the New England States.
Bethany:
My pleasure, Norm. Thanks for the invitation. I grew up in New
England, with family about the region, so I had travelled quite
a bit of the area from early on. I lived near Thoreau's Walden
Pond cabin, summered in a cabin in the Lakes Region of New
Hampshire, and have always been fond of exploring the rivers,
ocean, mountains and woods in every season. However, while
writing New England Cabins & Cottages I was constantly surprised
and amazed by the beauty of the area I thought I knew so well,
and I fell in love with it all over again.
NORM:
Where are the New England states?
Bethany:
New England is made up of the six most northeastern states in
the United States: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and Rhode Island. It is bordered by Canada, New
York, and the Atlantic Ocean.
NORM:
Why would you consider a stay in a cabin or cottage in the New
England states a good choice for a romantic getaway or honeymoon
destination?
Bethany:
Well, the added privacy is obvious, but it's also easier to feel
part of the natural area you are in when you are in a cabin or
cottage than when you're in some anonymous hotel room. When your
natural area could include crashing waves, blinking lighthouses,
mountain top vistas, or the astounding fall foliage, this
connection to your surroundings really adds to the exuberance of
your visit. Imagine you are in a characterless hotel somewhere
and the forecast is for pouring rain you may feel trapped or
depressed. Imagine you are in a cabin, and you feel like you
have a great excuse to stay under the blankets with your
significant other!
When I married this summer, I rented an old summer camp. My
guests played in the lake, ate, danced in the main lodge, and
stayed over in the cabins. Everyone had a deliriously childlike
and cozy experience. Cabins and cottages allow for that nice
combination of carefree enthusiasm, us-against-the-elements
adventuring spirit, and romance somehow. (And it doesn't hurt
that many of them have fireplaces, wood stoves, or hot tubs.)
NORM:
When is the best time to visit the New England states from the
point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of
flights from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia, etc?
Bethany:
New England is extremely accessible its biggest airport is in
Boston, Massachusetts, but there are also major airports in most
of the states. Since the dollar is not at its best, it has made
the US a less expensive trip for many visitors.
My favorite season here is fall and not just for the bright
colors of the trees. There is that magical snap in the crisp air
that adds excitement to bundling up and lessens your inhibitions
about feasting in a season of roasts and apple pies. While the
masses flock to Vermont, the Massachusetts Berkshire Hills, and
the White Mountains of New Hampshire to "leaf peep" as we say,
try heading to Maine. Fall is one of the least crowded and most
beautiful times to visit Acadia National Park, for instance.
(And let's face it; you never were planning on swimming while on
the Maine coast if you went during the summer anyway, brrr.) By
the way, the seafood is great here year round, and some
lobstermen in Maine do not even put their boats in the water
until its cold out.
NORM:
If you had to choose 5 unequalled venues in the New England
states for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination,
what would they be and why?
Bethany:
Tough question, Norm! There are so many. I'll name some off the
top of my head.
· The first one that comes to mind is the cottage at Three
Mountain Inn in Vermont. They built that one with romance in
mind. I think it is the only place I visited where I found
myself blushing as the owner showed me its features: the ambient
heating of the floor, the shower for two, the hot tub next to
the bed, the stereo speakers built into the exposed beams, the
stained glass window you can only see from a prone position and
the whole thing, the music, the lighting, and the gas fireplace
is operatable from bed with a remote control.
· Sebasco Harbor Resort in Maine is a wonderful spot for a
wedding, with all of its activities and the giant field stone
fireplaces and sea views in big natural wood cottages that could
hold extended family.
· Sterling Ridge Inn and Cabins in Vermont would also be a fun
wedding spot; the log cabins are beautiful, and in such a
wonderful pastoral setting on the edge of the woods and a view
of the Green Mountains.
· The Summer House Inns & Cottages off of Massachusetts would be
a fancy, but ever-memorable island event or escape (think
rose-covered seaside cottages), the Turning Point Inn in the
Berkshires adds delicious food to the mix, and oh -
· The Inn at Sunrise Point on the coast of Maine has a cottage
that literally sits right over the sea and is filled with the
sounds of the waves. And there are so many more!
NORM:
What should people know about celebrating a wedding in the New
England states from the point of view of requirements, etc?
Bethany:
Each state has its own requirements, and it's best to get in
touch with a city/town clerk in the state you're considering
getting married in. Typically you need to be 18 or have a court
order. And usually you need to apply for your license at least a
month ahead of your big day (and you'll need to have decided on
your married name at that time). Some states require blood
tests; some have waiting periods, and more. In some states
anyone can apply for a license allowing them to officiate a
marriage on a particular date. I had my brother officiate my
wedding in Massachusetts, for instance. Massachusetts is
currently the only state that legally allows same sex marriage.
NORM:
How far in advance should a couple prepare themselves for their
honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in the New England states?
Bethany:
New England is such a beautiful region, and places tend to fill
up early, especially those on the coast in the summer and those
in the mountains in the winter. If you want to be beachside
(lake or ocean), in the short summer season, reserve your
accommodations as close to the beginning of the calendar year as
you can. Some families reserve the same cabin for the same week
every year, and make their next year's reservation as they are
checking out, so you have some serious competition. If you are
looking for a romantic getaway during the rest of the year, or
more inland, give it a few months if you can. If you are looking
to book a wedding site, you may need one to two years of notice-
especially if you're reserving a weekend somewhere for a large
party.
NORM:
What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to
romantic getaways, weddings and honeymoon vacations in the New
England states?
Bethany:
As the oldest colonized part of the country, New England is well
developed, and that includes tourism facilities and their
websites. There are endless websites about New England getaways.
If you were planning a wedding, I'd recommend visiting some of
the sites with regional message boards to get local resources
for whatever you need for your event (like the Boston area
online community on www.theknot.com.) Just remember, while doing
web searches for cottages in New England that once upon a time
the upper class of the Gilded Age built "cottages" in Rhode
Island and Massachusetts that we would typically refer to as
mansions today. Also, cabins referred to as "camps" in New
England tend to be built more with fishing and hunting in mind
than romance.
NORM:
Is there anything else you wish to tell our readers that we have
not covered?
Bethany:
I would absolutely love to hear what you think of my book, and
where else you feel I should have included. My email address is
in the
About Author :
section. Now stop procrastinating; go
make those Valentines Day reservations!
