There is plenty to catch a planner’s eye in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and the following destinations and group experiences are worth a closer look.
From snowy mountaintops to lush low-lying islands, these Northeastern states can live up to planners’ high standards and give attendees a glimpse of New England’s signature charm and natural beauty.
Maine
With the opening of the Cross Insurance Center last October, the city of Bangor, Maine, has zoomed in its focus on group and conference business. The convention center offers 25,000 square feet of customizable space, with 18 meeting rooms, an 8,000-square-foot arena, 4,500 square feet of prefunction space and room for more than 250 trade show booths.
Also in Bangor, the historic Tarratine venue looks out over downtown and has a colorful history. Originally opened in 1884 as a social club for high-society businessmen, Tarratine headquarters moved to the current Park Street location in 1907. The group sold the building in 1991, and it recently reopened as a full-service event venue, after various sales and closures. The luxurious windowed space can accommodate 80 guests for dinner or 175 for cocktail parties, and will happily cater to groups’ privacy demands.
When business is done and attendees turn their gaze outdoors, Maine has even more to offer. Educational yet fun day trips can include the Project Puffin research center in Rockland or the Mount Desert Oceanarium in Bar Harbor near Acadia National Park. Group rates are available for the Oceanarium’s lobster hatchery tour, marsh walks and sea creature touch tanks.
New Hampshire
Whether a group wants to view birds or get a bird’s-eye view, the Granite State has a strong lineup of experiences and outings.
Based in Portsmouth in the state’s Seacoast region, Seacoast Helicopters has grown its group offerings by organizing sightseeing trips and private charters. The family-owned company has a fleet of helicopters that can take visitors on 30- or 45-minute scenic flights. These sightseeing trips offer a great introduction to the area by passing over the region’s beaches, lighthouses, villages, farmland and mountains from 1,000 feet above. Carrying up to four passengers and 300 pounds of luggage, the Robinson 66 is the helicopter of choice for high-end business clients, according to Karen Cultrera, vice president of marketing and strategy for the company. Seacoast also books charter service to and from Boston’s Logan International Airport. PageBreak
Once they’re acquainted with the lay of the land, attendees can pay a visit to the Squam Lake Natural Science Center outside Plymouth to appreciate New Hampshire’s wildlife.
“Our name is quite a mouthful, but it doesn’t totally explain who we are,” says Amanda Gillen, marketing and visitor services manager for the science center, adding that it can be most easily described as a sort of “zoo in the woods.”
The main attraction is the mile-long Gephart Exhibit Trail, which takes guests past native New Hampshire creatures like black bears, foxes, river otters, coyotes and various species of raptor.
“Since they are native species, they are already adapted for the New Hampshire winter,” Gillen says, “so the animals keep the same schedules and stay in the same enclosures year-round.”
Also popular with groups are the science center’s guided cruises on Squam Lake. The surrounding wilderness makes for great fishing, hiking and cross-country skiing, and the 90-minute pontoon boat cruises teach attendees about the lake’s history and ecology, while spotting wildlife like herons, loons and the lake’s nesting pair of bald eagles.
For an in-depth visit to Squam Lake, the boat ride and trail walk can be combined, and groups with special interests can arrange private naturalist sessions focused on specific species or subject matter.
This year the Summit Museum at the Mount Washington Observatory created an interactive “Extreme Mount Washington” exhibit that will run through the summer season, illustrating the mountain’s fearsome winter weather for spring and summer visitors. Groups visiting the museum can ride the Cog Railway to the top, or arrange for private stagecoach rides. PageBreak
Vermont
The hills are definitely alive in Vermont, and the state is welcoming gatherings that range from large automobile associations to small bicycling tours to experience its sights and sounds.
“The trend we’ve noticed lately is that meeting planners are focused on out-of-the-ordinary experiences. They want to go beyond the basics, and Vermont can accommodate that,” says Susan Smith, executive director of the Vermont CVB.
Her first suggestion is to check out the brewery at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, run by the Von Trapps of The Sound of Music. (In the winter, groups can showshoe with an original Von Trapp family member.) The Von Trapps have been operating a microbrewery and brewing lagers inspired by their Austrian homeland since 2010.
The lodge offers 6,000 square feet of meeting space, 96 guest rooms and 2,500 acres of land for Old World-inspired meetings and corporate retreats.
The Inn at Round Barn is another option for planners seeking a dose of bucolic countryside. The 245-acre bed-and-breakfast property outside Montpelier beckons guests with freshly baked cookies every afternoon, conference and retreat facilities, an organic garden and an afternoon tea terrace. The Green Mountain Cultural Center with its rotating art exhibits is also located on the property.
If travel plans allow, planners should consider a day trip or overnight visit to one of Lake Champlain’s many small islands.
“In my opinion, the islands are underutilized,” Smith says.
The freshwater lake borders Canada, and there are numerous quaint inns and historic guest rooms in the area. Groups can arrive by boat, and the beautiful, secluded location makes for tranquil retreats for small functions. The North Hero House, which has been operating since 1891, features 26 guest rooms and event facilities for up to 50 people.
For larger lake-based events, the 363-passenger Spirit of Ethan Allen sets sail for themed dinner cruises, brunches on the bay, sunset cruises, buyouts and casino nights.
Back on the mainland, the open-air Church Street Marketplace in downtown Burlington is great for exploring and lined with numerous outdoor cafes.
