Village Living: Second Home Delights
If you long life at a slower pace, where friendly neighbors interact against a background classic village settings, we have some suggestions on places to visit and perhaps to live. Our review of great vacation and second home places ranges from western Massachusetts, on the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont and New York, the Upper Valley of New Hampshire at the seaside Rhode Island. We'll start our tour in the mountains of western Massachusetts, Berkshire.
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge is a small village nestled in a quiet valley, surrounded by the hills of Berkshire. Sun-dappled streets and classic architecture were emblematic of the quaint New England village. It is just that one of the chroniclers of artistic life in Stockbridge, Norman Rockwell, whose portrayal of the romantic small town life evokes a simpler time, Quiet and good neighborhood.
The small downtown seems like a Rockwell painting come to life. With small, locally owned shops, tidy, wide streets and sidewalks, kids on bikes, beautiful churches, and many examples of well-maintained and diverse New England architecture, Stockbridge offers a welcomed respite from the hectic pace of 21st century America.
The hills around Stockbridge Berkshire offer wide variety of four season activities. There are more than 90,000 acres of recreational land, over 90 lakes and ponds, parks, golf courses and resorts skiing. Stockbridge cultural landmarks including the renowned Tanglewood Music Festival and the Berkshire Theatre Festival.
Although house prices in the region are relatively high, there are still some bargains available from time to time. Visit the Massachusetts State Page to 2ndhome http://www.2ndhome.net/massachusetts-vacation-homes.
The next two cities on our tour of villages and village life from the North a special bond, even if they are in different states. Essex, New York and Charlotte, Vermont are separated, joined some say, by a 20 minute trip by ferry across beautiful Lake Champlain.
Charlotte Vermont
The city of Charlotte is sitting on a series of hills and ridges overlooking Lake Champlain, about ten miles south of the bustling city of Burlington. Vermont Magazine said "… It is a city dominated by rural landscapes, farmland, hills and orchards, it is also – quietly, to be course – part of Vermont to the Gold Coast.
Charlotte is a city with multiple attractions. It is close enough to access the Burlington great shops, restaurants and nightlife, but it is a bucolic, pastoral place, with a strong sense of community spirit, which manifests itself a commitment to excellent schools, a new town hall, and a great local gathering place, the former Brick Store. Its residents bridge the spectrum between farmers several generations of artists, writers and professionals of all stripes.
Charlotte was a rural getaway for owners seconds for many years. It is composed of several villages, including East Jerusalem and the point of Charlotte Thompson, a community was largely party. Visit the Vermont State Page to 2ndhome http://www.2ndhome.net/vermont-vacation-homes.
Essex, New York
Essex is located on Lake Champlain and the Adirondack foothills. It is sometimes called the most historic hamlet of New York. Why this name? Among other reasons, Essex is one of the finest collections of antebellum architecture in the country. Framed by a beautiful lake and majestic Adirondacks of New York, Essex hosted visitors and second homeowners for many years. Another feature of this charming place in the blue waters of Lake Champlain is the vista of Green Mountains of Vermont.
There are many year-round activities available in and around the city, including the first class fishing Boquet on trout or salmon rivers or on the broad, deep waters of Lake Champlain. Biking, canoeing and kayaking, hiking and bird watching are very popular in summer and autumn. And of course sailing and power boating on Lake Champlain are among the best are in the Northeast. There are many high mountains, trails, rivers and streams in half an hour from the village. The trails closest in nearby Split Rock Reserve, a plot of 3000 hectares, where many trails hug the shores of Lake Champlain. Golfers will find 10 challenging courses in the half-hour drive. Summer theater, concerts and special events round out the list in hot weather activity. In winter, backcountry skiing and great, or for the more adventurous, climbing ice. Visit the New York State 2ndhome Page to http://www.2ndhome.net/new-york-vacation-homes.
Lebanon, New Hampshire
In the heart an area referred to by locals as the Upper Valley, Lebanon is located about halfway up the state of New Hampshire.
The city is set in the tradition of New England fashion, with a square of two acres, with a bandstand in the center. The place is preceded an impressive collection of traditional buildings with beautiful facades Citizenship, including the town hall, a library and a magnificent jewel, Lebanon Opera House. It Installation is a 880-seat, acoustically superb theater is the biggest spotlight in the Upper Valley. After more than eighty to present quality musical and theatrical performances, the opera remains a key element of cultural life in and around Lebanon.
Lebanon is only a few kilometers south of Hanover, home of Dartmouth College, which offers year-round many demonstrations cultural hall auditorium of the Centre Multi Hopkins. Movies, musicals and drama, including opera, are held throughout the year.
Much of the housing stock in the historic district is composed of majestic colonial, Federal and Victorian houses, a legacy of the rich mill owners of the 19th century. The city has ranked highly (often in the first four), Prentice Hall in '100 Best Small Towns in America, "a guide for communities that offer the highest level of small town life. It blends the quiet life of small rural town with no cultural not usually associated with rural life.
Outside the historic district, a wide variety of accommodation can be found in the region, farms in the 18th century, the ranch-style houses and increasingly, high quality modular homes in many traditional and contemporary design.
In short, if you're looking for a second home, Lebanon and the surrounding region offers a unique blend of rural lifestyle and urban facilities. Visit the State of New Hampshire to Page 2ndhome http://www.2ndhome.net/new-hampshire-vacation-homes.
Narragansett Rhode Island
The town of Narragansett hugs the Atlantic Ocean about 26 miles of coastline (including Pettasquamscutt Cove and Narrow River). This long and varied shoreline has developed the New England secondary residences in the summer since the early 1900s. During the summer, the population triples. Population year was also increased in recent years.
A main attraction of these seasonal residents easy access to miles of beaches varied. The most popular is the Narragansett Town Beach, the heart of the city. Known for quality surf, it was described as one of the best surfing destinations in the country. Scarborough near State Beach, which is more than a mile long, has less surf and a steeper gradual than the town beach and is the choice of many area families. Roger Wheeler Beach, overlooking the harbor is well protected and is best suited for grandchildren. Salty Brine State Beach is a small crescent of sand that abuts against the port city near the Galilee, where many whales tourism and fishing vessels are at anchor, and the ferry to Block Island, lies12 miles offshore.
In the middle of Narragansett, it is a beautiful pair parallel stone arches spanning Ocean Road, anchored on either side by curved towers. The towers are what remains of the Narragansett Pier Casino, which once stood on the site. Designed in 1883 by famed architect Stanford White, the granite Towers 3 floors, topped by conical roofs, are connected by a long piece gallery. Unfortunately, the main building burned in 1900 Casino. The bright, 130-foot Great Hall, built with walls of fields, with windows on three sides, still offers a spectacular view to take in views of the Atlantic and suggests the beauty and opulence of the casino since long gone.
If you want to find a great seasonal home, Narragansett offers many styles of existing homes and cottages, including Construction of new single family homes, condominiums and communities living adults, more land, waterfront properties and investment multi-family real estate. The surrounding area offers a wide choice of lifestyles, from beachfront cottages to large estate, including former New England farms properties and other countries.
In future issues of the Journal 2ndhome ®, we will continue our coverage of villages in New England where many owners of second homes have fortunately
settled.
About the Author
This article was originally published in the Winter 2007 issue of 2ndhome® Journal, http://www.2ndhome.net, a digital magazine for owners, buyers and sellers of vacation homes and investment properties.
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