Best Spots in New England for a Girls Weekend Away

Last weekend I went on my sister’s bachelorette party to Ogunquit, Maine. It was a blast and my first time partying in that town. We were not disappointed! It was also my 3rd weekend bachelorette around New England, so I guess it’s time I wrote a blog about it 😋 Anywho, here are the top best tourist party towns to take your friends to in New England. I should know, I’ve gotten lit in all of them 😉

Newport, Rhode Island

My favorite town in New England by far. Most of downtown is old cobblestone streets and wooden wharfs & boardwalks lining the water. There’s beaches, wineries & vineyards, Bellevue Street and it’s historical mansions, the cliffwalk, sailing tours of the harbor at sunset, (and booze cruises 😉) Countless adorable eateries and bars open well into the night. I mean you can’t go wrong.

Restaurant Recommendations: The Black Pearl, The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Clarke Cook House, and The Lobster Bar.

Provincetown, Massachusetts

Provincetown is at the northern tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and is definitely the party town of the cape. P-town is known as a longtime haven for artists and the LGBTQ community. Numerous galleries plus restaurants, nightclubs, cabarets and specialty shops are clustered on and around lively Commercial Street. There’s also miles and miles of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world to relax on during the day.

Recommended Restaurants & Bars: The Club, Local 186, Bubala’s By The Bay, Jimmy’s Hideaway, Bayside Betsy’s, Nor’ East Beer Garden, Aqua Bar, The Canteen, Crown & Anchor

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

The last city on the New Hampshire seacoast, Portsmouth is a great hub for some other local hotspots, like Hampton Beach, the Kittery Outlets, and York Beach. Its working seaport, quintessential brick downtown, numerous restaurants and vibrant nightlife make it a must visit, and you’ll have lots to do day and night with the girls.

Recommended Restaurants & Bars: The River House, Old Ferry Landing, and The Oar House are all waterfront and connected by a walkable boardwalk along the water. There’s also The Gaslight (always live music on the patio) The Goat, Agave Mexican Bistro, The Friendly Toast, and don’t forget late night breakfast at the trolley at Gilley’s.

Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

Lake Winnipesaukee, with 264 islands and a total shoreline of 288 miles, is the largest lake in New Hampshire, located at the foothills of the White Mountains. Towns to stay in along the shore include Laconia & Weirs Beach, Alton Bay, Meredith, and Wolfboro. Laconia/Weirs Beach is definitely more of a party atmosphere, home to several bars and party boat cruises. You can even rent a tiki boat complete with a bartender and thatched roof 😉 For more of a quiet & quaint atmoshphere I’d venture to Wolfboro.

Ogunquit, Maine

A summer resort village on the southern coast of Maine, Ogunquit means “beautiful place by the sea”. And it doesn’t disappoint. There’s about 3 miles of beautiful New England beach connected to the mainland by bridge across the marsh. To accommodate summer crowds, several seaside hotels and inns were built. Marginal Way, a scenic trail, runs along the coast from Perkins Cove to Ogunquit Beach. The artist colony and tourist area has also become a destination for LGBT tourists, with numerous LGBT owned and operated hotels, restaurants, bars, theaters, and other businesses.

Recommended Restaurants & Bars: Front Porch Piano Bar & Restaurant, That Place, Northern Union, Brix & Brine, Bandito’s Mexican Grill, Ogunquit Beach Lobster House, Main Street Bar & Nightclub

Portland, Maine

Portland’s one the largest city on Maine’s seacoast and is full of restaurants, bars, theaters, hotels, galleries, and shopping. There’s local beaches, lighthouses, harbor & island tours, and whale watching cruises. The Old Port waterfront features working fishing wharves and converted warehouses with restaurants and shops. The Eastern Promenade is home to a wide range of food trucks lining the street in the summer months where you can choose anything from Maine Maple Creemees to Banh Mi on homemade bread every Friday from 11am-8pm. Grab what you want, spread out a picnic blanket, and lounge with gorgeous mansions to ogle at behind you and a killer ocean view to ferry spot in front of you.

Recommended Restaurants & Bars: The Shop by Island Creek Oyster, Fore Street, Maine Oyster Company, Demillo’s On The Water, Eventide Oyster Company, Bonfire Country Bar, Bubba’s Sulky Lounge, Aura Nightclub

Bar Harbor, Maine

Omg I love love LOVE Bar Harbor! There’s the gorgeous, picturesque seaside New England downtown, 5 star resorts complete with multiple pools & jacuzzis, restaurants, bars, shopping, lighthouses, harbor tours with all the seals & whales & puffins than you can count, tide bridge beach, and of course Acadia National Park. It’s one of my favorite spots in New England.

Recommended Restaurants & Bars: The Terrace Grille, Geddy’s, Stewman’s Lobster Pound, La Bella Vita, The Loft Raw Bar & Seafood Lounge, Testa’s Bar & Grill, Galyn’s, Paddy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant

Burlington, Vermont

Burlington’s a progressive hippie artist & college town on the shore of Lake Champlain next to the Green Mountains. It’s gorgeous. And fun! Ben & Jerry’s was founded there in 1978 in a renovated gas station. You can now visit there local ice cream shop downtown. The Church Street Marketplace is a 4 block pedestrian mall in the heart of the city and is home to shops, restaurants, bars, and hosts countless festivals and parades throughout the year.

Recommended Restaurants & Bars: Church Street Tavern, Hen of the Wood, American Flatbread, Honey Road, Farmhouse The Farmhouse Tap & Grill, Leunig’s Bistro, El Cortijo, Pascolo Ristorante