The New York herald., 1921-08-14
New England the Mecca for
Motor Tourists
BY LEON A. DICKINSON,
, Touring Bureau, American Automobile Association.


The local region for automobile tour
ing is one which will enable the motorist
TO visit rugged mountains and fertile
plains. ocean beaches and inland lakes,
all within the relatively narrow limits
OF one or two weeks. The only region
which complies satisfactorily with all
these rigid requirements is New Eng
land.
Consider for moment what New Eng
Fnd has to offer for the tourists de-
lectation. Just to enumerate a few of
her natural treasures there are: for
mountains. the Berkshires. the Green
Mountains and the White Mountains !;
for lakes, Sunapee, Winnipesaukee
Rangeley. Moosehead, Belgrade and Lake
Champlafn: for river valleys, the Con-
| necticut, Naugatuck, Merrimac. Andros-
coggfn and Kennebec and finally, as a
grand and glorious climax, more than
1000 miles of the finest and most fas-
| cinat1ng sea coast scenery to be found
! anywhere In the whole United States.
NO wonder New England Is proud Of
her scencry-has she not just cause to
be? Nor Is scenery all that she can
boast of. Historically she has no peer.
/ Tor the early history OF New England Is
substantially that Of the nation. What
schoolboy does not know the story Of
Piymouth Rock or the Boston Tea
4 Party. Paul Revere's Ride, Lexington
and Concord, Faneuil Hall, King Philip s
War. Bunker HILL the Charter Oak and
Roger Williams These are but few Of
the historic shrines which dot New Eng
land from one end to the other, endear-
ing her for evermore to those OF us who
love our country and are proud OF the
achievements of our forefathers who
created her.
1t Is no part Of the purpose of this
article to go into details concerning the
various possible tours which may be
taken throughout this wonderful region
These details are available for the ask
Ing at such fountain heads of informa-
tion as the Touring Bureau of the Amer
ican Automobile Association, at sol
Fsf,sf avenue. and other recognized au-
.Sorraes in such matters. Nevertheless
- general outline of some of the best
automobile routes will not be amiss
since 1t will serve the desirable purpose
OF stimulating interest in region which
will repay the motorist many times over
IN the form Of pleasant surprises and
still pleasanter memories.
There are several well recognized
trunk routes in New England which, II
followed wholly or in part are certain
to afford full measure Of satisfaction.
not only as regards the primary req
uisite of roads and hotels, but also with
respect to scenic and historic points of
attraction. One Of these Is the Shore
road to Boston, with It's extension
through Portsmouth and Portland and
along the general line Of the Maine coast
to Bangor and Bar Harbor. This Is
very popular route with motorists be-
cause of its almost universally excellent
road surface, as we'll as the wealth or
first class hotels which are to be found
at very frequent intervals. 1t Is not per-
haps advisable to use this route through
out its entire length, owing to certain
similarity OF scenery. which is true for
nearly all coast lines. Nevertheless. one
or more sections of II should be included
in every tour which Is taken In New
England. such, for instance. as the
stretch between Boston and Portland.
Here, In a relatively few miles. are
crowded some of the most charming bits
OF shore scenery to be found anywhere
along the Atlantic coast Salem. with
its witchcraft Legends; Gloucester, the
quaintest Of quaint fishing ports Lynn,
the premier shoe city of the country and
the home OF the enormous plant Of the
General Electric Works; Portsmouth,
with It's naval station, and the beautiful
beaches of Revere, Rye and York are but
a few of the many interesting places
which abound along this popular high
Way.
Another section Of the trip along the
Massachusetts coast Is that which In
cludes circuit of Cape Cod. There Is
no other place quite like Cape COD 1t is
an entity to itself, and its almost COM
"a. ab. Of IN, makes
one feel at home from the very start
The old Cape Cod of song and story.
with its tales of hardy fishermen and
seafaring men who wandered endlessly
over the Seven Seas, has gradually
passed iuep oblivion The chief business
Of CaDp Cod to-day is raising cranber-
ries Ard entertaining summer visitors.
and H has achieved success in both OF
these activities. The roads on Cape Cod
are a never ending delight to the motor
ist, and a wise and far-seeing highway
department takes good care that this
enviable reputation which Cape Cod en-
joys shall not be jeopardized.
The best way to reach Cape Cod from
New York Is to follow the Shore road
through New Haven and New London
as far as Narragansett Pier and Saun-
derstown. Here there Is a ferry which
takes one across one section OF Narra-
gnnsett Bay to jamestown Island and
thence across the rest of the bay to
Newport. This summer home of the
ultra-fashionable contains many points
OF historic interest as well as the So
called cottages" OF its millionaire in
habitants. The old stone mill. supposed
by some to have been erected by the
Norsernen: the old State House, which
was built in 1899; the Perry house.
home of Commodore oliver II. Perry
following the battle of Lake Erie; the
Redwood Library, which Is believed to
be the oldest library In the United
States. and Trinity Church, dating back
to 1926, are only a few Of the historic
: shrines for which Newport is famous.
After Newport come Fall River and
New Bedford. two of Massachusetts,
most prosperous manufacturing cities,
and then, few miles farther on. Cape
Cod itself The route which is usually
followed Is that along the south shore
OF the Cape through Falmouth and
Chatham to Orleans and then back
along the north shore to the home OF
the Pilgrim Fathers, Plymouth. Who
ever motors this way should plan to
stop for several hours at least In
Plymouth. In addition TO the famous
Plymouth Rock there Is Pilgrim Hall.
which contains many interesting relics,
memorials. antiques and works OF art
associated with early Plymouth history. |
Here also Is the old graveyard contain |
ing the grave of Gov. William Brad |