For three years now, I’ve been sharing our travels around New England and beyond. It’s been a joy to feature so many amazing places along the way and I love to do a little recap every year of what our favorites are from the past year. Looking back, we featured 16 destinations in 2022. There were so many that were lovely, but here are my Top 7 Personal Favorite Travel Destinations from 2022.

#1 Nantucket

This will forever be my #1. We’ve been coming to this little island every summer since we moved here 6 years ago. It’s become part of our story. A special place for us to slip away to that is easy travel from Connecticut. We always have this on our calendar for summer and I can’t wait to share more of Nantucket with you this year. We have a cottage we’ve been booking, but I have stayed at several hotels there too. You really can’t go wrong, but I’ll share a couple of hotel favorites and our favorite dinner spots.

STAY: The Nantucket Hotel, The White Elephant

DO: See the roses in Sconset, bike ride across the island, have a sunset sail on Endeavor, visit all 3 lighthouses, and shop—the shopping scene is so wonderful here!

DINE: Galley Beach & The Chanticleer

#2 Palm Beach

I loved my first visit to Palm Beach last year. It’s definitely on the return list. Something about a winter or an early spring getaway here just gives you that kissed by the sun wonderful time you crave after all the cold. Florida is definitely on my mind now, because it’s an easy flight from New England and a quick way to transport yourself to somewhere with palm trees and pretty ocean views. I am not even close to being an expert on Palm Beach, but here are the places I stayed, visited, and loved! I stayed at the EAU Palm Beach and it’s a great place for a girls trip with an on-site spa, two pools, beach front cabanas, several restaurants, outdoor dining, and its own beach front which is rarity for hotels in Palm Beach. This would make a great family trip too , since everything is right on-site and so well done.

STAY: EAU Palm Beach, The Colony Hotel

DO: Shop at The Royal Poinciana Plaza & along Worth Avenue, catch a polo match & brunch at The International Polo Club Palm Beach, grab a sip at The Breakers, go thrifting at The Church Mouse

DINE: Sant Ambroeus, Swifty’s for lunch, Breeze Ocean Kitchen, Polpo Palm Beach

#3 Newport

Newport is Topher’s favorite along with Nantucket, and we started a tradition of booking our anniversary trip here. It’s idyllic New England and has so much to offer. I prefer to go when it’s the end or summer or September when there are less crowds. It’s another favorite that we keep returning to year after year, and now, anniversary after anniversary. Last year, we started the anniversary tradition of staying at Castle Hill Inn.

STAY: Castle Hill Inn, The Chanler, The Vanderbilt

DO: Charter a private sail or spend a day aboard a Hinckley with Barton & Gray, shop along the wharves and Bellevue Avenue, tour the Newport Mansions, walk along the Cliff Walk, grab drinks on the lawn at Castle Hill

DINE: Castle Hill Inn, The Vanderbilt, White Horse Tavern, 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar, The Clark Cooke House, Pasta Beach

#4 Beacon Hill in Boston

I love the Beacon Hill neighborhood in Boston. It’s one of Boston’s oldest neighborhoods and all the brick homes and cobblestone streets are just lovely. There are so many great shops, restaurants, and it’s extremely walkable. Spring is my favorite time to visit and the Boston Public Garden is a must to stroll and if you fancy, a leisurely ride on the pond aboard one of the historic swan boats. There is so much to take in and do in the city and each neighborhood is a little different. I like to pick new things every time I visit. I stayed at The Whitney Hotel in Beacon Hill last year and it offers a wonderful location right on Charles Street with luxury amenities.

STAY: The Whitney Hotel, The Liberty

DO: Stroll Boston Public Garden, shop along Charles Street, walk around the neighborhood and take in all the beautiful homes and landscaping, bike along the river, visit The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

DINE: Tatte Bakery for breakfast or lunch, Ma Maison, No. 9 Park

#5 Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Boothbay Harbor, Maine made the top list because I love the salty coastal vibes of Maine. Lighthouses, rocky coastlines, little port towns with maritime history—I adore it all. Also, when it comes to family trips and two teenage boys, these nostalgic New England resorts are just the ticket. For some reason, it just makes you feel like a kid again, which we all need a bit more of these days. We stayed at Spruce Point Inn with the family and dogs last year and everyone had a blast.

STAY: Spruce Point Inn

DO: Sail on a wooden lobster boat with Sail Muscongus, boat over to Burnt Island Light with a picnic and tour the grounds, head into town to shop and grab some ice cream.

DINE: Whiteclover, Ports of Italy

#6 Rockport, Massachusetts

Keeping those salty, good vibes going, I adore a visit to Rockport. It’s a bit more rugged, artsy, and kinda like being on a movie set, which makes sense because so many movies have been filmed here! The North Shore just has its own kind of personality. Last year, I returned here once again and took in more things to do. It really has got something! I stayed at the Addison Choate Boutique Hotel again because I love the owners, how cozy and well-appointed the rooms are, and the location is great for walking into town.

STAY: Addison Choate Boutique Hotel

DO: Visit Motif No. 1, walk and shop Bearskin Neck, visit the beaches, tour the Crane Estate and gardens, go antiquing along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, grab a scoop at The Ice Cream Store.

DINE: Roy Moore Lobster for lunch, Feather and Wedge, My Place By The Sea for dinner with a view

#7 Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport tends to delight me in every season. It’s such a pretty coastal town. Throughout the year, they have so many fun ways the celebrate each season. We’ve been here so many times and last year we visited during Christmastime. It was so jolly and full of holiday cheer. We stayed at The Kennebunkport Inn (loved it!) and they are right in Dock Square which is a perfect spot for Christmas Prelude.

STAY: The Kennebunkport Inn, Cape Arundel Inn, The Langsford, The White Barn Inn

DO: Sail aboard the Schooner Eleanor, shop Dock Square, bike or walk Ocean Avenue, have a beach day at Goose Rocks Beach

DINE: Earth at Hidden Pond, The Boathouse, Ocean Restaurant, The White Barn Inn, Tides Beach Club

Those were our favorites from the past year. As we are getting our travel features and vacations set for 2023, a couple of these are booked again (our vacation spots like Nantucket and Newport), but we have some new places we are exploring this year too, which is always exciting to share here. Here’s to another great travel year!