Little Louis’ does not look like a restaurant that is about to seduce my tastebuds. Set into a cluster of retail units on the west side of the small New Brunswick city of Moncton, it resembles, at first glance, more a place where I might take my dry cleaning rather than eat well. But I have been advised to try it – and the suggestion proves well founded. The blue pearl oysters are local heroes newly plucked from the ocean; the scallops in green curry are just as fresh. Both are recommended by a waitress whose accent flits between Anglo-Saxon and Gallic; the Canadian compromise. When I set down my dessert spoon, I am happy and full. And I wonder, not for the last time, what John Steinbeck would have made of it. It is not as odd a thought as it sounds. In the autumn of 1960, America’s great chronicler of the Depression era embarked on a meandering road trip around his own country. The resultant book, Travels With Charley (Charley being his poodle), found him relishing … [Read more...] about The unsung autumn alternative to New England
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The UK destinations that rival New England in autumn
For an event so firmly fixed in the mind’s eye – staunch oak sentinels, swaying sycamores and a chorus line of other arboreal wonders opening up their annual paintbox in a giddy array of browns, pinks, oranges, auburns, yellows, ochres and olives – the exact arrival of the UK autumn can be tricky to define. Does it slip into the house – as so often seems to be the case – just as the last barbecue smoke is clearing over the embers of the August bank holiday, bringing with it chillier nights and the back-to-school signifier of shorter evenings? Does it hide on those gloriously bright days when September is still flirting with summer? Is it at its finest when October has found its groove in crisp afternoons, when twigs and acorns crack underfoot? Does it linger into November, even as Christmas lurks outside the door? In truth, the British autumn is all these things – prompt in its visibility in the upper reaches of Scotland … [Read more...] about The UK destinations that rival New England in autumn
21 of the cosiest New England hotels for leaf peeping
Come autumn, New England is a riot of red, orange and yellow hues as the abundance of trees across these East Coast states change colours and their leaves blanket the ground. Naturally, this makes for a wonderful time to explore the great outdoors here, and so popular is this annual pilgrimage to see the autumn foliage, that it has it's very own verb – to leaf peep. We've rounded up the very best hotels in New England (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont) for leaf peepers who can't get enough of the autumn colours, from cosy inns set on sprawling tree-filled estates to a cabin in the forest with its own fireplace. The season typically starts in the northern states in late September, before following like a domino effect in late October as you go further south. Massachusetts Blantyre, Lenox A winding white gravel driveway passes by trees fully grown into mighty giants – some of the fallen are carved into birds of prey or … [Read more...] about 21 of the cosiest New England hotels for leaf peeping
Amtrak revives famous viewing carriages – just in time for the New England autumn
Anyone who has more than a passing interest in the USA as a destination will already be aware of the joys of autumn in New England. The "Fall" - to use the American term - is a paintbox extravaganza which daubs the region's trees in many shades of red, gold, orange, brown and pink between the beginning of September and the end of October. Depending on where you are (and the six states of the area - Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine - offer a fair amount of scope) and when, you can expect a seasonal trip that sparks a thousand photographs. So it should be no surprise that America's main rail operator Amtrak is putting an antique "Great Dome" car back into action in time for the coming autumn in New England. This stately carriage, which was built in 1955, and is the only contraption of its type still in the company's service, has a transparent roof which allows passengers a widescreen view of their surroundings. It will spend six weeks … [Read more...] about Amtrak revives famous viewing carriages – just in time for the New England autumn
Future of Millfield and New England ‘brighter than it’s been for years’
0 Have your say Traffic, littering and overcrowding are some of the issues frequently associated with Millfield and New England. And despite improvements over the last decade much more is needed to be done according to Brian Gascoyne, outgoing chair of the Millfield and New England Regeneration Partnership (MANERP).In a forceful interview ahead of his final meeting as chair tonight, Mr Gascoyne takes aim at the politicians and organisations who he believes have not done enough to tackle problems in the area.He also addressed the topic of traffic which he said is particularly an issue in Lincoln Road. This is not helped by the fact that bus company Stagecoach has a station in Lincoln Road. He said: “There is massive congestion in the Millfield area, particularly in the evenings. “I would like to see part of Lincoln Road pedestrianised from Windmill Street to Oxford Road, and I would like to see the bus station made into a car park to take some of the … [Read more...] about Future of Millfield and New England ‘brighter than it’s been for years’