New England has many wonderful photo spots. Check out all the most beautiful Instagram-worthy destinations in New England.
Cadillac Mountain, Maine
There’s much beauty to be found in New England, but few views are as stunning as the one from Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.
The best time to visit is during sunrise when the early dawn lights up the granite mountain in beautiful shades of pinks and purples. As the sun begins to rise above the Atlantic, small, bubble-like islands begin to come into view, and the sky lights up in a colorful display. The pictures are breathtaking, and worth the early wake-up call.
Getting to Cadillac Mountain isn’t hard, but you’ll need a reservation, patience, and plenty of warm layers. Watching the sunrise from this spot is very popular, with crowds forming up to a few hours before the sun actually rises. Parking is limited, hence the permit to drive up to the mountain.
Mornings are often very chilly on the summit, so dress in layers and pack an extra blanket or two. You won’t really be able to avoid the crowds, but if you stick around after sunrise for an hour or so you’ll see the crowds dissipate, and the lighting gets even softer and better for photos. This is when you want to be on the mountain. Walk around, stretch your legs, and capture a different view – you can’t go wrong just pointing your camera, it really is that pretty.
Recommended by: Ale at Sea Salt and Fog
Portland Headlight
As the oldest lighthouse in Maine, Portland Headlight is located in Cape Elizabeth and sits high atop a hill with dramatic views that stretch into Casco Bay. Though this lighthouse is only five miles from Portland, it feels far removed nestled in the 90 acres of Fort Williams Park.
To photograph the Portland Headlight, you can climb over a few rocks along the coastline to capture its beauty. There is also a short, dirt trail to photograph the lighthouse from a different angle. Although you can’t take a bad picture at this iconic hotspot, suggested times to photograph here are at sunrise or sunset so you can capture the lighthouse in the best lighting.
Admission to the park and photographing the lighthouse is free, although you can choose to pay for premium parking in the summer months. There is a museum and gift shop located inside the lighthouse but is only open from May to October, with an adult admission fee of $2.
In addition to getting your Instagram photo, you can hang out at the park all day–have a picnic, fly a kite, or take a hike. Dogs are allowed into the park with a leash. Keep in mind that the park has a take-in take-out policy as there are no trash cans available.
The address for Portland Headlight is 1000 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107.
To get there from 295 in Portland, take Route 77 south to South Portland. Go left on Broadway, then right on Cottage Road. Cottage Road becomes Shore Road at the Cape Elizabeth town line.
Approaching from the south, take Route 1 north to Oak Hill in Scarborough. Go right on Route 207, then left on Route 77 north to Cape Elizabeth. Turn right at the blinker onto Shore Road.
Recommended by: Pafoua at Her Wanderful World
Portland, Maine
When you think about Portland, Maine, it’s likely you immediately think about the Portland Head Light—the most photographed lighthouse in the United States and one of the most popular photo spots in New England!
However, Portland is filled with other great photo opportunities—and one of the best is the Eastern Promenade. The Eastern Promenade was designed by the same landscaping firm that designed the Boston Common and Central Park in New York City, so naturally, it’s beautiful!
To get to the Eastern Promenade, you’ll need to walk to Portland’s East End, situated against Casco Bay. The Eastern Promenade is about a 1.5-mile walk from Downtown Portland, where many restaurants, shops, and hotels are located.
Walking the two-mile Eastern Promenade Trail is one of the best things to do in Portland, ME. The trail offers beautiful harborside views of Casco Bay and Portland Harbor. I highly recommend visiting at golden hour, just before sunset, to capture the sun’s rays sparkling on the water. When we were there, the bay was filled with dozens of sailboats, too!
The Eastern Promenade is genuinely one of the most peaceful, scenic spots in the city, filled with natural beauty. You won’t have to look for very long before you find the perfect photo opportunity at this picturesque destination.
Recommended by: Brittany at Travel by Brit
Bolton, Vermont
One of the best Instagram spots in New England is Bolton Ski Resort- located in Bolton, Vermont. Bolton is a very small ski resort nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of Vermont. From the top of the mountain, you get an incredibly gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains.
To get to the top to snap a photo, you can either take the lift or hike to the top! Taking the lift in winter will require a day pass for the mountain, but in the fall it is either a quick hike to the top or a $20 lift ride.
In the wintertime, the view from the top of Bolton is a snowy winter wonderland. The surrounding pines look festive and beautiful coated in white, powdery snow. Even the chair lift is very picturesque! However, the fun doesn’t stop there.
In addition to beautiful winter views, Bolton Ski Resort in Vermont is also one of the best places in the state to truly capture the fall foliage in all of its glory.
In the fall, you are able to either hike up to the top of Bolton mountain or ride the chair lift to take in the beautiful views of the fall foliage.
There are multiple locations on the top of Bolton where you can snap a great photo! The best two are either right on top of the highest chair lift, or from the Eastern edge of the mountainside where you get a beautiful view of rolling hills.
Recommended by: Haley at Gathering Waves
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a quaint seaside town located on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island. It’s a photographer’s dream small town in New England.
The majority of people drive to Newport from somewhere on the east coast. If you’re visiting from further away, you can fly into Providence, Rhode Island, only 45 minutes away.
Newport has mouthwatering seafood, historic homes, and picturesque places all around town. One of the best things to do in Newport is to see the history of the area on the Cliff Walk. Walk 3.5 miles past the Breakers, one of the Newport mansions, around sea cliffs, and past a few beaches. Newport mansions are renowned for their architecture and history. Some of the mansions were constructed in the early 19th century. You can see a few of the mansions from the Cliff Walk. On the other side of the walk, you can enjoy wonderful seaside views over the cliffs!
The Cliff Walk is open to the public and free to visit. Drones are allowed on the seaside of the walk, but not close to the mansions. We were able to get some nice aerial views with our drone.
Recommended by: Pamela at The Directionally Challenged Traveler
Boston, Massachusetts
Tucked in the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, just steps away from the Boston Common is a prime Instagram spot for the ultimate New England photo opportunity. In the quiet, colonial streets lined with shutters and window boxes worth gaping at, you’ll find Acorn Street.
Acorn Street is the perfect example of Beacon Hill’s quaint aesthetic, and it is so picturesque that tourists and locals alike flock to this tiny avenue for baby photos, engagement shoots, and travel selfies. The cobblestone street, brick homes, slight incline, and shady trees make this tiny residential street a quiet oasis of Boston style.
Acorn Street is open for anyone to walk through, but keep in mind that it is lined by real people’s homes who appreciate respect for noise levels. The only cars which drive on the bumpy cobblestoned Acorn Street belong to residents, so it’s easy to safely strike a pose in the middle of the street.
It is convenient and easy to reach Acorn Street from almost anywhere in Boston or even New England. The cheapest bus from New York City to Boston can cost as low as $12 if you’re aiming for an Insta-worthy day trip. Once in Boston, head to Beacon Hill, the neighborhood between downtown and the Charles River. Acorn Street is located just a block east of Charles Street, home to some of Beacon Hill’s best boutiques and restaurants.
Recommended by: Mary at Bucket List Places
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
One of the best Instagram spots in New England is in Massachusetts on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. You can take a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard and head to the town of Oak Bluffs where you’ll find over 300 Gingerbread Cottages. It’s a National Historic Landmark and the cottages are spread over 34 acres.
What once started as a meeting place for Methodist followers where they would stay in tents, eventually became more elaborate homes that still stayed in the footprint of original tent plots. About 30 of the cottages are lived in year-round; the rest are seasonal. Each cottage is unique with different colors and themes.
Because there are so many cottages and they are spread out over a large area, you most likely won’t have to wait to take photos. Keep in mind, though, that these are people’s homes so you can’t walk onto their property.
The best way to get to Martha’s Vineyard is by ferry. Once you’re on the island, take advantage of their public transportation. A day pass with Martha’s Vineyard public transportation is only $10 a person. The buses are very clean and arrive quickly.
Recommended by: Vicky at Buddy the Traveling Monkey
Cary Hill Sculpture Park, New York
Nestled in the hills of Upstate New York is the Cary Hill, Sculpture Park. The park is part of the Salem Art Works, a non-profit artists complex. The former farm is dotted with homes of artists-in-residence as well as their workshops. The collective has a school that offers various art workshops for kids and adults, an annual art festival, and other events.
For those that want a socially distanced chance to see art, they can walk around the campus to see what the artists are working on, check out the residences around the pond, and get up and personal with massive pieces of art. Keep an eye out for pet chickens that are almost as big as dogs!
The sculpture park is a short drive behind the pond and up the hill to the lookout point. Along the slow drive up the path are neon-colored statues, metal sculptures bent into crazy shapes, and the surrounding woods serve as a backdrop. Once at the top of the hill, a fantastic view of the rural New York landscape is the perfect place to take pictures.
The park is open sun up to sundown and visitors are welcome to take photos and even chat with the artists.
Recommended by: Bernadette at Explorer Chick
The Oculus, New York
The Oculus is a beautiful white steel building that serves as a transportation hub and shopping mall. One of the unique features of the building is the wing-shaped tips that point toward the sky. It is considered the state-of-the-art centerpiece in lower Manhattan. It was built at the same time as the One World Trade Center near the 9/11 Memorial.
The building was designed to bring business back to the area after September 11th but also to show the city’s resilience and strength. Because it is centrally located it is easy to combine a visit to the Oculus with the other things to do in New York City like the nearby 9/11 Memorial and Museum, One World Trade Center, and One World Observatory.
There are great places to take pictures both outside the Oculus and in the 350,000 square-foot shopping area. The top floor will get you above the crowds and the interior roof that looks like a spine makes a great background. To get here, enter the Oculus and take a picture from the stairway platform.
Recommended by: Candice at CS Ginger
DUMBO, New York
The DUMBO name stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It is one of the most scenic places in New York City. DUMBO is a great place to visit, especially if you are visiting New York City with kids. There are so many great places to take pictures as well as fun things to do.
The most famous DUMBO photography spot is at the intersection of Washington Street and Water Street. This location will give you a perfect shot of New York City-style buildings along with the bridge in the background. This is a very popular place to take pictures so be patient or try to visit during the weak or early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Another great place to take pictures and has beautiful views of New York City is Fulton Ferry Landing. This pier looks over the East River at the Manhattan skyline. It is beautiful at night, but the best pictures are taken during the day. You can find Fulton Ferry Landing at the base of Old Fulton Street.
The outdoor park at St Ann’s is another great place to take pictures with brick walls as well as trees and greenery. No matter the weather or time of year, this is a great place to take pictures. The address is 45 Water Street.
Recommended by: Candice at CS Ginger
Thank you for reading!
If you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to comment down below! Or you can email us!
No Comments