New England is well known to people across the United States and around the world as a beautiful and distinctly American region rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. For visitors and vacationers, the region presents four distinct seasonal personalities: lush summers to explore beaches or to bicycle along shady country lanes; brilliant autumns to drive lazily through mountains blanketed with gold-and-red fall foliage; crystal-sharp winters to ski perfect mountain slopes or poke through antique shops lining a peaceful village green; and verdant spring – the time to explore the museums and shopping of the cities or to get a head start on some cool day hikes in the mountains and countryside [more]