2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Park System. In honor of this momentous occasion, I decided it was the perfect time to explore the National Parks of the New England states, in the northeastern part of the country! Between August and October, I visited National Parks of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. In previous years, I had spent time in Maine’s only National Park. From the beauty of summertime flora and fauna to the vibrancy of autumn foliage, the National Parks natural surroundings provide a nice backdrop to its iconic buildings. Each of these National Park visits make for a great road trip for the day.

During late summer this year, I headed to New Hampshire for a visit to the state’s only National Park: the “Saint-Gaudens Site”. A couple of vegan dining options in the southern part of the state tempted me to stop by for a meal. I started with a vegan pancake breakfast at Heritage Farm Restaurant (Heritage Farm Restaurant )made with mixed berries in a buckwheat base and drizzled with maple syrup. My pancakes were fabulous.

A vegan ice cream shop is located adjacent to the pancake cafe. Rock Salt Creamery (Rock Salt Creamery) offers vegan ice cream bars and pints of hard ice cream in a variety of flavors. I opted for a strawberry ice cream bar dipped in chocolate. It was really good.

I arrived at the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in mid-morning. The National Park maintains the Saint-Gaudens residence, along with the garden and sculptor’s studio. Located in the town of Cornish on the state’s western border, the home was August Saint-Gauden’s summer residence during the 1880s and then his family’s main home from 1900 until 1907, as well as being the center of the Cornish Art Colony. Hiking trails traverse the property.

Saint-Gauden’s Standing Lincoln bronze sculpture was created in 1887 for Chicago’s Lincoln Park. The Shaw Memorial sculpture was completed by Saint-Gaudens in 1897 in honor of Civil War General Robert Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This Memorial was erected on the Boston Common park in Boston, Massachusetts. Reproductions of Standing Lincoln and the Shaw Memorial are located on the grounds of the Saint-Gaudens estate.

Original work and reproductions are exhibited in his studio.

A colorful variety of flowers and plants are tenderly manicured in the estate gardens. After a lovely afternoon touring the property, I drove further south to grab a bite to eat, before heading home.

Raw Life Cafe (Raw Life Cafe and Juice Bar) in Tilton, New Hampshire is completely vegan. Their menu offers fresh juices, salads, paninis, and prepared foods. For my mid-day meal, I opted for the day’s Special Island Burger made with a sweet potato burger, with avocado crema sauce, cilantro, red onion, grilled pineapple, and vegenaise on an onion bagel. It was really tasty.

Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley Corridor is the state’s only National Park. The valley consists of several towns and historic properties that commemorate the start of the American Industrial Revolution. Slater Mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island is one of the landmarks which is part of the National Park system. Prior to my visit, I stopped by Garden Grille (Garden Grille) for lunch. This vegetarian/vegan-friendly restaurant offer many comfort food meals on their eclectic menu.

For my lunch, I opted for the roasted butternut squash quesadilla with black beans, roasted butternut squash, vegan cheese, and avocado in a whole wheat tortilla, with a side of salsa. The meal was great.

Of course, I just had to go next door to WildFlour Bakery(Wildflour Bakery) for dessert! I selected the seasonal pumpkin whoopie pie. It was superb!

The Wilkinson Mill was the first stop on my day’s agenda. David Wilkinson was a successful blacksmith who was approached by Samuel Slater to built machinery for Slater’s new cotton mill during the 1790s.

Slater Mill Historic Site is a textile mil complex located in the town of Pawtucket. The original part of the cotton mill was built in 1793, giving Pawtucket the title of the “Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution”. Cotton spinning work was performed here until 1895. A water wheel powered the mill. It was the first water-powered cotton mill in the United States utilizing the Arkwright method of cotton spinning.

Samuel Slater and his brother John created Slatersville Mill Village in North Smithfield, Rhode Island in 1807. Mill worker homes surround the town green with a Congregational church located in its center, as a place of worship for the mil employees. Mr. Slater’s residence is further down the road; as is the Slatersville Mill with its company store and worker apartments, the largest industrial mill of its time period. This was the first village in the United States that was built for the purpose of producing cotton. It set the standard for industrial villages in the region for the nineteenth century.

Dinner time had arrived so I decided to dine at Rasoi Indian Restaurant(Rasoi Restaurant) in Pawtucket. Their menu gives many options for vegans. They also offer a vegan brunch buffet on weekends. I chose the vegetable mango curry from their vegan menu. My meal was delicious.

Massachusetts offers many destinations that are part of the United States National Park System. I visited several of these destinations recently.

The home of John F Kennedy, our nation’s 35th President, is located in the city of Brookline, Massachusetts. The President was born here. Several Kennedy furnishings and belongings reside in the home, while most furniture is of the time span reflected. A short film in the lobby informs visitors that the Kennedys took great strides to raise mental disability awareness and implemented a foundation to provide resources for families affected by a child with intellectual disabilities.

The kitchen is furnished with mid-20th century stove and sink, while Rose Kennedy’s voice echos from the audio recording of her later years reflections on life in the home.

A brand new vegan pizzeria opened in the Boston area earlier this year. I paid a visit to Veggie Crust (Veggie Crust ) located in Somerville. I dined on the Cauliflower Manchurian consisting of spiced cauliflower, ginger, garlic, fresh basil, and manchurian sauce. The all-vegan pizza shop offers a diverse menu of unique and tasty pizza toppings. I loved my selection!

I headed next to Minuteman National Park which spans the towns of Lexington, Lincoln, and Concord. On the infamous “Battle Road” in Concord, is the site where Paul Revere was captured by the British, as he rode to tell the locals that the “Regulars” (British) were coming.

Hartwell Tavern, located on the main road ,”Bay Road” from Boston to New York, was the route that the British took to invade the region on April 19, 1775. According to legend, Samuel Prescott, who rode with Revere, escaped from Revere’s captors and landed at the Tavern. He warned the Hartwells, who then sent word to the Concord Minuteman, in time to prepare them for the British troops arrival. On the property, a guide does a demonstration of how the Minuteman prepared for battle and aimed for their target. Once inside the tavern, another guide in period costume answers questions about the tavern and its living quarters.

The tavern and the living quarters for overnight guests are furnished with basic period pieces.

Further down Battle Road, lies the Wayside. Home of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, and Harriet Lothrop; the Wayside can boast of a long line of notable authors as its residents. Originally built in 1717, Concord Minuteman Samuel Whitney was living in the home when British troops passed by, during the battle of Lexington and Concord. Bronson Alcott and his family moved into the home in 1845 and referred to it as “Hillside”. While living in this home, Louisa May Alcott and her sisters experienced many of the scenes she wrote of in her book “Little Women”.

The girls rehearsed their “Pilgrim’s Pride” plays in front of the stairwell.

Author Nathaniel Hawthorne purchased the home in 1852. He renamed the home as “Wayside”. Hawthorne would read stories to his children in the library each night.

A tower was eventually added to the home. Mr. Hawthorne enjoyed his alone time and would do his writing in this secluded spot.

Boston publisher Daniel Lothrop purchased the home in 1883. His wife Harriett was the author of the Five Little Peppers and other children’s books. They added town water in 1883, central heating in 1888, electric lighting in 1904, and a spacious piazza in 1887.

A twenty minute drive brought me to the city of Watertown for lunch. Wild Rice Cafe (Wild Rice Cafe) is a casual and budget-friendly vegan restaurant that offers appetizers, globally-inspired lunch entrees, breakfast items, and weekend brunches. I enjoyed their magnificent brunch offerings including rice pudding, pancakes, chocolate bars, lentil soup, samosas, mash potatoes, seitan and gravy, and various salads.

NOTE- Wild Rice Cafe has permanently closed as of June 2017.

Maine is home to one park in the US National Park system. Acadia National Park offers 47,000 acres of scenic beauty on Mount Desert Island, near the town of Bar Harbor. Heading up north from Massachusetts, I found a couple of vegan-friendly restaurants in the town of Damariscotta, Maine. Savory Maine Dining & Provisions (Savory Maine Dining & Provisions) is a vegan-friendly casual and bright restaurant that serves up local and organic fare. For my lunch, I dined on a tempeh rueben sandwich with sauerkraut, a carrot and cranberry salad, and a veggie bean soup. My dessert was a blueberry crumble. The entire meal with sweet treat was really delicious.

Forests, beaches, and Mount Cadillac(the highest peak on the East Coast) provide the traveler with a stunning landscape to explore Acadia by foot on the many hiking trails. Campsites in the park allow visitors to spend ample time appreciating the beauty of the region. Moose, bear, and seabirds flourish within the park. Bar Harbor with its many restaurants and shops entices tourists to pay a visit before or after an excursion to Acadia. I did not have time in my schedule to visit Acadia this year. However, I did visit a few years ago and cherish the memories that my photos bring.

I recently found another great vegan-friendly restaurant in Damariscotta, Maine. Salt Bay Cafe (Salt Bay Cafe) provides clearly marked vegetarian and vegan items on their menu. My starter selection was the vegetable soup. For my dinner entree, I selected the papas bravas consisting of potatoes sauteed in olive oil, garlic, onion, baby spinach, oregano, scallions, mushrooms, olives, and chunky tomato basil, and served with eggplant fries. I was satisfied with the flavorful choices.

When the autumn season arrived and the air started to get crisp, I headed to the state of Vermont to explore its only National Park. First on my agenda was a stop to grab some lunch. Woodstock Farmers Market (Woodstock Farmers Market) is a popular fruit and veggie market with a sandwich counter and bakery. I ordered my sandwich by phone, in advance. I opted for The Garden of Eden sandwich consisting of lettuce, tomato, avocado, sweet apple slices, cucumber and onion, with Fox’s mustard on multi-grain bread. A side of vegan chili accompanied my meal. A local apple cider juice quenched my thirst. The meal was really good.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park is located in the town of Woodstock. The park protects the site where Frederick Billings created a sustainable forest management system. Balance is maintained among the ecology, economy, and social/cultural aspects of the woodlands. Frederick Billings, George Perkins Marsh, Mary Montagu Billings French, Laurance Rockefeller, and Mary French Rockefeller owned the property throughout the 19th and 20th century. Vermont attorney Charles Marsh built the main part of the residence in 1805. Frederick Billings purchased the estate in 1869, after amassing his wealth during the Gold Rush and as a founder and president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Billings granddaughter Mary and her husband Laurence Rockefeller(a conservationist and an advisor to US presidents) owned the home until 1992 when it was donated to “the people of the United States” and hence to the National Park System.

Guided tours of the home are available. I appreciated the tour of the George Marsh home, with its Queen Anne architecture. Landscape paintings within the home showcase the influence of the conservation movement.

More than 600 acres of conservation land encompasses the wooded landscape with its trails and pond. The leaves started to show their hues of autumn yellow and browns. I ended my visit by doing some light hiking on the lengthy trails into the deep forest, to experience the magnificent panoramic views.

After my invigorating hike, I strolled back toward the center of Woodstock, while admiring the orange and red foliage on the trees along my path. In the town center, I stopped at Gillingham’s General Store, in business since 1886. The old-time shop is a tourist’s dream. Local souvenirs and crafts, as well as local edible products are available for purchase. I bought a bottle of Vermont maple syrup and some maple candy.

Ankor Wat (Anchor Wat Restaurant)is a vegan-friendly Cambodian restaurant in the town of Woodstock. I enjoyed my really flavorful Khmer Curry Soup with tofu, diced veggies, leafy greens, and rice noodles in a spicy veggie broth.

The final National Park that I visited in the New England region, was located in Connecticut. First on the day’s agenda was a lunch break at the vegetarian/vegan-friendly Pure Alchemy Juice Bar (Pure Alchemy Juice Bar) in Wallingford. My lunchtime meal was the Buddha Bowl made with organic brown rice, spinach, carrots, red peppers, chick peas, green peas, fermented veggies, and drizzled with a curry dressing. It was really tasty!

I selected the pumpkin bar made with a pumpkin base , maple syrup, and a top layer of coconut. Wow! My dessert was absolutely delectable! A luscious pumpkin smoothie washed down my meal.

Weir Farm is Connecticut’s only property that is part of the U.S. National Park System. It is also the only national park that is dedicated to showcasing American paintings. The property in Wilton, Connecticut celebrates the life of American Impressionist painter J. Alden Weir and the other artists such as John Singer Sargent, who stayed for a while or lived there. The site hosts an artist-in-residence program. Visitors may take a guided tour of the Weir home. I appreciated my tour of the home where Impressionist artist J. Alden Weir resided. Weir purchased the 153 acre property in exchange for $10 and a painting.

Our tour group viewed the spacious living room, bedroom, the dining room furnished with European pieces, and the food pantry.

Weir’s original sculptures, reproductions, and painting supplies are on display in the two sculptor studios.

For the US Park System Centennial, Weir Farm displays painted buffalo statues across the property fields. A lovely “Secret Garden” is adjacent to the studios.

The fall foliage showed its spectacular colors of deep oranges, golden yellows, and vibrant reds, as I strolled along the trails and paths surrounding the farm.

After my visit to Weir Farm, it was time for dinner. I drove down to Naked Greens (Naked Greens restaurant), also located in Wilton. The vegan-friendly casual restaurant offers a soup station and a sandwich counter. I chose the vegan spinach and white bean soup and a veggie sandwich made with cherry tomatoes, kale, corn, mushrooms, and red onions, and tofu in a chimichurri sauce. I enjoyed my soup and sandwich.

My tour of the National Parks across New England had completed. I truly enjoyed visiting the National Parks of the northeastern United States, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Park System. I also dined at some amazing vegan-friendly restaurants across New England, during my excursions.

Passport books are available for purchase at the national park gift shops. When guests visit a national park, they may request for that park’s page to be stamped in the Passport booklet.

The U.S. National Parks are open until the end of October. I highly recommend a visit to any of the wonderful national parks in New England, with a meal stop at the vegan-friendly restaurants along the route.

Happy 100th Anniversary to the U.S. National Park System!