| Today Norm Goldman, Editor of and is pleased to | | | | where I found myself blushing as the owner showed |
| have as a guest, Bethany Ericson author of New | | | | me its features: the ambient heating of the floor, the |
| England Cabins & Cottages. Bethany is an expert on | | | | shower for two, the hot tub next to the bed, the |
| the New England States.Welcome to and Bethany | | | | stereo speakers built into the exposed beams, the |
| and thanks for accepting our invitation to be | | | | stained glass window you can only see from a prone |
| interviewed.NORM:Please tell our readers something | | | | position and the whole thing, the music, the lighting, and |
| about yourself and your expertise pertaining to the | | | | the gas fireplace is operatable from bed with a remote |
| New England States.Bethany:My pleasure, Norm. | | | | control.* Sebasco Harbor Resort in Maine is a |
| Thanks for the invitation. I grew up in New England, | | | | wonderful spot for a wedding, with all of its activities |
| with family about the region, so I had travelled quite a | | | | and the giant field stone fireplaces and sea views in |
| bit of the area from early on. I lived near Thoreau's | | | | big natural wood cottages that could hold extended |
| Walden Pond cabin, summered in a cabin in the Lakes | | | | family.* Sterling Ridge Inn and Cabins in Vermont would |
| Region of New Hampshire, and have always been | | | | also be a fun wedding spot; the log cabins are |
| fond of exploring the rivers, ocean, mountains and | | | | beautiful, and in such a wonderful pastoral setting on |
| woods in every season. However, while writing New | | | | the edge of the woods and a view of the Green |
| England Cabins & Cottages I was constantly surprised | | | | Mountains.* The Summer House Inns & Cottages off |
| and amazed by the beauty of the area I thought I | | | | of Massachusetts would be a fancy, but |
| knew so well, and I fell in love with it all over | | | | ever-memorable island event or escape (think |
| again.NORM:Where are the New England | | | | rose-covered seaside cottages), the Turning Point Inn |
| states?Bethany:New England is made up of the six | | | | in the Berkshires adds delicious food to the mix, and oh |
| most northeastern states in the United States: Maine, | | | | -* The Inn at Sunrise Point on the coast of Maine has |
| Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, | | | | a cottage that literally sits right over the sea and is |
| Connecticut, and Rhode Island. It is bordered by | | | | filled with the sounds of the waves. And there are so |
| Canada, New York, and the Atlantic | | | | many more!NORM:What should people know about |
| Ocean.NORM:Why would you consider a stay in a | | | | celebrating a wedding in the New England states from |
| cabin or cottage in the New England states a good | | | | the point of view of requirements, etc?Bethany:Each |
| choice for a romantic getaway or honeymoon | | | | state has its own requirements, and it's best to get in |
| destination?Bethany:Well, the added privacy is obvious, | | | | touch with a city/town clerk in the state you're |
| but it's also easier to feel part of the natural area you | | | | considering getting married in. Typically you need to be |
| are in when you are in a cabin or cottage than when | | | | 18 or have a court order. And usually you need to |
| you're in some anonymous hotel room. When your | | | | apply for your license at least a month ahead of your |
| natural area could include crashing waves, blinking | | | | big day (and you'll need to have decided on your |
| lighthouses, mountain top vistas, or the astounding fall | | | | married name at that time). Some states require blood |
| foliage, this connection to your surroundings really adds | | | | tests; some have waiting periods, and more. In some |
| to the exuberance of your visit. Imagine you are in a | | | | states anyone can apply for a license allowing them to |
| characterless hotel somewhere and the forecast is for | | | | officiate a marriage on a particular date. I had my |
| pouring rain you may feel trapped or depressed. | | | | brother officiate my wedding in Massachusetts, for |
| Imagine you are in a cabin, and you feel like you have | | | | instance. Massachusetts is currently the only state that |
| a great excuse to stay under the blankets with your | | | | legally allows same sex marriage.NORM:How far in |
| significant other!When I married this summer, I rented | | | | advance should a couple prepare themselves for their |
| an old summer camp. My guests played in the lake, | | | | honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in the New |
| ate, danced in the main lodge, and stayed over in the | | | | England states?Bethany:New England is such a |
| cabins. Everyone had a deliriously childlike and cozy | | | | beautiful region, and places tend to fill up early, |
| experience. Cabins and cottages allow for that nice | | | | especially those on the coast in the summer and those |
| combination of carefree enthusiasm, | | | | in the mountains in the winter. If you want to be |
| us-against-the-elements adventuring spirit, and | | | | beachside (lake or ocean), in the short summer |
| romance somehow. (And it doesn't hurt that many of | | | | season, reserve your accommodations as close to the |
| them have fireplaces, wood stoves, or hot | | | | beginning of the calendar year as you can. Some |
| tubs.)NORM:When is the best time to visit the New | | | | families reserve the same cabin for the same week |
| England states from the point of view of weather, | | | | every year, and make their next year's reservation as |
| costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the | | | | they are checking out, so you have some serious |
| USA, Canada and Europe and Australia, | | | | competition. If you are looking for a romantic getaway |
| etc?Bethany:New England is extremely accessible its | | | | during the rest of the year, or more inland, give it a few |
| biggest airport is in Boston, Massachusetts, but there | | | | months if you can. If you are looking to book a |
| are also major airports in most of the states. Since the | | | | wedding site, you may need one to two years of |
| dollar is not at its best, it has made the US a less | | | | notice- especially if you're reserving a weekend |
| expensive trip for many visitors.My favorite season | | | | somewhere for a large party.NORM:What resources |
| here is fall and not just for the bright colors of the | | | | are available on the Internet pertaining to romantic |
| trees. There is that magical snap in the crisp air that | | | | getaways, weddings and honeymoon vacations in the |
| adds excitement to bundling up and lessens your | | | | New England states?Bethany:As the oldest colonized |
| inhibitions about feasting in a season of roasts and | | | | part of the country, New England is well developed, |
| apple pies. While the masses flock to Vermont, the | | | | and that includes tourism facilities and their websites. |
| Massachusetts Berkshire Hills, and the White Mountains | | | | There are endless websites about New England |
| of New Hampshire to "leaf peep" as we say, try | | | | getaways. If you were planning a wedding, I'd |
| heading to Maine. Fall is one of the least crowded and | | | | recommend visiting some of the sites with regional |
| most beautiful times to visit Acadia National Park, for | | | | message boards to get local resources for whatever |
| instance. (And let's face it; you never were planning on | | | | you need for your event (like the Boston area online |
| swimming while on the Maine coast if you went during | | | | community on Just remember, while doing web |
| the summer anyway, brrr.) By the way, the seafood is | | | | searches for cottages in New England that once upon |
| great here year round, and some lobstermen in Maine | | | | a time the upper class of the Gilded Age built |
| do not even put their boats in the water until its cold | | | | "cottages" in Rhode Island and Massachusetts that we |
| out.NORM:If you had to choose 5 unequalled venues in | | | | would typically refer to as mansions today. Also, |
| the New England states for a romantic getaway, | | | | cabins referred to as "camps" in New England tend to |
| honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they | | | | be built more with fishing and hunting in mind than |
| be and why?Bethany:Tough question, Norm! There are | | | | romance.NORM:Is there anything else you wish to tell |
| so many. I'll name some off the top of my head.* The | | | | our readers that we have not covered?Bethany:I |
| first one that comes to mind is the cottage at Three | | | | would absolutely love to hear what you think of my |
| Mountain Inn in Vermont. They built that one with | | | | book, and where else you feel I should have included. |
| romance in mind. I think it is the only place I visited | | | | |