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