What Is Your Favorite New England Ice Cream Stand Or Shop?

Ice Cream Machine, Cumberland, R.I. (photo by Eric)

We have a fun mini-poll going on right now, asking for your favorite New England ice cream stand or shop. You can access the poll by scrolling down three posts (at this writing) on our VisitingNewEngland.com New England Vacations Facebook Fan Page. If you don't see an ice cream stand that you'd vote for, please feel free to write in your choice. Please make sure to list the ice cream stand or shop's location, too, as we've received a few ice cream places without geographical mention.

So far, Kimball Farm in Westford Mass., is leading the pack, with Peaceful Meadows in Whitman, Mass., coming on strong! We've also received votes on ice cream destinations that tend to fly under the "ice cream radar." That's great to see as we're big fans on "hidden gems."

We'll post the final results next week of which ice cream stands wins the mini-poll.

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Portsmouth, N.H., Wins Our Facebook Fan Page Mini-Poll As Best Small City In New England

Downtown Portsmouth, N.H. (photo by Eric)

New England has so many wonderful small cities, so we thought it would be a fun idea to poll our Facebook Fan followers on their favorite communities.

Portsmouth, N.H., won with 24 percent of the vote, followed by Burlington, Vt. (about 19 percent), Newport, R.I. (about 12 percent),  and a tie between Portland, Maine and Northampton, Mass. (both at approximately 8 percent).  Other cities that finished strong were Salem, Mass., Keene, N.H., and Montpelier, Vt. Some fans voted for communities that are technically towns -- Provincetown, Mass., York, Maine, and Bethlehem, N.H., to name a few.

For those not familiar with Portsmouth, this is a wonderful, little coastal town with a population of a little more than 20,000 people.  The feeling is small-town, but the number of downtown restaurants, diverse array of locally-owned shops and cultural attractions give Portsmouth an urban feel. It's a perfect place for strolling, especially the quaint, brick-tinged Market Square business district (and charming side streets), Prescott Park with its waterfront views, and Strawberry Banke -- an early settlement that features restored historic Colonial, Georgian and Federal homes.

For more on Portsmouth, we recommend reading our "Portsmouth, NH, Offers True New England Coastal Charm" article at VisitingNewEngland.com. Log onto our Facebook VisitingNewEngland.com - New England Vacations Fan Page to become a follower of all things New England!

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Best Places to Visit in Vietnam

Vietnam is just one of the countries in Indochina Peninsula that is blessed with soaring mountains, abundant rice fields and a number of interesting attractions to pay a visit.

Start your holiday vacation by coming around the Halong Bay or rather be called as the Bay of Descending Dragons. It is called as such because it is composed of two thousand limestone islands that similarly like monoliths when they rise.

All in all, there are twenty caves on the island opened for the public visit. The most popular would be the Cave of the Sticks. But take it easy folks! It is quite impossible to explore the bay in 24 hours. That’s why; it is best-recommended to rent a tour boat while touring. You can check with your travel agent the best available tour schedules.

Have some time and appreciate the rich and historic French-influenced architecture in Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam). You just cannot believe your eyes once you see the one-pillar pagoda. It is called as the Goddess of Mercy and it was built as early as 1049. After the old pagoda, walk around and explore the museums. The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology should be your first destination. Every detail you want to understand about ethnic groups (there are 54 of them) is found here. The construction of this museum started 1987 and was opened to the public ten years later (November 12).

The Cuc Phong National Park

For those people who seek for real fun and entertainment, it’s time to persuade your whole family and friends to visit Cuc Phong National Park - which is the largest national park and the largest nature reserve in the country. Current reports also reveal the park receives a steady stream of foreigner tourist each year.

The park is located in the foothills of north Annamite Mountains and for that; its lowest temperature clocks at 32 Fahrenheit and the highest rises above 85 Fahrenheit. In case you want to see how the entire park looks like in its driest months, you must book you visit during December and January.

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