| 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, |
| about yourself and your expertise pertaining to the | | | | and the gas fireplace is operatable from bed with a |
| New England States.Bethany:My pleasure, Norm. | | | | remote 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 | | | | and the giant field stone fireplaces and sea views in |
| a 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 |
| Region of New Hampshire, and have always been | | | | would 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 | | | | Mountains.* The Summer House Inns & Cottages off |
| surprised and amazed by the beauty of the area I | | | | of Massachusetts would be a fancy, but |
| thought I knew so well, and I fell in love with it all | | | | ever-memorable island event or escape (think |
| over 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 |
| most northeastern states in the United States: Maine, | | | | oh -* The Inn at Sunrise Point on the coast of Maine |
| Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, | | | | has a cottage that literally sits right over the sea and |
| Connecticut, and Rhode Island. It is bordered by | | | | is filled with the sounds of the waves. And there are |
| Canada, New York, and the Atlantic | | | | so many more!NORM:What should people know |
| Ocean.NORM:Why would you consider a stay in a | | | | about celebrating a wedding in the New England |
| cabin or cottage in the New England states a good | | | | states from the point of view of requirements, |
| choice for a romantic getaway or honeymoon | | | | etc?Bethany:Each state has its own requirements, |
| destination?Bethany:Well, the added privacy is | | | | and it's best to get in touch with a city/town clerk in |
| obvious, but it's also easier to feel part of the natural | | | | the state you're considering getting married in. |
| area you are in when you are in a cabin or cottage | | | | Typically you need to be 18 or have a court order. |
| than when you're in some anonymous hotel room. | | | | And usually you need to apply for your license at |
| When your natural area could include crashing waves, | | | | least a month ahead of your big day (and you'll need |
| blinking lighthouses, mountain top vistas, or the | | | | to have decided on your married name at that time). |
| astounding fall foliage, this connection to your | | | | Some states require blood tests; some have waiting |
| surroundings really adds to the exuberance of your | | | | periods, and more. In some states anyone can apply |
| visit. Imagine you are in a characterless hotel | | | | for a license allowing them to officiate a marriage on |
| somewhere and the forecast is for pouring rain you | | | | a particular date. I had my brother officiate my |
| may feel trapped or depressed. Imagine you are in a | | | | wedding in Massachusetts, for instance. |
| cabin, and you feel like you have a great excuse to | | | | Massachusetts is currently the only state that legally |
| stay under the blankets with your significant | | | | allows same sex marriage.NORM:How far in advance |
| other!When I married this summer, I rented an old | | | | should a couple prepare themselves for their |
| summer camp. My guests played in the lake, ate, | | | | honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in the |
| danced in the main lodge, and stayed over in the | | | | New 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 |
| combination of carefree enthusiasm, | | | | those in the mountains in the winter. If you want to |
| us-against-the-elements adventuring spirit, and | | | | be 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 |
| them have fireplaces, wood stoves, or hot | | | | the 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 |
| costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the | | | | as they are checking out, so you have some serious |
| USA, Canada and Europe and Australia, | | | | competition. If you are looking for a romantic |
| etc?Bethany:New England is extremely accessible its | | | | getaway during the rest of the year, or more inland, |
| biggest airport is in Boston, Massachusetts, but there | | | | give it a few months if you can. If you are looking to |
| are also major airports in most of the states. Since | | | | book a wedding site, you may need one to two |
| the dollar is not at its best, it has made the US a less | | | | years of notice- especially if you're reserving a |
| expensive trip for many visitors.My favorite season | | | | weekend somewhere for a large party.NORM:What |
| here is fall and not just for the bright colors of the | | | | resources are available on the Internet pertaining to |
| trees. There is that magical snap in the crisp air that | | | | romantic getaways, weddings and honeymoon |
| adds excitement to bundling up and lessens your | | | | vacations in the New England states?Bethany:As the |
| inhibitions about feasting in a season of roasts and | | | | oldest colonized part of the country, New England is |
| apple pies. While the masses flock to Vermont, the | | | | well developed, and that includes tourism facilities and |
| Massachusetts Berkshire Hills, and the White | | | | their websites. There are endless websites about |
| Mountains of New Hampshire to "leaf peep" as we | | | | New England getaways. If you were planning a |
| say, try heading to Maine. Fall is one of the least | | | | wedding, I'd recommend visiting some of the sites |
| crowded and most beautiful times to visit Acadia | | | | with regional message boards to get local resources |
| National Park, for instance. (And let's face it; you | | | | for whatever you need for your event (like the |
| never were planning on swimming while on the Maine | | | | Boston area online community on Just remember, |
| coast if you went during the summer anyway, brrr.) | | | | while doing web searches for cottages in New |
| By the way, the seafood is great here year round, | | | | England that once upon a time the upper class of the |
| and some lobstermen in Maine do not even put their | | | | Gilded Age built "cottages" in Rhode Island and |
| boats in the water until its cold out.NORM:If you had | | | | Massachusetts that we would typically refer to as |
| to choose 5 unequalled venues in the New England | | | | mansions today. Also, cabins referred to as "camps" |
| states for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or | | | | in New England tend to be built more with fishing and |
| wedding destination, what would they be and | | | | hunting in mind than romance.NORM:Is there anything |
| why?Bethany:Tough question, Norm! There are so | | | | else you wish to tell our readers that we have not |
| many. I'll name some off the top of my head.* The | | | | covered?Bethany:I would absolutely love to hear |
| first one that comes to mind is the cottage at Three | | | | what you think of my book, and where else you feel |
| Mountain Inn in Vermont. They built that one with | | | | I should have included. |
| romance in mind. I think it is the only place I visited | | | | |