Scenic Six Plus: New England’s largest Renaissance festival, a View Boston summer special, and more. Boston, MA — 7/3/2023 - (L-R) Leanna Hair and Cris Burns, of New Paultz, NY laugh as they are regaled with historical stories by Michael Lepage as he portrays John Adams in Boston. (Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff)

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Welcome back to Scenic Six.

My family attended a Lowell Spinners game at LeLacheur Park in Lowell recently with a bunch of friends and what a great family-friendly activity on a warm summer night. There was ice cream, face painting, contests for kids (“Simon Says” took me back!), giveaways, and, of course, plenty of baseball. 

This week, I’m sharing information about iconic New England travel experiences, a new seating design by United, the 45th season of King Richard’s Faire, a Boston attraction offering free tickets for kids, and more.

Meet the people behind some of New England’s top experiences 

Touring a Gilded Age mansion in Newport. Eating lobster in Maine. Leaf peeping in N.H. These quintessential  New England travel experiences don’t happen by magic. Conde Nast Traveler turned a spotlight on the people who make them happen, including Tammy Hustus, who cracked open more than 16,000 lobsters last season!

Should Boston host the James Beard Awards?

Boston is having its busiest summer ever (World Cup, America’s 250th, Sail Boston 2026), so should the city keep the national spotlight shining and pursue hosting the James Beard Awards, widely known as “the Oscars of the food world”? Let me know what you think.

Look what United has brought to the table 

If you love the idea of an extra tray table when you fly, middle seats have been repurposed into permanent tables on United’s new Airbus jet debuting later this year. Find out more. 

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Travel tips

• If you pick a hotel based on its restaurant, you’re not alone. Sixty percent of travelers do, according to OpenTable. The restaurant reservation company recently named five New England hotel restaurants among the nation’s best, including spots in Boston, Maine, and Connecticut.

• Looking for a unique way to view New Hampshire’s White Mountains? Take a railbike tour with Silver Lake Railriders, where you’ll power your own 6-mile railroad track ride during a 90 minute adventure.

• New England’s largest Renaissance festival, King Richard’s Faire, is gearing up for its 45th season and will bring entertainment, rides, games, costumes, spit-roasted turkey legs, and more to its 200-acre site in Carver from Sept. 5 to Oct. 25. 

Deals and steals

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• Show the kids a bird’s eye view of Boston from the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower with View Boston’s summer special: buy one adult ticket (for $34) and get four youth tickets for free (kids must be age 12 and under for the deal). 

• Want to escape to the Cape this August? Greyfinch Chatham Inn will take 18% off Sunday to Thursday night stays in August during its August Breeze Getaway package (subject to availability). 

• Guests who book the A Toast to the Gilded Age package at Newport Beach Hotel & Suites in Rhode Island get complimentary tickets to tour The Breakers mansion (a savings of $32 per adult ticket). 

Spending time in Boston? Here’s 10 free things to do in Boston in July.

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I’ll leave you with this photo I took at the Lowell Spinners game.

Where have you traveled lately? Please share your photos by sending them to [email protected] and they may be featured in an upcoming Scenic Six newsletter.

Whether you’re traveling this week or planning your next escape, enjoy the journey.

— Kristi