Things to Avoid
1. Contaminated Shellfish
Food poisoning from contaminated shellfish is rare but not unheard of in New England. The authorities monitor water quality where clams, mussels, and oysters grow, and will ban them from sale during outbreaks of “red tide.” If ordering steamed shellfish, do not eat any that do not open when steamed. Lobster must be cooked alive. A cooked lobster without a curled tail is not safe to eat.
2. Rush-hour Traffic
The morning and evening commutes (8–9:30am; 4–6:30pm) can add an hour to your travel time around metropolitan areas. Try to avoid traveling during those times.
3. Standing in Line
If you make restaurant reservations in advance, you can avoid up to an hour’s waiting time at popular eateries. If catching a show, concert, or movie, purchase your tickets in person earlier in the day and bypass the “will-call” line or the ticket queue.
4. Ticket Scalpers
The states differ on the legality of ticket resales, but you can generally assume that anyone hawking tickets outside a popular sports or concert venue is expecting to turn a tidy profit at your expense. Often, these tickets are bogus reproductions – but by the time you are refused entry, the seller will be long gone.
5. Dangerous Animals
Never touch a wild animal. Any wild animal in New England that accepts the approach of a human being is ill, and therefore potentially dangerous. Health authorities assume that all wild animal bites are from a rabid animal, and treat accordingly. The New England woods contain many predators (wolves, coyotes, bears, bobcats, Canadian lynx, and so on), but you are safe if you give them a wide berth. If camping, store your food securely.
6. Bottled Water
Tap water is safe to drink throughout New England. If you wish to carry bottled water with you while hiking, buy a single bottle when you arrive, then refill it regularly from the tap.
7. Recreational Drugs
Although state laws regarding cannabis use are not as strict as they once were, the purchase, sale, or use of illegal drugs can land you in jail – often for a long time. Penalties are especially harsh if transactions take place anywhere near a school or playground.
8. Poisonous Plants
Many plants that look edible may not be safe to eat. Be especially careful with berries and mushrooms, some of which can be highly toxic. Poison ivy, which causes an extremely irritating skin rash in most people but can be life-threatening to a few, is very common in New England. It has leaves in clusters of three, but can be a vine, a shrub, or low-lying growth. Stay on marked trails and remember this rule of thumb: “Leaves of three, let it be.” Avoid all nettles, as stinging nettle is also common.
9. Non-Central “In-town” Hotels
Online booking engines often list hotels as being “downtown” when they are, in fact, many miles away. If in doubt, use an online mapping program to check walking directions from the hotel to a known landmark.
10. Pickpockets and Bag-snatchers
Pay attention to your surroundings. Thieves usually target people who are distracted – checking a map, talking on their cell phones, or watching a street performer. Do not set down backpacks, camera bags, or purses unless they are attached to you by a strap. Lifting a bag off a chair is child’s play for a professional thief.
