maine to nyc by train: a lighthouse tour
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
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5 days from Maine to NYC: a solo autumnal tour of lighthouses in the Northeastern USA, by train.
This idea for a trip had been on my mind for a while, but doing it was way better than I ever expected.
I had always wanted to see some of the amazing lighthouses in New England, and make another Amtrak video. So last autumn when I had the opportunity to go to the USA, I spent days scouring the internet for boat tours and cool towns to stop in, and came up with this. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed doing it.
You can book the same lighthouse tours as me with getyourguide here: getyourguide.tp.st/tdIUKmPW (this is a referral link where I receive a small commission)
Starting from a motel room in Brunswick Maine, the very far northeastern end of the train lines in the USA, I ride Amtrak's Downeaster service down to Boston, stopping overnight in Portland, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire along the way. And then further with Amtrak's Northeast Regional down to Providence / Newport Rhode Island, and then New York City.
I was so lucky to end up doing this north-to-south, because I went to Portland Head Light first and discovered the Lighthouse Passport from the United States Lighthouse Society. Filling this passport with lighthouse stamps is now going to be my full-time hobby/obsession every time I'm in the USA...
Riding around on Amtrak was again good fun, I met a lot of Americans who had literally never ridden a train before and couldn't comprehend what I was doing, but to me it was fun. The service is better than some people give it credit for!
I also discovered another USA obsession of mine, sweetgreen's shroomami with light ginger-miso dressing, wow... I might have to book another flight ticket just to eat that again.
If you have any questions about planning your own solo rail travel in the USA trip, hit me up in the comments or on instagram :)
I hope that you're doing well and staying safe.
insta: / tomth0rnton
#travel #usa #amtrak
Music from Epidemic Sound, feel free to sign up using my referral link if you liked it :) share.epidemicsound.com/nu1tb0
Camera: amzn.to/3bGGrb2
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0:00 Brunswick, Maine by train
1:20 Train to Portland, Maine
2:19 Portland, Maine
3:28 Lighthouse boat tour Portland, Maine
4:19 Portland Head Light boat tour
5:50 Portland Head Light Park
7:12 Lighthouse passport
8:30 Amtrak Downeaster to New Hampshire
9:35 Portsmouth New Hampshire
12:23 Lighthouse boat tour Portsmouth New Hampshire
15:48 Amtrak Downeaster in autumn
18:16 Salem Massachusetts in October
20:10 Plymouth Rock from Boston
21:54 Train from Boston to Providence
23:40 Lighthoust boat tour Newport Rhode Island
28:07 Amtrak Providence to New York
Remember to hit like on the video if you’re here for my lighthouse era 🍁🇺🇸⚓️
I already can’t wait to shoot another USA vlog collecting more lighthouse stamps 🏃🏻
Check out the Patreon for more content and to support my sweetgreen habit 🥺
With special thanks to the national lighthouse museum on Staten Island, as well as all the nice Americans who I met on this trip 👏
Great job mate. If ever in South Florida and wish to see the famous Palm Beach, please contact me and my mom. Cheers on you. Peter and Mom in N Palm Beach
Connecticut?
This, my friend, is a trip many of us Americans would love to take. Thank you for sharing.
Haha he’s even wearing LLbean. Really getting into the spirit here.
Also if you like the lighthouse passport you’d probably like the national park passport. I’ve been enjoying it way too much filling pages.
The Statue of Liberty stamp was truly the icing on the cake! Love that stamp collecting idea. It reminds me of how in Japan you can collect stamps at roadside stops and stations etc. featuring local landmarks etc. - so cool. Nice video, looked like a very special and memorable trip.
You can tell a great travel video because it makes you want to pack your bags and travel too, thanks so much. And a bonus thank you for introducing me to the lighthouse passport, I'd been planning to get a stamp book for a future visit to Japan but now I want to visit lighthouses and get stamps in my lighthouse passport too!
Yesssss I need the Japan train one too hahaha
The US Lighthouse Society is awesome and covers lighthouses all across America, from Maine to California (and you'd be surprised how many lighthouses there are in the MIDDLE of the country, like on the Great Lakes.) It's a great organization with tours, a genuinely well-written magazine full of lighthouse history, other great perks and in general, is exactly the type of, as you say so well, "pointless nerdy fun" we all love. As always, thanks for another great and informative video (I had no idea the Statue of Liberty had been used as a lighthouse!)
Always a pleasure to meet a fellow lighthouse nerd :)
Wow! that shot at 0:30! Just for 1 second of footage so much effort!!! We noticed it!!
me out here dying for my art 😩
Oh how I loved going along on your tour of New England. I lived there for 36 years and have been to all of those places. The lighthouse passport is GREAT! I live here and had no idea such a thing existed. Love it!
Race you to the 60 stamp badge :)
I'm from Boston and I haven't been to all these places. Thanks for the inspiration and motivation!
As an American, it was great to see your enthusiasm and appreciation for our history in your travels. There's a sense of idealism about the US. that I admire when I see or meet travelers from other countries, and it makes me feel proud to be an American and helps see my country through another's eyes. I hope you were treated well, and thank you for documenting your time here. I LOVED your hat from Maine, If you ever find yourself in Los Angeles send me a message I would love to meet you and show you the sights here. 🏳️🌈😊
Thanks! You have a wonderful country :)
Loved the video. And I totally would've participated in the lighthouse passport. 😂
Fun fact---On January 5, 1776, New Hampshire became the first colony to declare independence from Great Britain, almost six months before the Declaration of Independence was signed by the Continental Congress. Thus, live free or die.😊
That's why I feel so at home there, I have also previously thought about declaring my independence from the UK
That's cool, but is the grass greener over the pond? I don't know.
My ancestors have been in the USA over 200 years, originally from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, etc. So, I love UA-cam because I get to see the history, language, food, and countryside of my ancestors.
Thank you for your videos.
As a Mainer living in Boston, I've ridden the Downeaster too many times to count. Thank you for sharing your experience and reminding us of the magic
Also, if you're ever back in Boston, come by the Massachusetts Historical Society and we can share some historical treasures with you :)
I would love to! Thanks :)
The most wholesome travel content on UA-cam. ❤
Your gentle humour and manner comes across in these videos and makes them into something really quite lovely to watch. My last four holidays have all been to NYC as it is such an easy place to go on my own. I can walk out of the hotel in the morning with a vague plan and just follow my nose. I think you've convinced me to follow it further afield on my next trip!
Thanks 😍 and yes, it’s definitely worth heading to the other states in the northeast
Weww those autumn leaves deserve a supporting cast credit, incredible scenery! Next time you’re in NYC you’ll have to take the Long Island rail road to add Montauk lighthouse to the passport.
yes I would love to! I actually looked at this and decided against the walk from the end of the LIRR to the lighthouse haha
That giddy smile throughout, what an adventure…😁😉
Thank you so much for visiting, for what I think, is the best part of the USA: New England. I've stayed at the same motel in Brunswick, Maine. And as a ham radio operator, I've operated from some of the lighthouses you visited, communicating to other lighthouses around the country. And as a resident of New Hampshire, "Live Free or Die" means everything to us. The freedom to live without oppressive government regulation and taxation. That is why we have no state income or sales tax nor overzealous governmental intrusion into our lives. I hope you come back and visit .... you missed a few dozen lighthouses - and I don't think you had any of our famous lobstahs! Cheers mate!
Hey thanks a lot for your comment! Can I come with you on a lighthouse radio session for a video? 👏👏 it is for sure a lovely area and I have a lot left to see there.
IDK, your liquor stores are state owned, so they at least control the booze LOL
This coming August 7 is the National Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend (NLLW) in the US and Aug 17 is International Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend (ILLW) in the ham radio world. If you look at their websites and look up the lighthouses hams will operate from, perhaps you can find one near you and attend an activation. Last year we operated from Nauset Light on Cape Cod and were able to talk to hams at lighthouses up and down the east coast and lighthouses along the Great Lakes. It was a great time. The year before, we operated from Portsmouth Light in New Hampshire. Another great activation.
Hey Tom, love your content! I stamp lighthouse passports where I volunteer. Looking forward to stamping yours someday. Lime Kiln Point State Park, Washington.
I would love that 🏃🏻
I was keeping an eye out for this! Just happened to search your channel half a day after it was released. Brilliant as always!
As someone from the UK as well, your NYC to LA train inspired me to drag my partner on the California Zephyr this summer, in coach, and it was the best trip of my life. We both loved it. Just a thank you!
that's so cool, I am really happy you enjoyed it as much as I did :) I need to do that section through colorado in summer for sure
would recommend! definitely makes me want to visit colorado, aside from looking out a train window 😅
I'm an American here who lives in Boston. I've crossed the country three times by train (Via Lake Shore Limited, Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, and the Empire Builder ([other] Portland leg) on different trips. I can not recommend it enough, even if going solo. It may be the best way to see the country without having to drive. They time it so that trains cross the less scenic parts in the dark and cross the Rockies, Sierra Nevada, and Cascades during daylight. You obviously get a lot more light during the summer, but don't knock going during the winter either, as the views and scenery revealed by a lack of foliage make up for the shorter days.
Best lighthouse video on UA-cam. Hands down.
🥺 that's very kind of you
I love that town…
Autumn and New England ❤
Like peas and carrots
Nothing I love more than train trips and lighthouses. Having seen 331 lighthouses in the US and a couple in Canada, I can say I love my passport books. I have only filled three of them about 180 because many locations for stamps were shut down during COVID. I love the geekiness. Love your videos and I was thrilled to see this combination! I loved seeing places I love. Newport is always fun and oh so many lighthouses - even on the rocks of Castle Hill. The head of the US LIghthouse Society lives in Portsmith, NH. He is great as are all lighthouse fans.
Ahhh that’s so cool, thanks for your comment!! I need to move to the US and overtake your stamp collection
I've been to the lighthouse at Montauk Point at the very end of Long Island, NY and it was fun going to the top. Not unusual to see a Great White shark in those waters.
Now that’s a cool day out. I did actually look in to this but I saw that the LIRR doesn’t even go that near so I decided I was too lazy 😶
So surprised how beautul Rhode Island was! It's now on my list of travel plans, right next to NYC 😍 Nice VLOG
Definitely worth a visit ⛵️
Fantastic! Every bit of it…🎉 Would love to see you collab with another British UA-camr, Laurence from Lost in the Pond. He’s located in the Chicago/Lake Michigan region…oodles of lighthouses! ❤
My wife and I caught the Concord Lines bus from Boston to Portland and spent a couple of hours in the town. Portland is beautiful although there wasn't much open because it was late November, and the Christmas lights were up. We also visited Salem and it was basically closed lol. We did have the witch museum to ourselves lol. Boston is such a beautiful city and we intend to go back . The video was excellent . Thanks Tom.😊.
oh nice, I saw some concord lines when I travelled up to Maine. I would like to go to the Salem museums but I have heard that the witch one is kind of a let down haha
@@thornton it wasn't as good as we thought to be honest , although we visited in November 2021 when COVID restrictions were still there but gradually being lifted . The places you visited such as New Hampshire and Rhode Island are on a bucket list when we visit the US again. Like I said keep up the excellent work you do Tom .
You have the best US travel vlogs!
Hey that’s so kind of you, I appreciate it 🙌🌞
Tom: Thank you for your remarkable video and coastal tour of New England. As someone who is older than you and has lived in New England a large part of my life, I found - thanks to you - some new things to do and places to explore. I was smiling as I watched your video, enjoying how much fun you were having made me feel good too. Safe travels ahead for both of us!
Thanks John 🌞
I lived in Maine for a few years, such a beautiful state with so much to explore! And I’m from Long Island, lots to check out here too, Montauk Lighthouse is worth the trip!
What a great adventure - and I LOVE the lighthouse passport and stamp idea!
I never knew I needed another obsession, but it’s perfect
Wonderful travelogue! It's always interesting to see how others see a place we've lived in for 30 years (college in Boston, then stuck around for awhile.)
I haven't even watched the video yet but I've already given it a thumbs-up, just based on your description, and the fact that your videos always have a high entertainment value!😃
hey thank you!! that's so nice, thanks for the support too
Your channel is absolutely wonderful! Thank you so very much for such excellent content and your wonderful presentation! Best wishes and happy travels! Greetings from Pennsylvania in the US!
thanks diana ☺️
This came up as a recommendation as i was editing my own video of my trip to maine in September/October.
(Portland ME to Portland OR by rail/bus)
Looks like we had a fair few of the same sights to see, including the same bunk and that hostel!
I'm Currently planning another US/ Canadian rail tour, love the video!
The autumn season is soo beautiful and you published this video just when we are getting a bunch of snow! Can we teleport back into time or make autumn a permanent season? Great video and Happy belated birthday! :)
I had same experience with this. Made me ask myself“did you appreciate the autumn as much when it was here”?
Storytelling in this video is top notch! Love these videos
Aw thanks!
Welcome to America. You're ALWAYS welcome here. 🎉❤
Such an interesting and beautiful journey. A memorable birthday too! Live free and die well travelled 🎃
🫡🫡
Glad you enjoyed the lighthouses! As a resident of the Great State of Michigan, I humbly invite you to stop by and check out all of our lighthouses! (Michigan actually has the most lighthouses in the United States)
Happy belated birthday, Tom! This video was a pure pleasure to watch, thanks for taking us along on the journey. I've never been to New England but would love to visit that area one day. For more lighthouse travels, add Oregon to your bucket list. I had the pleasure to go lighthouse visiting on the Oregon coast a few years back and it's truly breathtaking.
Ohhhh I would love to see some Oregon lighthouses
This town's giving me Halifax, Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island vibes.
as a former Bostonian, I'll say, to me, one of the spookiest places in Boston (at least railway related) is Boylston on the Green line... there are some old trams parked there, and to me, they always felt like real ghosts of trolleys of days gone past, leading a half living existence in the underground netherworld... the spotchy old yellow lighting really helps with that feel, as does the fact the station is totally illogical, its entrance being nowhere near the two stations on either side (which exit within sight of each other)
I am planning a trip from Bangor, Maine, to New York as a 66-year-old starting in May 2024. I will stay in a Hostel in New York in a POD. Nice video.
Love the area fond memories of childhood. Your videos keep getting better.
One of the license plates you showed for New Hampshire had a sticker for Alameda, CA, the little San Francisco Bay Area town I live in! That's super weird.
The vibes of this video are amazing. I love new england, in fall especially. So glad you enjoyed your visit!
I live in Boston, for crying out loud. I need to do this trip (the Maine part)! Thank you for the inspiration.
Definitely worth doing!! The Downeaster was good fun and pretty empty. Not sure how much longer it will exist haha
@@thornton it's a very popular route on weekends--often sold out
Oh that’s good, I hope it lasts then. Or even that they extend it up to Bangor/caribou 😝
I hope that next time you get to visit Sally's in Connecticut and OEC/B United (beer distributors) nearby. My favourite pizza is Sally's. Ebenezer's in Maine is a mad spot for all sorts of amazing beers and a crazy chef host in Senior Lively. So many great breweries on this route as well. I went with a dear friend and we drove from Rhode Island to Maine in a rental. For donuts the best is Allie's in North Kingstown, RI.
Wow lovely! Come to Vermont next time. I’m definitely doing a foliage road trip next year. It’s like a dream..
Great vlog. I grew up outside of Boston and the autumn is the best season in New England.
Enjoyed watching your trip. Thanks.
I'm glad! Thanks :)
You're such an inspiration ❤🎉
Great tour to the coast I know so well. In Oregon now and so glad you enjoyed all my old haunts.
I absolutely love your videos, and this one in particular. the ambience you project is so calm and beautiful, it feels like being there with you (wish I could). Thanks so much for sharing. P.s - good choice with the hat!
This is now on my bucket list.
Oh no, you could taken the ferry on your way back from Salem to Boston. Well done on the lighthouse stamps.
nooo I had no idea 😭
It's wonderful seeing your trip throughout the northeast! Portland is a wonderful city - the Holy Donut is also a must-stop for me whenever I visit.
Also, an FYI from a Bostonian - you take the Commuter Rail when going to Salem and Plymouth; and we don't use the term metro to describe any train, but we do call our subway the T :)
Thanks!
It makes me so happy to see you so happy exploring New England! It's been many years since I was in Maine or New Hampshire. I need to plan a trip.
"Live Free or Die" is a Revolution-era throwback (1775 - 1783) and also a rally-cry for equal representation of smaller states v. larger states; from 1789 forward,
during the period of ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Another popular Independence-era slogan is "Don't Tread on Me."
Belated birthday wishes, Tom.
Thankssss for your beautiful and inspiring why not video!!!
this was awesome! I'm so inspired and am totally going to do that train route. Thank you!
Dat Taylor Swift reference 🏰 last great American dynasty ❤
👀👀👀
Another great trip! Loved it and hope to visit this area sometime.
Happy Birthday!🎉
Yay! Tom's uploaded a new video😊
🥹🥹
Aww that was pretty great, Tom! I want that pumpkin spice donut, please. Now you have another reason to go to Minnesota btw: Split Rock Lighthouse!
On my way to the airport right now 🏃🏻✈️
I enjoyed the whole video - as always. I like your way of storytelling, the laid back vibe, the beautiful pictures and your choice of music! (Actually, I tried to use Shazam several times, but have not been very successful.)
Nice! I am from Manchester, NH aka ManchVegas. Its not worth visiting but its the biggest city. We used to skip school in High School and go to Portsmouth lol. Its lovely.
I spent the Halloween season in Rockport this year. What a beautiful little town. Only 30 minutes from Salem on the commuter train too, so it was handy getting back and forth. Salem during Halloween was an experience to say the least haha. I’ll happily go back next year 🇮🇪
Yesss I should have used that ticket to go all the way to Rockport instead of Salem haha
Thanks!
Wow, thanks for the support! Maybe I'll have some more Maine videos soon after all :)
I really enjoyed this video. Your joy in what you do really shows that’s why I enjoy your channel. Watched before work today and it invigorated my spirit of adventure. Went to Maine for first time this summer and loved it.
PS The Breakers here (Vanderbilt) is quite beautiful. Was there Christmas Eve. Good job mate. I review hundreds and am impressed.
The Travelers Inn is great! Really affordable, not too far from town, right near Pat’s Pizza.
Happy Birthday Tom!
Thank you :)
you missed a couple of lighthouses that were technically within reach... though I am not sure how you collected the stamps for those... one, there was a lighthouse in Plymouth on the side of Plymouth village (exiting the harbor) that you could go up to, another is a historic lighthouse towards the end of the corn-exchange... that's a fairly easy walk from Quincy market where you were
Some great restaurants in Portland.
Very nice. Thank you for sharing your journey.... would like to try it in the spring!
Yes it would definitely be a fun trip that time of year :)
Good job mate. Very good content. Beautiful job AND presentation is fantastic. Ever in Palm Beach, Florida? Please look me up. Cheers! Peter❤
Well done Lad. Really enjoyed this video.
Should have stopped in new haven for a slice of pizza other then that phenomenal vid
You can also get a USA National Park Passport !
Yessssss I saw those and I need one! I even bought the replacement stickers at a couple of historical sites I visited in case I ever find one haha
& happy belated birthday, buddy! 🎂
My old stomping grounds! I hope the trip was as sweet as the maple syrup! Now I’m a little homesick and I need a bagel😂. Thank you for another epic adventure and beautiful video! Happy 2024!
I really enjoyed the video. You have a knack of making these into little artsy films. Did you know about the lighthouse passports before arriving to the US or was that just a bonus? Look forward to more of your adventures
Thanks! I actually literally stumbled upon it as shown in the video, no fakery there. I was so reluctant to do it north-to-south but it was the only way I could make it work, and only because of that I happened to find the passport on day one 🙌🙌
Cute stuff!
love the video and Happy birthday! do you know if Amtrak do any other journeys in the US?
Thanks! And oh boy do I have another US video on my channel for you haha
Liked and Subscribed!!!❤❤❤
Great video! You can get a patch for 660 lighthouse stamps?! HOW many are there? 😂
Thanks Lewis 😍 I do not know how there are that many, I only know that I will bankrupt myself trying to catch 'em all
Isint the hat with the rainbow colors on top a representitve of support of being gay? I love it Tom if that was your objective! ❤
It's more like, Live Free or Die trying.
Something about the east coast just screams “orange trees” to me for some reason…
3:02 Definitely the right choice. 👍
You could have a successful third career in selling train travel in North America 😊
@amtrak where’s my %
Lovely video!
whats the song in the amtrak to new hampshire part? liked your video btw its a beautiful part of our country
Kylie Dailey - A Tether. Any other song requests before I move the edit to cold storage? 🥳
Brilliant video as always!!
Can I ask what equipment you use to film your vlogs and where did you learn video editing??
Hope all is well, take care
Canon G7x ii and the mic is a small lav from Rode that I plug in to my phone. And I’m self-taught (aka not taught, just winging it). The deepest video I have on the whole process is probably my “making of the Norway video” video 🌞
@@thornton thank you for the info and swift reply. Hope all is well, take care
🗽
make more vlogs in the US please
Me to myself every day:
How did you get to Portsmouth from Dover.?