NewEngland To Do

1. Play, Stay and Be Entertained at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods

The MGM Grand at Foxwoods, opening in Connecticut in mid-May 2008, will bring an upscale and exciting hospitality and entertainment experience to what is already North America's largest gaming destination. Taking its cue from Vegas, the property will focus on fine lodging and dining and a broad array of non-gaming experiences; it even has outdoor dining and function space and an outdoor pool. Make reservations early, as this new casino/hotel is bound to be a hot spot this summer. Headliners already booked for the MGM Grand's first summer of entertainment include Gloria Estefan, Jerry Seinfeld, Smokey Robinson, Huey Lewis and the News, Michael Bolton, Carole King, Melissa Etheridge and Celine Dion.

2. Have a Wet and Wild Time... Indoors!

Rain-proof your summer vacation this year by booking your stay at the Red Jacket Mountain View Resort in North Conway, New Hampshire, home of New England's newest large-scale indoor waterpark. The tropical-themed, 40,000 square-foot Kahuna Laguna debuted in March 2008. Whatever the weather outside, it will be 82 degrees year-round at Kahuna Laguna, where kids will love the slides, wave pool, water cannons and play areas. The waterpark, which will also feature an outdoor pool during the warmer weather, is only open to overnight guests of the Red Jacket Mountain View or its sister property, Fox Ridge Resort. Additional admission fees apply. The Red Jacket Mountain view is also close to Story Land and Santa's Village.

3. Learn About New England's Coastal Heroes

When it reopens July 1, 2008, following a $3 million renovation and expansion, the rechristened Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum, formerly the Nantucket Life-Saving Museum, will offer the public an opportunity to learn about rescues and heroism along the shore through its collection of more than 5,000 artifacts. The expanded museum will have a new focus on shipwrecks off Nantucket and elsewhere in the fledging United States, when maritime travel was in its heyday. It will operate seasonally, closing after Columbus Day.

4. Unwind at Hidden Pond, Maine's Exclusive New Hideaway

Set to open mid-summer in Kennebunkport, Maine, Hidden Pond bills its brand of luxury "flip flop chic." With just 14 one- and two-bedroom cottages, each outfitted by a prominent designer and replete with Frette linens, screened-in porch, fireplace, outdoor shower and state-of-art kitchen, this 60-acre hideaway in the woods will offer casual elegance and seclusion for guests. Nightly rates start at $595 and include breakfast, afternoon tea and unlimited use of on-site recreational facilities. Guests will also have access to a personal chef, spa, bicycles, art classes and daily beach safaris. An additional 20 cottages and a fine dining restaurant will be added to the property in 2009.

5. Ride Six Flags New England's New Dark Coaster

Thrill seekers will want to rush to Six Flags New England this summer when the new Batman-themed Dark Knight Coaster makes its debut. The ride is inspired by the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight, which is due in theaters July 18, 2008. The ride's official launch date has not yet been announced, but it's likely to coincide with the movie debut in July.

6. Get Cooking

Whether you're an experienced chef or someone who likes to tinker around in the kitchen, the Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School, opening May 15, 2008, in York, Maine, offers a culinary adventure for you. The new school, located adjacent to the gourmet food company's flagship store, will feature everything from daily demonstrations and cooking basics classes for kids and adults to opportunities to meet and learn from noted restaurant chefs or to discover ways to prepare elegant, company-worthy meals. Call 207-363-1088 to reserve your spot for a class or event.

7. Escape to Stowe's New Luxury Hotel

There hasn't been a new luxury hotel property in the mountain town of Stowe, Vermont, in 50 years, but that will change in June of 2008 when the 139-room Stowe Mountain Lodge opens its doors. Operated by Destination Hotels & Resorts, this upscale, Alpine-style hotel is nestled between Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak and features a spa, golf course, indoor/outdoor pool and access to luxury amenities ranging from an international pillow menu and a personal bar pre-stocked with guests' favorite treats to the customized services of the Alpine Concierge team.

8. Set Sail Aboard the Schooner Aquidneck

The 80-foot Schooner Aquidneck, brought to Newport, Rhode Island, from Florida last fall, will begin taking travelers on regularly scheduled day and sunset sailing cruises beginning Memorial Day weekend. Sightsailing of Newport's newly acquired vessel, which is also available for private charter, is the largest ship in the company's fleet. It can accommodate 49 passengers. For information and reservations, call 401-849-3333 or toll free, 800-709-7245.

9. Hang Out with Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe and Warhol

Art lovers have a new reason to visit a 79-year-old museum in Manchester, New Hampshire, this summer. On March 30, 2008, the Currier Museum of Art reopened its doors following a $21.4 million, 21-month makeover that expanded its exhibit space substantially. Now, the museum, can showcase much more of its surprisingly strong collection of paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture by European and American artists. One new gallery features works by important New England regional artists.

10. Look... Up in the Sky... at the Great New England Air Show

After a four-year hiatus, the Great New England Air Show returns to Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts in 2008. Scheduled for September 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the show commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Air Force Reserve and features the United States Air Force Thunderbirds precision aerial demonstration team, the U. S. Army Golden Knights parachute team and a variety of military aircraft, both in the sky and on the ground. Admission and parking are both free for this family-friendly, weekend-long event.