These are the best New England destinations, according to local celebs

Noah Kahan, Cousin Stizz, Elin Hilderbrand, and more listed their favorite New England spots in Apple Maps’s “Hyperlocal” series.

Apple Maps “Hyperlocal” series recently partnered with a few New England celebs for their favorite spots around the region.

Want to visit Noah Kahan’s hometown general store or the skateboard shop Cousin Stizz recommends in the North End? How about Elin Hilderbrand’s favorite Nantucket jewelry shop or chef Brad Leone’s favorite Connecticut restaurants?

Below, we share their Apple Maps itineraries. We also want to know: What did the itinerary get right – or wrong? Did they miss your favorite spot? Share with us.

Boston | New Hampshire & Vermont | Nantucket | Connecticut

Cousin Stizz’s Boston Spots

Cousin Stizz is an American rapper and songwriter from Dorchester, Massachusetts. His debut mixtape “Suffolk County,” released in 2015, received over 12 million listens on SoundCloud, and he received the “Artist of the Year” award at the 2018 Boston Music Awards. His “Hyperlocal” Boston recommendations cover everything from shopping to dining to relaxing in nature.

For shopping, Cousin Stizz listed two locations for sneaker lovers: Bodega (6 Clearway St.), a Jamaica Plain-based shoe, cap and sports retailer disguised behind a convenience store; and Concepts (18 Newbury St.), a shoe store in the Back Bay. He also recommended Orchard Skateshop (149 North St.) in the North End for skate shoes and skate supplies.

“I’ve been going to Bodega since they opened up back in ‘06. It’s definitely one of the dopest sneaker spots in the country, let alone Boston. It’s a real community spot and something everybody gotta experience first hand,” he said.

His favorite destinations for spending time in nature include Franklin Park in the Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Dorchester neighborhoods of Boston, and the Muddy River Dock.

“This is where we came up at, we created our dreams sitting there. If you wanna go look up at the sky and see the city from a different angle go there; it’s a dreamer’s paradise,” he said of the dock.

For food, Cousin Stizz had plenty of great recommendations from a variety of cuisines and across several neighborhoods. For a high-end steakhouse, he listed Davio’s as his favorite. Everything on the menu is great, he said, but “they got these egg rolls they be doing that are crazy.” The restaurant has several locations, including in the Seaport (26 Fan Pier) and the Back Bay (75 Arlington St.) neighborhoods in Boston.

For more casual dining, he recommended Dino’s Cafe (141 Salem St.) in the North End; P&P Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor (1284 Blue Hill Ave.) in Mattapan for Jamaican fare (specifically, patties with coco bread and cheese, and grape nut ice cream); JP Roti Shop (482 Washington St.) in Dorchester for Caribbean food; and Bred Gourmet (2255 Dorchester Ave.) for hamburgers.

“[Bred] got the official Cousin Stizz fries there! Shoutout AB, that’s his brother’s spot. Great burgers too, great food in general. We love Bred,” Cousin Stizz said.

Noah Kahan’s New England Spots

Noah Kahan hails from Strafford, Vermont and has seen immense commercial success since the release of his second album, Stick Season (2022). In 2023 he was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for the album. He offered up local recommendations for food, fun, and scenic views across Vermont and New Hampshire.

First up is Coburns’ General Store (216 VT-132, South Strafford, Vermont), which Kahan called the hub of his hometown.

“The folks working the counter have been there since I was born, and it is the epitome of a family-run business. It feels like home,” he said.

For food, Kahan had picks ranging from national chains Buffalo Wild Wings at 555 Shelburne Rd, Burlington, Vermont; and The Bagel Place at 1166 Williston Rd, South Burlington, Vermont) to local spots. Among these were Koto Japanese Steakhouse (288 N Plainfield Rd., West Lebanon, New Hampshire); Gusanoz (410 Miracle Mile, Lebanon, NH); and Worthy Burger (56 Rainbow St, South Royalton, Vermont).

His favorite New England hobby destinations include the Carter Country Club (327 Mechanic St., Lebanon, New Hampshire) where he learned to play golf and Hanover Strings (34 S Main St., Hanover, New Hampshire) where he learned to play the guitar.

For nature, Kahan said Miller Pond (Orange County, Vermont) and Ledyard Bridge (W Wheelock St., Hanover, New Hampshire) were among his childhood favorites.

Elin Hilderbrand’s Nantucket Spots

Elin Hilderbrand is a Nantucket icon whose summer beach reads have reached readers worldwide. The author offered her favorite Nantucket spots, ranging from seafood restaurants to bookstores to local historical landmarks.

She listed Green Point Lighthouse and the Museum of African American History (27 York St., Nantucket) among her favorite landmarks to visit on the island.

For a beautiful place to stay, she recommended The Nantucket Hotel (77 Easton St., Nantucket), and for beautiful gifts, Jessica Hicks Jewelry (2 Union St., Nantucket).

For the “best lobster roll and the best lobster bisque on Nantucket”, try The Seagrille (45 Sparks Ave., Nantucket), and Sconset Market (4 Main St., Siasconset) for groceries.

For a night on the town, she recommends The Chicken Box (16 Dave St., Nantucket) for drinks and live music, Sandbar (4 Bathing Beach Rd. #2234, Nantucket) for a great beach bar, and Cisco Brewers (5 Bartlett Farm Rd., Nantucket).

And last but not least, there are two bookstores on the island she loves: Mitchell’s Book Corner (54 Main St., Nantucket) – “the grand dame of Main Street” – and Nantucket Bookworks (25 Broad St., Nantucket).

Brad Leone’s Connecticut Spots

Brad Leone is an American chef and YouTuber known for his work with Bon Appétit and its YouTube channel, as well as his own shows “Local Legends” and “Makin’ It.” He provided his favorite spots in southeastern Connecticut, including plenty of noteworthy restaurants and places to enjoy nature.

For a nature fix, he recommends heading to Lantern Hill Pond (New London, Connecticut), the Pachaug State Forest, and Stone Acres Farm (393 N Main St., Stonington, Connecticut).

For family-friendly spots, check out the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat (1 Railroad Ave., Essex, Connecticut) and Lee’s Toy & Hobby (935 Poquonnock Rd., Groton, Connecticut).

His list wouldn’t be complete without plenty of food recommendations. For seafood, check out The Port of Call (5 Water St., Mystic, Connecticut) and The Shipwright’s Daughter (20 E Main St., Mystic, Connecticut). For casual American fare, his favorite spots are Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (157 Wooster St., New Haven, Connecticut) and Harry’s Place (104 Broadway St, Colchester, Connecticut). And if you’re looking for pho with a broth made “from the heavens and will save your soul,” he recommends you try PHO 501 (501 Main St. #5, East Hartford, Connecticut).

What did the Apple Maps' "Hyperlocal" series get right (or wrong) about New England?