Lyn. I'm not sure what you're asking here but I think it's about whether or not to rent a car to get around. The places you've listed are beautiful and can best be seen if you have a car. I've done the same trip you mentioned and it's beautiful. I don't believe there is any other way to get around these places unless you have wheels. Perhaps you can get some information from the travel agent you will use to book your flights.

thanks for the reply. my problem was the car. the canadian car rental co. i tried had to have the car back to where you got it-no drop fees, no leaving it at another airport and no unlimited milage as we were used to. may try to see if flying into maine works but it is more driving and that eats up time. i thought we could fly to montreal and then start driving after quebec city-but not unless we come back there and that seems to be quite a few miles. again , thanks for your reply .

Part of your problem is that driving a rental car across the border into the the USA is as much of a problem as having an Afganistan passport.

Might I suggest a slightly different itinerary.

Fly into Montreal, drive around the eastern townships and on into Quebec. Return the car in Montreal and take the train down into New York State.

Pick up a car there and tour around New England. Either drive into New York or drop it off somewhere convenient to train into New York.

Fly home from there.

thanks for the suggestion to play with the route. new brunswick needs to stay on the table tho and that is making it harder. but i had thought about bangor, maine as a central northern point. and thanks for the train idea,i didn't know they went that far up. so i will play with those ideas.