A week in New England, beginning in Boston

Old Jan 9th, 2015, 12:43 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A week in New England, beginning in Boston

SO will be in Cambridge on business, after which I plan to join him for a week-long tour (of our own devising) of New England. Neither of us has ever spent any real time in New England at all. This will be around mid-May.

Because he'll be in Cambridge for about a month, I hope to go up for a long weekend and see as much of Boston as possible then, freeing us to leave the city at the end of his stay.

So we'll rent a car, and...???

I know, sorry! Very vague. I am studying maps, and have tried to little avail to search the forum for advice. I need help planning a route with stops, and as always, lodging and dining advice would be welcome.

Can we get as far as Maine? Should we stay along the shore? I have a friend in Portsmouth, NH, so a stop there will be required. We would not go south to Connecticut on this trip but rather look north, unless we need to see Rhode Island?? We like history, art, nature and food; no kids, just us two. Don't mind moving every night, if that makes sense to do.

Sorry for the long intro, and thank you for any help you can give!
NewbE is offline  
Old Jan 9th, 2015, 06:07 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 61,857
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Portsmouth is a logical stop on the way to Maine but you need to recognize that May can be quite cool in Northern New England and black fly season to boot, making outdoors activities a problem.

Check out strawberry banke
http://www.strawberybanke.org
As a start.
At that time of year I would head to the Berkshires, less than three hours west of Boston.
jubilada is offline  
Old Jan 10th, 2015, 02:18 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
May is a bit early for iconic coastal stuff like sitting on the dock eating lobsters in the rough.

It may also be black fly season in the woods, though there is likely to be spring skiing here and there as well.

You could have a nice trip not going farther than Portsmouth and Kittery (across the river).

Salem has the Peabody Essex Museum which is fantastic. Google it. Marblehead has charm and a working waterfront, Gloucester has a famous working waterfront with a lot less charm but lots of interest. It also has the museum of the Cape Ann Historical Society, which is art and artifacts from the area, much of which is good because a lot of artists and artisans lived and worked in the area. Rockport is a tourist trap in August but should be a pleasant walk in May.

Essex and Ipswich are famous for antiques and fried clams. Newburyport is a very pleasant town, and nearby Plum Island should have all the nature you want once you get out of the tat and into the protected area.

You can drive to Portsmouth along the coast through tacky beach towns (pretty much closed up except on weekends in May) and areas of large houses and estates. I'll let your friend pick it up there.
Ackislander is offline  
Old Jan 10th, 2015, 06:44 AM
  #4  
cw
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You could also spend some time in Portland, Maine. It has a vibrant restaurant scene and a good art museum.

I know you don't want to go South, but take a look at Newport, RI. There's plenty to do, even if its not Summer weather yet. And it won't be crazy crowded.

May can be lovely in Massachusetts as our flowering trees emerge from the long winter. Also take a look at the Yankee Magazine website. They have suggestions there for New England road trips.
cw is offline  
Old Jan 10th, 2015, 07:28 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 82,724
Received 46 Likes on 17 Posts
Ogunquit ME - 1.5 hours from Cambridge
Kennebunkport - 30 minutes up the road
Freeport - less than an hour from K & the LLBean flagship store
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/10000...store-flagship
Bar Harbor and Acadia NP - about 3 hours drive

If you have a week and want to go further, we loved Prince Edward Island
7 hours from Bar Harbor
Cape Breton NP is gorgeous
6 hours from PEI

1737 miles, 32 hours of driving with locations in Canada
571 miles, 10 hours of driving in Maine
starrs is offline  
Old Jan 10th, 2015, 08:33 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ogunquit ME - 1.5 hours from Cambridge We did that recently and loved it.
http://www.ogunquit.org/map.php
Make sure you see Concord on your trip. Love the history there.
Newport RI and the cape would be fun. You cn take the ferry to http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/provincetown-ferry/

We have done the ferry to Salem also. That was a nice ferry ride and enjoyed Salem.
flpab is offline  
Old Jan 10th, 2015, 08:36 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you have a friend in Portsmouth, NH and planning to visit, then I think you should concentrate on this area and go a bit further north. Your friend should have ideas for what to do in that area. Portsmouth is just a stone's throw from Maine border, we go up there quite a bit. It is a nice easy drive and some parts will be scenic. My daughter and several of her friends just spent a "girls' weekend" in Portsmouth and loved it! Nice shops, restaurants, and a good place for some R&R.

You could then head into Maine and drive along the Kittery coast. There are many outlet stores located in Kittery and you could spend a good part of your day there (if you like to shop). Back in the fall we drove up to the Wells area, stopped at the outlets, had a nice lobster lunch at a restaurant located off Route 1 on a marsh area. There are lots of great restaurants in this area. Some close for the winter season and may not re-open until Memorial Day weekend.

http://www.thekitteryoutlets.com/
(check the lodging info on this website)

Weather may be chilly but that is New England. In May it will not be so touristy and crowded.

Ogunquit - my favorite thing to do in Ogunquit is to walk the Marginal Way. It is a lovely, scenic walk along the ocean on a paved and windey path. There are benches so you can stop and enjoy the breathtaking scenery and watch for any wildlife in the water. We have done this walk many times and never get tired of it.

We have taken our children and grandchildren to walk the way. There are many nice lodging places in this area as well. You could spend a night or two here and relax.

http://www.cliffhousemaine.com/
This is a lovely hotel which will be re-opening in April. We went to a wedding here and it's a lovely venue.

http://www.yankeemagazine.com/explor...unquit-maine#_

There are many lighthouses located in this area as well, the most famous being Nubble Light, picture perfect to see!

You could continue your trip a bit further north to Kennebunkport which is very picturesque as well. Many great restaurants here and lots of very nice lodging. The Bush Compound is located here and you can drive by it (Walker's Point). Lots of cute shops but not sure how many will be open then. Of course, many great lobster stops here.

http://www.kennebunkport.org/
http://www.kennebunkport.com/culture...-kennebunkport

You could make this your stopping point as you would have many nice things to see and do from Portsmouth and north.

If you did want to skip some of the places I have outlined you could continue to Portland, Maine and spend a couple of days here. Portland is wonderful - many things to do here - museums, lighthouses, trolley tours, tours along the water to look for seals (we did this once and saw a ton of seals). The trolley tour is very nice and you can see a lot of Portland doing this. We went to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow house and did a nice tour. There are many great restaurants here as well. It is a port city so very scenic.

http://www.visitportland.com/

We love visiting Portland and think you would too. You could end your trip here and head back home.

Hope these suggestions are helpful. You will find lots of info on other travel websites. Good luck.

Cambridge is a great spot to sightsee! There is a hop on trolley tour that leaves from the Cambridge side Galleria Mall and we have taken this tour w/ some out-of-state friends. Goes over into Boston.

http://bostonsupertours.com/upper-de...olley-stop-10/

A great way to see Boston! Get on/off at your leisure. You could rent your car in Cambridge and then head north!
Luv2travel15 is offline  
Old Jan 10th, 2015, 08:37 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Forgot to include the info on Marginal Way:

http://gonewengland.about.com/od/mai...quit-maine.htm
Luv2travel15 is offline  
Old Jan 10th, 2015, 10:28 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 61,857
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would never go all the way to PEI with only a week , especially in May and especially if I had never been to New England, where there is plenty to do.
jubilada is offline  
Old Jan 10th, 2015, 10:59 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 82,724
Received 46 Likes on 17 Posts
It's just a suggestion. We did. Not in May though.
It was a great trip.

That's why I added the mileage. It's 3x more driving. Definitely a road trip.
starrs is offline  
Old Jan 11th, 2015, 12:37 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Salem ferry doesn't start until May 21. It makes a nice day trip, especially if you come back at dusk as the lights are going on in Boston.
Ackislander is offline  
Old Jan 11th, 2015, 07:19 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you all for taking so much time to advise me--I really appreciate it. I am going to study a map with your ideas in mind and then come back with questions about where to overnight.

The weather is of no concern. This is our only chance for a while to do this, for one; for another, we live in Florida, so we actually like cooler weather as a change of pace; and lastly, we had no expectations of lying on a beach.

Just reading the place names, which of course I've come across in books over the years, is getting me really excited! Maybe we can manage Newport to Ogunquit in 7 days?? I'll map it out to see.

Thanks again!
NewbE is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 03:28 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You could easily manage Newport to Ogunquit in a week.

It wouldn't even be a stretch. Newport to Ogunquit direct is only 150 miles.

If your husband has lodging through the month, you could do day trios to Newport, Salem, and Cape Ann.

Make Portsmouth, NH your base for the rest.

What you need to watch out for is the effect in Boston of college graduations on hotels, traffic, and restaurants. Prices go way up and availability goes way down the first two weeks of May. Red Sox home games can also affect both price and available lodging.
Ackislander is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 06:59 AM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, Ackis, I was worried about graduation season. Unfortunately, while he does have lodging for the month, I can't stay in it, so we'd have to get a room, as they say, for any weekend I can go up there. But now I'm thinking if I can swing two weekend trips, we can do Newport one of them and stay in Boston the other.

As soon as he knows the dates, I'll try booking rooms...
NewbE is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 07:23 AM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also, should we be more ambitious and go farther afield?
NewbE is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 08:47 AM
  #16  
cw
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
NewbE, here's a link to the dates of college graduations for your planning: http://www.bostonzest.com/2014/09/bo...ring-2015.html

Those of BU, BC, Northeastern, Harvard, and MIT will be the busiest time, and most expensive for hotel rooms.

Going to Newport on a weekend is a good idea.
cw is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 09:51 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks so much, cw, that list is really helpful! It looks like our best bet would be to book at least one weekend in Boston in late April, maybe one more in early May (maybe), then get the heck out of Dodge as soon as SO is free in mid-May and head north.
NewbE is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 10:51 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 82,724
Received 46 Likes on 17 Posts
We loved Nova Scotia and PEI.

From Boston you can be in Ogunquit, Freeport, etc. in a couple of hours or less.
The villages along the coast are beautiful.

From Freeport to Bar Harbor is less than 3 hours.
Acadia NP is wonderful.

From Bar Harbor to Halifax, NS is about 8 hours.

Cheticamp is five hours further and Cape Breton is gorgeous.
We loved the story of Cheticamp, the national park and where a lot of the New Orleans Cajuns originated. In fact, there were so many "Aucoin" family businesses, I sent a postcard to an Aucoin friend in Thibodaux, LA to let her know I found her long-lost cousins.

We took the ferry to PEI -
http://www.ferries.ca/nova-scotia-to...d-ferry/fares/
http://www.tourismpei.com/drive-to-pei
From Cambridge to Caribou is 1134 and 21 hours of driving.

You can drive off PEI via the bridge.
From Moncton, NS to Cambridge is 8 hours.

Road trips like that can be hell for some folks.
We had a blast and it was one of our best trips.

Our favorite months to travel are May and December.
http://www.gov.pe.ca/index.php3?number=1033615
That isn't true for all. It's a beautiful part of this continent. So glad we had the chance to see it.
starrs is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 07:16 PM
  #19  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think we are now planning to at least cover Boston to Acadia and back in about 6 days, possibly including Newport, RI; with a separate weekend spent in Boston.

If we can't swing the separate weekend, we'd maybe cut Newport or Acadia out of the total 6 days or so in order to include time in Boston. Or do you all think we could do two days (?) in Boston, and the rest from Boston to Acadia and back--only 4-5 days?

It's not the distances nor the driving that worry me, I just want to be able to stop and see things and not just watch them go by the car windows...
NewbE is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 10:25 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 82,724
Received 46 Likes on 17 Posts
"Our favorite months to travel are May and December."
That should have been May and October.

Boston to Acadia is less than 5 hours so 6 days is plenty of time.
starrs is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -