Advice Needed on 10 Day New England Vacation
Mar 31st, 2004, 07:26 AM
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Advice Needed on 10 Day New England Vacation
Hi,
I would love some advice on a vacation my husband and I are planning to New England. I've searched the internet but can't get a feel for how long we should stay in each place we want to go. We purchased our flights and will be flying into Boston Fri. Sept. 3 and departing Sunday evening, Sept. 12. We are doing Boston the first 3 nights, then we'd like to hit Portland, Burlington, VT, and the Western CT (near the casinos) and Newport, RI area. So we were thinking:
Boston - 3 nights
Portland - 1 night
Burlington - 2 to 3 nights
CT or RI - 2 or 3 nights
So we've got 5 nights to work with to see Burlington, VT, CT and RI. Should we do 3 nights in the Vermont area (Burlington) and only do 2 in CT/RI or vice versa. We're not really into touristy stuff; we love nature and to hike, do artsy stuff and explore, good restaurants, etc. Someone mentioned a ferry to Lake Placid from VT on this board and thought maybe we'll need 3 days in VT if we want to do that also (husband is hockey nut.)
In CT we would like to do the casino and I don't know what else there is do see there: neat small towns? And we'd like to visit Newport for a day. Can Newport be a daytrip from CT, or should we stay there (seems expensive)?
So maybe we should do 2 nights Burlington, VT, 2 nights Mystic, CT, 1 night Newport? Is that too much?
We will eventually be shooting back up to Boston for our flight home on that Sunday, so maybe staying in Newport would make sense for the last night?
Sorry for the rambling..any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
I would love some advice on a vacation my husband and I are planning to New England. I've searched the internet but can't get a feel for how long we should stay in each place we want to go. We purchased our flights and will be flying into Boston Fri. Sept. 3 and departing Sunday evening, Sept. 12. We are doing Boston the first 3 nights, then we'd like to hit Portland, Burlington, VT, and the Western CT (near the casinos) and Newport, RI area. So we were thinking:
Boston - 3 nights
Portland - 1 night
Burlington - 2 to 3 nights
CT or RI - 2 or 3 nights
So we've got 5 nights to work with to see Burlington, VT, CT and RI. Should we do 3 nights in the Vermont area (Burlington) and only do 2 in CT/RI or vice versa. We're not really into touristy stuff; we love nature and to hike, do artsy stuff and explore, good restaurants, etc. Someone mentioned a ferry to Lake Placid from VT on this board and thought maybe we'll need 3 days in VT if we want to do that also (husband is hockey nut.)
In CT we would like to do the casino and I don't know what else there is do see there: neat small towns? And we'd like to visit Newport for a day. Can Newport be a daytrip from CT, or should we stay there (seems expensive)?
So maybe we should do 2 nights Burlington, VT, 2 nights Mystic, CT, 1 night Newport? Is that too much?
We will eventually be shooting back up to Boston for our flight home on that Sunday, so maybe staying in Newport would make sense for the last night?
Sorry for the rambling..any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Mar 31st, 2004, 09:02 AM
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When in Boston, I'd suggest a day trip taking the ferry over to Provincetown for an artsy and quaint town. From Boston to Portland, for coastal artsy and scenic communities you could stop in Rockport (MA), Portsmouth (NH), Ogunquit (ME)- walk along the Marginal Way and go to Perkin's Cove and Hurricane's Restaurant, also Kennebunkport (ME). If you are going as far as Portland, I'd suggest going further North to Acadia if you're into nature. After that long ride, I'd stay overnight there and stay even one more night to see that area, it's just beautiful. Then I'd head over to Burlington (VT), which will be about a 6 hr. ride. I'd definitely recommend taking the ferry over to Plattsburgh and going to Lake Placid (NY). You can drive or hike up Whiteface Mountain and the view is phenomenal. Lake Placid has the former Olympic sites to see and is a pretty town. I'd do 2 nights in VT. Now you're at Friday and the ride from VT to the casino area of CT is about 4.5 hours. You don't want to pay the weekend prices to stay at the casino because it's about double the price of a weeknight (min.$200-$300). I'd stay in the Mystic area that you mentioned. I'd spend more than one day in Newport, but it's very expensive to stay right in Newport. I'd stay outside of Newport close to Providence Saturday night and go to Waterfire in Providence if there's one going on that night (www.waterfire.com). I'm sure other posters will have many other great suggestions and can fill in some blanks too on dining and other attractions. Well, that will take you to Sunday - have a fabulous trip!
Mar 31st, 2004, 09:05 AM
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Burlington, VT is a beautiful town, but it is a long drive from Boston and Maine! It's a pretty drive out there and back, but you might want to consider spending time in the mountains of New Hampshire instead. The casinos are in Eastern Connecticut, very close to the Rhode Island border. The Mohegan Sun is very nice and close to Mystic, Connecticut which is a great little town to visit. Though, one night would probably be enough there. Newport is a great town too. There are the hostoric mansions to visit, beaches to see, lots of good restaurants, and a nice cliff walk to hike along. You could even take a trip into Providence and explore that city. The restaurants in Providence are excellent. The Rhode Island School of Design is there and you might want to check out their museum.
Mar 31st, 2004, 09:22 AM
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There's really not much there to see in Portland, ME, itself. If you want to see the rocky Maine coast, but don't want to go as far as Acadia, you may want to try something like Boothbay Harbor, which is not that far from Portland. Or skip Portland all together, and head west to the White Mountains of NH after visiting Kennebunkport, ME.
There are lots of beatiful and dramatic places in the White Mountains of NH (like Mt. Washington) and Green Mountains fo VT that I think you don't need to venture all the way to Lake Placid. I'd save that for another trip.
So, for the 5 nights you have, I'd do something like
Boothbay Harbor (or surrounding areas) - 1 night
N. Conway, NH (or surr. areas) - 1 night
Burlington - 2 nights
Mystic, CT - 1 night
Newport, RI - 1 night
There are lots of beatiful and dramatic places in the White Mountains of NH (like Mt. Washington) and Green Mountains fo VT that I think you don't need to venture all the way to Lake Placid. I'd save that for another trip.
So, for the 5 nights you have, I'd do something like
Boothbay Harbor (or surrounding areas) - 1 night
N. Conway, NH (or surr. areas) - 1 night
Burlington - 2 nights
Mystic, CT - 1 night
Newport, RI - 1 night
Mar 31st, 2004, 09:38 AM
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Well, let's see...after staying 3 nights in Boston, we will have 6 nights total to cover ME, NH, VT, CT, RI.
I am afraid of staying only one night in each spot for fear of getting burned out of check-in/check-out. I don't know, just a thought. ??
Would this work:
-2 nights Maine (north of Portland but south of Camden, so to explore both areas)
-2 nights Burlington, VT (with stop in North Conway, NH along the way)
-1 night Mystic
-1 night Newport (or general area)
Thoughts? Would staying 2 nights in ME and not staying in NH be a bad idea?
I am afraid of staying only one night in each spot for fear of getting burned out of check-in/check-out. I don't know, just a thought. ??
Would this work:
-2 nights Maine (north of Portland but south of Camden, so to explore both areas)
-2 nights Burlington, VT (with stop in North Conway, NH along the way)
-1 night Mystic
-1 night Newport (or general area)
Thoughts? Would staying 2 nights in ME and not staying in NH be a bad idea?
Mar 31st, 2004, 10:19 AM
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Just a tip from someone who lives in RI: you might want to try staying in Narragansett; it's about 15 mins from Newport (just have to go over 2 bridges to get there). The rates tend to be a little lower than those in Newport, it's not quite as crowded, but it's SO easy to drive to Newport.
Mar 31st, 2004, 10:28 AM
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Sounds like a fun trip, and a great time of year to be in New England -- weather should be good.
I live in CT, and agree with the suggestion to visit Mohegan Sun -- seems to get better press than Foxwoods, though I'm not a casino person, can't vouch from personal experience. It's an easy drive from there to Newport.
Mystic is close by, worth a visit -- for good lobster, casual shoreline setting, go to Abbotts in Noank.
The most obvious route from Burlington VT to southeastern CT is on the interstates (I-91, Rt 2, I-95) -- but if you have time, Rt 7 down the western side of VT/MA/CT is a lovely scenic drive, through the Berkshires. Take Rt 4 in CT from Cornwall through Goshen to get a sense of CT backroads, and see why so many folks want weekend homes there! Another option would be to take the Mass Pike from Rt 7, thru the Berkshires (too late for Tanglewood season) and on to Worcester, then 395 from Worcester thru CT's "northeast corner". So many choices, fun to decide.
Have a great trip.
I live in CT, and agree with the suggestion to visit Mohegan Sun -- seems to get better press than Foxwoods, though I'm not a casino person, can't vouch from personal experience. It's an easy drive from there to Newport.
Mystic is close by, worth a visit -- for good lobster, casual shoreline setting, go to Abbotts in Noank.
The most obvious route from Burlington VT to southeastern CT is on the interstates (I-91, Rt 2, I-95) -- but if you have time, Rt 7 down the western side of VT/MA/CT is a lovely scenic drive, through the Berkshires. Take Rt 4 in CT from Cornwall through Goshen to get a sense of CT backroads, and see why so many folks want weekend homes there! Another option would be to take the Mass Pike from Rt 7, thru the Berkshires (too late for Tanglewood season) and on to Worcester, then 395 from Worcester thru CT's "northeast corner". So many choices, fun to decide.
Have a great trip.
Apr 1st, 2004, 03:55 AM
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"Boston - 3 nights
Portland - 1 night
Burlington - 2 to 3 nights
CT or RI - 2 or 3 nights"
Depending on how much you want to do in Boston, maybe cut it back to 2 nights. Our visits to Boston have been like this: Fri afternoon visit to Kennedy Library, Dinner. Sat: Duck Tour, lunch in North End, explore Quincy Market and buy cut rate tickets for evening show, dinner, show. Sun: visit museum.
On your way to Portland you can stop in Portsmouth NH for a morning cruise of the harbor or inland rivers. Choose a great place for lunch. Walk the Marginal Way in Ogunquit. Stay someplace further north than Portland. Visit Farnsworth Museum in Rockland. Easy, short hike to Owls Head Lighthouse in Rockport. (hope I didn't get these two confused.) Next day visit Camden. (2 nights Maine)
Drive thru NH's White Mountains. Short hike to a waterfall someplace. The Great Vermont Corn Maze is fun but it will take 2-3 hours. (Danville VT near Littleton NH)
I think 2 nights in Burlington is enough. Keep in mind that NH mountains are tall and craggy. Vermont is beautiful but the Green Mountains are lower and VT has more open, rolling farmland than NH.
At Monhegan Sun, browse the shops because you will want to see the store that is filled with aquariums. Even the entrance is a walk thru an aquarium. I was very impressed with the Indian Museum at Foxwoods. Definitely visit Abbotts for a lobster roll. The view is wonderful but you'll need good directions to find it. If you don't plan to visit Mystic Seaport, you might want to stay closer to Newport. There's a great little nature museum with hiking trails near Mystic. We happend on their wild mushroom festival last year but it was later in Sept. Providence is a city of great restaurants and the canal is beautiful.
Have a great trip!
Portland - 1 night
Burlington - 2 to 3 nights
CT or RI - 2 or 3 nights"
Depending on how much you want to do in Boston, maybe cut it back to 2 nights. Our visits to Boston have been like this: Fri afternoon visit to Kennedy Library, Dinner. Sat: Duck Tour, lunch in North End, explore Quincy Market and buy cut rate tickets for evening show, dinner, show. Sun: visit museum.
On your way to Portland you can stop in Portsmouth NH for a morning cruise of the harbor or inland rivers. Choose a great place for lunch. Walk the Marginal Way in Ogunquit. Stay someplace further north than Portland. Visit Farnsworth Museum in Rockland. Easy, short hike to Owls Head Lighthouse in Rockport. (hope I didn't get these two confused.) Next day visit Camden. (2 nights Maine)
Drive thru NH's White Mountains. Short hike to a waterfall someplace. The Great Vermont Corn Maze is fun but it will take 2-3 hours. (Danville VT near Littleton NH)
I think 2 nights in Burlington is enough. Keep in mind that NH mountains are tall and craggy. Vermont is beautiful but the Green Mountains are lower and VT has more open, rolling farmland than NH.
At Monhegan Sun, browse the shops because you will want to see the store that is filled with aquariums. Even the entrance is a walk thru an aquarium. I was very impressed with the Indian Museum at Foxwoods. Definitely visit Abbotts for a lobster roll. The view is wonderful but you'll need good directions to find it. If you don't plan to visit Mystic Seaport, you might want to stay closer to Newport. There's a great little nature museum with hiking trails near Mystic. We happend on their wild mushroom festival last year but it was later in Sept. Providence is a city of great restaurants and the canal is beautiful.
Have a great trip!
Jun 24th, 2004, 10:45 AM
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If you stay in or near Newport, you'll have lots of choices for hiking and nature trails, some great restaurants, and you'll still have good beach weather. Dinner at a windowside table at Castle Hill Inn(www.castlehillinn.com) would be a nite that you'll remember for a while! You can easily drive to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun from the Newport area in about 40 minutes. There is also a former Jai Alai fronton just outside of Newport in Middletown(borders Newport) that has plenty of slots but no gaming tables.You could also take the nearby (Quonset) ferry to Martha's Vineyard for the day or longer.Good luck!
Jun 24th, 2004, 03:06 PM
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I live in Boston and travel virtually to the Mohegan Sun once a month becuase I have family living near there. It takes 1.5 hours if you take 95 south to Rhode Island, hope on 295, take Route 6 toward CT and then hop on 395 south. You'll pass through some rural towns in Rhode Island on this route. I would suggest that you stay in Mystic. Spend the day visiting sites there and then your hotel will likely have a shuttle to the Mohegan Sun (much nicer than Foxwoods). You can spend a few hours in the evening there. I also agree that I would stay in Narragansett (or even Portsmouth) to save money when visiting Newport. I lived in Narragansett for two years and loved it, despite the traffic. You could even take a ferry over to Block Island for a day instead.
