Bakeries, pastry shops in Boston, North Conway, Stowe, Portsmouth?

In Boston, Flour Bakery in the South End is top notch. There's also quite a few in the North End, Mike's and Modern.

In Portsmouth, Popovers has really great pies, cakes, desserts, etc.

You didn't state your route to Stowe. From Boston, if you head up Rt 93 to Concord NH then Rt 89, you could stop in Concord at a European style bakery on Main Street called Bread and Chocolate. While in Stowe, have breakfast at the Dutch Pancake place. The pancakes might as well be dessert and are not like the usual pancakes.

After we drive the Kancamagus, we always pass a tiny cider mill on Rte 16 on the way into North Conway. I don't know the name, but it has the best cider donuts I've ever had. It's in a rustic looking plaza along with one or two gift shops.

Just north of Boston, in Saugus, which would be on your way north, there's Keans Donuts which are supposed to be the best donuts in the US, or at least one of the best www.keansdonuts.com. A family owned business that is a legend in the area.

You also might check out Kellys' for the BEST roast beef sandwich and lobster roll/clam roll. There are several locations in the Boston area, but a suggestion would be the one on Revere beach. It's an outside stand, and you eat in your car overlooking the ocean, or there are benches there as well. (oh and watch out for the seagulls, they LOVE Kelly's fries). From there head up to Saugus to Keans.

Have a GREAT time.

Ditto re: Flour Bakery in Boston. It has 2 branches, one in Fort Point Channel and one in South End. The owner had a "Throwdown" with Bobby Flay on her sticky buns and she won. I shared a sticky bun from Flour with a friend last week and it was really quite good, coming from me who don't even like sticky buns.
http://www.flourbakery.com/

Also second the suggestion of checking out North End in Boston. You can do a taste test between Mike's and Modern to see which one makes a better cannoli. Maria's nearby is famous for the Sfogliatella (lobster tail) pastry.

Wow. Yum! Can't wait!
Thank you all.

Thompson's "Flour" Shoppe
407 Mountain Rd
Stowe, VT 05672

Riverstone's Fine Pastries
357 White Mountain Hwy
Conway, NH 03818

Also, check out www.sweetcupcakes.com (Back Bay) and www.beachpeabaking.com (worth a trip over the border from Portsmouth into Maine).

By the way, has your husband ever had a "whoopie pie"?

Oh, and you do understand that when we give out details about our favorite sweet shoppes, you are expected to come back here and leave a FULL REPORT, right?

Not sure exactly what your route from Boston to stowe is but possible places along the way are Rainbow Sweets in Marshfield (on Rte 2) and La Brioche in Montpelier (run by the New England culinary institute)
Also if you are going to be visiting the area soon be sure to try the cider donuts at Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury Ctr just south of Stowe

The doughnut place in Saugus is called Kane's, actually, and it is very good. You'll likely need a car to get there efficiently. Other good doughnut spots near Boston include Verna's in North Cambridge and Donuts with a Difference in Medford. Avoid Dunkin' Donuts unless you're desperate. Surprisingly, Starbuck's donuts are quite good locally.

Will third Flour in Boston as well as Modern Pastries, Maria's, and Mike's, all in Boston's North End. Gingerbread Construction Company in Wakefield is excellent (ultra-decadent muffins in particular), as is Rosie's Bakery (several area Boston locations) and Iggy's (Cambridge, near Alewife in North Cambridge).

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Finale (http://www.finaledesserts.com/). It is more a "dessert restaurant" - they have light savory foods and gourmet desserts (which are the stars -backward from a typical meal!). It is also on the pricy side, but you might feel like a splurge while you are in Boston.

There are actually 4 locations, including one near the Back Bay area in Boston (Columbus Avenue, near the Public Garden) and one in Harvard Square in Cambridge.

In Portsmouth, Ceres Bakery is a must for excellent cookies, pies, tortes, and cafe breakfasts and lunches.

http://www.ceresbakery.com/index.html

A fan here of Rosie's (www.rosiesbakery.com). My favorites are her boom booms, chocolate orgasms [trust me, they're good!], congo bars, and lemon bars. Portable yummies to take along on your trip!!!

oh my....I'll have to bring along my elastic pants to sample everything. Our last trip was to Oahu and we swam everyday to work off the extra calories. I guess we'll have to put in extra hikes on this trip for these delicious treats. Will definitely report back after the trip. Thanks!

I didn't know about Kane's doughnut shop. I'll make sure we visit it when we head to Saugus (still have to visit the Saugus Iron Works)!

I for one didn't mention Finale because I've never been that taken with their desserts. They always look a lot more decadent and delicious than they taste, for some reason. Too bad, as their stuff always looks luscious.

Kane's has all the usual doughnut type suspects and specialties (what I've tried was excellent). Plus if you're Adam-Richman-Man-V.-Food level hungry, you can tackle their humongous coffee roll, which is about the size of your head.

Chocolate covered biscotti at Maria's bakery in North End. Someone on here said they mail order them. Now I know why- they are my newest addiction.

In downtown Portsmouth, NH, there's a bakery and coffee shop called Popovers on the Square. Have been there and liked it very much -- yes, they do have popovers there, and they're very good.