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Destination and route guidance needed for Oct trip to New England.

Destination and route guidance needed for Oct trip to New England.

Old Aug 18th, 2016, 05:02 PM
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Destination and route guidance needed for Oct trip to New England.

Hello All!

We just found out that my husband will have extra time off of work, so we decided we will take a Fall foliage trip to New England. I am from Florida where it's always green, and have never taken been to New England (nor have I ever seen Fall foliage), so I'm so excited, but in desperate need of help!

Our anticipated dates of travel would be to fly in on Friday the 7th of October in the evening, and fly home the evening of Thursday the 13th. That would give us 5-51/2 days. I have been looking through the forum and googling, but I am so overwhelmed and confused, so I was hoping you all can guide me. Since I don't know where to go yet, we haven't made any flight or hotel/Inn arrangements, and I know I need to do that quickly.

A friend suggested we go to New Hampshire/Lake Winnipesaukee (Merideth, Wolfboro, Gilford/Gunstock Ski area), and Wells/Ogunquit, and Camden Maine. I looked these up and seems as if these are further south than where the foliage maps say we should be. Should we be more in the northern parts of NH and Maine given the dates we are going? Should we be somewhere else?

What is important to us is to see the beautiful, vibrant changing colors, and the scenery. We do want to stay where there are things to do as well, perhaps a cable car ride, scenic boat ride, Octoberfests, visit small towns/villages, unique shopping, and of course we love to eat! We are not "fine" diners, but we do love a good meal! I am 53, husband is 63. We are not hikers, but walking isn't a problem. We will also be renting a car. Hopefully we can pick up in one place and return to another.

Can someone help guide me as to where we should go during this week to get the best out of the season? I need help in where to start, where to end, and what to do in the middle! I think it would be best if we stay for 2 nights in 2 separate places with one extra night somewhere, and take day trips.

Please excuse my ignorance, but again, I feel pressured to make reservations quickly, as it is so late, and I have no idea where we are going!

Thanking you in advance!
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Old Aug 18th, 2016, 09:12 PM
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It's difficult because you need to book lodging early, but you really won't know where the peak colors are until a week or so before your trip.

So, I think a good way of planning a foliage trip is to pick two or three destinations where you'd like to visit and enjoy the evenings, and then plan your drives between those place to be meandering drives through the most colorful areas.

One idea would be to fly into Manchester NH spending the night in Wolfeboro, then a day drive up through Woodstock and Littleton and over to Bethel Maine for a couple of nights. From Bethel you could take drives to Rangeley and through the Carrabasset Valley. Next day you'd have a drive through the Winthrop lakes/Wayne area and eastward to Camden where you'll find "rocky coast" as well as (hopefully) some nice foliage views from Mt Battie overlooking the nearby lakes. From Camden you could fly home from Bangor or Portland (Bangor is probably the shorter, more scenic drive, just under 90 minutes, but may have fewer flight options for you. For Portland allow about 2 hours drive from Camden).

It looks like Alamo and Enterprise both have some decent one-way car rental rates available on your dates...don't wait too long to book, car reservations are changeable.

The Inn on Main has availability in Wolfeboro but only if you stay both Fri & Sat nights. Otherwise the little Belknap Point Motel in Gilford shows a room available.

Bethel has a few places with availability for Sunday and Monday, and if you decide on Camden for Tuesday and Wednesday I can highly recommend the Lord Camden Inn..or for a nice bargain a mile or so from the main downtown area, Glenmoor By the Sea.
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Old Aug 19th, 2016, 02:49 AM
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Friday northbound traffic from MHT and BOS is going to be extremely heavy since it's a foliage weekend and also Columbus Day weekend.

Two festivals that I know of in the area you have mentioned are the Sandwich Fair near Lake Winnipesaukee/Meredith, a small agricultural fair and the Warner Fall Foliage Festival near Concord NH. I think the Warner festival would be more to your tastes and I would recommend staying in Concord NH which has several good restaurants but you could plan on eating "fair food" (I think you might be able to get a lobster dinner at the fair but definitely chicken barbecue in a vinegar based sauce) for lunch. Concord has a lovely recently renovated downtown Main street. Should it rain, you can see what's playing at Red River Theater. Warner is convenient to I89 but traffic to VT is going to be heavy that weekend so I would suggest taking Pleasant St from Concord to Warner. It becomes Rt 103 and goes thru the towns of Hopkinton and Contoocook. Stop at Gould Hill Orchard for heirloom apples and a view of distant mountains. You can also continue north to New London/Wilmot NH for a drive up little Mt Kearsarge (toll rd) for a nice view toward Lake Sunapee (Winslow State Park). You can hike to the top but it's not necessary to go past the parking area for the view.

From Concord you could also visit Canterbury Shaker Village. On Monday, when the bulk of the traffic is going home. You could start heading north via I93 to the Lake Winnipesaukee area. Despite it being an interstate, I93 goes right through the White Mountains. I think changing lodging to the lake area (Meredith or Wolfeboro would be fine) on Monday and waiting to visit the mountains until Tuesday would be less traffic. You could take a cruise on the SS Mt Washington or a nature cruise on Squam Lake to see loons. The Squam Lakes Science Center in Holderness features native animals in natural habitats. You can visit North Conway as a day trip but other than the gorgeous view from main street, I don't think it's worth the crowds that will be there for foliage.

From the Lake W area you can continue east to either Portland ME or Portsmouth NH. I always recommend the inland rivers cruise from Portsmouth. The coast is warmer than inland so foliage is usually a little bit behind. Both cities have ample choices of restaurants. It would be possible to visit one as a day trip and then base yourself in the other.

Camden ME is besautiful but it also means a few hours on I95 which is pretty boring. We only visit for a trip/picnic on Mt. Battie via the auto road.

If you wanted to visit a "real lobster shack" in Maine, Columbus Day weekend might be your last chance at our favorites which are usually weekends only after Labor Day and closing Columbus Day. These are the picnic table only type of places.

If you can fly out of Portland, fine but, if not, MHT is only a couple of hours away. Portsmouth to MHT might be 30-45 minutes via Rt 101. I think Portland's Old Port Area would offer the most choices of unique shopping but Portsmouth is good, too. One of our favorite drives is from the Prescott Park area of Portsmouth via Rt 1B thru New Castle which takes you past the fabulously renovated Wentworth Hotel. Some of the oldest homes are in Portsmouth/New Castle area. Take the coastal route thru Rye to see the private mansions. You can end up at Petey's for seafood at a classic New England kind of place.
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Old Aug 19th, 2016, 11:37 AM
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Thank you both for your very in depth and enlightening information! That's a lot to digest, so I will have to go look up these areas and see what may work. It seems as if MHT doesn't have any non-stops from Ft. Lauderdale, so I'll need to look at the other options.
Do you think that the weekend before would be a better weekend to go? I just thought the foliage would be prettier over the Columbus weekend.
Debbie, thank you for looking into the availability of the rental cars and hotels, that was extra nice of you!
Thank you both again.
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Old Aug 19th, 2016, 11:50 AM
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Columbus Day weekend has often been the peak of leaf colors in Vermont, mid state and south. Licence plates from all over the US are seen in VT at that time.
Book your accomodarions ASAP for leaf peeping.
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Old Aug 19th, 2016, 12:03 PM
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There is so much to do in New England- last fall we have filled every single weekend with a roadtrip (we live near Boston). Here is my blog post with all the ideas, it also has a link to New Hampshire foliage map (when the time is right).
http://celebratetheweekend.com/fall-weekends-england/
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Old Aug 19th, 2016, 02:30 PM
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That would definitely be my recommendation. Many years, most or all the fall color is gone in the northern White Mountains by Labor Day.

By going a week earlier, you're more likely to see much more color and also avoid all the Columbus weekend traffic and that the roads scenic roads will be much busier on Saturday and Sunday and well as Friday and Monday.

With only about six days, if your focus is foliage, stick to the mountains and skip the seacoast.

Foliage moves south and west, so it would be best to head for the most northeastern place you plan to visit, and travel southwest from there.

Personally, I would spend all your days in areas of the most spectacular foliage rather than spreading such a wide net.

Though others may disagree, "peak", to my observation, is just ahead of all remaining leaves dropping, not when it's most colorful.

My recommendation would be to enter your dates on this map and choose areas that are usually mid-peak those dates.

Note that the map is slightly deceiving in that right along coastal areas and around lakes the leaves turn a week or two later than in the mountains.
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Old Aug 19th, 2016, 06:47 PM
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If you're looking for nonstop flights out of FLL, I think your only choice is Boston. Not a problem, but watch your arrival and departure times so that you can hopefully avoid the heaviest traffic hours.

I think going a week earlier you'd have no trouble finding colorful drives to enjoy, you'll just have to keep updated on the current advised drives/areas.

"I just thought the colors would be prettier over the Columbus weekend".
..."New England Today" seems to think that the generally warm and dry conditions over the past year have set the stage for an early, quick autumn with just a brief period of intense color. So probably earlier would be fine, but be prepared to take some long afternoon drives as the peak color might not be in the exact areas where you reserve your lodging.
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 07:12 AM
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I've found this to be the best foliage map: https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/

This is the link to last year's map. Though every year is different, it does give a good visual of how foliage progresses through New England and you can change the map by clicking on the dates at the bottom.
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 12:13 PM
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I've looked at several foliage maps, flight schedules and prices, and I think it's best that we stick with your original dates.
Flying in and out of Boston seems to work best financially and schedule wise, so I think the plan would be to fly in Friday night and stay in Boston for the night. Early Saturday morning head north to the White Mountain area and use that as home base through Tuesday morning. Then Tuesday morning head to the coast and stay there for 2 nights and leave for home on Thursday evening from Boston.

So is it really not advisable not to go to the coast though? Yes, foliage is most important, but we also want things to do, not just leaf peeping. I think once we establish a home base (which I'm not even sure where that is yet), I can make my reservations and plan the days "activities" from there.
Should I be reserving our lodging around the White Mountain area? Does it matter if it's N, S, E or W?

Thanks again for helping a virgin New England traveler!
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 01:58 PM
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I think Portland and/or Portsmouth or anything else on the coast could be a nice finale to your trip. The ocean provides a different atmosphere. The Rt 1B drive I posted thru New Castle has a lot of trees and old homes. Once you get to the ocean, then there's not a lot of trees.

Make sure you get out of Boston early on a Saturday.

The big difference according to my dh between the Kancamagus Hwy through the White Mountains and my preferred route through Tamworth and Sandwich is the Kanc is a lot of trees and mountains. The more southerly route includes some beautiful old homes and rolling hills. The views we saw today tended to be looking toward Mt. Chocura. The tallest Mt Washington is dramatic. If I remember my dates, the town was settled in 1763 so there are a lot of old homes and farms. The inventory of old barns is at 210 right now and one of the prettiest belongs to the Sandwich Historical Society and houses old vehicles.

When we had to be in the Conway area a couple of months ago we decided to stay at an airb&b in Chocura since we had a 7am meet up in Tamworth at the Remick Farm Museum but there were not a lot of restaurant choices in that area.

If you do a rt 3/I93 start in the White Mountains, take the Kancamagus to Conway, make a short visit to North Conway, backtrack then head south on Rt 16 to Tamworth and Center Sandwich, you can be in Moultonborough/Meredith area for lunch. I think an ideal place to stay would be one of the hotels in Meredith with a view of the lake but I have never stayed overnight there. It's a beautiful upscale town and a simple day trip for us. Staying in the Conway area (east side of the mountains) would put you closer to the seacoast. If you stayed in that area, Portland isn't much more than an hour away so could be done as a day trip. But, it sounds like flying in/out of Boston makes ending your trip on the seacoast sensible.
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 07:53 PM
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Yes if you're looking at booking a Saturday night on the 3-day semiholiday weekend, you should book a.s.a.p.

Also book the car as the rates will prob go up, and if they go down you can just modify the reservation.

Birch Knoll Motel in Laconia
Belknap Point Motel
Bayside-Inn, Alton Bay
The Margate, Laconia
(all of these have a room or 2 still available for Columbus Day Weekend with Saturday arrival)
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Old Aug 21st, 2016, 02:14 AM
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Bayside Inn looks nice and I think would be in a quieter area than anything on Rt 3/Laconia and Weirs Beach area.

Keep in mind that anything on or around the Lake is going to have a lot of traffic for Columbus Day weekend and every good weather weekend. Meredith has a lot of traffic in the downtown intersection area.

I commuted many years on I93. Even the interstate is going to be pretty but even prettier when you can see some distant mountains or water or farmland. I89 from I93 to and thru VT is also scenic. But I would not want to miss out on some of the views you can get in Maine i.e. Fort Williams Park in South Portland with a great view of Casco Bay. Prescott Park in Portsmouth NH across from Strawbery Banke historic area has an interesting view of a busy harbor. Industrial scenes but also kayakers enjoying the water. The park has some beautiful trees as well as flowers. Sometimes a single maple tree by a stone wall on a farm is breathtaking (we have a favorite) but so is the panorama of mixed hardwoods along the interstate.

You might have fun visiting this website. He has photos categorized by state. http://www.jeff-foliage.com/
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Old Aug 21st, 2016, 01:09 PM
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You might want to consider staying in the Lincoln, NH area. Once there, you can decide where to go (north and east, north and west, or west and south, etc.) all depending on the foliage reports. If Fall is early, as predicted, a driving rain one or more days may remove most/all of the foliage, particularly areas at near or peak.

The peril of driving the Kancamagus during Fall, particularly Columbus weekend, is the plethora of RV's creating slowdowns throughout the route with very few places to pass them. Other major routes, 302, 2, the Interstates, have plenty of places for passing slower vehicles. Tuesday would definitely be better day for a drive along the Kancamagus on your way to the seacoast.

Know that there is spectacular scenery along the Interstates (93, 91), not just the "scenic drive" routes and back roads.
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Old Aug 21st, 2016, 01:58 PM
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It really depends where you go. I live in north central Vt and foliage around here peaks at the very end of September/first week in October. It is later farther south. If you are looking at foliage maps that should give you a good idea.

I wish you good "leaf peeping." Fall foliage in New England is truly beautiful.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2016, 12:37 PM
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Thank you all so very much! I jotted down all of your suggestions, and I've been going over them to help make a decision, but I need to first focus on getting our rooms.

I have already booked our flights, but I'm having an issue trying to find a decent B&B or Inn. I'm somewhat particular with that, so I'm trying to find something nice that hopefully includes breakfast. As you've mentioned, it's hard this close to October. Is bedandbreakfast.com my best option to look for what we want?

Also, we have extended our stay, and we will now be going from Friday night Oct. 7th (staying in Boston and leaving for NH early Saturday morning), and leaving Boston for FL on Saturday night, Oct. 15th.

That being said, I think we should spend 3 nights in one place in the White Mountain area (Jackson, Conway, etc.), perhaps 2 nights somewhere between Portsmouth and Portland area, and then we will still have 2 extra nights? Any suggestions? We are still flying in and out of Boston/Logan.
Thanks again!
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Old Aug 22nd, 2016, 01:11 PM
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Carter Notch Inn shows full but you might call to get waitlisted. Wildflowers Inn shows a room available and you can cancel up until Sept 23 ($20 cancellation fee). Since you're particular, I can't stress enough that you need to lock something in soon if you expect to check-in on the Saturday night of a 3-day weekend. I'm actually surprised to see any availability at all just 6 weeks out from a big foliage weekend.

Between Portsmouth and Portland, look at Abalonia Inn.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2016, 01:26 PM
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Thanks Debbie for looking into that for me. I actually emailed Carter Notch last night, and they have me on a waitlist. I'm still looking around. I'm finding several Inns on Expedia, not my ideal, but there are still some available.
Do you know anything about 1785 Inn in North Conway? And what is that area like?
I'll look into the Abalonia Inn right now!
Thanks again!
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Old Aug 22nd, 2016, 02:29 PM
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Oh, just thought of it now that I have more time on vacation....do you think it's best to stay 4 nights in the White Mountain area and 3 nights in ONE town on the coast or visa versa? OR, split it up in 3 different places?
Again, I apologize for all the questions.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2016, 03:58 PM
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Well, I'm not one who likes to pack-and-unpack too many times, period. But in this case I think you could book Sat Sun & Mon and then play the rest by ear. If you like the area, stay another night. If not move on to your coastal destination. Coastal rooms won't be difficult to book on that Tues Wed & Thurs. This would also give you the advantage of knowing what the weather is going to be like before committing to a move.

I realize that probably just confuses things more.

Note that Carter Notch Inn has availability on Tues & Wed, if you book a night or two there, it might get you further up on their waitlist for the other nights. Then you could due Thurs & Fri in Ogunquit or Kennebunkport or Portsmouth, and have an easy drive down the coast to Logan Airport on Saturday afternoon.
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