buttercup

We want to drive to Maine this summer, spending a few days in Boston, also. We are coming from the midwest and decided to drive because we've never seen this part of the country (other than NYC).

The plan is to take our time (4-5 days) once we get east of Erie. Then we want to spen about 5-6 days on the Maine coast, and spend 3 or 4 days coming home. Mapblast has us coming East on I-90 through New York. Does anyone have any other route ideas or places to stop before coastal Maine?

We are open to almost anything - we are traveling with kids ages 6 and 10. We would also like to see Vermont and New Hampshire. The only definite must-see's so far are Boston and Salem, Mass. Any suggestions for first-timers to New England?

rkkwan

There are lots of places worth seeing, or at least overnighting in. However, all of them can be pretty crowded in the summer, so do make reservations early.

- Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.
- Adirondack Mountains of NY.
- The Berkshires mountains of MA, centering aruond Stockbridge and Lenox.
- The Northshores of MA - Salem, Gloucester, Rockport
- White Mountains of NH - around N. Conway or Franconia. Drive the Kancamagus Highway (Rte 112 between Conway and Lincoln)
- Green Mountains of VT - drive along Rte 100 if you have time.
- Lake Champlain region between VT and NY.

You really can't go wrong anywhere you go, in my opinion. The scenery is so much different from the Mid-west, I'm sure it'll be a memorial trip, especially for the kids.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

"I got a mule, her name is Sal. 15 years on the Erie Canal" -- yes in Syracuse NY and even more so the Utica-Rome area rich in Erie Canal history, which opened the west to trade with NYC before the railroads.

Old Sturbridge Village in MA is just off the Mass Pike. Norman Rockwell museum in the Berkshires (rkkwan gives good suggestions)

Look at going into Adirondacks maybe from Utica & head north to the Adirondack Museum, at Blue Mountain Lake (Rt 30) Return back going down Rt 28 to Lake George, then thru Saratoga (will it be racing seasone?)

I did a cross-country bicycle ride (LA to Bostont) in 1990 & again in 91, with riders from all across the country. Many of them commented on how nice NY & MA were. I hope you will too.

sam

The kids might enjoy Six Flags New England in Agawam, MA. Once you come over the border from NY to MA it's not too far off of I-90. My 7 and 11 year olds go once every year and love it! Boston is a fun city, do a search of Boston here and you'll get lots of great suggestions from the posts there. If you pass Cooperstown, NY, and you have any baseball fans in your car, you could stop at the Baseball Hall of Fame. In Boston, you most likely wouldn't get Red Sox tickets (unless you go to a scalper on the street), but they have tours of Fenway Park which is really cool. Also, Salem would probably be a daytrip stop on your way to Maine from Boston (not really an "overnighter").

weenie57

I'd urge a stop at the Genesee Country Museum. It is by far the best "living" museum I've ever been to. It is about 20 miles southwest of Rochester. The kids will like it! Here is the web site:
http://www.gcv.org/index.shtml

garyt22

You gotta stop at Niagara Falls for the day, ride the Maid of the Mist, Cave of the winds,Whirlpool Jet Boats, and if you like wine...the Niagara Wine Region including Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. All of this is about 30 minutes from I 90 on 190N... have fun!

dfrostnh

With children, I expect you ought to plan some time to play in the waves on a beach. Hampton Beach in NH and York Beach in Maine are popular with families. There's a great water park near Portsmouth NH. You might also visit the marine science center on Odiorne Point near Portsmouth. A lobster boat cruise is also a must do. It's been years since we done one so check this board for recommendations. Although time is important, I'd vote I90/Mass Turnpike as the place most likely for kids in the back seat to kill each other. Definitely don't do it twice. Coming back from Maine I would suggest a trip thru the White Mountains of NH. Clark's Trained Bears and The Flume are popular tourist attractions. Find a place for an afternoon swim like Echo Lake or White Lake. If it's a clear day, go to the top of Mt Washington. Have breakfast/lunch at Polly's Pancake Parlor. If you are visiting in August, the Great Vermont Corn Maze in Danville VT should be open. The view from the top is nice. We saw a lot of families in the maze but be sure to plan on a couple of hours (See their website.) Usually everybody enjoys the tour of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury. There is a free Vermont Guide at the rest areas. Pick a family event. Take the ferry across Lake Champlain. If you haven't visited The Flume, you might want to visit Ausable Chasm in NY.
If you prefer less touristy places you can pick up a guide to hiking in the White Mountains with Children. Find a waterfall. NH summer theaters have pretty good children's theater programs during the day.

garihan

I would recomend Skaneatles, NY. It is a nice town and an even more beautiful lake, it is one of the finger lakes and some say it is one of the cleanest in the country. It is about 40 minutes off of Route I-81 in Cortland.
I would also recomend the Dinosaur Bar-B-Q in Syracuse, unreal food! It's in a fun area of the city.