Eastern Seaboard

Old Mar 30th, 2017, 12:14 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Eastern Seaboard

We would like to drive from New York up the Eastern Seaboard and would like advice on best places to visit. As we are from Australia we have no idea of the best places to see. We do not have to limit our visit to the coast if places inland are recommended. We would like to take approximately 2 weeks and stay at least 2 nights at each stop. At the end of the 2 weeks we plan to train to Montreal then Quebec and fly back to New York for our international flight back to Australia. We are in our mid 60's, both fit and love walking, bike riding, gardens and historical buildings. We had considered a cruise but then realised that a cruise only offered limited time in a few ports. We can travel in July, August or October, 2018. We cannot travel in September as it is the football finals!!
janeatchison is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 02:29 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,915
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The first 2 weeks of October are popular with tourists because of fall foliage. July and August are popular on the coast but there are beautiful places that don't get crowded. Since you like gardens, I suggest you look at Open Garden Days schedule with the Garden Conservancy. There are also local garden tours done as fund raisers. Portsmouth NH and New Castle have local garden tours so that would combine historic buildings and gardens. Even if neighborhood tours don't fit your schedule you can visit public gardens at Strawbery Banke and the rose gardens at the Fuller estate. I've planned our vacation to end up Sunday July 9 in Portland ME for the Munjoy Hill neighborhood garden tour. Never been on that one but the neighborhood overlooks the ocean. I have also just learned about a garden in the Berwick Maine area. I can't seem to get to gardens in CT, MA and RI but keep trying.

Personally, I think you shouldn't get too far up the Maine coast but hope you can fit in some hiking on a day trip to Monhegan Island and the conservation properties around the Harpswells (east of Brunswick).

Not sure about connecting with a train to Montreal. If you have to cut cross country, Portland to NH's White Mountains and then to VT might work. You would have all sorts of hiking opportunities in the White Mountains. Shaker Village in Canterbury NH has a wonderful tour. The Fells, John Hay Estate near Sunapee NH has an interesting house tour and nice gardens.

You can do very well on your own and I think will find more special spots than a cruise ship passenger would.
dfrostnh is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 02:34 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Take the train from NYC (do not drive) to Boston and spend 3-4 days. It has everything on your list (I am biased - I live here). Towards end of that time then pick up a rental car.

Head north to some combination of coastal towns - Gloucester/Rockport, Newburyport, Portsmouth, NH. Spend a couple of nights at one of them - they are all driving distance from each other.

Continue north to Portland, Maine. Cute little city right on the coast with historic lighthouses, cute shops, scenery. I have never biked there, but it apparently has some good places to do that.

On the way to Portland, you can stop for a few hours at Kennebunkport, Wells or some other Maine coastal towns. Unfortunately, there is not a travellable road where you can drive and have coastal views.

Then head up to Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park. Not sure how you take train from Maine to Montreal/Quebec (also 2 of my favorite cities), but it sounds like you have thought about this already.

This itinerary gets you coast, history, nature and scenery but is just a rough framework.

Many here have done New England trips or live here - so I am sure you will get other and perhaps better responses. If you get a response from Ackislander, listen to it - usually very good advice.

I would go in August.
gail is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 04:37 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,365
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would suggest taking Metro North to New Haven and picking up a rental car there to see CT / RI before starting Gail's itinerary.

You could explore New Haven where you can see Yale University before continuing to Mystic for 2 nights. Around here, I would suggest riding the Essex Steam Train & Steamboat Combo to see the Connecticut River. Afterwards bring a picnic lunch up to Gillette Castle (http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325204)and walk around the grounds. This is a great viewpoint above the river.

In New London, Ft Trumbull (http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325200) is there to walk around on the water.

In Mystic, visit the Aquarium, Seaport Museum and walk around the little downtown. There are a bunch of great restaurants here. There is also an Indian Museum at Foxwoods Casino (one of the 2 casinos nearby. Mohegan Sun is the other).

Spend around 2 days in this area then head to Newport, RI then to Boston and pick up the great itinerary that Gail provided above.

I definitely agree with the August suggestion.
tchoiniere is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 04:57 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,365
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The other sight that I should have mentioned is the USS Nautilus submarine Museum so you can walk around on the Sub! If you are lucky while at Ft Trumbull, you may get to see a Sub in the Thames River.
tchoiniere is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 05:18 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
During your stop in Mystic you might want to visit Stonington Borough, a few miles away. Very quaint, with many well-preserved buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. There's a small lighthouse museum and a few shops and restaurants on the main drag.
Fra_Diavolo is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 11:28 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,475
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ackslander , who Gail mentions above, lives on Nantucket Island. Nantucket is an old whaling center, now become very
chi chi, but still interesting to visit. There are fast ferries from Hyannis on Cape Cod to the Island.

You might also consider Newport, Rhode Island to visit the summer homes the super rich built back in the 19th century.
Gwendolynn is online now  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 11:38 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
jane - more New Englanders frequent the Lounge forum on Fodors - which is closed to new posters so you don't see it in the Forums menu. I have posted a request there that people come over to this thread and give you ideas - hopefully you will get more in addition to the good ones above. I like the idea of adding Mystic to your itinerary.
gail is offline  
Old Apr 3rd, 2017, 01:00 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Many thanks to you all for your advice, I have purchased a map of the USA and will certainly follow the recommendations. I have started looking up all the places mentioned so I can work out a suitable itinerary. Thank you also for the advice to go in August, as I think October may be a bit too cold.
janeatchison is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Triveteer
United States
9
Apr 2nd, 2014 05:26 PM
workingonthebucket
United States
6
Jul 25th, 2013 02:12 AM
getup_andgo_over50
United States
10
Apr 17th, 2012 06:42 AM
schnookies
United States
5
May 21st, 2006 12:44 PM
Cerlaurie
United States
7
Jul 22nd, 2005 12:03 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

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