Mary

We are attending a wedding in Burlington Vt on May 24th. We are thinking about flying in on the 20th and spending a few days exploring. We would love to get to the coastline, but it appears to be a 5 hour drive. Is it worth the drive to Maine/NH or is there enough to do in vermont/western NH? We aren't big into hiking, but love mountain views, small Inns, quaint villages. We're from Chicago, so we would like some down time. We are also in great need of a few great seafood restaurant suggestions. Places where locals go/not too expensive. Basically I need some help with my itinerary. Sorry this is so long but I am trying to be specific. Thanks in advance.

Vt. Native

Mary, There's plenty to fill your time in Vt and NH. Burlington, on Lake Champlain, is a great small city to spend a few days. Visitors also like Woodstock-Queechee {the quaint area you're looking for!}, Stowe and Manchester [outlet city, if you're into that}. Launch a Fodor's search and come back with even more specific questions!

zootsi

If your looking for quaint villages and mountain views, it doesn't get much better than Vermont and NH. Some nice villages: Woodstock Vt, Grafton Vt, Middlebury Vt, Chester Vt, Jackson NH, Lyme NH, Hanover NH, and hundreds of others. It is about 5 hours to the Maine/NH coast, but there is plenty to do in Vermont & NH. A few ideas - Ben and Jerry's, the Billings Farm Museum, Shelborne Museum, Mt Washington auto road or train ride(very spectacular on a clear day), horseback riding, antiquing, bicycling, etc,etc. Just one warning, late May is blackfly season in this part of the country, so you might encounter these little biting gnats when in wooded areas!

steve

Mary,

Definitely try Stowe. It is the New England village you always hear about. I'm saving to buy a house up there. One day...

tom

you might also take a trip to Montreal
canada. It is about a 2 hour drive from
vt. You would take a ferry from burlington and head north on rt 87
You would probably want to stay over a nite if you did this( great restuarants
in all price ranges in the old section
of montreal)

lib

If you go to the coast, you'll spend most of your time driving, and there's certainly lots to do in the Burlington or Stowe areas. In Burlington, take a ferry ride to NY state, visit the Shelburne Museum, shop on Church Street (good restaurants, too, on Church St.--but specifically for seafood, try The Icehouse, or Shanty on the Shore, on the Burlington waterfront; or Perry's Fish House on Shelburne Rd.).

Stowe is beautiful, and worth the 30-or-so mile drive: head up the Mountain Rd, and take the gondola or chairlift up Mt. Mansfield. Many restaurants and inns, but The Green Mountain Inn on Main St. is great.

For the real VT experience, venture further north, toward Craftsbury Common, Hardwick, and Greensboro.