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Ideas needed for fall road trip Boston - Montreal

Ideas needed for fall road trip Boston - Montreal

Old Aug 22nd, 2017, 12:44 PM
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Ideas needed for fall road trip Boston - Montreal

Hi I am looking to plan a road trip from Boston - Montreal for 2-4 days to experience the fall foliage as part of a fly-drive trip from NYC to Toronto.

We have never been to New England and are looking for tips on the best places to stop along the way - we're currently are looking to drive through NH and VT.

I would love to see the fall leaves color changes, some nature/animals, and quintessentially NE style towns.

Finally, we;re also looking for time tips on the best weeks to go - currently thinking about the last week of September.

Thanks for any advice to come my way
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Old Aug 22nd, 2017, 03:40 PM
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You will need a map for this to make sense.

Leave Boston on MA Route 2.

Cross into NH and visit the Jaffrey-Peterborough-Harrisville-Keene area. Classic NE towns and villages plus Mount Monadnock.

Cross into Vermont and visit Brattleboro, VT hippies at their best. The local food coop is huge. If you want to fit in, rent a Subaru and wear Birkenstocks.

Find Vermont Highway 100. Drive to it, and drive north along it through leaves, rocks, mountain streams to US 2. Head east to the Victorian charm of St Johnsbury, VT. Any side road you take along here will be rewarding, but be aware that lots of roads in northern Vermont and Quebec aren't paved.

From St Johnsbury, you can visit the White Mountains to the south or head north to Montreal, either by interstate or along the Connecticut River on US 3.

Though you are likely to be well before the peak for foliage, there will be enough tourists that you should have a reservation everywhere for lodging.

If you cross the border on US 3, you will be in rural Quebec, very different from our side of the border. If you cross on the interstate, it is just one more super highway. But all roads lead to Montreal. I think Montreal is less aggressively Francophone than it used to be, but it was one of the few places in the world where it was better to stand out as an Anerican than as an Anglophone Canadian.

On a four day trip, I would spend one night in Brattleboro, one night in St Johnsbury, and two in Montreal. If you have an extra day, I would definitely explore the White Mountains. The summits may well be covered with snow. You can drive fro St Johnsbury through Franconia Notch to the Kancamagus Hiway, go east the NH 16, then north through Pinkham Notch (Presidential Range) to US 2 and loop back to St Johnsbury.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2017, 02:15 AM
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Love Ackislander's description of Brattleboro. One time we visited Woodstock which is upscale. I think we were the only ones driving a pickup truck. The route thru NH's quiet southwest corner is a good suggestion.

I, too, think last week of September is too early but I was shocked that last night there was a photo on tv weather showing a brilliant colored area around a pond. Swamp maples turn early but are usually all red. I have been to Stowe VT third weekend of September one year and didn't see any color at all but here near Concord NH we are starting to see some tinges.

I'm in the minority that doesn't care for the Kancamagus. My vote would be start in Meredith NH (exit 23 I93) for a great view of Lake Winnipesaukee then up to Center Sandwich and thru Tamworth to Rt 16. Center Sandwich has been called one of the prettiest small towns in NH. You aren't quite in the mountains so see more houses (there aren't a lot).

Another suggestion: I93 north out of Boston. I tend to prefer taking the I293 section thru Manchester since you travel on the west side of the Merrimack River with a great view of the old mills that have been transformed into restaurants, colleges, etc. Once you are past the Hooksett toll booths, the drive is very pleasant. I93 goes right thru the mountains so if you want mountains, it's a good scenic choice and actually a pretty fast drive from Boston. I like the loop idea though. Perhaps get off I93 at exit 13 Concord NH. Drive into town (turn left off the hwy). For a state capital, it has a nice walkable downtown area if you need to stop. But, turn left/west at intersection with Pleasant Street and continue. It becomes Rt 103 and goes thru the lovely towns of Hopkinton, Contoocook, and Warner. Your choice about small detours, If you like apples, Gould Hill orchard is a short detour and has a nice view from it's small parking lot. In Warner you can also drive/hike to top of small Mt. Kearsarge. Your choice to get on I89 to head to VT or continue to New London, a college town, before getting on I89.

This will bring you to the White River Junction/Norwich VT area. If you like to cook, King Arthur Flour has a fabulous store and café. You'll have to detour off I89 to get to Norwich. Very pretty town. Then you can head to Rt 100. I love the farm country along Lake Champlain on the west side of VT so you can take one of the passes thru the Green Mountains to cross over to that part of the state.

I would consider a detour to Warren Country Store for some great sandwiches and a closer look at the tiny gorge behind the store.

You can get to some place in VT for night #1 if you don't make too many stops.

You have a good chance of seeing deer and wild turkeys. We have seen black bears twice in the Sandwich NH area but to guarantee seeing a lot of wild animals, I would visit Squam Lakes Science Center in Holderness (near Sandwich NH) where there are many varieties in natural habitat enclosures. It is a pleasant, shaded walk thru the grounds plus educational demos in the lecture building. Might be a good chance to stretch your legs.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2017, 06:53 AM
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We were in the Northeast Kindom in Vermont and Coos County, NH, last week. We saw two swamp maples already turning (!) plus a wild turkey hen with teenage turkeys, ditto mother duck with unruly teens. No deer, moose, or bears.

My favorite road in NH, River Road, along the Connecticut, was out of service for bridge rebuilding, though no one bothered to warn us with a sign. We joined a caravan that drove 3 or for Mike's, then had to turn around in someone's farmyard. I hope they don't pave it.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2017, 07:53 AM
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I recommend using the Yankee Magazine foliage guide. I live in Massachusetts and we are hearing that this year's fall foliage should be spectacular.

https://newengland.com/seasons/fall/...l-foliage-map/
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