If you only have 4 days in NE where would you spend it?
Sep 2nd, 2006, 07:07 PM
#1
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If you only have 4 days in NE where would you spend it?
My daughter and I are doing a very short trip to NE. We would like to see Vermont, (cheese farm & Ben & Jerry's, apple orchards and the countryside). We would also like to see Maine on the coast. We would like to see a real fishing village and eat lobster. We are not much on shopping so outlets malls are not enticing to us. We want to sightsee. I was really wanting to fly into Burlington, VT on a Thursday in September and drive to Bar Harbor Maine and then down to fly out of Boston on the following Monday. I know it is a quick trip but we want to see as much as we can in this small space of time. Am I dreaming ? Are there fishing villages further south and is the scenery just as nice as Bar Harbor? We want to see the best of Vermont and the best of Maine or at least get a taste of it. Are the cheese farms and apple orchards and the ice cream worth a trip to Vermont? We are coming on the 14th of September and leaving on the 18th.
Any help will be much appreciated. I am getting more confused by the hour as to what to do for such a short time. So much to see and do in NE. Maybe someone has a better idea of where to spend our time in NE? Thank you in advance.
Any help will be much appreciated. I am getting more confused by the hour as to what to do for such a short time. So much to see and do in NE. Maybe someone has a better idea of where to spend our time in NE? Thank you in advance.
Sep 3rd, 2006, 04:27 AM
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First, I love VT and Ben & Jerry's factory tour is kind of fun BUT with only 4 days and a desire to see the Maine coast I would suggest you fly in and out of Portland ME. (Not sure why you said you were flying out of Boston since it just adds unneccesary mileage.) If you price shop air fares you might do better with Manchester NH. I would suggest you explore regional "homemade" ice cream places since you can buy Ben & Jerry's. I would suggest visiting Five Islands lobster (on a peninsula near Bath) where you can also visit a cheese farm. In fact, I was curious about cheese farms and simply googled cheese + Maine. Found www.mainecheeseguild.com and darn, missed this farm entirely when we were hunting lobster places in July. Five Islands lobster is a popular place on a scenic cove, a real lobster shack kind of place where you eat on picnic tables. However, some of the lobster shack places are only open on weekends in September. Our favorite place in Waterman's Beach near Owl's Head light in Rockland. The lighthouse is just a short hike from a parking lot and offers a Bar Harbor type of craggy Maine coast view. I actually prefer th top of Mt Battie in Camden (take the auto road) over the view from Cadillac (Acadia) because it overlooks Camden harbor and it's fun to watch the boat traffic (bring binoculars). The quaint fishing villages tend to be out on peninsulas. There are several lobster places on the Bailey's Island/Harpswell area due east from Brunswick. If you stayed in the Bath/Brunswick area you could make a day trip to Camden and Rockland. We also enjoyed the wine tasting at Cellar Door Winery in Lincolnville just north of Camden. I'm not as familiar with apple orchards in Maine. I usually recommend Gould Hill Orchard in Hopkinton NH (just west of Concord) because they have a wonderful view and a variety of antique apples (and fresh peaches right now).
If you decided to fly into Manchester you could make a slight detour thru Concord NH because Concord has 3 places that make their own ice cream and there's a 4th in Hooksett. From MHT head north on Rt 293 but take the exit for rt 3A just north of Manchester. Stop at Merrivale's ice cream. It will be on your left. Continue driving along Merrimack River until you reach the junction of Rt 3A and Rt 89. Get on Rt 89 and take exit 5. Head north on Rt 103 and watch for signs for Gould Hill Orchard. After enjoying the view and selecting some apples (a mixed half peck is good), go back to route 103 and turn left to head back to Concord. It's a nice road. You can pretend it's VT. The location of the homemade ice cream places in Concord are: Ballard Novelty, Granite State Candy and Arnie's. Turn left for a short tour of Concord's downtown. There's a new wine and cheese place called Butter's but I haven't been there. Head for Rt 393 to bypass the commercial chain/big box section of Concord (but you'll miss Arnie's) and go east to Rt 4. This will take you thru Northwood's Antique Alley and eventually a very lovely ride over the bridges crossing Great Bay as you near Portsmouth. Should you want to detour for a wine tasting - visit Flag Hill Winery and Distillery in Lee NH. Get on Rt 95 in Portsmouth and until you get to Brunswick or wherever you plan to stay in Maine. It will take you a half day to explore any of the peninsula's such as where Five Islands is located. Plan a full day if you visit Camden for the view, lunch at Waterman's, view at Owls Head light and take some different roads.
You really don't have any time for VT. Check with Maine's Dept of Agriculture for a list of apple orchards. Brunswick has a wonderful farmer's market on Friday mornings from 9-noon. We saw a cheese maker and some great bakers/cooks. Buy some jellies to take home.
There's some great ice cream places around Portland ME but I'm not familiar with them. I think Round Top ice cream in Maine is very popular. You'll find them in Damariscotta (on your way to Rockland from Bath area) but their ice cream is also sold other places. Good luck choosing!
If you decided to fly into Manchester you could make a slight detour thru Concord NH because Concord has 3 places that make their own ice cream and there's a 4th in Hooksett. From MHT head north on Rt 293 but take the exit for rt 3A just north of Manchester. Stop at Merrivale's ice cream. It will be on your left. Continue driving along Merrimack River until you reach the junction of Rt 3A and Rt 89. Get on Rt 89 and take exit 5. Head north on Rt 103 and watch for signs for Gould Hill Orchard. After enjoying the view and selecting some apples (a mixed half peck is good), go back to route 103 and turn left to head back to Concord. It's a nice road. You can pretend it's VT. The location of the homemade ice cream places in Concord are: Ballard Novelty, Granite State Candy and Arnie's. Turn left for a short tour of Concord's downtown. There's a new wine and cheese place called Butter's but I haven't been there. Head for Rt 393 to bypass the commercial chain/big box section of Concord (but you'll miss Arnie's) and go east to Rt 4. This will take you thru Northwood's Antique Alley and eventually a very lovely ride over the bridges crossing Great Bay as you near Portsmouth. Should you want to detour for a wine tasting - visit Flag Hill Winery and Distillery in Lee NH. Get on Rt 95 in Portsmouth and until you get to Brunswick or wherever you plan to stay in Maine. It will take you a half day to explore any of the peninsula's such as where Five Islands is located. Plan a full day if you visit Camden for the view, lunch at Waterman's, view at Owls Head light and take some different roads.
You really don't have any time for VT. Check with Maine's Dept of Agriculture for a list of apple orchards. Brunswick has a wonderful farmer's market on Friday mornings from 9-noon. We saw a cheese maker and some great bakers/cooks. Buy some jellies to take home.
There's some great ice cream places around Portland ME but I'm not familiar with them. I think Round Top ice cream in Maine is very popular. You'll find them in Damariscotta (on your way to Rockland from Bath area) but their ice cream is also sold other places. Good luck choosing!
Sep 3rd, 2006, 08:02 AM
#3
I love Vermont and think it it absolutley THE most beautiful state (of the couple dozen I have seen or lived in).
That said, I simply think you do not have enough time to do what you propose. With only 4 days I'd just go to the coast of Maine. Eat lobster, Enjoy. I don't think you need to be far north. Anything coastal in Maine (or even New Hampshire) will be lovely.
Save Vermont for another time.
That said, I simply think you do not have enough time to do what you propose. With only 4 days I'd just go to the coast of Maine. Eat lobster, Enjoy. I don't think you need to be far north. Anything coastal in Maine (or even New Hampshire) will be lovely.
Save Vermont for another time.
Sep 3rd, 2006, 08:36 AM
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You could fly into Portland and fly home from Bangor (if there's service from your city?)...but I think that Boothbay Harbor has just about everything you're looking for. Nice drive from Portland, lobsterman-watching while you're eating your lobster at the Lobsterman's Co-op....Cabbage Island Clambake (is it still going on Sept weekends? -i'm not sure)...Boothbay Harbor Ice Cream Factory (FRESHER than B&J's)...
You could fly into Burlington and fly home from Maine I suppose...if you really wanted a whirlwind tour. I was in Boothbay last year mid Sept and it was pretty quiet. But the Maine State Museum and some apple orchards are within' an hour's drive. And just exploring all the backroads in the lovely September weather will be nice.
You could fly into Burlington and fly home from Maine I suppose...if you really wanted a whirlwind tour. I was in Boothbay last year mid Sept and it was pretty quiet. But the Maine State Museum and some apple orchards are within' an hour's drive. And just exploring all the backroads in the lovely September weather will be nice.
Sep 3rd, 2006, 09:21 AM
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Oh, and Welch House Inn is the place I would recommend in Boothbay. They have a rooftop balcony where you can sit and watch the ocean, boats coming and going etc. And quick walk to the little downtown.
