dpeeples65

My and my sister are planning a trip to New England on October 14th. This is are first trip there and there is so much we want to see, but after reading some posts I'm worried that we are trying to do too much. My sister really wanted to go to Nantucket, but I think that is something we should save for another trip. Also, my sister is an artist so she would love anything artsy!

Following is an itinerary and some hotels that I came up with based on some tour group itineraries.

Feel free to tear it apart.

Boston - 1 night

*Hotel 140 $287.10 - room with 2 double beds - *
Copley Hotel $359 - premier double bed room
hilton boston back bay $339 - two double beds
Seaport Boston $329 - 2 double beds
Lowe's Boston $319 - 2 double beds

Hyannis/nantucket - 1-2 nights

* Hyannis Travel Inn $89.95 (standard double) breakfast included
Fairfield $224 2queens breakfast
Courtyard $229 2 queens.


Williamstown, MA

orchards hotel $ 179 2 double beds
Porches inn $295 2 Queens includes continental breakfast
*Williams Inn $190 two double beds - includes breakfast
Holiday inn (north adams) $129 2 Queens
*Hampton Terrance Inn (Lenox) $269 2 Double Beds or a King - Breakfast Included
*Four Chimneys in $249 - King breakfast included - Bennington
**Hilton Garden Inn - Lenox $149 2 queen **


Stowe, Vt -

Top Notch resort and spa $250 (2 double) + $30 property fee & 10% tax
Stowe Mtn. lodge $269 ++ (king bed)
http://www.stonehillinn.com/ $299 - 325 (king bed)
*Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Waterbury Stowe $289 (2 queens) incl breakfast


North Conway

Red Jacket Mountain view resort - $229 2 beds
North Conway Grand $139 - King call for rates with 2 queens
Residence Inn $209 Deluxe Family Room with Two Queen Bed - Breakfast
Comfort Inn $245 2 double beds - breakfast
Crammore Inn bed and breakfast $259 two room suite
Golden gables inn $125 double queen


Kennebunkport or Ogunauit

Beach house inn $229 king breakfast
Break water inn $289 king with breakfast
Main stay inn and cottages $259 2 queens breakfast
Hampton inn - wells Ogunquit. $159 2 full breakfast
Admirals inn 2 queens $149. Ogunquit, ME

Back to Boston to fly home

Bette

>

A couple points:
The above plan seems like it was taken from a bus tour where you are riding by / passing by places and not really experiencing, enjoying them.

I think you need at least 2 or 3 nights in Boston if this is your first trip to Boston. The challenge is the third weekend in October is the Head of the Charles Regatta - one of the largest rowing events in the world. Hotel prices will be steep. (I wonder if, when you arrive on the 14th, you should immediately drive out of the city and save Boston until the end of the trip).

I would skip Cape Cod / Nantucket on this trip. Not enough time.

If you start your trip on the 14th and head north you may miss peak foliage in VT and NH which generally starts in early October. It is tricky to predict peak foliage.

If you can tell us how many nights in total you have for this trip folks, will be better able to advise you.

dfrostnh

The first two weekends in October are the busiest with Columbus Day weekend considered THE big weekend. It tends to be peak around the Concord NH area. Columbus Day is Oct 9, 2017. I agree with above poster that you should head north as soon as you get here.

Stowe and North Conway are not my favorite areas because they are everyone else's favorite areas. If you want lots of traffic, go there. But if you don't get here until Oct 14, the traffic will probably have eased up a lot. I would recommend driving north from Boston via I93 which goes right thru NH's White Mountains. It's fun to see the mountains get closer and closer. You should see lot of good foliage along the way but it's a lot nicer on country roads. You could make a stop in Meredith NH where the League of NH Arts and Crafts has a shop. Also for that time in October, I would consider staying in Meredith or Wolfboro which are beautiful towns on Lake Winnipesaukee. From Wolfboro it's about an hour or so east to Portland ME. You could do a day trip thru the mountains but I think you would be happier with some destinations like museums or shops or great restaurants instead of lots of driving.

Maine would be a fun visit and since it's warmer on the coast, the foliage should still be nice as it gets later in Oct. Since your sister is an artist, why not go to Portland (I haven't been to the museum there) or Rockland (Farnsworth Museum features Maine artists).

You can then head south via I95 and best route to western MA. Visit Boston for the end of your trip.

You should be aware that October can get very dismal and rainy in the last half of the month. Once the leaves are off the trees we usually seem to get rain. But, if we don't get rain, the last golden leaves are nice even if the bright oranges are gone.

I think you could pick one really good area and stay their for several days before heading someplace else.

Vttraveler

I agree with skipping the Cape and Nantucket with your dates. I live in north central VT near Stowe and peak foliage here is usually the first week in October.

Phototrips

Question- any reason you are not staying in a bed/breakfast- as a photographer/fine artist the historic properties and bed/breakfasts have been glorious, offered many scenic spots AND the interaction with the owners has been invaluable in opening up to other hidden gems-

IMHO and 15past fall foliage seasons in New England Oct 14 is a tad late to get started for the areas you are describing.. some years the rains/turn to snow can really start about mid month or so...

How many nights total do you plan to spend-
What interests do you have- there is so much= do you want to see some historic sites, spend time hiking- how much driving are you comfortable doing - the backroads are slower mph- so you need to factor in a different amount of time-

If you have not already I really would advise one of the sites like jeff-foliage or Yankee Magazine both excellent sources of information- Down East another regional publication with suggestions etc

Hope that helps!

emalloy

If you decide to keep Cape Cod, the Provincetown/Wellfleet area is the most artsy. I also find it more interesting with the National Seashore area in Provincelands and quirky Provincetown.

I can't advise as to lodging choices, but our rule of thumb is to look at location, price and extras. As long as it is safe and clean and close to where we want we will take $10 off the price per person for a good breakfast and then go by lowest price.

DebbieDoesDulles

I would start the trip a week earlier if photographing fall foliage is a priority.

mainelover17

If you decide on Ogunquit, I recommend Terrace By The Sea for lodging. It is in walking distance of shops and the ocean. I vacation in Maine every year, end of September and usually stay for two weeks. So much to see and do. If you want to go inland to see fall foliage there is Katahdin Cruise (steamboat) tour of Moosehead Lake in Greenville. Bundle up because it will be cold on the lake but you can also sit inside. Not sure if it runs middle of October.

HappyTrvlr

I would change your arrival date by at least a week. If you are interested in foliage skip Cape Cod. Locals there drive inland such as to VT to see the leaf colors.