New England Fall Foliage Itinerary 2015
Nov 2nd, 2014, 11:33 AM
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New England Fall Foliage Itinerary 2015
Headed back to New England next Fall. Trying to change up trip somewhat from what we did before. One week. Going with friends and we prefer staying at hotels or inns that demonstrate local charm. Cost of the rooms, always factored in, not overly important. Have only been once before so far from an expert. Appreciate any suggestions on other hotels, drives, etc. Trying to do the foliage drives during the week to avoid larger week-end crowds.
Day 1
Depart Texas Friday, October 2nd for Manchester
Drive to Kennebunkport and stay Captain Lord Mansion
Day 2 Saturday
Eat lobster
Walk around town
Day 3 Sunday
Drive Park Loop Rod (Acadia Natl Park) or drive coast
Day 4 Monday
Eat lobster
Drive to North Conway/Jackson area and stay Stonehurst Manor
Day 5 Tueday
Lake Winnipesaukee
Day 6 Wednesday
Drive Kancamagus Scenic Byway
Day 7 Thursday
Eat more lobster
Local drives
Day 8 Friday
Depart for Texas
Thanks for suggestions on hotels, itinerary, restaurants, to do Winnipesaukee, etc.
Day 1
Depart Texas Friday, October 2nd for Manchester
Drive to Kennebunkport and stay Captain Lord Mansion
Day 2 Saturday
Eat lobster
Walk around town
Day 3 Sunday
Drive Park Loop Rod (Acadia Natl Park) or drive coast
Day 4 Monday
Eat lobster
Drive to North Conway/Jackson area and stay Stonehurst Manor
Day 5 Tueday
Lake Winnipesaukee
Day 6 Wednesday
Drive Kancamagus Scenic Byway
Day 7 Thursday
Eat more lobster
Local drives
Day 8 Friday
Depart for Texas
Thanks for suggestions on hotels, itinerary, restaurants, to do Winnipesaukee, etc.
Nov 2nd, 2014, 02:12 PM
#2
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So day 2 you are walking around Kennebunkport, day 3 you want to be in Acadia, and day 4 driving to N. Conway? Way too much. It's a 3.5 hour drive from Kennebunkport to Acadia. And you need more than a day to appreciate it what it has to offer.
Nov 2nd, 2014, 03:51 PM
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As you know the fall color is a moving target. You may be a little early for full color - depending on how soon the first killing frost arrives. I would make reservations for whan you want but watch the online color change calendars to see how soon the full color wil be,
Nov 2nd, 2014, 07:15 PM
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In any event, I'm so glad you are going to eat a lot of lobster! It's what we do when we head that way. I don't know if it will fit into your driving plans, but we love Camden, Maine (and they have lobster there!)
Nov 2nd, 2014, 07:39 PM
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We spent two weeks this fall leaf peeping in NH & VT. It was a fantastic color year. If you are going in October stop by Jackson Falls to walk around and check out the Pumpkin People displays. Fun way to spend 1/2 day.
We had a motor home so we could kind of 'chase' the color. We met quite a few people who based themselves in one or two spots and day tripped from there to find the color. Seemed to work fine for them, as distances are not that far.
The Kancamangus was a beautiful drive, as was everywhere back there. Beautiful white clapboard homes and churches lining the streets of the tiny towns. It's like you stepped into a Currier and Ives print. Just lovely.
A little fun fact about lobster: in the late 1800's/early 1900's, on the east coast, it was fed to prisoners as their main food source, as it was cheap and prolific. It was not the delicacy it is today. The prisoners couldn't stand it and basically went on strike until they were served anything but lobster.
We had a motor home so we could kind of 'chase' the color. We met quite a few people who based themselves in one or two spots and day tripped from there to find the color. Seemed to work fine for them, as distances are not that far.
The Kancamangus was a beautiful drive, as was everywhere back there. Beautiful white clapboard homes and churches lining the streets of the tiny towns. It's like you stepped into a Currier and Ives print. Just lovely.
A little fun fact about lobster: in the late 1800's/early 1900's, on the east coast, it was fed to prisoners as their main food source, as it was cheap and prolific. It was not the delicacy it is today. The prisoners couldn't stand it and basically went on strike until they were served anything but lobster.
Nov 3rd, 2014, 12:37 AM
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Yes, the first part of this trip makes me a bit nervous.
The coast of Maine is wonderful and Worth It, but don't expect masses of color, at least compared to inland and the mountains.
The 3.5 hour trip to Acadia is by the most boring possible route. The Good Stuff in Maine is mostly on the peninsulas that jut out into Casco Bay and Penobscot Bay, not along the highway, at least south of Rockland, and not at all along the Interstate and Maine Turnpike. It will take a whole day, minimum, to drive the coastal route if you take the side roads to places like South Harpswell, Friendship, and Port Clyde. Rockland, Rockport, and Camden are all worth at least a stroll. Etc.
Drive from Bar Harbor to Jackson/North Conway vis Bethel, Maine and down through Pinkham Notch on NH 16. Scenic, and there may be snow on Mt Washington and the Presidential Range. They are beautiful with or without.
Remember, color is where you find it. If you said when you are making this trip, I missed it. In general, the higher or farther north you go, the earlier it appears. Columbus Day weekend is reliable but always crowded since it is a public holiday in New England.
You have the "Eat More Lobster" part nailed! I can't improve on that!
The coast of Maine is wonderful and Worth It, but don't expect masses of color, at least compared to inland and the mountains.
The 3.5 hour trip to Acadia is by the most boring possible route. The Good Stuff in Maine is mostly on the peninsulas that jut out into Casco Bay and Penobscot Bay, not along the highway, at least south of Rockland, and not at all along the Interstate and Maine Turnpike. It will take a whole day, minimum, to drive the coastal route if you take the side roads to places like South Harpswell, Friendship, and Port Clyde. Rockland, Rockport, and Camden are all worth at least a stroll. Etc.
Drive from Bar Harbor to Jackson/North Conway vis Bethel, Maine and down through Pinkham Notch on NH 16. Scenic, and there may be snow on Mt Washington and the Presidential Range. They are beautiful with or without.
Remember, color is where you find it. If you said when you are making this trip, I missed it. In general, the higher or farther north you go, the earlier it appears. Columbus Day weekend is reliable but always crowded since it is a public holiday in New England.
You have the "Eat More Lobster" part nailed! I can't improve on that!
Nov 3rd, 2014, 01:45 AM
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I agree Acadia is too far for the short amount of time you have. Camden is closer (view from top of Mt Battie is gorgeous) and/or you could take an interesting drive to the Harpswells as suggested by Ackislander. Just check ahead about lobster places because some of the shacks are open weekends only until Columbus Day. There are plenty of places to get lobster.
I think your timing is good for NH's White Mountains. You can do a loop from Conway over Kancamagus to Rt 3/I93 but head south to return via Squam Lakes, Center Sandwich. Corner House is very rustic (don't think they have lobster). Check to see when Lakes Region Barrel Tasting (if you like wine) is in 2015. It was a fun day this year and gets you on some back roads.
They were serving lobster at the Warner Fall Foliage Festival (NH) which is a pretty town west of Concord. There's a small mountain in town with two parks at the top. We like the view from the Wilton side the best. You could have lobsters steamed at the supermarket (around $5.99/lb) and have your own picnic (don't forget some melted butter and a piece of pie for dessert).
If you get a Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer for NH it shows all the covered bridges and roads (also waterfalls etc). It's sold at a lot of gas stations and supermarkets. Personally I think the scenery is better south of the mountains than in the mountains. Prefer seeing mountains as a backdrop or in the distance across a freshly cut hayfield, for example. We avoid major highways on foliage weekends (they tend to look more like parking lots). In fact, I really don't care for Kennebunk/port at all. Foliage and traffic conditions would be much better in Portsmouth NH with a drive from Strawbery Banke out Rt 1B thru Newcastle. You could take an inland rivers cruise out of Portsmouth or the mail boat out of Portland ME. The SS Mt Washington on Lake Winnipesaukee is nice, too. Rt 1 traffic thru southern Maine is very congested but not too bad mid-week.
You can do day trips from Stonehurst Manor to the Lake W region. Wolfeboro is a wonderful place to walk around whereas Center Sandwich is a tiny town with not much to see except great scenery.
I think your timing is good for NH's White Mountains. You can do a loop from Conway over Kancamagus to Rt 3/I93 but head south to return via Squam Lakes, Center Sandwich. Corner House is very rustic (don't think they have lobster). Check to see when Lakes Region Barrel Tasting (if you like wine) is in 2015. It was a fun day this year and gets you on some back roads.
They were serving lobster at the Warner Fall Foliage Festival (NH) which is a pretty town west of Concord. There's a small mountain in town with two parks at the top. We like the view from the Wilton side the best. You could have lobsters steamed at the supermarket (around $5.99/lb) and have your own picnic (don't forget some melted butter and a piece of pie for dessert).
If you get a Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer for NH it shows all the covered bridges and roads (also waterfalls etc). It's sold at a lot of gas stations and supermarkets. Personally I think the scenery is better south of the mountains than in the mountains. Prefer seeing mountains as a backdrop or in the distance across a freshly cut hayfield, for example. We avoid major highways on foliage weekends (they tend to look more like parking lots). In fact, I really don't care for Kennebunk/port at all. Foliage and traffic conditions would be much better in Portsmouth NH with a drive from Strawbery Banke out Rt 1B thru Newcastle. You could take an inland rivers cruise out of Portsmouth or the mail boat out of Portland ME. The SS Mt Washington on Lake Winnipesaukee is nice, too. Rt 1 traffic thru southern Maine is very congested but not too bad mid-week.
You can do day trips from Stonehurst Manor to the Lake W region. Wolfeboro is a wonderful place to walk around whereas Center Sandwich is a tiny town with not much to see except great scenery.
Nov 4th, 2014, 05:48 AM
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I live in Maine. If you do everything on your itinerary, you will spend ALL your time driving & not out enjoying the fresh Maine air (which is especially refreshing at the coast). Going from Kennebunkport to Acadia is a long drive. And then when you're IN the park, there are miles & miles to be driven. Then it's another 4-5 drive to Conway area in NH. Too much for 1-2 days to truly appreciate it. Don't go so far north. I think you're trying to cram too much in.
Camden, Maine is GORGEOUS. Bar Harbor, Maine is GORGEOUS.
My suggestion is to plan this trip for mid-Sept to 3rd week. The more north you go, the sooner the trees turn pretty colors. This year we've had so much rain, the rain took down too many leaves before they'd even turn their peak colors. Going just before peak is preferable to going after peak, in my opinion. 3rd week of Sept is terrific time to travel in northern New England.
Camden, Maine is GORGEOUS. Bar Harbor, Maine is GORGEOUS.
My suggestion is to plan this trip for mid-Sept to 3rd week. The more north you go, the sooner the trees turn pretty colors. This year we've had so much rain, the rain took down too many leaves before they'd even turn their peak colors. Going just before peak is preferable to going after peak, in my opinion. 3rd week of Sept is terrific time to travel in northern New England.
Nov 4th, 2014, 06:49 AM
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If you are staying in Winneoausake, a beautiful authentic to NH hotel is "the Church Landing"
Pricey, but it's goegeous. If not staying there, then at least take a peak around!
I have a second home in North Conway. Stonehurst Manor is a beautiful hotel and more on the luxury side. Thursday nights they have specials in the restaurant. Does give you a beautiful view though.
Jackson is great to drive through for scenery and the waterfalls. North Conway is good for shopping.
Research as many restaurants you can and see if they take reservations ahead of time.
Pricey, but it's goegeous. If not staying there, then at least take a peak around!
I have a second home in North Conway. Stonehurst Manor is a beautiful hotel and more on the luxury side. Thursday nights they have specials in the restaurant. Does give you a beautiful view though.
Jackson is great to drive through for scenery and the waterfalls. North Conway is good for shopping.
Research as many restaurants you can and see if they take reservations ahead of time.
Nov 6th, 2014, 06:17 AM
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First of all THANKS for all the good suggestions. Based on your replies, thinking of:
Fri Oct 2 - Arrive from TX and drive to Kennebunkport; stay Captain Lord Mansion
Sat - Walk town and drive around; eat Nunan's Lobster Market
Sun - Drive to Portland with stop in Casco Bay; drive to Camden with stop in Penobscot Bay
Mon - Drive to North Conway via Bethel, down through Pinkham Notch on NH 16; stay Stonehurst Manor; eat May Kelly's Cottages Restaurant and Pub
Tue - Drive Kancamagus to Rt 3/I93 and head south & return via Squam Lakes; check on Lakes Region Tasting wine
Wed - Lake Winnipesaukee
Thurs - Relax and drive area
Fri - Return to TX
Would it be better to skip Kennebunport and stay Portsmouth NH?
Looking better?
Fri Oct 2 - Arrive from TX and drive to Kennebunkport; stay Captain Lord Mansion
Sat - Walk town and drive around; eat Nunan's Lobster Market
Sun - Drive to Portland with stop in Casco Bay; drive to Camden with stop in Penobscot Bay
Mon - Drive to North Conway via Bethel, down through Pinkham Notch on NH 16; stay Stonehurst Manor; eat May Kelly's Cottages Restaurant and Pub
Tue - Drive Kancamagus to Rt 3/I93 and head south & return via Squam Lakes; check on Lakes Region Tasting wine
Wed - Lake Winnipesaukee
Thurs - Relax and drive area
Fri - Return to TX
Would it be better to skip Kennebunport and stay Portsmouth NH?
Looking better?
Nov 6th, 2014, 08:06 AM
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Portsmouth is a working city with a wonderful historic area (Strawbery Banke), a working waterfront, interesting shops. I don't think there is any beach.
Kennebunkport has beach areas and lots of vacation homes with shops catering to tourists.
Both probably have evening entertainment at different restaurants and bars. Portsmouth has several theaters. If you want public hiking trails, check into The Urban Forestry Center and Odiorne Point. My favorite area of very old homes is New Castle via Rt 1B.
But from either one you could do something a little different like a cooking demo/meal at Stonewall Kitchen on Rt 1 in Kittery ME. They have different menus all the time.
If you like beer, you can do a brewery tour via tour bus in the Portsmouth area.
It all depends on what you like to do.
Kennebunkport has beach areas and lots of vacation homes with shops catering to tourists.
Both probably have evening entertainment at different restaurants and bars. Portsmouth has several theaters. If you want public hiking trails, check into The Urban Forestry Center and Odiorne Point. My favorite area of very old homes is New Castle via Rt 1B.
But from either one you could do something a little different like a cooking demo/meal at Stonewall Kitchen on Rt 1 in Kittery ME. They have different menus all the time.
If you like beer, you can do a brewery tour via tour bus in the Portsmouth area.
It all depends on what you like to do.
Nov 13th, 2014, 06:58 AM
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Kennebunkport is a wonderful town and very much worth visiting. Nunan's is in Cape Porpoise and isn't walkable from the Captain Lord Mansion but does have good lobster. Mabel's is walkable from where you are staying and is also delicious. Though if you do wander down to Cape Porpoise, head out Pier Rd to The Ramp for a drink/lunch/dinner. Terrific views of a working harbor and lighthouse. You can also try the happy hour at David's at the Boathouse - very close to your inn. Great views there too. The White Barn Inn is a four star restaurant if you want a really special experience. For a walk on the beach, drive out Rt 9 to Goose Rocks Beach. Lovely sand beach that stretches for miles. Drive along Ocean Drive for ocean views and a glimpse of the Bush compound.
Enjoy your trip.
Enjoy your trip.
Nov 15th, 2014, 06:42 AM
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Once again, thanks for all your suggestions. "bennnie" have added your suggestions. Ate White Barn Inn last time and loved the experience (actually stayed there) ~ even the $35 GLASS of red. Had to make a couple of changes because we have two friends going with us and they requested separate beds.
Fri Oct 2 - Arrive airport and drive to Kennebunkport; stay Captain Jefferds Inn (Captain Lord Mansion recommended because they did not have rooms with two beds)
To Do Kennebunkport Days: walk town; Schooner Eleanor Sailing Tour; walk Goose Rocks Beach; drive to Portland with stop in Casco Bay and drive to Camden with stop in Penobscot Bay
Eat/drink Kennebunkport: Nunan's Lobster Market in Cape Porpoise; Mabel's Lobster Claw; The Ramp, Cape Porpoise; David's KPT, Kennebunkport
Mon - Drive to North Conway via Bethel, down through Pinkham Notch on NH 16; stay Stonehurst Manor; Cabin 8D (3 bdrms/2 1/2 baths); meals not included
To Do North Conway Days: drive Kancamagus to Rt 3/I93 and head south & return via Squam Lakes; check on Lakes Region Tasting wine; Lake Winnipesaukee; relax
Eat/Drink North Conway: May Kelly's Cottages Restaurant and Pub
Now the long wait and fine tuning. Hope to see y'all there!
Fri Oct 2 - Arrive airport and drive to Kennebunkport; stay Captain Jefferds Inn (Captain Lord Mansion recommended because they did not have rooms with two beds)
To Do Kennebunkport Days: walk town; Schooner Eleanor Sailing Tour; walk Goose Rocks Beach; drive to Portland with stop in Casco Bay and drive to Camden with stop in Penobscot Bay
Eat/drink Kennebunkport: Nunan's Lobster Market in Cape Porpoise; Mabel's Lobster Claw; The Ramp, Cape Porpoise; David's KPT, Kennebunkport
Mon - Drive to North Conway via Bethel, down through Pinkham Notch on NH 16; stay Stonehurst Manor; Cabin 8D (3 bdrms/2 1/2 baths); meals not included
To Do North Conway Days: drive Kancamagus to Rt 3/I93 and head south & return via Squam Lakes; check on Lakes Region Tasting wine; Lake Winnipesaukee; relax
Eat/Drink North Conway: May Kelly's Cottages Restaurant and Pub
Now the long wait and fine tuning. Hope to see y'all there!
