My husband and I are planning a trip from Manchester NH the last week of September. I wanted to try to hit as many places as I could in 7 days. Where is the best place in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire to see and can I add in Salem Mass and Providence RI or am I being too greedy.
New England Sept 2011
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What do you want to do/see? If you want to do foliage, then NH and VT will be better, but might be not quite peak in Sept, so head a bit south first to places like Salem and Cape Ann area first, then go north. I think Yankee Magazine has a web page that tells about peak foliage times.
Providence is an ok city, but not a place I would make a destination at that kind of year, and is a bit of a haul from Manchester. Newport is more of a touristy place, but is also out of the way.
For a tourist destination, I think Newport RI would be preferable (see the mansions and ocean). But the best spots really depend on your interests. DH prefers mountains and lakes, not cities. Salem MA could be a quick stop for the Peabody Essex Museum or witchy spot and lunch before heading north on I95 to Portsmouth NH or Portland ME. Both are cities, both have harbor cruises you can take, both have some great restaurants.
Portland to NH's White Mountains is actually only about an hour's drive to the Conway area. Explore the White Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee area for a couple of days.
Back to Manchester is a straight shot down I93. If outdoorsy, you could spend you last weekend day kayaking on the Merrimack River. Or check to see if there's a special event at Canterbury Shaker Village. The tour alone is fascinating.
You could also include a day visit in Boston between Newport and Salem.
It isn't being greedy but rather I think you are planning too much in two opposite directions, i.e. north and south. So you might do better to concentrate on Vermont say. Or Salem and adjacent areas. Or various places in Maine to the north (we're going to the American Folk Festival late August in Bangor). But being in Manchester you likely know New England already. What have you not seen that you wish you could?
By the way, any information about the Mill Museum in your city? Our daughter was education director there until they cut back a few years ago.