Cat60

We are arriving in Burlington Vermont on June 27th , it will be late afternoon, so we have rented a room for two nights there. We will leave Burlington on the 29, we have rented a car and will be traveling to Concord NH. We will stay overnight there and travel to Portland Maine, stay one night then on to Bangor Maine, then stay over night back to Littleton NH stay overnight and from there back to Burlington. We will fly back home on the 4th of July. My question? Is this too busy, not busy enough or just right? We at this time only have reservations made in Burlington for 2 nights. Should we skip some place and spend an extra night in Portland Maine? We will be stopping during our day trips and seeing points of interest along the way. Any input would be appreciated. We like to see any interesting places, points of interest, Good Flea Markets, shopping such as vendors and locally made items.. Any input on any of these plus trip plans would be greatly appreciated, since we have never been to any of these places before. Thanks so much

rizzo0904

In my opinion, it's too much. Can you fly in to Burlington and out of Portland? If so, do two nights in Burlington, two in the white mountains, and two in Portland.

Drop Bangor....too much driving.

emalloy

I would skip Concord and Bangor and go to Portsmouth then Portland area for a couple of days each before heading back to Burlington.

zootsi

I agree with the above posters, too many stops. Burlington is a beautiful little city so that's a good beginning. With two nights there you can explore the surrounding countryside - Stowe, Shelburne Farm, Ben and Jerry's. Although Concord NH is a pleasant little city, I wouldn't make it an overnight destination. Northern New England's charm is in it's small villages and rural b&b's. Littleton NH is a very nice small town and a good base to explore the White Mountains. Another option in NH might be the Sunapee area. From here you are near some beautiful lakes, Canterbury Shaker Village, and the large Davisville Flea Market. I would drop Bangor, and do two nights in Portland. Not only is Portland a great city, but it's a good base to explore the central Maine coast.

Cat60

Thanks for all your replies, we are re-thinking our trip plans. Will drop Bangor since that seems to be unanimous. Not sure what else we will plan at this time, but we are going to spend 2 days in Portland area as suggested. It is such a big help getting someone's opinion that has been there. Any other suggestions or recommendations on what to do while we are visiting would be welcomed. Thanks again.

Cat60

Any recommendations on where to stay while in Portland Maine that would be centralized to some of the most popular places to visit. Any good places to visit while we were there would be nice also. Thanks so much again...

dfrostnh

Portland - mailboat cruise of Casco Bay, explore Old Port Area, visit brewery tour, Lighthouse in Fort Williams park with wonderful view of casco Bay and lobster roll food trick. Farnswlrth Art museum in Rockland is two hours away also Owls Head Transportation Museum and Owls Head Light. nice drive from Portland. See Chowhound for dining recommendations in Portland.

ff OP doesn,t wamt to spend all day driving, Concord is about 3 hours from Burlington and there's things to see on way making it possibly an all day trip. Davisville flea market is only ipen on sundays and i would give it a pass in favorof antique shops along rt 4 on way to Portsmouth. Shaker Village in Canterbury has an interesting tour. we haven't been to Kearsarge Indian Museum on Warner but that is also a possibility. Independent book store in Warner has some local art work and food products for sale. Comcord NH has NH League of Arts and Crafts store for upscale crafts. Walkable downtown has mostly independent shops. Might get lucky if Gibson,s book store has visiting author. Check out Hippo free newspaper for events and things to do. Thye. Have a website.

Take rt 4 to seacoast and I95 not et 101 which is a boring limited access hwy. sorry typing on iPad. Concord food coop would have nice selection of New England food products. Crust and Crumb bakery on Main St is my go to place for whoopie pies. But woulda.so try two Fat Cats in Portland for their version.

On you trip east via I89 vt to Concord, if you bake you should visit King Arthur Flour in Norwich VT. get off I89 in New London NH to Wilmot for drive up north side of Mt Kearsarge. nice views. Pay fee for visit to state park near the top. Get back on I89 or back roads to Warner. Exit 9. You can continue thru small towns to downtown Concord. Rt 103 turns into Pleasant St and intersects Main Street.

Cat60

Thanks so much. Looks like a lot to do and see. We are looking for to the trip. Thanks again, and if there are any other suggestions let us know, we are always open for suggestions...

smssowo

Great suggestions so far. I'd also skip Bangor. Route 1 in southern Maine has lots of antique shops. The Arundel flea market is open daily and surrounded by two good antique consignment shops. Get to the flea market early for best deals. Most of the vendors are gone by noon. The best lobster roll...imho....is found in Pine Point, Maine. Old restaurant at very tip of the Point...Raging Tide....I think. Free parking, access to beach, lobster pound and not crowded.

cdnyul

I like and collect old tools, so in the Burlington area I enjoy the Shelbourne Museum, and the Arnold Zlotoff Tool Museum.

From Portland it is an easy drive up the coast to Bath and Brunswick. In Brunswick there is the Cabot Mills Antique center. Bath has the Maine Maritime Museum, near Bath is Reed State Park and Popham Beach. We never get tired of taking Parker Head Road to Popham

cdnyul

Sorry, pressed submit too soon.

https://shelburnemuseum.org/

http://www.arnoldzlotofftoolmuseum.com/Home_Page.php

http://www.cabotiques.com/

http://www.phippsburghistorical.com/tour.html

http://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org/

Mark

Cat60

Any ideas on a good location in Portland Maine to stay for a couple of nights. We would like something that is centralized around things to do there. We like good flea markets, love to shop stores not shopping malls or outlets, I'm talking little shops with unique gifts and items. Of course we would want to see the usual lighthouses and any other tourists things that would be interesting. Keep giving us ideas as we love them. We are kind of stuck right now trying to decide weather its worth staying over night in Concord from Burlington or just go on to Portsmouth, stay a day or two, then on to Portland? Please give us some suggestions..

Cat60

OK last night we decided we are making reservations. Here is our plans: 2 nights in Burlington, 2 nights in Portsmouth and 3 in Portland Maine which we are flying out of Portland on the 4th of July in the morning. So any good ideas? Let us know. Thanks again...

Cat60

I guess I should say so any other good ideas. There are lots of them, thank you to everyone.

dfrostnh

I love Concord but Portsmouth is really a good choice. You would have time to take a harbor or inland rivers cruise. Haven't shopped Portsmouth in awhile but it's a popular place with small, independent shops. Portland's Old Port area is full of small shops. Very fun. You have time for a run up to Rockland ME for either the Farnsworth Art Museum or Owls Head Transportation Museum with lobster lunch at Waterman's Beach. Easy short hike to Owls Head Light.

Hippo Press is a free newspaper weekly (see website) that covers NH events esp Portsmouth. You can check to see what's going on.