Yes, NH's mountains are more dramatic, taller and craggier than VT's Green Mountains. You might choose to visit to coincide with some events. Musterfield Farm in N Sutton, NH does Old Time Farming Days around the 3rd weekend in August. Shaker Village in Canterbury NH has several event weekends during the summer. We have not been to the Remick Museum in Tamworth but it's in our favorite area, the drive between Tamworth and Center Sandwich in the area where sled dogs were trained for polar expeditions. This area is between Lake Winnipesaukee and the mountains. Figure out why Sandwich was settled so early in our history.

I think Shelburne Museum in VT would appeal to you more than Stowe. That area along Lake Champlain is flatter with more open farmland than NH or eastern VT. DH and his dad enjoyed a visit to Billings Farm Museum near the NH border.

Check event listings in both states for Revolutionary War encampments.
Consider some kayaking. When we were growing up the Merrimack River was a cesspool but clean up began as the mills shut down. A friend took me on a half day paddle from Boscawen to Penacook NH. There's a rental service that will drop you and pick you up so you can do this popular route. It's just amazing to see different birds and scenery and just about no buildings along this stretch just secluded sandy beaches, woods and farmland. This is near exit 17/I93, Concord is just south.

And you should probably include Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth NH and a cruise around the harbor or the inland rivers one.

Well, dhfrost knows her New Hampshire, but let me suggest this for us to discuss.

Day 1 Arrive Boston, rent car, drive to Salem
Day 2 Cape Ann (Marblehead, Gloucester, Rockport, Essex)
Day 3 Drive to Portsmouth, one of the great places to hang out in New England. Stay downtown. Good, fun restaurants, bars, and outdoor cafes. Lively local breweries. Take the boat tour to the Isles of Shoals (advance reservation required).
Day 4 Route 16 to Route 11, along the shores of Lakes Winnepesaukee and Squam. Spend the night in Waterville Valley or Lincoln.
Day 5 Explore the notches. Franconia Notch, Crawford Notch, Pinkham Notch. Consider the steam cog railway to the top of Mount Washington instead of driving up it. Spend the night in Jackson, NH.
Day 6 Head west toward Burlington. Stop in St Johnsbury, Craftsbury Common, and Stowe.
Day 7 Burlington, Shelburne Museum
Day 8 Ferry across Lake Champlain and back or expedition to Montreal by bus or train if you have had enought scenery. You may or may not be able to take your rental car; it has to be arranged in advance.
Day 9 Drive east to Vermont Highwaay 100, then drive south to US 4 and turn east toward Woodstock. Spend the night in Woodstock or in Hanover, NH (Dartmouth College) if you want picturesque, White River Junction or Lebanon if all you want is a bed.
Day 10 Drive back to Boston for your flight home.

Can I come with you?

I like Ackislander's itinerary a lot, and dfrostnh has good ideas as well. A couple fleshing-out thoughts:

-unless you're just driving through, you won't be able to experience all four Cape Ann towns in a day (which may not have been Ackislander's implication here anyway -- this just might have been a range of possibilities). Myself, I'd select Gloucester (choose one or two from the Cape Ann Historical Museum, Rocky Neck Art Colony, or a historic house like Beauport or Hammond Castle) and Rockport (definitely walk around Bearskin Neck, maybe a hike through Halibut Point State Park). Grab a plate of fried clams later on at a clam shack such as The Clam Box (Ipswich) or JT Farnham's (Essex).

-agreed about Portsmouth, lots of good coffee shops and restaurants there. Agreed with the idea of Strawbery Banke, though there are several other historic houses here if that's of interest. Haven't been to Isle of Shoals, so I can't offer observations here.

-there are a couple museums in St. Johnsbury, if that's of interest, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum (art gallery) and the Fairbanks Museum (science-based). Haven't been to either.

-the Ben and Jerry's factory tour in Waterbury (on the way from Burlington to Hanover) is a must if you're an ice cream lover.

I've been to Portsmouth before and I'm driving up from the DC area. Boston is reachable in one day driving but new Hampshire and Vermont are a little far so ill want to stopper in route. So I got 8-9 days of activities really. I plan on using Glochester/Cape Ann as a base for visiting Boston and the sites around there. Where would be the most convient place to pickup the subway outside the city?
Thanks

You could ride the Vermonter to Springfield and then rent a car.
The train goes as far north as St. Albans Vermont.
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245667150

I would not fly to Boston if I wanted to go to Vermont.

I agree that Cape Ann area deserves at least 2 day; you can easily spend 3 days there given you like history. That area has TONS of historic houses, esp in Ipswich. If you can time your visit during the FIRST Saturday of the month, you get to see/tour even more of the historic houses because every 1st Sat is the North Shore's 17th-c Saturdays. Here is a link to the PDF file of the brochure (for 2011), but you can get a sense of what's to see:http://www.escapesnorth.com/17thCenturyBrochure.pdf

While you're driving up to Cape Ann area, do stop by the Saugus Iron Works. This was written up nicely by Cranachin last week: http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/saugus-iron-works.cfm

The first weekend in August is also the SALEM MARITIME FESTIVAL. We went a few years ago and we spent the entire day just in Salem alone. Here's 2011 schedule so you can get an idea: http://www.nps.gov/sama/planyourvisit/maritimefestival.htm

There is also the Schooner Festival in Gloucester http://www.capeannvacations.com/schooner/ , Yankee Homecoming in Newburyport http://www.yankeehomecoming.com/ etc etc etc

All I'm saying is, there is no shortage of interesting things to see and events to attend over summer in New England. With only 10 days, I don't know if you can really see all the places you listed (Boston, Cape Ann, White Mtns, Concord/Lexington), esp given that you said you'd like to "spend some time to visit the area in "detail"".

With "detail" I meant the White Mountains, its very pretty and I would like to spend some time there going up Mount Washington and walking through the Flume, Franconia Notch, etc. In Boston, I would be interested in seeing the Freedom Trail, the USS Constitution, basically the main historical sites, wish I had time to see everything. Wouldn't mind doing Lexington and Concord. And Cape Ann for seafood and ocean scenery. But I am debating because we really like mountain scenery, so I'm wondering if it would make more sense to skip Boston and split the time between New Hampshire and Vermont?
Thanks

Yes. Boston will always be there. If your heart says "mountains", go to the mountains. I have spent many, many wonderful days there until Nantucket stole my heart!

I don't know what kind of hikers/walkers you are, but I have more suggestions if you can give me some more information.

If you cut out Cape Ann, also, you have the opportunity to get into real depth (height?) in the mountains.

Thanks-
Im a big hiker myself. But, not everybody in our group can handle the hikes I can normally handle. So, we're kind of limited by easy, short hikes or "walks" as far as hiking goes. The White Mountains looks more tourist friendly (unfortunately along with tourist traps) and more to see by car with more places to go. The Green Mountains of Vermont seems like more hiking oriented to see them. For example, the road on Mount Mansfield dosen't go all the way to the top, whereas the Mount Washington Road goes all the way up. We like the mountains a lot, but we also like seafood. So, maybe skip Vermont and do the White Mountains and the Boston Area, with more of an emphasis on the White Mountains. That way I can get a taste of the shore and go to the mountains too and Boston is closer to my house in Maryland than Northern Vermont, so I would haven't to spend a night on that leg of the trip. Only a night for the return trip from New Hampshire.
Thanks-

You will find some seafood even if it's not as great as something on the coast. Red Hill Dairy, a tiny drive-in type place in Moultonborough NH (north coast of Lake Winnipesaukee) has very good lobster rolls. Fried clams are pretty easy to find inland (also in VT). The Flume is actually fairly strenuous and extremely popular so you might do better with a suggested hike on your own or take the ferry across Lake Champlain in Burlington VT to Ausable Chasm in NY. I think Ackislander has provided good hiking info on other threads. There are also some less popular places with great views. Check into some of the ski areas with chair lifts that operate in the summer for some nice views. Last summer on a garden tour there was a house with a wonderful view of Lake Winnipesaukee. I think you would get a similar view from the chairlift at Gunstock in Guilford NH. Very pretty on a day when a lot of sailboats are out.

If you travel through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, be sure to see the Kancamagus Highway (112) east from I-93 to Conway. There are plenty of good hiking places off the highway. My hiking tip: Hike up the trail until you are tired. Sit for 5 minutes and hike back down to the car. Make sure you all have proper footwear for your hikes.

Someone mentioned Marblehead when discussing Cape Ann. It's a nice town but it isn't part of Cape Ann or even bordering it. Cape Ann is Gloucester, Rockport, and Essex. Anyway, Atlantic Ave in Gloucester is a must see, as are the aforementioned Rocky Neck Art Colony and Hammond Castle. If you go to the castle, be sure to drive the coastal road in the Magnolia section of Gloucester afterwards, and consider stopping at "Ocean Lawn", although parking can be a challenge.

I would definitely not skip Halibut Point Park in Rockport. It isn't a long walk to the quarry, the cliffs, or the rock "beach". The ocean views are wonderful.

I'm not an expert on Vermont or New Hampshire, but just returned from there. The Franconia area provided us with two very nice hikes; Franconia Notch Flume Gorge, and "The Basin."
Also there is the gondola ride up Cannon Mtn.
Off the "Kanc" (112) is a hike to Sabbaday Falls very easy.
You may wish to check out my trip report recently posted here. We found lots of things to do besides look at pretty trees and leaves.
Your drive through northern Vermont could include Rock of Ages Granite Quarry, and the Cabot Cheese Factory.
Or finding covered bridges off of main roads, use the DeLorme Atlas's.
Smuggler's Notch up out of Stowe should be on your list.
Someone else mentioned Craftsbury Commons. We found it enchanting.
We sure liked driving around on dirt roads not sure exactly what we'd find. Beautiful.

I think im going to skip Cape Ann/Boston and either split my time between the White Mountains and Cape Cod or just spend most of the time in the White Mountains. The Whites are too far to drive in one day, so it would require a night overnight in route each way. Cape Cod maybe just close enough to reach in one day. So, ill have 9-10 days between Cape Cod and the White Mountains if I do both. Or ill have 8 if I just goto the White Mountains. If I just did the Whites, I would probably go two different ways. Going up I-95 north of Boston to Route 16 north in NH. And on the way home a more westernly route, I-91 through Vermont and Massachusetts. On the way up, I could stay just outside Boston and possibly see Lexington and Concord. Then, on the way home, I would probably stay somewhere in Western/Central Massachusetts. If I did both Cape Cod and the Whites, Cape Cod would be my first night and the return would be the same.

I'm not familiar with going north on Rt 16 but my daily commute is on I93N. Once you get north of the MA state line, it gets pretty. If you take I293 you will go along the Merrimack River with a splendid view of Manchester's old mills on the east side of the river. As you continue north (I93 and I293 merge north of Manchester NH) you start to see the hills, then the mountains. Eventually I93 goes right through the mountains (which might have caused the Old Man's downfall). There's some nice vistas along the way.
Of course, that puts you on the wrong side if you are staying in the Jackson/Conway area.

Just don't head north on a Friday afternoon.

asdaven,
Plymouth Vermont may not be a feasible side-trip for your current plan. We live in the Burlington area and have been meaning to visit the Calvin Coolidge Homestead (link below). When you decide to visit Vermont, I like what others said about St Johnsbury via Craftsbury to Stowe to Smugglers Notch (108). Shelburne Museum is somewhat similar to Strawberry Banks. There is also some nice impressionist art.

Something else you might enjoy when you come up to the Burlington area, just south of Burlington off Rt 7, is Charlotte's Mt Philo State Park. You can drive up the road and park and the view of the farm lands below, Lake Champlain and the NY's Adirondacks is stunning. Burlington also has a nice flat bike/walking path along the lake as well. Church street and the waterfront are nice places to hang out, shop and eat. You didn't mention if you like art, but there is lots of local art in Stowe and in Burlington.

http://www.historicvermont.org/coolidge/

If you do get to Vermont I agree with the last poster that driving
up Mt. Philo gives you great views of the Champlain Valley. The ferries across the lake are another great way to see both the Green Mts and the Adirondacks.

Rokeby is another interesting historic house south of Burlington on Rte 7 in Ferrisburgh
http://www.rokeby.org/

If you do head home on I-91 through Western MA you could easily visit Old Deerfield. Even if you don't spend time going through the museum houses, it is interesting to drive down the beautiful main street.

Hi-
I was lazy and took a hiatus in planning next summers trip, but now its 2012!! I could do a week plus 2 days travel, with an emphasis on the White Mountains since theres more to do. How about 5 nights New Hampshire and 3 nights in Vermont? Or should I do 3 nights Cape Cod and 5 nights New Hampshire? Not going to Cape Cod means I could avoid any part of the I-95 corridor entirely. Where Vermont and New Hampshire are located, it makes alternate, less congested routes, even though slightly longer, a much more viable option. Plus, Cape Cod has a lot of traffic with only two bridges, whereas the mountains areas, traffic is more spread out. Also, leaving out Cape Cod would probably be less driving. I tend to be more favorable towards mountain destinations plus I love the rugged Northern wilderness feel you get going to places Maine, New Hampshire, and the Adirondacks of New York. However, I love the Ocean sometimes also. Acadia National Park and Cape Hatteras National Seashore/Outer Banks are my favorite for the ocean. But, I don't goto the beach to sit on the beach all-day. We go for the scenery and nature. I also love quaint towns, which Cape Cod has a lot of. Plus, theres the National Seashore with hiking and stuff. I enjoy going to "different" places and ive seen a sandy beach tons of times. But, Acadia was something different, since its rocky coastline. And I know Cape Cod is a lot different than a lot of East Coast beach destinations with the quaint towns, I just feel the beach is the beach and can be a bummer in the summer when its crowded. Im not totally ruling Cape Cod out, but would you agree as far as being convenient to this trip to goto Vermont instead? The White Mountains is a must for me, but splitting the time there with Cape Cod or Vermont is what im debating?