Only 10 days in New England?! Need your advice please!
May 6th, 2014, 02:29 PM
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Only 10 days in New England?! Need your advice please!
I have been granted a precious 10 days, including travel, to see as much as I can of the 6 states of my dreams. I'm planning this for the last week of September in hopes of catching some color without getting lost in leaf peeping traffic. But the purpose is also to see and touch tangible evidence of our country's history. I'm currently reading through Fodor's guide to New England and my head is swimming with all the possibilities.
My 69 year old mother will be with me, but she's letting me drive this trip (literally and figuratively). I planned our last vacation to Ireland, England and Scotland (also 10 days). She is fairly mobile, but we won't exactly be hiking Mt Washington. We are also country folk from Oklahoma, and cities are definitely not our thing. For instance, in Ireland, Dublin was our least favorite stop and we couldn't leave fast enough. The countryside, however, was a dream come true.
All that said, if you were me and had only 10 days, what would you do? Skip Boston and spend it all in the sticks? Or is Boston a must? Flying into CT actually looks cheaper ATM. Also, what do you think about skipping Cape Cod but ferrying out to Martha's Vineyard for a day? Do we need a car the entire time, or could the train save us money on our coastal days?
TIA!
My 69 year old mother will be with me, but she's letting me drive this trip (literally and figuratively). I planned our last vacation to Ireland, England and Scotland (also 10 days). She is fairly mobile, but we won't exactly be hiking Mt Washington. We are also country folk from Oklahoma, and cities are definitely not our thing. For instance, in Ireland, Dublin was our least favorite stop and we couldn't leave fast enough. The countryside, however, was a dream come true.
All that said, if you were me and had only 10 days, what would you do? Skip Boston and spend it all in the sticks? Or is Boston a must? Flying into CT actually looks cheaper ATM. Also, what do you think about skipping Cape Cod but ferrying out to Martha's Vineyard for a day? Do we need a car the entire time, or could the train save us money on our coastal days?
TIA!
May 6th, 2014, 03:09 PM
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You will need a car for most of the area except Boston and/or Martha's Vineyar. If flying into CT is less expensive, then do that. BDL is smaller than BOS and you can get right on the highway easily from the rental car places. I live in CT so have never rented a car there but I wouldn't be surprised if car rental was cheaper too.
I would start the trip by heading north for the color and then loop around and end in the coastal areas. If you go to Martha's Vineyard you might consider doing the ferry from Quanset Point RI, unless you decide to see Cape Cod.
If you aren't interested in cities, then skip Boston, but it does have very interesting historic areas and wonderful museums.
I would start the trip by heading north for the color and then loop around and end in the coastal areas. If you go to Martha's Vineyard you might consider doing the ferry from Quanset Point RI, unless you decide to see Cape Cod.
If you aren't interested in cities, then skip Boston, but it does have very interesting historic areas and wonderful museums.
May 6th, 2014, 03:53 PM
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If you want to see and experience history, I think you would enjoy Boston. You could stay two days and walk part of the Freedom Trail, see Faneuil Hall, the Old State House, Paul Revere's House etc. You would not need a car for the Boston portion of your trip. Boston is compact and very walkable. If you and your mother don't want to walk too far, you can take one of the hop-on-hop-off trolley tours.
Perhaps visiting the Adams homes in Quincy would interest you, and also Lexington and Concord.
Yankee Magazine has road trip suggestions on their website and also foliage links. Late September may be early for color so you'll want to go North in Vermont or NH.
Perhaps visiting the Adams homes in Quincy would interest you, and also Lexington and Concord.
Yankee Magazine has road trip suggestions on their website and also foliage links. Late September may be early for color so you'll want to go North in Vermont or NH.
May 6th, 2014, 04:05 PM
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Look into Manchester NH and Providence RI as well. Southwest serves both.
Check this out in Portsmouth NH: http://www.strawberybanke.org/
As for Boston, yes it's a city, but it's very walkable and easy to get around. I would try to spend a couple of days there.
Check this out in Portsmouth NH: http://www.strawberybanke.org/
As for Boston, yes it's a city, but it's very walkable and easy to get around. I would try to spend a couple of days there.
May 6th, 2014, 05:55 PM
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I agree that you should spend a night or two in Boston - it's quite historic and walkable. For the rest of your trip you will definitely need a car. Last week of September is a great time to explore the New England countryside - the bugs are gone, and the leaf peepers won't be in full force yet. If you want miles and miles of unspoiled beaches, lighthouses and quaint villages you could spend some time on the Cape, and do a day ferry to MV. You could also do the Maine coast which is considerably more rockbound and somewhat chillier this time of year. For beautiful unspoiled mountains, farms and forest, New Hampshire and Vermont are the place to explore.They both have tons of charming b&b's and farmhouse inns. New Hampshire is more rugged, Vermont more bucolic, but they both are sprinkled with tiny vilages, lakes and lots of hiking and walking opportunities. You might want to spend a few nights in NH's White Mountains in someplace like Jackson. You could then stay somewhere near Woodstock Vt where you can easily explore central Vermont and the quiet Connecticut River Valley area of both states. Connecticut and Rhode Island also have lots to offer, but in general are less rural if that's what you are looking for.
May 6th, 2014, 07:20 PM
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The leaves won't be turning until October, first or second weekend in So. vt for example. You'll have to head farther north for color in late September.
Boston is small and walkable. You should give it at least three days. You son't have much time so need to maximize the rest of your trip. Martha's Vineyard can be done in a day. Or you can gake a fery from Boston to Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod.
I am very partial to Vermont but NH also will offer you traditional New England villages. BnBs are everywhere and the perfect place to stay in New England. If you drive to VT it will be easy to get back to BDL for your flight home as I-91 goes from Hartford,CT north up through Massachusetts to the eastern side of VT along the Connecricut River. Or statrt in VT after you land...
Boston is small and walkable. You should give it at least three days. You son't have much time so need to maximize the rest of your trip. Martha's Vineyard can be done in a day. Or you can gake a fery from Boston to Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod.
I am very partial to Vermont but NH also will offer you traditional New England villages. BnBs are everywhere and the perfect place to stay in New England. If you drive to VT it will be easy to get back to BDL for your flight home as I-91 goes from Hartford,CT north up through Massachusetts to the eastern side of VT along the Connecricut River. Or statrt in VT after you land...
May 7th, 2014, 02:46 AM
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If you like food tours, Boston's North End Italian neighborhood is fascinating. Lots of small shops, food samples and history (Michelle Topoer Tours). If you are in Boston on a Friday or Saturday, the pushcart vendors are selling produce in Haymarket nearby. Boston is an old city and unique.
Portsmouth NH would be smaller and you might enjoy Strawbery Banke historic area. Take a boat ride around the harbor or do inland rivers. Maine is just across the bridge.
I agree to check into Manchester NH airport. It's a small airport and less than an hour to Portsmouth but CT is also a good idea and western MA up I91 to VT is not a busy interstate unless it's commuting time near the cities.
There won't be much color if any except possible red swamp maples which you might see in swampy areas near the interstates and other roads.
You might also consider Canterbury Shaker Village near Concord NH for a tour. Beautiful country location and fascinating history. Shelburne Museum in VT might take a whole day and is in that bucolic area mentioned above.
I think it might be better to skip MV and the Cape in favor of more time on the Maine coast. But if you start out in CT I would recommend visiting the native American museum associated with Foxwoods casino for historical insight. We have not been to the Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner NH.
What fascinates me about some of the small towns in New England is that they were settled so early. It's easy to understand why a coastal town like Portsmouth NH got an early start but places like Center Sandwich NH?
The mills in Lowell MA are another place I haven't visited yet. That's another part of New England history when wool was an economic boom. A lot of New England was sheep pasture not forested like it is now. When I was young, we went to real factory outlets on Saturday mornings for bargains on things like shoes and sweaters.
There's some great farming activity in New England so you will find some wonderful places. When DS was down south he missed local apples. There are orchards like Gould Hill in Hopkinton NH that grow dozens of varieties. Their website will tell you what kind of apples are available in late September. Sometimes we buy half a dozen of varieties we don't know just to taste them. Of course, then we forget which is which! View toward the mountains from their small parking lot is very nice. Very easy to get to from I89 outside of Concord NH.
Although I hate interstates. If you decide to go to the mountains from CT, I would suggest doing a VT loop and then taking I89 south to Concord NH and then north on I93. Concord is the state capital but a pleasant, walkable downtown if you want to make a stop. When you head north on I93 it's going to take you right thru the White Mountains and as you head north the scenery just gets nicer and nicer. From the east side of the mountains/Conway area, you can head to Portland ME. It's only about an hour from Conway and then explore the coast as you head south. If you don't take a boat ride in Portsmouth, you can do the mailboat visit to islands in Casco Bay from Portland and afterward explore the Old port area of shops and restaurants.
I'd say choose where to stay depending on what's going to take some time. If you want to visit Shelburne Museum, find a place within an easy drive. You can explore a lot of central VT from one location.
Portsmouth NH would be smaller and you might enjoy Strawbery Banke historic area. Take a boat ride around the harbor or do inland rivers. Maine is just across the bridge.
I agree to check into Manchester NH airport. It's a small airport and less than an hour to Portsmouth but CT is also a good idea and western MA up I91 to VT is not a busy interstate unless it's commuting time near the cities.
There won't be much color if any except possible red swamp maples which you might see in swampy areas near the interstates and other roads.
You might also consider Canterbury Shaker Village near Concord NH for a tour. Beautiful country location and fascinating history. Shelburne Museum in VT might take a whole day and is in that bucolic area mentioned above.
I think it might be better to skip MV and the Cape in favor of more time on the Maine coast. But if you start out in CT I would recommend visiting the native American museum associated with Foxwoods casino for historical insight. We have not been to the Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner NH.
What fascinates me about some of the small towns in New England is that they were settled so early. It's easy to understand why a coastal town like Portsmouth NH got an early start but places like Center Sandwich NH?
The mills in Lowell MA are another place I haven't visited yet. That's another part of New England history when wool was an economic boom. A lot of New England was sheep pasture not forested like it is now. When I was young, we went to real factory outlets on Saturday mornings for bargains on things like shoes and sweaters.
There's some great farming activity in New England so you will find some wonderful places. When DS was down south he missed local apples. There are orchards like Gould Hill in Hopkinton NH that grow dozens of varieties. Their website will tell you what kind of apples are available in late September. Sometimes we buy half a dozen of varieties we don't know just to taste them. Of course, then we forget which is which! View toward the mountains from their small parking lot is very nice. Very easy to get to from I89 outside of Concord NH.
Although I hate interstates. If you decide to go to the mountains from CT, I would suggest doing a VT loop and then taking I89 south to Concord NH and then north on I93. Concord is the state capital but a pleasant, walkable downtown if you want to make a stop. When you head north on I93 it's going to take you right thru the White Mountains and as you head north the scenery just gets nicer and nicer. From the east side of the mountains/Conway area, you can head to Portland ME. It's only about an hour from Conway and then explore the coast as you head south. If you don't take a boat ride in Portsmouth, you can do the mailboat visit to islands in Casco Bay from Portland and afterward explore the Old port area of shops and restaurants.
I'd say choose where to stay depending on what's going to take some time. If you want to visit Shelburne Museum, find a place within an easy drive. You can explore a lot of central VT from one location.
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