paiger

Going on a driving trip from Peoria, Il to upper northern states. Probably Main, Vermont, New Hampshire, Mass , Rode Island, and Connecticut, Maryland. Would prefer to stay around the coastal area. Approximate time allowed is 2 weeks. Looking for ideas. Adults no children will be going btw. Points of interest will be Boston or course, Martha Vineyard. Never been in this area at all so open to all suggestions.

paiger

Added infro. We will be going in the Fall to catch the fall colors. Probably early Oct or late Sept.

Inakauaidavidababy

Search New England Foliage for past threads with lots of useful ideas.

doug_stallings

That's a lot of area to cover in 2 weeks. I'd recommend limiting the number of states/destinations and see what you really can accomplish.

Also, Maryland is not in the northeast. Did you really mean to include it?

tomfuller

Ta save yourself a lot of driving, take the Lake Shore Limited (overnight) out of Chicago to Rochester NY.
Rent a car there for about 11 days.
Return the car to Rochester and take the train back to Chicago. The LSL westbound leaves Rochester at 10 PM ET and gets back to Chicago mid morning.

nytraveler

You are trying to cover way too much territory in limited time. Also you need to balance time on the shore - early Sept is better - with desire to see leaves changing - which is really early to mid October (but inland - later by the coast).

Suggest you check viamichelin for some of the routes you will use. Also be aware that there are "parkways" in that area of the country - very pretty roads, winding and twisting, narrow lanes and low stone bridges - that are for passenger cars only. Other vehicles are not allowed (and would not fit on the road or under the bridges) - but it allows you to avoid the huge interstates with thousands of massive trucks.

BigRuss

The area you described (excepting Maryland) is called New England. And instead of wasting your time and money on the train (ugh, tomfuller just HAS to be making commission on these daft suggestions), fly to Boston and plan a loop itinerary. Makes sense considering Boston is high on your list of what to see.

Good luck finding a coast in Vermont, it's inland and no part of it touches the Atlantic. Not much of New Hampshire does either.

paiger

Hey this just to get a start looking for some ideas. Last year we did a huge out west drive for 2 weeks and saw a lot. I'm just putting down some basic ideas starting out. Would appreciate any suggestions. We wont be flying but driving. I know there is no coast in a few states but was trying to give some basic ideas. Looking for someone who has been to those areas with some great suggestions.

doug_stallings

First off, if fall color is your object, I wouldn't recommend Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard, where there will be little of it. Colors peak in northern elevations in much of New England in late September, not in mid-October, by which time leaves have already passed peak. So it really depends on where you go. This year, it's been so warm it's anyone's guess, so you may do quite well in mid-October, particularly near the coast. If it were me, I'd take I--80, switching to I-90 and going through northern NY State. Then map out a route that will take you through Vermont and New Hampshire and down to Boston. Or you could go straight through to Portland Maine and then back down to Boston. I'd save Connecticut and Rhode Island for the road home and you can loop back home on I-70.

Fall color season is a busy time in New England, one of the busiest times of the year, so you will need hotel reservations, particularly in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Boston. Hotels in Boston will be very expensive, as will parking. Well, everything will be expensive if it's peak season, so just be aware of that and map out a route that doesn't involve too much driving each day. You can see a lot in 2 weeks, but certainly not everything on your list.

paiger

That really helped a lot Doug. Appreciate it. Fall colors would be nice but not a must if it is so crowded. The route of I 80 sounds great. Maybe we can stay out side of Boston and drive in for a few days cover that area, to make it cheaper of course like any other big city. I really wanna do the Cape Cod area and cover that also. Chances are we wont be coming back to this area. Next year looking at doing the rest of the eastern coast. Any other infro or suggestions of that area or special things to see would be very appreciated. Thank you again

emalloy

I'll give you some places to put into a mapping program like mapsgoogle or mapquest for a trip that will give you a bit of what you want to see. It would involve a long driving day at the beginning and probably at the end of the trip. A trip I would consider if I hadn't lived in New England for more than 70 years.

Day 1: Peoria to Buffalo, NY if you haven't seen Niagra Falls, spend 2 nights near Buffalo and check it out.

Day 2 or 3: Buffalo to Port Kent, NY, there should be very nice color through NY on this part of the trip and if you're tired, spend the night near Port Kent, otherwise take the ferry across Lake Champlain to Burlington, VT.

Day 3 or 4: If you stayed in Port Kent take the ferry to Burlington, in any case spend some time exploring the area, then head for Laconia, NH

Day 4 or 5: Explore the Laconia area then head for Portland, ME

Day 5 or 6: Explore the Portland area and eat some lobster, visit the coast then head for Portsmouth, NH (a short drive)

Day 6 or 7: Explore Portsmouth and Head to Boston spend a day or two then head for Cape Cod/

Day 7 or 8 or 9: Explore the Cape and take a day trip to Martha's Vineyard then head for Newport, RI

Day 9 or 10: Explore Newport then head for Stonington/Mystic CT for the night.

Day 10 or 11: Spend a half a day or so in the Mystic area then head west on 95 to Saybrook, CT then north on rt.9 to I-84 west.

Continue west to Peoria, probably 2 long days.

You could add or subtract days in any of these areas, but will probably need to have lodging in VT, NH and Boston and if you decide to stay on Martha's Vineyard. Midweek you can probably wing it on most of the other places if you don't mind chain motels near the highways. Make any reservations at places with a good cancellation policy in case the weather or interest changes to make you want to spend more or less time along the way.

Gwendolynn

Just to muddy the waters…. instead of the Vineyard… how about the ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket? Should be interesting to someone who's never spent time on the East Coast.

Ozarksbill

First of all with a smile from a former Peorian..northern easter states you say? Been in Boston over five years and guarantee you will enjoy Northeastern U.S.A. Historic sites, Atlantic seacoast, whale watching, lobster and clam chowder...all depends on interests. So much to see/do. How long will you be? If you've never seen Niagra Falls, of course. Other stops in New York State if you've the time. Caution: don't try seeing too much.

dfrostnh

I mostly like emalloy's suggestions.
Burlington VT is a great small city. I was surprised that googlemaps suggested one route to Meredith NH by first heading south on I89. Laconia is on part of the lake but Meredith is nicer. You can take a cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee on the SS Mt Washington which docks at Weirs Beach, a popular arcade area. There is also a small beach where you can watch a parade of boats coming from the Laconia area to the "big lake".
Meredith is more upscale and so is Wolfeboro. But I suggest after leaving Meredith to make a left to go further north to Sandwich NH. From there you can head to Tamworth and then north of Rt 16 to the Conway area. There's a popular route to Portland ME from there. This area is part of the White Mountains so the country roads are scenic. There will be more traffic on the east/west Kancamagus which is pretty but I like the small towns of Sandwich and Tamworth better than going thru national forest. White Mountain activities are just north of Meredith (i.e. The Flume).

Agree with Portland ME recommendation. If you don't take a cruise of Casco Bay be sure to do the boat trip for inland rivers out of Portsmouth NH. Both cities are great to explore.

Unless you really want to go to Mystic/visit Mystic Seaport, I would go to the Native American Museum at Foxwoods casino. It's in a separate building and it's fascinating.

paiger

Great ideas all thank you very much. I have been to Niagara Falls in past so wont be going there. We don't mind the long drive there and back. If we flow over 2 weeks no biggie we are retired. Once again thank you. If anyone has more ideas please add them. Enjoyed them all and I really appreciate it.

doug_stallings

If you have already visited Niagara Falls, then perhaps stop in Ohio the first night (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland?) and push on the next day to the Finger Lakes. Either Geneva or Seneca Falls would be a short detour off I-90.