nannibray

We will have 12 nights in New England - Sept 28 - Oct 10. We fly IN and OUT of Portland, Me.
This is the location of our overnights.
2 nights -- Portland -- Harpswell, Maine area (arrive at 5:00 P.M.) Only have 1 full day here)
3 nights -- New Hampshire - 2 days for White Mtns 1 day Lake Squam/Winnipesaukee
2 nights ---Burlington - (Stowe - Rt l08-Mt Mansfield - Shelburne Museum)
2 nights --- Woodstock/Quechee/Hanover area
1 night --- Bennington, Vt -(Berkshires/Stockbridge, Ma and Southern Vt area)
2 nights ---Portsmouth, NH area
Fly home last day at 5:00 PM from Portland Airport

My main question is: 1) IS IT WORTH THE 1 NIGHT IN BENNINGTON TO DO THE BIRKSHIRES AND STOCKBRIDGE? WOULD THIS NIGHT BE BETTER SPENT IN ONE OF THE OTHER AREAS?
2) ARE THE LAKES OF NH WORTH A DAY?
Our main interest is to do Vt and NH. We are spending time in Maine and Portsmouth because of the air flights at the beginning and end of the trip.
ALL OPINIONS ARE WELCOME AND APPRECIATED.

HappyTrvlr

For Southern VT, I wouldn't stay in Bennington. Manchester or Brattleboro are better. Adding Berkshires and Stockbridge is stretching it too much. They are very worthwhile but save them for another time when you have more than one night.
In Manchester, visit Hilene, home of Robert Todd Lincoln, Abe's son.

dfrostnh

How much time you spend in any area depends on what you want to do besides just driving through. Do you want to do any hikes and/or take a cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee? We haven't been to the Remick Museum in Tamworth NH but I've seen some interesting activities scheduled on weekends there. The Flume is a good, strenuous walk if you don't want to do a hike. Meredith is right on the lake and a good place to walk around. Haven't been to Wolfboro in ages but that's another cute town. You might want to skip the Weirs Beach area since it's a place of arcades etc unless you are going on a lake cruise. I like the drive from Center Sandwich over to Tamworth and then Rt 16 but mostly the Center Sandwich area. You can circle back via the Kancamagus hwy.

Both Montpelier and Brattleboro VT have wonderful farmers markets on Saturdays. You can get lunch from one of the ethnic food vendors, sample cheeses, etc.

If you want to do more driving than walking, Rt 1B from Portsmouth thru New Castle is one of our favorite drives. You will also want to drive along the coast in the Rye area past the fabulous mansions. We have really liked the cruises out of Portsmouth. The inland rivers is fascinating. Also, drive out to the Kittery Point area (but skip the outlet malls).

Woodstock is not my favorite place but is considered a top tourist place to visit (which is why it's not my favorite). DH liked the Billings Farm Museum (I wasn't on that trip) but I could spend time at the King Arthur Flour store in Norwich VT.

The food tour of Portland Maine is interesting but you can also explore the Old Port area on your own. We finally visit Fort Williams park not to see the lighthouse but to get a lobster roll from Bite Into Maine food truck. Really nice place for a picnic with a view looking out on Casco Bay.

You are doing a lot of driving so I would be tempted to eliminate Bennington in favor of more time else where. Some people spend two days at the Shelburne Museum. DH loves ferries so he would take the ferry ride across Lake Champlain just because. You can spend a half day driving north and then down thru the islands.

Do you want to stop at wineries? Take tour of breweries? We drove north on I89 a few weeks ago but only as far as Montpelier (for the farmers market). Beautiful drive even without the colorful foliage.

We love the Harpswell area of Maine but it is very rural. If you want shopping and sandy beaches, stick to the southern Maine area. Took a sailboat cruise out of Perkins Cove recently. It was very nice and only takes a few people but I also prefer the quiet of the Harpswells and liked the easy hike "Giant Steps".

Vttraveler

I agree with others you don't have enough time to try to include the Berkshires/Stockbridge for this trip. It would be better to spend more time farther north in VT or NH.

Once you are on vacation you will be able to check information and see where the foliage is best.
http://www.vermontvacation.com/Vermo...%20Report.aspx

Shelburne Farms near the Shelburne museum is another good place to visit with some glorious views of Lake Champlain. I agree with dfrost's husband that a ferry trip across the lake is another good activity. You get great views of both the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains. I would suggest taking the ferry from Charlotte to Essex

Rokeby museum is another interesting historic spot. We have not been there since the new information center and exhibit opened but hope to make it over there this fall
http://www.7dvt.com/2013rokeby-museu...ilding-toilets

Vttraveler

I also recommend the fall foliage festival the first week in October in the Northeast Kingdom.
http://jeff-foliage.com/fall-festiva...fall-festival/

In general, there are lots of good church suppers during foliage season.

nannibray

Thank you all! I had expected to be advised to "drop" the Berkshires and Stockbridge. Am happy to be advised to do so.
HappyTrvr - Have noted to do Hilene in Manchester. We will enjoy that.
dFrostnh - You have given a WEALTH of useful info. Thanks so much. Have noted a cruise on Lake Squam rather than Winnipeskee but will take a look at Center Sandwich and Tamworth.
Where is this Flume Walk that you noted? Is it on the Kanc? Is it easy or moderate?
Loved the tips for the Portsmouth area, especially Rye coastal drive. We were planning on doing the Billings Farm in Woodstock. Will visit the King Arthur Flour store! I am eating Gluten Free so their GF flours are on the top of my list. Did not know the store was there. Thanks, good info.
Am now also seriously considering the ferry across Lake Champlain, then drive north and back thru the islands as suggested. I will ask our hostess in Burlington for the route.
We are staying in a friends cottage in Harpswell on Route 24! Was glad to know about the Giant's Stairs" hike on Bailey Island. We were planning on eating at Morses Cribstone Grill on Bailey Island and that hike will be VERY close. Perfect info! The hike is only 8 miles from the cottage. Would have been a shame if we had missed it.
VTTraveler - We are planning on the Shelburne Museum. Will check the ferry schedule from Charolette to cross the lake.

Is there any reason to see Keen, NH or Petersborough, NH?

dfrostnh

The Squam Lake "cruise" we took was the pontoon boat with the science center in Holderness. but there might be other cruises. There is very little commercial activity on Squam Lake which was probably why it was used for movie "On Golden Pond". Lake Winnipesaukee is very large.
The Flume is a major tourist attraction in NH
http://www.nhtourguide.com/triprepor..._nh_june06.htm
Kind of pricey and during foliage season might be a little too popular but it's very pretty. Convenient to I93. Due to stairs, I might say moderate. Check White Mountains hiking threads for advice on hikes. We're not hikers. You might prefer an easy hike.

Keene NH is a pretty college town. Peterborough is a very pretty upscale small town on Rt 101. We like the Toadstool bookstore and different shops. Nice arts/crafts gallery. Both would be good places for a lunch stop if you are traveling Rt 101. Great used bookstore in Marlborough, Toadstool also has some used as well as new books. Rt 101 is a nice drive. You are also close to Mason (not much to see) home to Pickety Place which serves herbal luncheons. Reservations only and it's in the middle of nowhere.

There are some other hikes in the Harpswells area. Look for their conservation map but the Giant Stairs is the best hike. Glad it's near your lunch spot.

You might check out Yankee Magazine's website. We love church suppers. Good tip from VtTraveler. My favorites have good pies and baked beans.

Driving around Center Sandwich/Tamworth area you might have a chance of seeing a black bear. At night be very careful about deer in the road. If there's one, there's usually more. This is the area where sled dogs were trained for polar expeditions. A mostly unknown bit of NH history.

nannibray

Thanks, dfrostnh. Now I recall The Flume. Will be there during the week so may not be too crowded. We did that hike about 10 years ago. Beautiful! ...But now we are 75 and 80 so may have to settle for The Baby Flume. The L Squam cruise we are contemplating is also out of Holdeness. Possibly a Pontoon also. We will do the Kanc highway enroute from Maine. Might be worth a second trip back from the lake region.