jessicam40

Hello!

I am planning a trip for my parents to New Hampshire the first week in October. They both are well-traveled. I would love some suggestions. They are going to be going on a driving tour with their Ford Model A (will tow it from Indiana to make the drive easiest). I am looking at having them stop in the Adirondacks for 2 nights, possibly on Lake Placid, Mirror Lake Inn. And, then they would like to tour New Hampshire. Thus far, I have looked at Manor on Golden Pond. I would like for them to stay at beautiful, relaxing, upscale inns/bed and breakfasts. If they spend 2 nights in the Adirondacks, they will have 4 - 5 nights in New Hampshire before having to start driving back to Indiana. I would REALLY appreciate some help. I have not been to New Hampshire, so I am basically planning using various travel websites and possibly a couple books. I would like for them to maybe stay at 2 - 3 places while they are in New Hampshire. Possibly 2 nights in 2 places and maybe one night in another. They need to stay in locations that are good central points for "driving tours" and just for relaxing in the beautiful outdoors.

thanks so much,
Jessica

PS the first week of October is best for Fall foliage, right? I am guessing this since I was in Vermont during that time 2 years ago...........

dfrostnh

You might get some additional ideas and help on Yankee Magazine's website www.newengland.com.
The Squam Lake (Golden Pond) area would be wonderful. It's a great location and much more quiet than nearby Lake Winnipesaukee. We love driving around Sandwich and Tamworth. Get them at NH Atlas and Gazeteer published by Delorme. It's an oversize softcover with detailed maps of every road, location of waterfalls, covered bridges, etc. From that area, a nice jaunt over to Wolfeboro and maybe into the mountains. You are right, first week should be great, unless it's like last year.
Maybe the 2nd two nights at Wentworth-by-the-Sea in Portsmouth. Rt 1B thru Newcastle is one of our favorite drives. Also the road out to Kittery Point (not Rt 1 with the shopping outlets). A nice tour past the mansions in Rye would be nice too. Two nights near the mountains and two nights near the ocean would be ideal. The southwest "quiet" corner of NH is also another nice area to explore but take numbered routes to go thru towns like Hancock and Peterborough. Maybe route them that way to go home. Head to Keene, go across VT to Bennington. While here, visit apple orchards. There's some wonderful views from some orchards. (Gould Hill in Hopkinton) They'll have a great time.

nkd

Mirror Lake Inn is not on Lake Placid. It is on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid

Dreamer2

You might also want to consider the Mt. Washington Inn in Bretton Woods, NH.

jessicam40

Thanks for the great feedback! My dad wants to start and end at the same hotel, so that they can take their Model A off the tow, and just drive it around I was thinking:

Night 1 Manor On Golden Pond
Night 2 - need suggestion, somewhere further north possibly?
Night 3 - Wentworth by the Sea
Night 4 - Wentworth by the Sea
Night 5 - back to Manor on Golden Pond to end the vacation and to get the Model A back on the tow.

Any suggestions?

jessicam40

Or, I was thinking -

day 1/night 1 drive to Holderness, Manor On Golden Pond
day 2/night 2 drive up to Bethleham, to Adair Inn
day 3/night 3 stay a 2nd night at Adair Inn
day 4/night 4 drive down to Wentworth by the Sea
day 5/night 5 drive back to Manor on Golden
day 6 leave

feedback? Thanks!

dfrostnh

You might check to see if one night stays during the foliage season are available. Some places require a 2 night min. Keep in mind there's a lot of traffic congestion in the Conway/N Conway area. Rather than heading further north (the Twin Mtn/Bethlehem area is not my favorite area) you might try Woodstock VT for two nights and make sure to include lunch at Simon Pierce in Quechee. It's just over the NH border. Vermont tends to have more rolling hills and open farmland than NH. I'm not familiar with the Adair Inn, however. Woodstock is upscale but almost too touristy. My husband loves the Billings Farm Museum, though. Simon Pierce is a great restaurant in a fascinating building housing potters and glass blowers. They use their own hydro-electric power. You can watch demonstrations and eat off handmade plates.

jessicam40

thanks for the info, what about going from Manor on Golden Pond upto Mt Washington area? Staying in Bretton Woods for 2 nights? Is that a good location for scenic driving?

Jessica

dfrostnh

I think the scenic driving starts as you approach the lakes region and starts disapating as you get beyond the Bretton Woods area. I've recommended the atlas for back roads but the scenery is also pretty on the interstate Rt 93 as it goes through the mountains. We stayed at the Grand View in Whitefield (west of Bretton Woods) and thought the scenery was mediocre. Berlin to the north is a paper mill town. It seems to me that a model T can make a loop from Squam to Bretton Woods as an easy day trip. Over Columbus Day weekend there's an agricultural fair in Sandwich which will generate some extra traffic near the fairgrounds. (It's near Squam.) It's good to be north of Meredith because there is always a lot of traffic in the downtown area which is hard to avoid as it's part of the major route around Lake Winnipesaukee. When we stayed in Whitefield we ended up going over into Vermont for scenery (and a craft fair). Have you checked availability yet? Columbus Day weekend could be sold out already in popular places.

Dreamer2

The Bretton Woods area is beautiful. The colors may be a bit past peak after Columbus Day, but you never know.

Check out the Mt. Washington Hotel:

http://www.mtwashington.com/hotelinformation/index.cfm

We've stayed here, and more recently, the Wentworth-by-Sea, and found the Mt. W much more impressive, albeit less modern. I think your parents would love staying here and driving around the area.

However, Wentworth-by-Sea is in a great location. It will be fun to take the car along scenic 1A in Rye, and to explore Portsmouth.

jessicam40

I have them staying at the following

Manor on Golden Pond, Holderness - 2 nts
Notchland Inn, Hart's Location - 2 nts
Wentworth by the Sea - 1 nt.

How does that sound? Thanks for the feedback!

tovarich

As a base for the white mountainsI would choose Jackson.It's close to everything.It has great B&B.If you like shopping you're close to the outlets in Conway.I wouldn't do the Mount Washington climb in that car though.We were there in September 2004 and the foliage was great.Dont forget to de the Kamcamagus highway and dont look for the Man in the mountain.He crumbled.Have a great time.Paul

zootsi

Sounds great, just realize the drive from Hart's Location to Wentworth is a long one, as is the drive from Lake Placid to central NH.

jessicam40

Thanks. Approx what is the drive time from Hart's Location to Wentworth-by-the-sea? Granted, they are there for a driving tour, so it should be no big deal..........

Tovarich - from your suggestions, would you have me change to Jackson rather than staying at The Notchland Inn? I was using this location as the "central" point for White Mtns?

jiminpa

I would'nt take my car up Mt. Washington either.I'd suggest taking one of the tour vehicles up.You don't have to pay attention to the road and the guide will give you lots of info along the way.I second tovarich on the Kangamangas Highyway

adnil1962

I second the choice of Jackson for a place to stay. It's a quaint little village which you reach by passing through a covered bridge. You feel like you are taking a step back in time.

There are several great upscale restaurants and B&B's. You can walk the loop, play golf and walk up to view the Jackson Falls.

You can quickly reach the Kanc by way of Bear Notch Road for great foliage viewing. It's very close to Mt. Washington Auto Road - You don't have to drive yourself, you can hire a van to take you up. I believe for about $35 pp.

There is a new hotel called the Snowflake Inn. It's an adult only hotel with a Jacuzzi in each room. Each room also includes a free massage. It's larger and more modern than a typical B&B. The owners were very nice. They were also featured on the travel channel.

The Inn at Thorn Hill looks nice as well (we have only visited the restaurant which was excellent).

The Wentworth is nice but if you book take care to request a room that is pictured on the website. We rented a room here last New Years and were very disapointed.

The Christmas Farm Inn is about 1/2 mile outside of the main town but is quaint. We have only visited the restaurant and had massages at their spa - excellent experience at both.

Last, we were very impressed by the Ellis River House. The owners were very nice. Each room had been newly refurbished and all were beautiful. I believe that this is also and adult only establishment.

celfan

Can a Model A make it up the steep mountains????

Lots of single lanes too. If they go too slow there are going to be angry people behind them.

tovarich

Jessicam40.Sorry for late reply, are leaving on our southeast tour newt monday. Jackson is very centrally located for all the lovely sites. First of all it's a lovely village.You're near Mt Washington, Kancamagus highway,not far from the lakes and if you want to do some serious shopping you're only miles away from N.Conway and it's outlet shops. Have a nice trip.Paul

jessicam40

thanks for all the help. they leave on the 29th to start driving east.

They are driving from the Adirondacks to Manor on Golden Pond, Holderness to
Notchland Inn, Hart's Location (2 nts) to Wentworth by the Sea then back to Manor on Golden Pond.

As far as suggestions, I have from the posts:

Kamcamagus highway
visit Jackson
Take tour of Mt. Washington

Any more suggestions?

I know some of you mentioned shopping - my Dad is not a shopper. So, the only "shopping" they will do is stop off at antique stores, etc.

How about a suggestion for a route from Notchland Inn, Hart's Location to Wentworth-by-the Sea? They are in no hurry - so scenic routes are desired.

thanks so much for all the great feedback!!!

Jessica

dfrostnh

The shortest route from Hart's Location would be the east side of Lake Winnipesaukee. Wolfeboro is a lovely town. Rt 16 might be faster but Rt 28 to Epsom would join up with Rt 4 which is a nice drive over to the coast. (Stop at Johnson's Dairy bar for ice cream, drive thru Northwood's Antique Alley). UNH's campus in Durham is beautiful in the fall and would require a slight detour. I love the drive from there to Portsmouth since it goes thru such pretty country, some farmland (including locally famous Wagon Hill) and then goes over Great Bay, the first view of saltwater. There is a large park/recreation area adjacent to Great Bay where they might want to stop for a break. I think it's Hilton Park. We sometimes stop there with our camper for a lunch break. They will love Rt 1B thru Newcastle which takes them to Wentworth-by-the-Sea. At one point on a narrow causeway you can see the old Navy Prison in Kittery in one direction, the Wentworth in the other.
Back in the mountains, they will probably have a good drive around Sandwich and Tamworth. Sandwich is one of the oldest towns in NH (near Squam Lake).
There are a lot of festivities going on this time of year. Wolfeboro has scarecrow people decorating the town. Have them get the Thursday edition of Union Leader for a good selection of events. There's also a free newspaper for the Weirs Beach/Lake W area. Some areas have classic boat meets. Lots of places do cruise nights. There are pretty places all over the place.
BTW when my husband goes to NY he likes to stop at Hemmings Motor News/shop in Bennington VT.