A week in New England, beginning in Boston
Jan 12th, 2015, 11:52 PM
#21
In case you decide to spend more time in Mass, I really enjoyed Concord this past September. You can see the homes of Emerson and Alcott and walk around Thoreau's Walden Pond for starters. A lovely little outing from Boston with history and literature galore and a very New England feel. There is a fun little restaurant/bakery right in the center of the little town with great fish tacos. You can see the sight of the "shot heard around the world."
There is also The Concord Inn right in town. Good location and an easy stopover if you aren't finding lodgings right in Boston due to graduations.
Flpab makes some very nice suggestions for Maine, etc. We enjoyed poking around in Camden, ME as well. In Newport we enjoy the Cliff Walk.
(I've done the drive/ferry to NS and PEI and I think you will miss a lot of great things right in New England to do it. Perhaps save it for another trip. If you want to see an island and take a ferry you've got Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard or even Block Island which are just waking up in May. That time of year I prefer Nantucket but Block Island is an easy day trip from RI.)
Hope you get decent weather - bring warm and rain ready things just in case. You will be early for the season and some things will be closed, but you will also miss the summer crowds which can be large.
There is also The Concord Inn right in town. Good location and an easy stopover if you aren't finding lodgings right in Boston due to graduations.
Flpab makes some very nice suggestions for Maine, etc. We enjoyed poking around in Camden, ME as well. In Newport we enjoy the Cliff Walk.
(I've done the drive/ferry to NS and PEI and I think you will miss a lot of great things right in New England to do it. Perhaps save it for another trip. If you want to see an island and take a ferry you've got Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard or even Block Island which are just waking up in May. That time of year I prefer Nantucket but Block Island is an easy day trip from RI.)
Hope you get decent weather - bring warm and rain ready things just in case. You will be early for the season and some things will be closed, but you will also miss the summer crowds which can be large.
Jan 13th, 2015, 01:10 AM
#23
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Unless you get out of your car to walk around, as you wisely want to do, you might as well stay home.
There is nothing picturesque on the usual route from Boston to Mt Desert Island (Acadia, Bar Harbor) until Camden. It is ALL off to the side, including Newburyport, Portsmouth, Ogunquit, Kennebunk, Portland, Freeport, and the interesting parts of Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset, and Rockland, to say nothing of the coast itself. It would be like driving I-10 from Jacksonville to Pensacola and thinking you had seen the Florida Panhandle. Worse.
Trust your instincts. See fewer thing in greater depth. Experience New England. Eat locally. See the attractions thar are open. Newport to Portsmouth makes a lot of sense.
If you like it, there are three other one week New England trips. Fly to Portland and drive slowly up the coast for six days and blast back in one day AT A TIME OF YEAR WHEN THINGS ARE OPEN.
Another trip would have you fly into Manchester, NH, and home from Burlington, VT to explore the scenic lakes and mountains. If you go early in October, it will be crowded with other people looking at leaves, but there are reasons for that. It is worth it.
The third would have you fly to Albany or Hartford to enjoy the Berkshires and Western and Southern Connecticut. This is a huge arts and music area in August. You will have to book ahead, but it is worth it.
There is nothing picturesque on the usual route from Boston to Mt Desert Island (Acadia, Bar Harbor) until Camden. It is ALL off to the side, including Newburyport, Portsmouth, Ogunquit, Kennebunk, Portland, Freeport, and the interesting parts of Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset, and Rockland, to say nothing of the coast itself. It would be like driving I-10 from Jacksonville to Pensacola and thinking you had seen the Florida Panhandle. Worse.
Trust your instincts. See fewer thing in greater depth. Experience New England. Eat locally. See the attractions thar are open. Newport to Portsmouth makes a lot of sense.
If you like it, there are three other one week New England trips. Fly to Portland and drive slowly up the coast for six days and blast back in one day AT A TIME OF YEAR WHEN THINGS ARE OPEN.
Another trip would have you fly into Manchester, NH, and home from Burlington, VT to explore the scenic lakes and mountains. If you go early in October, it will be crowded with other people looking at leaves, but there are reasons for that. It is worth it.
The third would have you fly to Albany or Hartford to enjoy the Berkshires and Western and Southern Connecticut. This is a huge arts and music area in August. You will have to book ahead, but it is worth it.
Jan 13th, 2015, 04:46 AM
#24
Ack, I think everyone is recommending she take a coastal route, not an interstate drive.
I topped tcreath's May in the NE thread. There were limited posts on that thread and an emphasis on black flies in May. Perhaps more people can share more recommendations on that thread also.
I topped tcreath's May in the NE thread. There were limited posts on that thread and an emphasis on black flies in May. Perhaps more people can share more recommendations on that thread also.
Jan 13th, 2015, 08:48 AM
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The thread is titled New England. Why do some insist Canada be discussed? Quebec and Montreal may as well be tossed in as they are a drivable distance��
The direct route to Acadia is 5 hours. Understanding that much will still be shuttered, you'll find a couple of restaurants and shops that cater to locals and shoulder season visitors. I suggest going direct, and then mosey back thru Camden, rock port. Freeport is mostly just an outlet llbean town.
Are you staying with friends in Portsmouth, or just meeting up for a visit? It's a beautiful time to visit as nature is just coming to leaf. Newport, just over an hour from Boston will be a jump ahead in foliage. A lovely time to visit a mansion or two, stroll the cliff walk, take in ocean drive, and enjoy the harbor. It is a 4 season destination, so most everything is open, and there should be some boats in the water.
The direct route to Acadia is 5 hours. Understanding that much will still be shuttered, you'll find a couple of restaurants and shops that cater to locals and shoulder season visitors. I suggest going direct, and then mosey back thru Camden, rock port. Freeport is mostly just an outlet llbean town.
Are you staying with friends in Portsmouth, or just meeting up for a visit? It's a beautiful time to visit as nature is just coming to leaf. Newport, just over an hour from Boston will be a jump ahead in foliage. A lovely time to visit a mansion or two, stroll the cliff walk, take in ocean drive, and enjoy the harbor. It is a 4 season destination, so most everything is open, and there should be some boats in the water.
Jan 13th, 2015, 10:15 AM
#26
"Why do some insist Canada be discussed?"
Not a single person.
"The direct route to Acadia is 5 hours"
No one suggested a direct route.
The OP asked for ideas. Ideas were given, including a coastal route and an extension of the coastal route past Bar Harbor if it's of interest. Lots of folks floated lots of ideas heading off in different directions. No one was "insisting Canada" or Nantucket or Block Island or Newport or any location be discussed. The OP asked for ideas and ideas have been suggested.
Not a single person.
"The direct route to Acadia is 5 hours"
No one suggested a direct route.
The OP asked for ideas. Ideas were given, including a coastal route and an extension of the coastal route past Bar Harbor if it's of interest. Lots of folks floated lots of ideas heading off in different directions. No one was "insisting Canada" or Nantucket or Block Island or Newport or any location be discussed. The OP asked for ideas and ideas have been suggested.
Jan 14th, 2015, 05:58 AM
#27
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Lots of good ideas. To give you more suggestions on places already suggested:
Portsmouth: drive Rt 1B from Strawbery Banke thru Newcastle. Also drive the coastal route thru Rye past the gorgeous private mansions. If your timing is lucky, the crab apple trees will be in bloom. Or forsythia or both.
If Seacoast farmers market is operating, go to the farmers market.
Kittery: you might only see outlet he11 unless you drive out to Kittery Point area. There's a lovely back roads route you can take to York but just north of outlet he11 is Stonewall Kitchens store and school. You can sign up for a cooking class (really a demo) for a fun meal. When Pigs Fly has a nearby bakery outlet which is good for free samples or perhaps buying the perfect loaf for wine and cheese later in the day.
Highly agree with Portland. The foodie tour isn't great but it is good. You can do it on your own in the Old Port Area just not get the free samples. I have not been to the museum. It will be chilly on the mailboat cruise but it's a working commuter boat. A friend says I should walk around Peak's Island where there is nothing but scenery. She has spent a lot of time there. Might be too early for Bite Into Maine food truck at Fort Williams park in South Portland but the view is terrific.
I vote you get at least as far north as Rockland for a visit to the Farnsworth Museum (art) or Owl's Head Transportation Museum but I tend to like the weekend events better since I'm not a fan of classic cars/planes etc at Owl's Head. Really something to see antique planes fly on a special weekend. Nice easy hike out to Owls Head Light. Visit Breakwater Winery.
well, if you get that far north what's a little further for the auto road up Mt Battie in Camden. I vote this as one of the best views in Maine. I like it better than from Cadillac in Acadia. This is one of our favorite picnic spots. You can also visit Cellar Door Winery store on Rt 1 but I like their original store in Lincolnville better (old barn).
If there are particular historic areas or museums you want to visit, aim for that. I liked Cole Transportation Museum in Bangor (working vehicles, not classic cars) or there might be a lumbermen competition at a logging museum (college teams!). You might want to visit the Maritime Museum in Bath.
Concord and Lexington MA would also make a nice weekend visit from Boston. I would also include Fruitlands if you're an Alcott fan.
Portland ME is considered one of the foodiest cities in America. See Chowhound for recommendations on places to eat. You will find lobster even though the lobster shacks won't be open yet.
Portsmouth: drive Rt 1B from Strawbery Banke thru Newcastle. Also drive the coastal route thru Rye past the gorgeous private mansions. If your timing is lucky, the crab apple trees will be in bloom. Or forsythia or both.
If Seacoast farmers market is operating, go to the farmers market.
Kittery: you might only see outlet he11 unless you drive out to Kittery Point area. There's a lovely back roads route you can take to York but just north of outlet he11 is Stonewall Kitchens store and school. You can sign up for a cooking class (really a demo) for a fun meal. When Pigs Fly has a nearby bakery outlet which is good for free samples or perhaps buying the perfect loaf for wine and cheese later in the day.
Highly agree with Portland. The foodie tour isn't great but it is good. You can do it on your own in the Old Port Area just not get the free samples. I have not been to the museum. It will be chilly on the mailboat cruise but it's a working commuter boat. A friend says I should walk around Peak's Island where there is nothing but scenery. She has spent a lot of time there. Might be too early for Bite Into Maine food truck at Fort Williams park in South Portland but the view is terrific.
I vote you get at least as far north as Rockland for a visit to the Farnsworth Museum (art) or Owl's Head Transportation Museum but I tend to like the weekend events better since I'm not a fan of classic cars/planes etc at Owl's Head. Really something to see antique planes fly on a special weekend. Nice easy hike out to Owls Head Light. Visit Breakwater Winery.
well, if you get that far north what's a little further for the auto road up Mt Battie in Camden. I vote this as one of the best views in Maine. I like it better than from Cadillac in Acadia. This is one of our favorite picnic spots. You can also visit Cellar Door Winery store on Rt 1 but I like their original store in Lincolnville better (old barn).
If there are particular historic areas or museums you want to visit, aim for that. I liked Cole Transportation Museum in Bangor (working vehicles, not classic cars) or there might be a lumbermen competition at a logging museum (college teams!). You might want to visit the Maritime Museum in Bath.
Concord and Lexington MA would also make a nice weekend visit from Boston. I would also include Fruitlands if you're an Alcott fan.
Portland ME is considered one of the foodiest cities in America. See Chowhound for recommendations on places to eat. You will find lobster even though the lobster shacks won't be open yet.
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