My husband and I would like to fly into Boston, tour Boston, then rent a car and explore, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. We took a cruise up the coast last year and toured Portsmouth, Maine, Kennebuckport, Bar Harbor, St. John's and Halifax so we don't feel the need to go to the coast of Maine even though it was breathtaking. We would like to see as much as we can in a week and can even extend a day or two. Would like to know what not to miss and the best places to eat and stay. Thanks for any help you can give us.

Well arriving and departing Boston, the loop you would make for the states you name would be: Boston up to New Hampshire, then over to Vermont, down into Massachusetts, thru Rhode Island, back up to Boston. A week isn't all that long, but then these states aren't all that big

You may get overwhelmed because New Englanders love New England.

It will help to know what you like to do, what you like to eat, how you like to stay (hotel, B&B, motel, lodge, resort),your physical condition, and how far you are comfortable driving in a day.

But MOST IMPORTANT: when are you coming and what are you comfortable spending on a night's lodging and a meal?

We are in good shape and don't mind driving but like to explore. We don't have to do all the states but would like to see as much as possible. We can extend our stay a couple of days. We love sightseeing and eating local food. Don't like fancy hotels would prefer B&B's or clean small hotels. We will be flying in on Sept. 12 or 13 and staying until possibly the 22nd. We are not big spenders on food or lodging but like clean rooms and good food. When we were in Maine last year we didn't even eat Lobster, not big on seafood. We are from WV and like home cooking.

We especially want to know the things that we definitely don't want to miss on this trip!!

Okay, the great sights:

New Hampshire -- the White Mountains, including the three notches: Pinkham Notch, Crawford Notch, and Franconia Notch. SW New Hampshire including Mt Monadnock, Jaffrey, and the Lake Sunapee Region.

Vermont: Brattleboro, Woodstock, VT. Highway 100, Mt Mansfield, Burlington, Middlebury.

Western Massachusetts -- Williamstown, Hancock Shaker Village, Lenox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington ( all in Berkshires).

Rhode Island: Mystic and Stonington, CT (almost in RI), South County, Narragansett, Newport, Bristol, Tiverton (gorgeous)

Southeastern Massachusetts -- New Bedford, Quincy

It will be too early for great color, though you will see so e and maybe snow as well. You can't even drive by everything on this list but it gives you some things to look up for history and beauty. Pick your favorites!

You can get a cheese, wine or ice cream trail map from each of the states. It's a fun way to find some local food makers. Your timing is good for apples so I would also visit some good orchards like Gould Hill in Hopkinton NH which grows a large variety of heirloom apples. (see their website) Farmers markets are very popular and a few like the one in Brattleboro VT have ethnic food vendors so they make a good place for lunch. There's also the Humble Food Truck in Brattleboro VT serving wonderful lunches with an Asian flair.

Last year we went on an interesting tour of cranberry bogs in the Plymouth MA area. The only downer was we went on a sunday when the crews weren't working. It would have been more fun see the harvest going on. Early in the season (we went third weekend in Sept) they aren't working 7 days a week.

If you like Chinese food, I would splurge on the Boston Chinatown tour which ends with a dim sum lunch. We have also taken the North End tour which features Italian food. Olive Garden was a big disappointment after eating in the North End. I liked the Kennedy Library more than I thought I would.

You can probably find a church supper on a Saturday night to try some New England home cooking.

Overall, VT is more rural than NH with far less fast food places.