I hate long uninterrupted drives on major roads, but sometimes those are the roads you need to take to get from point A to point B.

In a couple of weeks I'll be driving throughout New England,(mostly New Hampshire and Massachusetts) and I'm looking for ideas for stopping points in the EVENING (after 5 pm):
1)On I93, from St Johnsbury VT to Concord NH
2)I93 / 495 /190 from NH to Worcester MA
3)93 near Lowell MA to 95 Portsmouth NH /southern Maine

I would like to avoid fast food places unless there's some great local version of such a thing--but no fried clam joints!
I'm well covered for "major" cities and resort areas, but I would like some ideas of local diners, ice cream stands etc.

Any other fun places to stop?
Funky stores / world's largest ball of string / great overlooks / tiny amusement park --anything open in the evening , close to these roads. worth a short stop??

Don't know where you are staying in Worcester but Hot Dog Annies is in Leicester, just north of Worcester. Great steamed hot dogs and chili sauce...been there over 30 years and still a local favorite! Some get dogs and head right down the street where there is a turn off to sit and watch planes coming in to Worcester Airport. In Southern Maine - York Beach - Brown's Ice Cream is great.It is just down the street from Nubble Light House...supposedly the most photographed light house in the world. Also in York on Rt.#1 is Flo's, a famous hot dog place too!

I just ate at the Flying Rhino in Worcester this past Sunday and enjoyed it. You can find their menu if you google them. They are on Shrewsbery street off of 290.

Topping for more ideas (thanks, so far) especially places just off the highways, not so much in the cities/towns themelves.

Rt 93 is the early part of my trip, so ideas for there (from the north end down to Concord) would be especially appreciated!

if you want to get off I-190 there is most excellent ice cream at Rota Spring in Sterling. You'd get off at route 62 Sterling and it would be maybe 10 minutes off the highway (you'll have to mapquest it to get good directions.)

A fun dinner stop, if it fits your schedule, coming down 190 take the exit for West Boylston, route 12, head a bit south on route 12 and go to O'Connors for excellent Irish pub food. They make a huge and delicious steak and guiness pie. and all sorts of beer.

It's hard to think of things that are open after 5:00 pm - even the World's Largest Ball of String closes its doors at supper time...

But, there is the wonderful Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, NH just off Rt. 89. Also, in Concord you might find the Christa McCauliff Planetarium open some evenings, especially on Fridays for special programs. Concord also features 3 excellent "ethnic" restaurants. House of India on Pleasant Street, Hermanos (Mexican)on Storrs St./Hills Ave., and Siam Orchid (Thai) on Main Street. There is also a fun "pub" called The Barley House right across from the state capital (you never know who you might see!).

The best pizza in NH is in Nashua, NH at a little place called PizzaCo in a small strip mall behind Bernie and Phyl's furniture on Rt. 3!

And just before you get to Portsmouth, you may want to drive along Rt. 1A in Rye, NH. It's a short but beautiful coastal drive, and if you are any earlier than 5m, you can visit either the Fuller Gardens or Odiorne Point State Park. Although neither qualifies as a diner or ice cream stand, you could try either the Carriage House in Rye for dinner, or stop at the fancy schmancy Wentworth by the Sea for a cocktail and look-around.

Hope this is the kind of info you're looking for... Have a great trip!

In St.Johnsbury Anthony's Diner 50 Railroad Ave.

Dreamer2: No ball of string? Darn!
But now you've intrigued me
"There is also a fun "pub" called The Barley House right across from the state capital (you never know who you might see!). "
Who might we be talking about???

Food places are fine. I just want to stop the car sometimes, and not just to stare off to the side of the road. If I can start earlier, I might make it to the Ski Museum at Franconia Notch--looks like it's worth a half hour or so.

As long as I have some people here who know the areas I'll be visiting:
Any opinions on whether going to Canobie Lake park (they have an after 5:00 admission rate)is a fun time for 2 adults (of the sort who like a world's largest ball of string almost as much aa fine arts museum)?

Hot Dog Annies in Leicester is gross. New owners took over a couple of years ago and it ain't like it use to be. Coney Island Hotdog in downtown Worcester is much better.
495 flows into 290 not 190. 190 is off of 290 and goes north towards Fitchburg.
Shrewsbury St in Worcester has a few diners. Try Mac's for cheap Italian.

Sorry to hear about Hot Dog Annie's. I do have a friend in Worcester who still thinks it is good though. Having grown up in the Worcester area we experienced all sorts of local joints after a night out. Coney Island, Hot Dog Annie's, El Moroco, Parkway Diner...to name a few. Is Parkway still around?

Massachusetts is definitely "ice cream stand" central, USA. Stop anywhere and everywhere. Some that come to mind are Hodgie's in Amesbury(up near the NH border)....Carter's in Haverhill, Richardson's in Middleton, Benson's in West Boxford. Benson's is famous for raspberry & blueberry ice cream in season (very pricey but worth every bite!)...and other stands should be making peach pretty soon. Grapenut is a favorite New England flavor if you've never tried it...also "Maple Walnut" is something you just don't find from Edy's or Breyers.

If you don't know about roadfood.com, you should check it out.

Reviews, recommendations, pictures, menus, etc. for all the areas you're thinking about.

Hi there, Janie,

Not quite so intriguing... I just meant the Governor or local politicians. But during primary season, many of the candidates go in for events or "scenes." Who knows, Hilary and Obama were just in town...

As for Canobie Lake Park - well, if the after 5:00 pm cost is low, I suppose it might be a nice walk-around. It's a pleasant, small amusement park, but nothing special. You can ride a Tilt-a-Whirl or an old fashioned wooden coaster, bumper cars, cheesey haunted house ride, etc. The Paul Revere ride is fun, but you will be soaked.

Portsmouth has a water park called Water Country right on Rt. 1. That, too, is a very nice, clean park and they also have late entry fees, I think.

Hope this helps. Sounds like you are planning a very interesting trip! I'm wondering if you decided to stay by the ball park (Hilton Garden) in Manchester, and if the Fisher Cats are playing that night.

Enjoy!

Dreamer2 made some great suggestions (I love the hummus at the Barley House). Concord would be a good place to overnight. Depending on day of the week there might be a free concert, music at one of the restaurants, author reading at Gibson's bookstore, etc. There's a free newspaper called the HIPPO with lots of events listed for the Manchester/Nashua/Concord area. Do not miss locally made ice cream at Arnie's (cruise night on Tuesdays) or Grante State Candy on Warren St.
Before you get to Concord, take exit 17 in Boscawen (head west over the river) you'll find the Smokeshack which smokes their own barbecue. In downtown Penacook there's a local place (run by Greeks) called Chief's that has terrific pizza but the pizza at the Holiday Inn in Concord at Nonni's is great (also excellent sangria).
At exit 20 you can get off Rt 93, continue south on Rt 3. In Tilton there are free concerts at a tiny island park on Sundays 6:30pm. People bring picnic suppers. Different music each week. Can be very crowded, bring folding chair. Or get directions to Dipsy Doodle (we love the lobster rolls but you can have broiled shrimp on salad) in Northfield. Picnic table type of place. Have ice cream for dessert (they do mix ins with soft serve, you choose the mix ins) Continue south into Franklin, great Thai restaurant next to old Opera House. Restaurant is never buy except on theater nights. If you keep going south you can connect back up with Rt 93 at exit 17.
You could get off at exit 23 for a visit to Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith. Skip it if it's a weekend or Friday night, too busy. You could people watch at funky Weirs Beach or take a ride on the Mt Washington.
Near Rt 495, Kimball Farms ice cream in Westford MA. This place is very busy with petting farm, gift shop and mini golf. If it's a hot day, get your cone in a cup because the scoops are huge and it melts too fast. Haven't tried their outdoor food grill.

Lots of great culinary stops--thanks!
I think I will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn, but I haven't checked on the baseball schedule as I may be arriving too late to see much

One more Q:
I see that Hart's Turkey Farm (which I've heard of, but not visited) now has a location in Manchester. Worth a stop vs other diner type places?

I happen to be a big fan of Canobie Lake Park - especially in the evening. I go every summer with my girls. Its hokey but clean, well maintained - has some very bad shows that are really funny - the new Frisbee ride is a blast, the Yankee Clipper roller coaster is fun. You can play skee ball, take a ride on a train or the boat that goes around the lake. It has retained enough of its heritage to be attractive to someone in search of a giant ball of string.

Get discount coupons as Market Basket supermarkets (at the service desk) and at McDonalds in the area.

Hart's Turkey Farm is generally regarded as a poor quality big portion family place. There are lots of great places to eat in Manchester; I don't think I'd bother with Harts. If you want something with similar atmosphere but great food, try the Puritan Backroom in North Manchester. Local upscale favorites are Richard's Bistro, Picola Italia, and Commercial Street Fishery - all are downtown. Cotton has a casual chic atomosphere and good food. And Lala's Hungarian on Elm St serves up wonderful homestyle comfort food and fabulous European desserts.

In Portsmouth stop at a place called Popovers. You can order at the counter and take the food to a table or you can sit and get table service. The chef who opened this place (a year or so ago) ran the kitchen at the Balsams (a grand resort in the white mountains) for 22 years. When he left to start popovers his entire staff followed him. Lots of unique foods, desserts, wine, really cute place:
http://www.popoversonthesquare.com/menu/index.html

Oh my goodness - I just went to Popovers for the first time yesterday! LOVED IT!!! Wonderful staff and delicious food. Self-serve, but quite a nice wine and cocktail list. Scrumptious maple butter for the popovers, and the most delicious thing I've ever eaten in my life: chambord in a chocolate cup with fresh raspberry on top!