niente

Count me as an ant-GWB, pro-Tappan Zee guy. It's an eternal debate, but I've made the trip literally hundreds of times, and the Tappan Zee is my bet.

rizzo0904

Why stop anywhere? We drive Philly to NH often and do it with just a lunch stop. We have two toddlers. I think you're wasting time. Just get there and relax.

rizzo0904

As for route, we take the GWB and get off at the first exit onto 9A to the Henry Hudson, to the Saw Mill, to I684.

sf7307

OT - we will be in the Mystic/stonington area at the end of May for a family event. emalloy, which of the two lobster places you suggested has the better lobster? I like mine steamed, period - a little lemon, I usually even skip the butter.

fourfortravel

Oh, Bowspirit, I beg to differ. We have spent a week on the Cape every August for the past 7 years, and have never had more than a short-lived slowdown at the rotary. Traffic leaving the Cape is another story. Might it be there are differences between the summer months?

emalloy

The lobster is the same at both places. If we're on a "date" we would be more likely to go to Noank. If we're eating at our cottage, I'll call Cove Fish Market and tell them I'd like 2 to 45 lobsters hot at dinnertime, depending on how many people are there at the time.

Cove is on rt 1, not scenic. Noank is on the river, scenic. I can't really compare prices because it varies with market price and the extras you order, and what ever markup there is and how many you order.

They're both yummy.

Bowsprit

I travel from CT to the Cape nearly every weekend every week of the year. There is a difference in the summer months: It's impossible to have smooth sailing over either bridge in season between 1-3:00 in the summer months.

maria_so

rizzo0904, that's kind of what we're doing. Leaving Philly early and stopping by Mystic for a long lunch (maybe see the aquarium if the boys are still antsy after lunch) then head to Providence for a stroll around federal hill area, maybe wait till the water show then sleep either there or head closer to the cape and sleep in New Haven that night, get up early next morning to hit the bridge by 8am. We live in Texas so are used to driving a long time in the car. 5 hr drives are nothing here....

thanks all!

HowardR

Whoa there maria! You don't want to drive back to New Haven to stay overnight after being in Mystic and Providence. That's in the opposite direction from Cape Cod, a good 1 1/2 to 2 hours additional out of your way to the Cape in each direction.

emalloy

HowardR has it right. Spend the night in Providence or beyond, maybe Fall River or New Bedford. New Haven is way in the wrong direction, maybe you meant New Bedford.

maria_so

. i meant New Bedford. Sorry about that.

HowardR

That makes more sense!

go_laura

Another vote for the Tappan Zee over GW. I too live in Philly, but lived in CT for 28 yrs. and still have family and friends there, so go up often. Every time I've thought, "well, maybe I'll try the GW again this time" I've regretted it. I should read this post myself next time I have that thought