Driving from N.Y. to Boston
 

Author: shannon ([email protected])<BR>Date: 01/18/2002, 11:57 am<BR>Message: I am going to be driving from N.Y. city to Boston next week and I was wondering what I should stop to see along the way we have never ben to Boston or any of the states we will be driving through I would not mind driving a little out of the way to see something any input would be nice.<BR><BR>Thanks<BR>Shannon<BR> <BR>

Shannon: If you're leaving tomorrow, please be careful as we're supposed to be getting quite a bit of snow.

Nope, there is nothing of interest between NYC and Boston . Just get on Rte. 95 and crank up the tunes.

If this were summer I'd suggest maybe Mystic, CT or Newport, RI, but this time of year, I wouldn't bother.

Just come right on up- non-stop- the sooner you arrive the more time to explore the city. Not much right "on the way". I am in total agreement with Suzy on this one!

You could visit Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA, but you'd want to allow a great deal of time to it.

Ignore the first response. You won't go anywhere near Route 95. Sturbridge Village is interesting and worth a stop. It's just before the entrance to the Massachusetts Turnpike. However, a previous poster has made a good point. There's so much to see in Boston. Perhaps it's best to spend your time there.

Since it is only about 4-5 hours -wouldn't you rather just drive straight through and be in Boston~

Howard, use your imagination. Some people like the Turnpike route, others come up I-95. Don't assume which one Shannon has chosen. Usually when the weather is iffy, you're better off coming up the coast than the pike, which will usually get more snow.

The forecast for tomorrow is more snow south, along 95 than north. I would advise the Mass pike and I also recommend driving straight through, not much of interest this time of year, unless you want to stop and ski!

But Shannon isn't coming tomorrow - she said, "next week." So if she watches the forecast for whatever day she's coming, she can choose the route that will have better weather. <BR><BR>Tomorrow's storm is unusual, as you know -- it's more typical for the coastline to get rain and the inland routes (e.g., Turnpike) to get lots of snow. This storm has been specially ordered up by football widows, I think!

Oh, you're right, she didn't say tomorrow! Yes, it is unusual. Personally I'm hoping we get dumped on here in CT. The kids are dying to go sledding and snowboarding. It would be a real treat with the long weekend.

Shannon, I've made this trip countless times over four years a daughter went to school in Boston, and I do feel Old Sturbridge Village is worth a visit, but also agree that this isn't the best time of year for it. Hqving said that, if you do decide to stop, it is right on the way if you take 95 to 91 to 84 to 90. Although I've gone several different ways, this was the fastest way to go almost all the time. Sturbridge Village is off 84 just before 90. Having said that, I also agree that I'd rather spend more time in Boston and Cambridge.

In defense of Howard, I think he often uses his imagination and being right on target with most of his advice, I would listen to him..

If you do take I84 and get hungry on the way, you might want to stop at Rein's Deli at Exit 64/65 in Vernon CT. It's open 7 a.m. to midnight and has better food than many of the places on the way. It is also about halfway.<BR><BR>You might want to stop in Concord and Lexington either on your way into Boston or on your way out.

Sorry to disagree again Suzy, but following 95 is a much, much longer route to Boston.<BR>Also, Lois, sorry, but 95 to 91 to 84 is not the fastest way. 684 to 84 is a much better route to Boston. It saves at least a half hour.

hi shannon, i live between new york and boston - in new haven, where yale university is located. i would prob go straight to boston if i were you, but...whether you take the I-95 route to boston or take I-95 up to I-91 and then take I-91 up to 84 east to the mass pike, you could stop off for a quick break in New Haven and see the yale campus, (there is a famous Yale British Art museum), have lunch (at Roomba on chapel street), and then continue on. If you like outlet shopping, go the I-95 route; there is a premium outlet center in Clinton called Clinton Crossing (Immediately off exit 63 of I-95). polo outlet, saks 5th ave, cole haan, coach, DKNY, Nike, brooks brothers, tommy hilfiger, jones NY, etc. avoid the Westbrook Outlets at exit 65; they are junky. karen

On your way up 95 you could stop off in Mystic, CT, a cute little beach town, lunch at the famous Mystic Pizza. Also 95 will take you through downtown Providence, which is a great city!<BR><BR>Here is the city site: http://www.providenceri.com/frame.html<BR><BR>State site:<BR>www.visitrhodeisland.com<BR><BR>

Since we've not heard from Shannon since her original post, I now realize that we're all giving this advice without know how long her total trip is going be! Knowing that would certainly make it easier to advise her!

Good morning, Howard! <BR><BR>Going up Route 95 rather than via the Pike isn't "much, much" longer, it's about 10 or 15 miles. (You can check it on Mapquest!) And sometimes worth it to avoid bad weather, tolls, or just plain heavy traffic.

Suzy, I hate to disagree--and I don't care what Mapquest says about the mileage--but it take much, much more time if you take Route 95 all the way from NY to Boston. Besides it's a lousy, boring and sometimes hazardous road!

Howard, are you one of those people who goes whizzing by me at about 90 miles per hour on the Turnpike?

Shannon, if your route takes you through Hartford, how about stopping to see the Mark Twain House? I watched the Ken Burns programs about Mark Twain's life on PBS this week, and now I want to go there myself; it seems like it would be pretty fascinating. I just looked at their website, &lt;www.marktwainhouse.org&gt;, and it says that the tour takes about an hour. In January they are closed on Tuesdays, and open Mon. & Wed. - Sat. 9:30 to 4:00 (last tour starts at 4:00), Sun. noon - 4:00.

Suzy, I can assure that I am definitely not one of those people who go whizzing by your at 90 MPH! I'm definitely not one of those!<BR>Sara's suggestion about the Mark Twain House in Hartford is a good one. (My cousin, who's on its board, would never forgive if I didn't endorse it! Seriously, it's worth a stop.)

Suzy -I am one of those people that whizzzes by at 90+ -What is the point of having a nice expensive German car if I cannot blow past drivers like you:)

Howard, 684 to 84 can be a lousy route out of the city! I have always had a much easier time on 95, either all the way to Boston or just out of the city to make connections. Saying "it saves an half hour" in nice in theory, but you can just a easily get stuck that amount of time in Westchester just getting to 84.<BR>So you see, Shannon, we can't even agree on the route (though knowing the day of the week and the time of the day you're traveling might sway some of us), but it looks like assuming the best situation, the drive is 4-5 hours and may not be worth more than a stop for a bite to eat and to stretch your legs.

OK, xx, I'll concede you may have a point. In that case, I would cut over at, say, Route 287 in Westchester, to 684 North!<BR>No traffic is potentially worse than 95, especially from the NY border through Bridgeport!

As John said, maybe a stop in Providence would be a good idea. They have an outdoor iceskating rink in the middle of downtown. It can give you a chance to strech. It's really nice, and they rent skates too.