Kealalani

I was recently asked about any trips planned. Nothing exotic or tropical or European or Cosmopolitan on our books right now. We have had a hectic year so think small car trips in NewEngland is the way to celebrate the season for us.

We have nothing planned other than random thoughts, especially- Nantucket - pre season, NYC, Maine, Berkshires, Vermont.

So much to see in New England this time of year!!! So
I think this upcoming season is for hanging local and
rediscovering its many bounties!

So this post is about,

What are your favorite couple of night destinations in New England.

Thanks!

suze

i love southern vermont, the brattleboro area.

Kealalani

Suze,
Any special place to stay or eat there or things to see and do?

For instance:
Ogunquit, Maine: We enjoy staying at SeaChambers for a few nights. Walking the 3 mile hard sand beach and walking to the many excellent dining choices. And the groundskeeping at the many inns is gorgeous that time of year.

bm

Burlington,VT. Stay at the new Marriott. Hang out at the waterfront. Peruse the shops on Church St. and in the Town Center. Carouse at the bars & restaurants on Church Street.
Stowe, VT. Hike, Spa, Eat. Hike, Spa, Eat.

bennnie

Oh so many great choices

Portsmouth - stay at Wentworth by the Sea, eat at Flatbread Pizza, a walk through Ordione State Park, kayak in the inlets

Portland - picnic at Portland Head Light on Cape Elizabeth, take in a SeaDogs game, take a cruise on a lobster boat

Stowe - ride a bike along the recreation trail, tour Ben and Jerry's, ride the gondolo to the top of Mt. Mansfield.

Newport - walk along the Cliff Walk, shop on Thames, tour a mansion, sail in the harbor, tour Ft. Adams, see a concert

Berkshires - see James Taylor at Tanglewood

Bar Harbor - hike in Acadia, kayak, eat lobster and ice cream

White Mountains - take your pick of Jackson or Bretton Woods -its all beautiful

Just beyond New England - take the ferry from New London to the North Fork of Long Island - wineries and bike riding, another ferry ride gets you to Shelter Island and yet another gets you to Sag Harbor and the Hamptons.

Cooperstown - see the Baseball Hall of Fame, Glimmerglass Opera

I love summers in New England! Have fun planning

Kealalani

See!!! i never would have thought of taking a ferry to the north fork of long island!

Provincetown: Dog friendly Outermostreach Resort. Relaxing pool. Explore the National seashore, shop, walk the jetty, climb the tower. Alas my fave restaurant has closed - Chesters, but many wonderful choices and a festive atmosphere for the uninhibited.

suze

Sorry, I don't, because I stay with friends who live there. We just take drives on country back roads, swim in streams and lakes, picnics, boat rides, stuff like that.

disneyfreaks

Check out a new resort called the Cottages at summer village. It's a wonderful place. www.CottagesatSummerVillage.com It is in wells maine. if you like what you see, we are in the rental program. OurCottage was a model, so It has top of the line furniture and is right next to one of the pools and tennis courts. our unit is #152. You won't be disappointed! Have a great vacation whatever you choose.

escargot

I used to have a great book - one of those I lent out and never saw again - it was called Hidden New England - maybe it is still available (amazon.com maybe) - it had great ideas for short trips - days and overnights -

Kealalani

If you are in the Boston area, a nice half day trip can be had in Hingham. It has a cute downtown area and I love to stroll Worlds End, which is conservation land that was once the proposed site of the United Nations as well as a Nuclear Power Plant. Nice to know the land won!

http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/393_world_s_end.cfm

lvk

How about a little wine tasting in Newport County, RI and Bristol County, MA?
You could pick up picnic supplies at the Provender:
www.tivertonfourcorners.com

www.sakonnetwine.com
www.westportrivers.com
www.newportvineyards.com

Close enough to Newport proper for lots of lodging options.

Cuttyhunk Island also makes a tranquil day trip. www.cuttyhunk.net

lvk

You might already know this, but the May/June issue of "Yankee" Magazine is the travel issue. Just got mine in the mail today and the cover proclaims "302 Fun Places to Stay, Relax, Play, Eat and Shop". Can't wait to dig in to it, even though we probably won't be getting back there until 2008.

dfrostnh

The NH League of Arts & Crafts holds a fabulous fair in early August in Sunapee. In addition to watching demonstrations, choosing a new piece of jewelry, you can take the chair lift to the top of Mt Sunapee to enjoy the view. Too close to home for me to recommend a place to stay. We love the Sandwich NH area and there's a summer theater in Tamworth. Close to Lake Winnipesaukee so you could stay in Meredith.
Burlington and the other suggestions are great. For Maine I might head up to the Stonington area in mid-June when the lupines are blooming (or Franconia NH).
Have to laugh at hanging "local" this summer ... we like to head to the local ham and bean suppah on Sat night and maybe go to an antique tractor show. Last year we drove up the Wilton/New London side of Mt Kearsarge. We've lived in the area forever but had never taken that particular ride. What a great view ... not sure why we haven't heard raves about it.

bennnie

dfrostnh - totally loved the Sunapee craft show. We went 10 years ago and I've been meaning to go back since. thanks for the reminder.

Kealalani

This is exactly the direction I was hoping this thread would go. Inspiring ideas to spend on short getaways this summer. Keep sharing the bounties of New England!

zootsi

How about the Connecticut River Valley area of Vt and NH. Hanover NH is a scenic college town, lots of good places to eat. The Cornish-Windsor covered bridge is the longest in the USA and very picturesque. The Mt Ascutney auto road just outside Windsor Vt. is a breathtaking drive. St. Gaudens historic site in Cornish NH is a beautiful national park that presents music performances on Sunday afternoons. There are wonderful opportunities for biking and canoeing in the Connecticut river area.
Also, going a bit further afield, have you considered visiting Quebec? Montreal is a world class city with mind boggling dining and shopping. Quebec City is perhaps the most scenic city in North America.

dfrostnh

bennnie, glad to provide the reminder about the craft fair. If people haven't been, they should understand this is probably one of the best in the country with some true masterpieces. I love the furniture. Zootsi! I should have thought about Sunday evening free concerts. Different towns have free concerts on different evenings. At some of these you are encouraged to bring a picnic supper and lawn chair. We use a state atlas and gazetteer for each state so we can find the backroads. One summer we attended a fiddlers' picnic on a church lawn. Fiddlers of all ages took turns playing songs. We enjoy special events at farm museums, visiting a winery, taking a scenic boat ride.

Kealalani

The Sunapee Craft Fair sounds like a great idea to bookmark!

Another event I have always wanted to participate in is Illumination night on Martha's Vineyard. Years ago, the date was a famously kept secret. Now I think with a little searching it is doable - but just try to find an affordable room for the night!

escargot

http://explorenewengland.com/travel

the above site has lots of info and published today the 10 things not to miss in May so you can start early !

Illumination on Martha's Vineayrd is always right around the Agricultural Fair, so it is likely Aug 15 or 16 this yr - yhou cvan always clal the Camp Meeting Assoc which runs everything at the Camp Grounds adn find out 508 693 0525 -
but it is a popular wk to be on island b/c of the illumination and the fair.

Scarlett

Oh if I start thinking too much about summertime in the Berkshires, I will get homesick
Hiking around BashBish falls, stopping at farm stands, buying cheeses and bread from Guidos on Rt 7 and making a big picnic to have at Tanglewood.
Wandering back roads and taking lots of photos .. why is it everytime I get out of the car to photograph a cow, the whole herd walks over to me? hmmm...
Coming upon a small crafts fair and finding the perfect little water color made by a local artist..