shazaka

We have a week to get from Sugarloaf in Maine to Boston. Any Ideas for what to see on the way please? We like nature and history. No mountain climbing or hiking or camping though. Thanks.

tomfuller

How are you getting to Sugarloaf? What month?
See some of coastal Maine for the nature and then walk the Freedom Trail in Boston for your history lesson.
You don't need a rental car in Boston.

shazaka

We will be there from July 6th to the 14th. We have a hire car to get to Sugarloaf and drop it in Boston before flying back to France.

dfrostnh

if you check google maps, the second choice route (I95 is first) take more than an hour longer but it takes you thru NH's White Mountains.

Some of my favorites:
Squam Lakes Science Center in Holderness - NH wildlife in natural habitats. Very nicely done. You can also take a pontoon boat ride on Squam lake to see loons. We haven't been on the boat ride in ages but hope to go again this year.

We have not been to the Remick Farm Museum in Tamworth, just walked around the grounds on a bird watching walk

Just north of Concord NH is Canterbury Shaker Village. Very nice tour of beautiful grounds and restored buildings. Fascinating.

I just took our grandson to the SEE Science Center in Manchester NH but it's really geared for kids. Today someone said the Millyard Museum is fascinating.

You can rent a kayak in Contoocook NH. The really good trip is to have the van transport you to the Merrimack River for a half day trip.

It would be a detour but Concord/Lexington MA is very interesting. You can tour the Alcott House. Further west is Fruitlands where the Alcotts attempted to start a Utopian community.

GBelle

Salem has some historical sites and the Peabody Museum.

vipsha

Coastal Maine is beautiful - we stopped at Ogunquit and Portland, and there are other pretty towns as well = like Kennebunkport.

Calabria62

Shazaka,
For nature, nothing beats Acadia National Park, along the coast. You can drive the loop road, if you don't want to hike, but there are coastal walks in the park. Explore Bar Harbor while there. You can actually drive up Cadillac Mountain for a view.

Further south, you can stop in the pretty coastal town of Camden, maybe take a sailboat ride along the coast,or explore the town. There is a state park in Camden.

Further south, visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, which are well worth the stop, located in Boothbay. Visit the town of Boothbay Harbor for shopping, lunch, or boat ride.

If you like boats, you can stop in Bath, and visit the Maritime Museum.


Further south still is the city of Portland, Maine's largest city. The harbor front area is popular with good restaurants, shops, the Portland Art Museum, and such.

South of Portland, are the pretty seaside towns of Kennebunkport, Ogunquit and York. Lots of coastal walking, art galleries, restaurants, etc. If you stop in Ogunquit, walk the Marginal Way, and stroll around Perkins Cove.

Definitely stop in Portsmouth, NH (just over the Maine/NH border) and walk Strawbery Banke area, for a feel of an old portside town. Lots of historic homes (actually all along the seacoast there are historic homes), interesting shopping, and interesting and diverse dining.

Continuing south, stop in Newburyport, MASS for a larger seaport town. Many lovely sea captains homes, restaurants, etc. If you feel like the beach, you can go to Plum Island and do some swimming.

You may want to check out Essex for the museum, too.

In Boston, walk the Freedom Trail, stop in the North End (Little Italy), stop at Fanueil Hall Market Place, visit the Boston Harborfront area. There is a lot of history in Boston, so take your pick. If you are into art, the Museum of Fine Arts is just about as good as it gets.

Be aware, that July is high season, and there will be plenty of traffic, wherever you go, especially on weekends, going in both directions.

BTW....I love France!

vipsha

@Calabria62, I agree regarding Acadia, but was not sure it was 'on the way' from Sugarloaf in Maine to Boston - IMO it would have been a detour, even if a worthwhile one.