Dear Fodorites,

I have been asked to help a family member plan a last minute 4-day trip to the Boston/Maine/New Hampshire area and I am seeking your expertise.

They plan on arriving in the early morning in Boston on Wed Sept 27 and departing from Boston in the evening on Sat Sept 30.

They are looking to visit a quaint but somewhat active maine seaside town, the white mountains in New hampshire and downtown Boston. I know that this is a lot in only 4 days so that is why I need your help picking the must sees.

My questions are:

1) We are considering the coastal towns of Portsmouth, Ogunquit, and Old Orchard Beach for the first nights stay. Is there much to do in any of the towns (e.g. shopping, scenery, dining, etc.)? Are any recommended over the others?

2) On Thursday they were going to drive to the white mountains. Considering staying in North Conway, Glen, or Lincoln? Is there much to do see in any of these towns?

3)On Friday they would drive back into Boston and depart the next day. Is there good public transportation from the airport to the city center or should they just keep their rental car with them until they depart on Saturday.

Any advice, recommendations, or suggested revised itineraries would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

1) I'd pick Portsmouth. Just an hour from the city and there's plenty to do. Great harbor town with shops, restaurants, etc., Strawbery Banke museum, plays in Prescott Park, etc.

2) There's also plenty of things to do in those towns, I'd pick the one closest to Portsmouth as you have such a short time and lots of driving.

3)There is good public transit, the "T" into Boston from the airport. Or they can just take a cab. They DO NOT want a car, it's hard to navigate in Boston and expensive to park.

Check out Wentworth by the Sea - a Marriott hotel near Portsmouth. Very nice. Kennebunkport is also lovely.

Norht Conway is a shopping mecca as it has tons of outlet stores. Can get congested.

Thanks. These are exactly the types of recommendations that I am looking for. Please keep them coming...

If the weather is good, consider a harbor or inland rivers cruise out of Portsmouth. Portsmouth is a wonderful seacoast city but for something even more quaint, I recommend the drive on Rt 1B thru Newcastle (you'll end up going by the Wentworth-by-the-Sea) or go across the bridge to Kittery ME and follow signs to Kittery Point.
Thursday should be fairly decent traffic-wise but the weekend will be the big start of leaf peaking. The drive between Portsmouth and the White Mountains is about 2 hours. If you just want to drive through, it could be a day trip. If the weather is good and you'd like to visit some of the area attractions you might do better to stay somewhere along the Rt 93 corridor. The Flume is very popular. A tram ride up Cannon Mountain is nice, too. Personally, I prefer the approach from Rt 93. If you take Rt 4 to Concord NH and then Rt 393 to Rt 93 you'll have some pretty good scenery along the interstate. It eventually goes right thru Franconia Notch where the Old Man of the Mountains could be seen. But circling back to stay in the Glen/Conway area would be fine. I think this route is much prettier than going up thru Ossipee. On Friday traffic is going to be heading north when you are headed south back to Boston so it shouldn't be a problem.