KJ5944

My son and I are taking my mother to the upper east coast. We have 10 -11 days to accomplish this trip. She has never been east of Georgia. We want to see the Amish farmland, pretty scenery. Our thought was to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway going north and maybe through Lancaster, PA. She has no desire to see NYC or Washington, DC. We would like to spend some time in Boston and Kennebunkport, ME and Portland, ME. On the return trip, we were thinking about going through Annapolis, MD, but not a must. We would like to see the coastline on our way back.

We are looking for help with best routes to see pretty things. If you know of construction on our route that will severely slow us down, please advise. Ideas on where to stop along the way would be great. As far as Amish stuff, we are less interested in the stores and more interested in seeing the farmland and buggies (real life).

Our main interest will be seeing Maine and Massachusetts. Looking forward to all ideas and advice. Also, interested in seeing lighthouses.

Thanks so much!

KJ5944

Also, I am quite nervous about the trip from Lancaster PA through NY, NJ, etc to MA. I am hoping for some help with a least stressful route than through the big cities if possible.

dfrostnh

The least stressful thru PA and NY takes extra time. Do you use google maps? I find the google maps app on my phone is very helpful. I dragged the suggested route to I84 which completely avoids NYC. We usually only have a traffic problem going thru Hartford CT but it depends on time of day. It's about an 8 hour trip from Lancaster to Kennebunk using this route. Since we live in NH, we usually continue north from Hartford to I91 which goes to VT. It would add an hour to your trip to do this and then cut across NH to Maine.

The route from I84 connecting to I495 then I95 to ME is a lot of interstate but not too bad. Just expect heavier traffic when people are heading out and coming home on weekends and evening commuter traffic. You can see Boston after you do your Maine visit.

We just stayed at a lovely air b&b in Scarborough which is south of Portland ME. It was in a lovely rural area next to a beautiful marsh. We visited Portland during the day. When you visit Portland, both Forth Williams park to the south and Eastern Promenade to the north side of the city have fantastic views of Casco Bay. We found free parking on the Eastern Prom, took our bag chairs to a shady spot and enjoyed the view. Many people were picnicking. The mail boat cruise to the different islands in Casco Bay is a fun way to visit and be out on the water. If you do the first trip of the morning, you will be back in time for lunch. The dock parking garage is walking distance to Old Port Area.

I'm not a fan of Kennebunkport and the surrounding area so I would suggest visiting as a day trip. I think York Beach is a longer, nicer coastal drive but expect lots of traffic on Rt 1.

You don't want to drive in Boston. Choose a hotel within walking distance of a T station (or use cabs/uber) or if just visiting for the day, find a good parking garage or take public transportation into the city.

williamscb13

That's a lot of driving in 11 days. Can you get from North Louisiana to Maine and back in that time and still be able to see anything. Also it's my understanding that there is quite a low speed limit on the Blue Ridge Parkway which will also take longer.

and the big cities up east aren't that bad. Just as bad as Houston which I hate.

KJ5944

Thanks DFrostNH! I really appreciate your help in avoiding NYC and your info on Portland area. I am assuming you have been to Martha's Vineyard. We were thinking about Kennebunkport and Martha's Vineyard only because those are places we have heard of. Any other suggestions are welcome. We like little unique shops and places, not your regular tourist traps. As far as Boston, we were planning on parking at hotel or BNB and walking/ubering. Have you been to the original LLBean? I am wondering if it is any different than all the others, if it is worth making a stop.

williamscb13- Yes, it is a lot of driving. We are going to find out if we can make it to Maine and back in 11 days. Houston and Dallas traffic do not bother me as I was raised and learned to drive in Houston. Thanks for the note about the speed limit on BRP. I will check that out.

DebbieDoesDulles

You are talking about 60 hours of road time over 10 days. And I assume you want a couple of days in Maine so that's 60 hours of road time over 8 days. So almost 8 hours in the car every day including lunch & a potty break. You'll arrive at each night's destination just in time for a late dinner, then you hit the sack and start all over again next morning.

If you REALLY love time in the car, knock yourself out, but you are leaving yourself no time to really see and do anything along the way, other than wave at those Amish buggies as you forge ahead.

DebbieDoesDulles

And what time of year is this trip? September I hope, because July and August are not times when you can just drive into Maine and find lodging along the coast. And hotels there have strict cancellation policies. Any delays along the route could make you miss your reservation, so make certain you've had an oil change and the car is all tuned up as you'll be putting close to 4000 miles on it when all is said and done. One stop for car repair can take up a whole day and if they need to order a part...eek.

And I am re-calculating my previous post. If you want a day to see Boston, a day to visit Kennebunkport/Goose Rocks Beach, and a day to visit Portland/Cape Elizabeth Lighthouses, then you'd better plan on 10/11-hour days in the car on the way up & back. 12 hours will allow you a lunch stop and a pit stop, the rest of the day you'll need to pee in a baggie.

dfrostnh

It was a good idea other posters were cognizant of the time element. Hope you can figure out a way to make your trip happen. Is flying a possibility? Manchester NH airport is easy to navigate when renting a car. I take a bus when I fly in/out of Logan. Portland ME's airport doesn't look very big.

Yes, there is a speed limit on the Blue Ridge Pkwy.

I have only been to Martha's Vineyard once, a day trip during a Cape Cod weekend. It was September and still pretty crowded. We did a van tour plus visited the town where the quaint little cottages are. The ferry goes to different town at different times of day.

LL Bean in Freeport is an area we generally avoid. The whole town is crowded with outlet shoppers. This is a good example of Maine that has been transformed by tourist dollars and places in Maine that are still like the good ol' days. A lot of native Mainers can't afford to live on the coast anymore. Southern Maine is very built up for tourism. There are some interesting shops but very expensive in the Kennebunk area. Portsmouth NH also has a fun small shop area and you can walk around the corner to a series of restaurants that all back up to the water and share a long dining deck. I always recommend the boat trips from Portsmouth and the lovely drive on Rt 1B from Prescott Park/Strawbery Banke area thru New Castle and then you can take the coastal route 1A thru Rye past beautiful mansions.

Guess it will depend on your driving stamina. My husband and I prefer not to drive more than 8 hours which is only NH to northern MD. We have a friend who makes an annual trip MA to CA with a small group and they pretty much drive non-stop, taking turns driving a camper which used to be a big truck with a sleeper cab.

KJ5944

Thanks everyone for your input. I was hesitant to join this forum and ask for advice and now I am sure that I should not have engaged!

DebbieDoesDulles, yes, we are quite aware that this is a very long road trip. No, flying is not an option. The purpose of the trip is to drive and see the "scenery" as we go. This trip is for my mother who is a young 77 and she has never been east of Georgia. She has always wanted to drive through these states and see the countryside. We will be driving her brand new (2 week old) Toyota minivan so we don't anticipate any needed repairs, but we will think of you if we do have to make a stop for an unforeseen car issue. We have lengthened our trip by a few days since I first posted and we have made reservations all along the way.

We are excited about our trip and if we see that we cannot make it all the way to Maine, we have the good sense to re-evaluate and change plans. We are not "tour" people and we don't have to visit every single place to enjoy the trip. In the future, if you want to point out to people how ignorant you think they are for planning a trip like this, it would be appreciated if you just refrain from posting. You come off as very arrogant. I hope everyone on the east coast is not like this.

DFROSTNH, Thanks for your comments. They were most helpful!

mha

Hi there!
I think it's great that you're taking your mom! I live in northern NY but have been to all of the places you've mentioned. I've spent at least 50 summers traveling to Maine and it's one of my favorite states! If you come north and want to see a bit of the Blue Ridge Parkway, you do have to drive slowly but you can just do a section to get the feel of of it. It's often very foggy up there so it's a gamble to drive out of your way. If you want to drive through Amish country in PA you'll head to Lancaster. My daughter lives in Boston so I know it well but I think it may take up too much time for this trip. It's very expensive to stay in hotels there this time of year. I would either make this your farthest point north or skip it and go on to Maine. Any of the towns along route 1 in Maine will give you the feel of the seacoast- each has its own uniqueness. Kennebunkport is very touristy but your mom might like the little shops and to see where George Bush's summer home is. Portland is a small, quaint city with boat tours and great food. My husband happens to like LL Bean, along with the outlets in the town of Freeport. I could tell you about each town all of the way up to the Canadian border so feel free to ask back with any questions and good luck!

KJ5944

mha

Thanks so much for your ideas. I am thinking that being on the BRP through the Carolinas will be enough for us. We are staying in Lancaster one night along our journey to Maine. Do you have a suggestion for the drive from Lancaster to Kennebunkport? I don't relish the thought of driving thru NYC. Would love to go a little north of there if it is feasible. I think we have decided that Kennebunkport will be our farthest point north for this trip. We are having trouble finding a place to stay in Maine. Do you know of any towns outside of the main coastal towns where we might have better luck? Even staying in NH is fine with us. I really think she just wants to see the Bush Compound, cute seaport town and the shops in Kennebunkport. Also, not sure if you know anything about trout fishing in streams (wading, not in a boat). My son would like to try that if possible, not a must. Just a thought. I know we are trying to pack a lot in, but we can always change our plans along the way. We kind of fly by the seat of our pants! Haha. Your input is very helpful. I hope you see this.

Thanks,
Kim

dfrostnh

You can find best trout fishing spots and license requirements on a state's fish and game website.

The trouble with lodging in Maine is so much of it is tied to Rt 1 and southern ME is expensive. We have stayed at the Elmwood in Wells which is really condominiums that are rented out. You would have kitchen facilities and plenty of room. Portsmouth NH is the most northern town in NH on I95/Rt 1 before crossing over the ME line.

We have had good luck with Air B&B and VBRO stays in private homes and apartments. We recently paid under $150 for two bedrooms/private bath in a lovely home in Scarborough (might be too far north for you but it's south of Portland) with shared LR and kitchen. The owner didn't want a lot of cooking done but was fine for something easy llike breakfast. Other times we've had an apartment over someone's garage with a tiny kitchenette.

mha

Hi Kim,
The route dfrostnh mentioned earlier would be your best bet to avoid the cities. Try to be getting into NH/ME during the week and not during rush hour to avoid sitting in traffic on the interstate. But it's an easy route- we tow our camper this way all of the time.

I can't help with lodging ideas but again, dfrostnh has great ideas. Portsmouth is a lovely seaport town and we took our daughter on a boat tour out of there a few years ago. Great shops/restaurants in the old waterfront that's been restored.

How old is your son? He might enjoy a ride on a lobster boat where he can learn all about lobstering- our boys loved this- I think they have this in Kennebunkport as well as most of the seaport towns. Be prepared- parking in this town is hard to find!! Trout fishing would be more inland.

mha

I really think I'd try for a place to stay in Portsmouth, NH as you could then make a day trip to Kennebunkport- 45 min away and see the town, etc. York is also a pretty little town with an ocean beach and further up route 1 is Ogunquit which has the Marginal Way- this is a paved walk that goes up along the rocks and affords a great view of the ocean-very easy, relaxing walk with some great seafood restaurants right there as well as the beach to amble on. Lots to see and do!

emalloy

From Lancaster, PA to Portland, ME, go north and put Scranton PA into a mapping program to see the options, then continue on I-81 to I-84 to I-90 to I-495 to I95 to Portland. This avoids NY city and takes you through some pretty areas. The trip is about 8 -9 hours driving if you can avoid rush hour in any of the cities along the route.

SambaChula

"never been east of Georgia" ???? EAST of Georgia, according to my map, is the open Atlantic, with Europe and North Africa beyond.

(Since "now I am sure that I should not have engaged! ", it can't offend you more to add that comment, hmmmm, and it speaks to your naivite' about geography on this trip. )

IMO this route is too much to take on for the time stated. Not quite the age of your mother, but even though formerly accustomed to quick solo coast to coast trips, my body no longer tolerates 8-12 hours in a car. Great ideas for places to see, but give yourselves significantly more time.