Looking for ideas for New England trip in July
 

I'm heading to Rhinebeck NY in July for a seminar. Our friends have a house on Cape Cod and they have invited DH and I to visit.
Questions:
Fly into Newburgh and rent a car to drive across to Cape Cod? If so, what to see on the way?

Fly into JFK then go back and fly to Boston, rent a car there?

We will have about 8 -9 days and plan on 3-4 days with our friends on the Cape. Newport RI looks interesting to me. I'd like to see the mansions. I've only been to Boston and NYC before (in the fall) We don't mind driving. Don't really need a big night time scene. We like history, nature, hiking, good food, just checking out how the other half live.

Thanks

I vote for driving directly from Newburg to the Cape.

Returning to NYC, flying to Boston, and renting a car makes no sense at all, since the flight would only save you an hour of driving.

Agree, rent the car and see Newport on the way to the Cape. Trekking back to fly to boston is a complete waste of time.

Ok, so any route better than another? Something I "should't" miss in between? A great stop?
Thanks

From where are you flying? Newburgh has limited service, especially East/West. Rhinebeck is about equidistant from Albany & Newburgh, and Albany has a lot more flight options.

By seminar I assume you mean at Bard. If already you know what days you'll be there I recommend you try to make a dinner reservation at the CIA. www.ciachef.edu/restaurants/

I prefer Caterina De'Medici. Others prefer Escoffier.

Since you have the time definitely drive - flying from NY to Boston only makes sense if you're actually already in NYC and want to be in Boston.

There are various tourist routes you can take depending on what you want to do and see. Nature & some history in the Berkshires, Nantucket, RI coast, etc, etc. Gotta run now. Will check back to see if I can answer and specific questions.

Thanks for the replies. Actually, the seminar is at Omega. I will check out how far the CIA restaurants are. I'm sure I will want to strike out on my own for some meals while I'm there. That's a great tip.

I see I took out the part in my first post that said where I was flying from. I'm flying from LAX. My DH is not attending the seminar so, the only thought about me flying to Boston from NY was the possibility of him flying direct to Boston from LA. I will check out Albany as an optional airport. Thank you.

Funny, when I heard Rhinebeck, I assumed Omega Institute. In any case, I agree with all the votes to drive. I'd stop and wander around the Bershire towns and surrounding areas; Stockbridge, Lee, Lenox, etc. Plenty of good hiking all around. And if you like hearing live music, check out who will be playing at Tanglewood in Lenox. They have a large range throughout the summer, lots of classical music, but also some jazz, folk, indy rock, etc. performances.

Then, if you're intrigued by the Newport mansions, by all means do that - you certainly *will* see how the other half live!

I'd also consider Providence, and if it would work for you to be there on a Sat. night, seeing WaterFire there. I've actually not gotten there yet (have been to Providence, just not on a WaterFire night) so can't vouch personally, but everyone I've talked with who's been, has really enjoyed it.

Even if DH flies into Boston, just drive there and pick him up. The highway system (Route I-90, AKA the "Mass Pike") will take you directly from western MA to the airport without encountering the infamous Boston street-level traffic, and likewise will get you headed towards the Cape without much ado.

It's about 30min from Omega to the CIA. A GPS will come in handy in that area as it's quite rural. Omega is in the mailing address of Rhinebeck but it's actually on a small lake about 10mi east of the village.

I also like Terrapin restaurant right in Rhinebeck. It has 2 sides - the actual restaurant on the right and a bar on the left which serves lighter fare. Perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

In Rhinebeck you also are not far from FDR's home and library and also Eleanor's place, both are National Park places and would make a nice stop on the way to CIA. Also they do air shows with vintage planes on weekends at Rhinebeck. If you do decide to drive to the cape via I-90 take 495 from the pike to get to it, don't go farther east on the pike. Also, the airport at Rhinebeck is very small, so are you flying into NY city or Albany? if so the choices of things to see would be expanded.

Unless flying a Sopwith Camel you won't be using the Rhinebeck airport.

Newport in July will be really fun. You should definitely do the cliffwalk next to first beach even if the weather is bad:
http://www.cliffwalk.com/

There is also a bird and nature sanctuary nearby.
http://www.normanbirdsanctuary.org/t...&d=163&w=2&r=Y

Downtown Thames street is really enjoyable to stroll along. Lots of restaurants, bars, and shops. Scales and Shells is a particularly good restaurant for seafood.

Try to plan your trip to the Cape so you don't have to go over the bridge on a Friday or Saturday, or return on a Sunday. There is also a Bonanza bus from the train station if you get tired of driving.

Go to boston for sure! You would regret not going. A good place to stay is the John Jefferies house. For food, try www.beantownbite.com or www.yelp.com, both have varying reviews. Boston common as well as Harvard square offer plenty of things to do.

wow, thanks for all the great info. I am flying into JFK and sharing a ride with another student up to Rhinebeck. So, I'll be flying out of Boston back home. I've added a couple of more days so we can check out the Hudson River Valley also. (since I've checked out some of the great stuff you mentioned) My husband will either be joining me by flying into Stewart or JFK.

Question: We will be driving back from East Orleans on the Cape on a Monday morning how early do you think we have to leave to make a 10:45 am flight? Is it a bad time to be making that drive? Thanks a lot.

Driving time (without traffic) from Orleans to Logan Airport is 2 hours. Personally, I would double that and tack on an extra 30 minutes "just in case" for a weekday morning in July. So figure 41/2 hours if you want to get to the airport in plenty of time. Logan has long lines at security so better to get there a bit ahead than to run around trying to catch your plane.

Personally, when we fly out of Boston after a Cape visit I try to get a noon flight so we don't have to leave at the crack of dawn. Or we sometimes stay in a location closer to the airport to avoid the hassle of getting over the bridge and dealing with commuter traffic on a weekday morning.