Philip

ALSO posted General Interest ~ was not sure where best to post New England!

BACKGROUND: This is our first trip to New England so are looking for the “must do” Inns and locations. Our thoughts are that we will spend most of the time in Vermont and NH and then move rapidly into a couple of the Maine towns. 10 nights/11 days. Arrive Manchester Monday, September 28th. Depart from either Manchester or Boston on October 8th. Coming to see Fall foliage, quaint coastal towns and scenery. I have been studying Karen Brown’s NEW ENGLAND guide and Fodors.

I would like to have a good idea of the general itinerary so I could make room reservations now (are we even late for 2009?). We are looking for upper middle accommodations. Charm and view is obviously very important. We prefer to stay at least 2 nights at each inn. I am unsure of pacing but am starting with something akin to below.

With those thoughts in mind, what suggestions can you make regarding the following:

Monday /Night 1: After landing Manchester, rent car and drive north on Hwy 7 to “where”? Would appreciate any ideas on best/most beautiful area and what Inn?

Day/Night 2: Tour area

Day/Night 3: Drive to Stowe and stay at Stone Hill Inn. Any suggestions about other hotels?

Day/Night 4: Tour area

Friday/Night 5: Drive to North Conway/Conway area. Any suggestions about best town and Inns? This would be the week-end.

Day/Night 6: Tour area

Day/Night 7: Drive to York/Ogunquit and stay “where”? What would be the best town to start Maine portion?

Day/Night 8: Tour area

Day/Night 9: Drive to Kennebunkport and stay at White Barn Inn or “where”?

Wednesday/Night 10: Tour area

Thursday October 8th/Day 11: Drive to either Boston or Manchester to return home.

Thanks in advance for helping with our New England experience.

simpsonc510

I just returned from my week (ok, it was 6 days, 5 nights) in NH, ME, and MA.

You will be in N Conway for the Columbus Day weekend. The outlet stores there have some fantastic sales!!! Take an extra suitcase with you, if you are into shopping at all. Also, no sales tax!! The stores I shopped tacked on an extra 25% savings on the total price, on top of the lower outlet prices. I got some great deals, I thought.

Be sure to drive the Kankamagus (sp) Highway between Conway and Lincoln NH at least once. (accessible from rt 16) You'll want to stop every mile or so to take photos. Really pretty!!! It is about a 35 mile drive, but can take quite a bit of time. Traffic will be a real challenge at that time. Many hotels book early. I stayed in Lincoln at an EconoLodge. It was very basic, but by the time I booked, it was about all that was left. Next year I will stay in N Conway, but have not decided where.

Another great route to drive is 302 from N Conway over to I-93. Again, you'll want to stop to take lots of photos.

The coast of Maine is quite lovely. I hope to be able to include a night or two in Kennebunk next October when I return once again. I spent one night in Kittery this last trip. It was OK, but next time I'll drive further north than that.

colbeck

We have just enjoyed the most beautiful foliage season in years! You are wise to make plans and reservations so far in advance, particularly for Vermont and New Hampshire.

However, I sense you may be confused with Manchester VT vs Manchester NH. You mentioned "landing" in Manchester, then driving up Rt. #7, which indicates arriving by air in VT, but the airport is in Manchester NH.
That will make a difference in the route you use.

From Manchester NH I would suggest heading up Rt. 93 to Rt. 89, which will take you across the Connecticut River to Vermont. A great area to spend some time is Woodstock/Quechee. There are lots of nice inns and restaurants, and plenty to see and do. Check out www.woodstockvt.com. A "can't miss" is a visit to Simon Pierce in the village of Quechee. There is a beautiful gallery of their blown glass, and their restaurant is fabulous.

From Woodstock try Rt. 4 west to Rt. 100, then north on 100 all the way to Stowe. This is a scenic route through the Mad River Valley and the towns of Warren and Waitsfield. Your dates are still a bit early for peak foliage, and you will do better staying in the more mountainous areas for color, rather than the Lake Champlain Valley.

The previous poster has some great suggestions for the NH portion of your trip.

paige12

Hi,
I own a travel agency and have been to New England six times. It is my very favorite vacation. We land at Manchester NH and drive up to Boothbay Harbor in Maine where we stay at Atlantic Inn (Bed and Breakfast)The town is lovely. The Kennebunkport area is nice and there is a lighthouse depot store in Wells Maine that is cheap. Also good cheap lobster in Wells.
In Vermont, we love Stockbridge and the Norman Rockwell Museum. Also Woodstock and Quichee Gorge is not to be missed.
We didn't really do much in New Hampshire because we love Maine and Vermont. Hope this helps. If you have any questions just give me a call. I would be glad to book your hotels/bed and breakfast for you and plan you an itinerary.
Linda Hunter
Tumbleweed Travel

sobster

Warning! Stockbridge and Norman Rockwell Muiseum are in Massachusettws.

dfnh

I think you will be a bit early for best color but it varies. You are smart to head north first. Although Woodstock is not my favorite VT area, it is very popular with tourists and I agree with the recommendation for Simon Pierce restaurant. The building is fascinating. They generate their own hydroelectric power. This would only be about 1 1/2 hours from MHT and the drive up Rt 93 and 89 is lovely. However, if you are interested in any of the foliage festivals you might include one in your plans. Also, eating fresh, local apples esp heirloom varieties should be included.
Personally, I love the drive north on Rt 93 as the White mountains get closer until you are right in the middle. It might be better to start your visit in the Conway area mid-week rather than a weekend due to traffic congestion. There is a lot to do if you want to walk around (i.e. The Flume) or ride (mountain trams, railroad, cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee). After Stowe, head south on Rt 100 but I would consider a trip over to Burlinton for lunch, head south along Lake Champlain just because it is the beautiful farming area of VT. Then take a gap road thru the Green Mountains over to Rt 100 and then to the Woodstock/Queechee area. Connect with Rt 89 back to Concord NH and then Rt 4 to the seacoast. I think this drive is prettier than the one from Conway over to Portland. Just before you get to Portsmouth you will drive over Great Bay. Portsmouth NH is very scenic, you can tour the historic Strawbery Banke and/or take a harbor or inland rivers cruise. Head over the bridge and you're in Maine. Portsmouth has a lot of great restaurants. If you drive Rt 1B thru Newcastle you will pass thru a small, very old town with lovely old homes then you'll go past the historic Wentworth hotel. Also, a drive along the coast thru Rye will take you past private mansions. This area is beautiful in all seasons.
There is no reason to change hotels in the southern Maine portion of your trip. The towns are close.
Sorry, no lodging recommendations since we do these areas either as day trips or camping. Just try to avoid southbound travel on the interstates on late Sunday afternoons/evenings. We visited Center Sandwich NH on Columbus Day weekend/Monday and everyone was plotting how to go home without going on Rt 93. Get a good map for alternate routes on secondary roads.

bnbtraveler

I just checked my calender - Coulumbus Day Weekend with all the crazy traffic is 10/9-12. You will go home just before it all! WE are partial to the Southern Maine area of York Harbor. There are several good inns, and a particularily good one is Inn at Tanglewood Hall... York Harbor is a good base to head a bit north, or to head into Portsmouth, NH. Portsmouth has the Strawberry Banke istoric area and also has fall foliage cruises that go along the coast or up the Piscatagua River. I have heard they are great and a wonderful way to see stuff you can't while driving around.

Philip

First of all ~ thanks. Could not have received better information. Based on what y'all recommended, have made some major changes in itinerary. AND, you are exactly correct in that I confused the two Manchesters.

How does this look:

Mo (September 28), Tu, We in Kennebunkport at White Barn Inn. Is this a good central location to drive to other quaint towns during the day? What are the absolutely most scenic towns? Lobster in Dock Square and Wells.

Th, Fri, Sa Inn at Thorn Hill in Jackson. I hate to be there over the week-end but am having problem working around! Looking forward to your suggestions (cruise, train, Kancamagus, etc.). Hwys 112, 93, 3 and 302 look great.

Su, Mo at Stone Hill Inn in Stowe. Lunch in Burlington, etc. Any suggestions for 2 nights in Stowe?

Tu, We drive Hwys 100 & 4 to Woodstock and stay Jackson House Inn. Simon Pierce sounds wonderful.

Th (October 8th) drive Hwys 89 & 93 to Manchester (maybe stay overnight close to airport).

Does this look good for our first trip (survey) to New England?

dfnh

The drive from Woodstock to MHT is probably not more than 1 1/2 hours. Manchester NH has some excellent restaurants if you want to spend your last night near the airport. I have heard good reports however about the Centennial Inn in Concord NH for both lodging and restaurant. For your last bit of quaint towns, as you travel south on Rt 89 you can get off in New London NH. Pretty college town. There's a small state park nearby in Wilmot. If the weather is warm you might consider a picnic there after picking up supplies in New London. The trail up Mt Kearsarge from this side is very steep but the auto road is a fun series of switchbacks with great views ending at a large parking and picnic area with great views. Afterward go back to the intersection and head south to Warner. Pick up Rt 103. Follow Rt 103 thru towns of Warner, Contoocook and Hopkinton. Visit Gould Hill Orchard for both apples and view if they are still operating. The orchard is up for sale. They grow many varieties of apples. Rt 103 will deposit you in downtown Concord and runs past (or near) the Centennial Inn should you decide to stay there. Turning either right or left on Main St will take you to Rt 93. Head south for Manchester. Although Concord is a city and state capital, it has a very lovely downtown with interesting shops plus the NH History Museum. If you need a coffee break head to Bread and Chocolate or for something healthier, across the street to the Concord Food Coop.
Another choice for your return from VT would be to head south in VT then to Brattleboro and then Keene and then Rt 101 thru towns like Peterborough and Dublin. It would be best to take a longer trip thru places like Hancock and wind you way back to Manchester rather than connect with Rt 3. This is the southern area of NH which is very built up and industrial but the SW corner is considered the quiet corner of NH. Dublin is home to Yankee Magazine which has a website dedicated to visiting New England.
Have fun.

colbeck

Your itinerary looks great! You are wise to start with Maine and end up in Vermont, to maximize the foliage opportunities.

The Jackson House Inn in Woodstock is a good choice and Simon Pearce is "wonderful". It is also very popular, so you should consider making a reservation, particularly for dinner. Their phone # is 802-295-1470.

If you are planning a visit to Burlington for the day don't miss the Church Street Marketplace, a pedestrian mall with lots of shops and good restaurants. Leunig's Bistro and Smokejacks are two good choices. The Lake Champlain waterfront area is another fun place to visit.

Another excellent restaurant is Hen of the Woods. It is located in Waterbury, which is on the route from Burlington back to Stowe.

aussiedreamer

Sorry to be 'topping' an old post.......... it appears the op has had a change of plans. But these suggestions are perfect for our Oct. trip. So far I have booked Columbus Day weekend in Stowe, the Green Mt Inn. So am bookmarking some of your wonderful suggestions. Thanks

ksucat

White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport is a must if you can swing it..it is pricey but 5* hotels are becoming cheaper with the down economy..it is a wonderful experience and the restaurant is outstanding too!

PamSF

My favorite place in the Berkshires is Birchwood Inn (Lenox,MA) it really is like visiting a favorite Aunt. We just made reservations for a return.Peak color there is from Columbus day on.

marksfour

Hi Phillip....how was the trip? We are planning one for Fall 2010 and will use your itinerary as our planning outline! Would you change anything? Thanks in advance.

djkbooks

marksfour: You should start a new Topic for yourself and your upcoming trip. Much depends on the number of days of your visit and whether your dates are flexible...