BRRoby

We are flying from Oklahoma City to the NE coast the 3rd week in September. We've never visited any of the northeast before and I'm really not sure where to start. What are some of the "must see" places, cities, attractions, landmarks that we should def put on our itinerary and plan around it?

yk

1) Where are you flying into - which airport?
2) How many days do you have?
3) What are your interests? Ages of your group?

isabel

Boston is the major,and really the only really worthwhile large city. It could fill weeks, but you could see some highlights in 2-4 days.

The quintessential New England in my mind is the coast - particularly north of Boston - Cape Ann Massachusetts and the Maine Coast. You could easily spend a week if you want to go as far as Acadia/Bar Harbor. If you haven't got that much time there's plenty of 'good stuff' from Cape Ann as far as Portland Maine.

I feel the interior is not as 'special' (and I live there) but certainly a drive through the lakes and white mountains of New Hampshire, much of Vermont, the Berkshires of Massachusetts.

Sounds like you might only have a week. If that's the case I'd do 2-3 days in Boston, then drive north spending a day on Cape Ann, then 2-3 days on the Maine Coast but don't try to go further than Camden if that's all the time you have.

If you are looking for fall foliage, 3rd week is a bit early except for Northern NH and Vt.

dfrostnh

Really depends on your interests. The weather is usually pretty nice in Sept but agree, much too early for foliage. You could do culinary tours in Boston. We're signing up for one in Portland this Sept. You could visit a couple of wineries. Great time to visit apple orchards that grow antique varieties. Shaker Village in Canterbury NH has interesting tours.
Get out on the water: boat trips out of Portsmouth NH or Portland ME. I know there are others.
If you like the outdoors, the NH's White Mountains offers a variety of attractions. Kayak rentals should be available on weekends in different places.

Bowsprit

If you end up spending time in Boston, take a day trip to Cape Cod on the Boston>Provincetown ferry. It's still running in September and you won't need a car in Provincetown. September is a great month to enjoy New England.

yellowbyrd

You can easily spend several days on Cape Cod, a 1-2.5 hour from Boston. To really experience the Cape you should spend at least 2 full days there (more would be better), exploring the Cape Cod National Seashore towns (Eastham, Wellfleet Truro and Provincetown), nature trails and beaches.

Eastham (2 hours from Boston) makes a good base since you can easily travel north to visit Wellfleet and Provincetown and south to visit Chatham, Orleans, Harwichport and even Hyannis. All of these locations are within 5-30 minutes of Eastham. If you stay on the cape longer, you could even take a ferry for a day-trip to Nantucket....that would get you out on the water, allow you to get the feeling of a NE coastal island with a rich whaling history. The fast ferries that go to Nantucket leave out of Harwichport and Hyannis, making traveling to the island as a day trip quite easy.

Cape Cod has several advantages over Cape Ann, mainly that there is much more to do and see since it is geographically much larger. Cape Cod is closer to Boston than Acadia in Maine is. The outer cape, where the National Seashore begins, is just 2 hours from the city where as traveling to Acadia National Park will take the better part of a day. The beaches on the outer cape have advantages over the Maine beaches...soft white sand, warmer water, easier access. And once you are on Cape Cod, the villages are much closer together than the towns in Maine.

Here are few links of things to do on Cape Cod that might be of interest to you:

http://www.nps.gov/caco

http://www.nantucketislandferry.com/
http://www.hylinecruises.com/nan/high-speed.html
http://web2.steamshipauthority.com/ssa/

http://www.discoverwellfleet.com/
http://www.whalewatch.com/
http://www.explorecapecod.com/
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/southeast/ccrt.htm
http://ptownchamber.com/art.html

Bowsprit

One day in Provincetown will be plenty for a first 'taste' of Cape Cod. You'll want to come back for at least a week at another time, so save those links.

Ozarksbill

Good heavens! Must sees in New England? One hardly knows how to answer but several already have. We relocated from Springfield, MO, to Boston area and have explored lots of place, earlier trips as well. Any way, yes historic Boston, the Berkshires with music, dance etc., lovely Cape Cod, quaint Maine coastal towns.

No doubt at this moment your main thought is escaping the heat and thus looking forward to the cool. Our summer here has been pleasant indeed.

My advice? Try to focus...what are your interests. You might want to walk on a Truro beach or listen to the Boston Symphony or stroll around Harvard Square or meander through historic Old Sturbridge Village or take a harbor cruise in Portsmouth NH. But you must of course pinpoint. Hopefully September weather will cooperate.

Bill in Boston

tracys2cents

http://www.fodors.com/search/results...+England+Coast