I am beginning to research and plan a driving trip to the Vermont, N.H.,and Maine areas in early October next year. I have a
severe walking disability that limits my
ability to walk up or down hill, so the trip will be primarily driving to see the sights without too much walking. Does anyone have any suggestions for a couple home base areas from which to take day trips to see the colors and visit historical homes/buildings/
sights/museums? Also would be interested in any day trip suggestions.

Hi Ray, I live in Vermont, and would suggest Burlington in this state. The Shelburne Museum has many historical buildings, a ferry, train, Americana,circus building, and art collections. A tram runs throughout the grounds, so you wouldn't have to walk a lot. It's a lovely small college city on a huge lake. A narrated boat trip might be a fun, interesting way to see the fall colors and learn some history {ask about Champ}. There are some interesting forts and the Ethan Allan home in the area. There are many excellent restaurants to choose from with a diversity of ethnic cuisine. Hope this helps.

I would suggest going to a travel agency and getting a Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Tours brochure. Simply follow the path the tour takes but pick and choose the sights you want to see and make your own hotel arrangements. The brochures will give you definite sites and towns for the peak foliage and would likely include decent accomodations. I would expect hotels to be a Best Western or B&B level. Good luck and enjoy.

You are wise to begin so early. If I were you, the first thing I'd do is go to the Yankee magazine website (www.newengland.com), especially late summer when the site has tons of info on foliage season. There are click-on sites with maps, suggested driving tours, a B&B finder (and they usually say whether or not they are accessible). Also, the Boston Globe online (www.boston.com)has a section right on the "front page" called, I think, Postcards from New England, which should be helpful. It's a beautiful part of the country, and you will enjoy every minute of your visit.

In NH, I'd try and find loding around the Loon Mountain area. There's plenty to see (the Old Man In the Mountain, The Kangamangus Highway) and it's nice day trip to Mt. Washington and the sites around there. There's plenty of good restuarants to pick from right there. We go there every year in october and absolutely love it!