Just starting to plan an Oct 08 trip to New England. Here is the itinerary I've come up with. Looking for any comments. Thanks!

Day One: Arrive Hartford, CT
visit State Capitol
drive to Groton (Nautilus)
stay in Groton

Day Two: Mystic, CT
stay in Groton

Day Three: Visit and stay in
Newport, RI

Day Four: Boston

Day Five: Boston

Day Six: head North in New Hampshire spend night in Franconia or thereabouts

Day Seven: Drive to Montpelier VT (visit Capitol)
then drive South to Brattleboro, VT spend night

Day Eight: Drive to Hartford, CT. Fly home late afternoon


From what I've read here at the forums, we should drive into Boston but leave the car parked. Can anyone suggest a budget friendly (under $200) in Boston, or is a that laughable question?

I'll only speak to the Hartford portion of your trip - I live near the capitol - I'm not sure it's worth a stop!

Newport will be nice - I loved the tour of The Breakers mansion.

Love Boston - It's been a few years, but I've booked hotels in the Back Bay area for under $200 going through Cheap Tickets or Priceline.

Guess I spoke about more than Hartford! I don't want to dissuade you from the capitol if that's something you'd enjoy, it just seems like a diversion off the highway for a few minutes.

I enjoyed the Capitol tour in Hartford very much. The Mark Twain House and Harriet Beecher-Stowe House are not far away and deserve a stop, too.

I don't think you'll need a full day for Mystic, CT.

Montpelier is IMO too far north for your itinerary. I liked the Hanover, NH/Woodstock, VT area very much and stayed in a small lovely inn there (www.deerbrookinn.com)

For Boston I can recommend the John Jeffries House at the foot of Beacon Hill, which has regular rates under $200. Make your reservation very soon!

www.johnjeffrieshouse.com

I.

Ingo, Montpelier is only 65 miles from Franconia, almost directly west, then Brattleboro is 2 hours south. This itinerary as a whole, spending a couple hours on the highway almost every day, is not my idea of a vacation, but does seem to be do-able.

Cadgirl, do you mind if we inquire about your fascination with touring the state capitols in (CT and VT)? They're not usually a top tourist attraction, especially for those on tight schedules.

Mystic certainly has more than enough of interest to fill a day; we spent nearly a full day at the Aquarium.

I would add a slight detour. Head north from Boston via rt95 to Portsmouth NH. Enjoy a harbor or inland rivers cruise. This will give you a good break from all that driving. The dock is within walking distance of the parking garage. Visit one of Portsmouth's wonderful restaurants before heading west to Concord NH. Between Portsmouth and Durham, the drive is very nice once you leave the highway (Rt 16, I think). Even the highway goes over the Great Bay bridges. The Hilton Park is on your right if you want to stop for a rest area/enjoy the bay. Once you are on Rt 4 it's pretty rural all the way to Concord going thru Northwood's Antique Alley. Lots of trees along this route so the foliage should be good. In Concord you could stop to visit that state capitol building or just continue via Rt 393 to Rt 93 and your journey to Franconia. (Portsmouth to Concord is probably about 30-45 minutes). Heading north on Rt 93 is actually a lovely ride even though it's an interstate hwy. You'll enjoy the mountains getting nearer and nearer until you are in the middle of them. If you didn't take a boat ride in Portsmouth you also have the option of a scenic cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee from Weirs Beach. It's not far off the interstate.
I think Montpelier is a lovely area. It's hard to imagine a place so small is the state capital.
Make reservations ASAP esp if you are coming in early October. Columbus Day weekend will be extremely heavy traffic.

With regard to Anonymous' question about State Capitols, we've been to 10 total over the years and feel that it's like a mini-tour of the state.

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

We did a similar trip 2 years ago with a stop in Groton. You must see the US Submarine Force Museum, it is great. We were lucky enough to see a sub go out to sea the day we were there. We wanted to see Mystic seaport, but found that you had to pay to get into the place to get a good view; we didn't feel like spending that amount of money, so we drove into a neighborhood across the water to get photos. We also loved Fall River Mass., which is home to Battleship Cove. It might be out of your way, since you are heading to Boston. Good luck and have fun.

When we go to Boston we stay just outside at the Doubletree in Waltham. Nice hotel free parking and about $99 per night. Good luck

For Boston, try www.lacapellasuites.com for accommodation. Lovely B&B right in the North End which is one of the great neighborhoods in Boston (excellent restaurants, bakeries and cafes) and close walking distance to a lot of the tourist sights.

Driving around Boston for the novice is not recommended. Nearly everything you will want to see is within walking distance or a quick ride on the T (buy a Charlie card from the MBTA if you plan on taking a lot of subways or buses).

You're in Luck.
For a nice place to stay in Boston for under $200 look at www.constitutioninn.org
a room with 2 double beds and a kitchenette is $139. I've stayed there a couple of times, it's nice, not fancy but clean, safe and for location it's awesome. Only a block and a half walk is the Tavern On the Water, It's a restaurant on a boat in the Yacht Club. Very Reasonable and food good. I had the lobster ravioli..YUMM.
You are only 1/2 mile to Little Italy (North End). Which puts you in the heart of the Freedom Trail (Old North Church, Paul Revere's House, etc.Not far from Faneuil Hall, New ENgland Aquarium (you can catch a water taxi from the pier at the end of the street which drops you off at the aquarium and faneuil Hall. The duck tours are great.The Museum of Fine Arts, The Elizabeth Gardner Museum. Mikes Pastry on 300 hanover Street..THE BEST ITALIAN PASTRY EVER.(My favorite's the Florentine Cannoli and the "Lobster Tail") I grew up in Boston but Live In Mystic CT and work in Groton So Here's some more travel stuff for you...
Nautilus Museum is nice, the SUBMARINE FORCE War Memorial(about 1.5 miles from the Nautilus)Lot's of places to eat depending on what you want.In Mystic, you have the Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, OLDE Mystick Village, lots of litle specialty and souvenir shops. Downtown Mystic is like main street USA. Ice cream shops, Mystic Pizza, little shops. 2 giant Casinos Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. You don't have to gamble there are lots of restaurants, shows, concerts, sports events, etc. I prefer Moheagn because of the architecture. It is magnificently designed. From Groton it is about 30 minutes to either Casino.
I'll skip Newport.. There are the mansions there. Now back to Boston. Have you ever heard of the Great Molasses Flood of Boston. Interseting piece of History. Based on where you are going in New hampshire. I hacve styed up in North Conway and Barlett. I like the Eagle Mountain House in Jackson, NH (140 miles north of Boston. It has a beatiful view of the White Mountains and there is a running mountain stream/falls across the street. Restaurant and bar in Hotel, pool etc.
Any questions about other stuff in any of the places let me know.

Thanks hipahkkid. I actually made reservations last night at the Best Western Adams Inn in Quincy. $250.00 total for both nights (plus taxes). Obtained discount from Entertainment Book. Reviews on TripAdvisor seemed okay.

This reservation is my back up plan. I will still continue to monitor prices and may eventually place bids at Priceline.