Tish

After reading the fantastic feedback on other itineraries I wondered if my plan is a sensible one. We are staying for 3 nights in Boston and then have 6 days to get a taster of New England from 4th October onwards. My husband and I would like to get a taster of Cape Cod and also the mountain areas. I am planning the followingbr /> Monday- Drive to Chatham and overnight in Chatham
Tuesday- Provincetown and crossing from Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard and overnight in Martha's Vineyard
Wednesday- Drive to Salem and overnight in Salem
Thursday- Drive to White Mountains, overnight in Woodstock/Lincoln area
Friday- day and night in Woodstock/Lincoln area
Saturday- drive back to Foxboro (staying there for Pats game on the Sunday!)

We are flying in from the UK and have not visited before...what do you think?




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Author: clarkgriswold
Date: 08/03/2004, 06:14 pm
Message: Hmmm...too many one-nighters in there for me. Maybe 2 nights in Boston, and the third night down to Chatham where you make Chatham a 2 nighter.



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Author: djkbooks
Date: 08/03/2004, 06:18 pm
Message: Note: Provincetown is 35 miles due north of Chatham. Then, it's 75 miles to Woods Hole, where you catch a ferry to Martha's Vineyard.

My recommendation would be to head for the White Mountains after Boston, then for Salem (MA?), then Cape Cod, then Foxboro.



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Author: dfrostnh
Date: 08/04/2004, 08:22 am
Message: From Salem (Mass???) take Rt 95 to Portsmouth NH for lunch and a walk around the dock and Strawbery Banke area. If the weather is good, take a harbor cruise or inland rivers. Head west toward Concord NH via Rt 4 and then Rt 28 north to the mountains. You will want to take a slight detour through Wolfboro NH. On your return south, take Rt 93 although a loop into VT return on Rt 89 would be better if you've already explored the Rt 93 area in the mountains.



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Author: Tish
Date: 08/04/2004, 03:24 pm
Message: After reading the reply from djkbooks I am thinking of reversing the itinerary. We were planning to collect our car from the airport about midday on Monday and then heading off. If we head north instead how far could we get...would be able to get as far as the Woodstock/Lincoln area for a two night stay or is there somewhere we could stop on route to the White Mountains region. If we switch it we would spend Monday and Tuesday in the White Mountains and then drive down to Salem for Wednesday night. Then to Cape Cod for Thursday and Friday nights and saturday. Could we go straight to Martha's Vineyard from Salem, stay there on Thursday night and then over to Chatham for Friday night and drive to Provincetown on Saturday and then back to Foxboro for Saturday night...are these distances realistic??



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Anonymous

No, not unless you really really love driving. From Chatham to P'town and then to Foxboro is well over 3 hours of driving, probably coser to 4 considering that it's a game night.

You do know that Martha's Vineyard is an island, involving a ferry ride, don't you?

Tish

P.S. Am also considering basing ourselves in Chatham for the last couple of days before heading to Foxboro. Will we be able to do a day trip from Chatham to Martha's Vineyard instead of an overnight stay there?

Tish

Hi Anon. Am trying to simplify and break up the route plan. We will be spending two nights in White Mountains area first, my concern was how far north we could get if we set off from Boston at midday on Monday? We will stay there until Wednesday and then drive to Salem for an overnight stay there. We will then drive to Chatham the next day and stay there for 2 further nights as a base to explore Cape Cod. We can get the ferry to Martha's Vineyard on the Saturday before driving to Foxboro. We are staying in Foxboro the night before the game which is on the Sunday so no worries with game traffic. Does that sound more sensible??

djkbooks

Boston to Lincoln, NH, 133 miles, 2 hours, 15 minutes

Lincoln, NH to Salem, MA, 135 miles, 2 hours, 11 minutes

Salem, MA to Chatham, MA, 89 miles, 1 hour, 49 minutes

Chatham, MA to Provincetown, MA, 36 miles, 45 minutes

Chatham, MA to Woods Hole, MA, 47 miles, 1 hour

Chatham, MA to Foxboro, MA, 87 miles, 1 hour, 32 minutes

Tish

Thanks for that djkbooks, that is really helpful. The distances are not as bad as I thought (after driving along the West Coast last year anyway!)It looks like we could make it to the Lincoln/Woodstock area on Monday afternoon for our 2 night stay, any tips on the best places to stay up there? I am definitely going to go North first and then head down to Cape Cod via Salem.

gc

Lincoln / Woodstock is a popular ski area and tourist attraction. Accommodations are largely condominiums, with a few mom and pop hoatels, a Comfort Inn and some B&Bs.

Suggest you tryy the Mountain Club at Loon Mountain:

http://www.mountainclubonloon.com/

Also check the chamber of commerce site:

http://www.lincolnwoodstock.com/

Tish

Thanks again. I have had a look at the Lincoln/North Woodstock area. I also like the look of Stowe, is that a lot further north and could we make it in half a day from Boston ??? If so would you recommend Stowe rather than Woodstock/Lincoln for our two night stay to take in the fall scenery??

djkbooks

Stowe is our very favorite fall destination. 195 miles, just over 3 hours, from Boston.

Also like the Franconia, NH area. 145 miles from Boston, 2 hours, 20 minutes.

gail

One thing we learned (as East Coast residents when we traveled to Pacific NW and California)) is that distances are very different on East Coast than in West. Of course, a mile is a mile - but roads are not as direct and more often subject to incredible traffic. The list from djkbooks is accurate IF many of those trips are in off-times. For example, the just under 2 hours from Salem, MA to Chatham would be tripled on a nice Friday evening or Sat AM - even in October. And if it is over Columbus Day weekend, that makes things worse.

I think that trying to go north to mountains and south to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard and then end up in Foxboroa would be so exhausting and require so much time in the car that it would not seem like a vacation.

Might you consider substituting the coast of Maine for the Cape or substituting the Berkshires for White Mountains. I know they are not identical, or even comparable - but then you mnight actually have time to enjoy a place rather than just driving thru it.

djkbooks

As I interpret the itinerary, Tish will be headed for the White Mountains on a Monday, mid-morning I would suppose. I travel 25 miles north from Nashua and my husband travels 25 miles south into Massachusetts (and we've been doing this for more than ten years) and can assure you that traffic will not be a problem going North on a Monday in early October.

Then, she would be driving from Salem, MA to the Cape during the day on a Thursday. (Well past the "season" for backups at the bridges.) The Big Dig is just about over. It's smooth sailing through Boston during the day on a weekday lately. Though, I would not recommend heading toward Boston after 3PM if avoidable. Even though Columbus Day is the following Monday, I would not anticipate any heavy traffic going toward Cape Cod that weekend...One of the nice things about heading for Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket over Columbus Day weekend is the lack of traffic. Everyone else is heading to foliage destinations (the Mountains, especially the Berkshires from Boston).

Tish

I think you are right djkbooks, I am aiming to travel at less busy times if possible. We are going North on Monday 4th around midday (I do like the look of Stowe and think we will try and get that far-The Green Mountain Inn looks nice for a couple of nights?), then down to Salem mid Wednesday and to the Cape mid Thursday to Saturday and then to Foxboro that evening for the sunday game. We do have to travel from Foxboro to the airport at about 9am for a flight on Monday morning (11th)but I think that is Columbus Day so presumably there will not be so much commuter traffic around the Boston area?

djkbooks

Columbus Day is a holiday for many, but not all, businesses. Commuter traffic will be lighter than usual. For an international flight out of Logan, it is recommended that you arrive at least two hours prior to departure. We always allow three, along with plenty of extra time for getting to the airport. It's about 30 miles from Foxboro to Logan, nearly all interstate highways. I would recommend heading to the airport by no later than 5AM just to be on the safe side. Chances are there will be nearly no traffic that early. But the airport may be busy because it's a Monday and the final day of a three-day holiday weekend.

Tish

Thanks for that. We are actually catching an internal flight at 11.15 to Florida for the end of our trip so hopefully allowing at least an hour once we get there will be enough. We were planning to leave about 8-8.30am from Foxboro for that.

djkbooks

Much depends upon your airline and ticketing. If your airline offers curbside ticketing, that will speed up the process. Likewise if automated check-in is offered. With some airlines, you can check-in online that day or the day before, then check yoru bags curbside. Then, keep an eye on security. The line can go from short to very, very long quite quickly. Note that in one or more domestic terminals, there are no restrooms on the other side of security (watch for signs).

Tish

I did not think they were still doing curbside check in but not flown internally in the US for about 10 years! We are flying with Delta on an e ticket so not sure if that helps?

Also as you are a Stowe fan could I ask you where you would recommend to stay, I liked the look of the Green Mountain Inn but only the expensive rooms are left now!

bennnie

Tish - have you found the website NewEngland.com. Its very helpful for lodging listings as well as suggested itineraries. In Stowe I've stayed at the Trapp Family Lodge which I enjoyed but closer to town is the Golden Eagle Resort - kind of motelish but still nice. Its on the Mountain Rd so its very convenient to the recreation trail and other activities.

Tish

Hello again. I have nearly sorted out all the arrangements now.....Boston for 3 nights at the Charlesmark, then to Stowe for two nights at the Green Mountain Inn, then to Salem for one night at the Amelia Payson Guesthouse, then down to Cape Cod for two nights. I am stuck with Cape Cod accomodation though. The plan was to base ourselves in Chatham to explore Chatham/Provincetown one day and Matha's Vineyard or Nantucket (on the day ferry) the next. I have not been impressed with the accomodation I have looked at so far in Chatham other than the Captain's House Inn which is very expensive. I also like the look of the Benchmark Inn in Provincetown but wonder whether it would not work as well to be that little bit further along the Cape in Provincetown and if Chatham would make a better base. Any thoughts/suggestions...so close now to finalising the plans I am getting really excited and all the New Englanders I have spoken to when booking from the UK have been really lovely!

Dreamer2

The Bradford Inn in Chatham is very lovely and centrally located. Not sure about the price, though...

Gene

Chatham should definitely be your base for a one day trip to Provincetown, followed the next day by a trip to the islands. Cannot believe you are not impressed by all the excellent accommodations in Chatham e.g. Chatham Bars, Wequassett, Wayside etc.