New England trip - advice needed!
Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:40 PM
#41
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cape Cod is definitely worth a visit. Make sure you get to a National Seashore beach for a walk and to the Salt Pond Visitor's Center in Eastham to get a feeling for the whaling history/natural history of the area. You will be just missing a week of programs offered during school vacation which begins on April 19 but the center has a few short films, museum and book store that might be of interest. You can check out the schedule as time gets closer at www.nps.gov/caco
Nov 3rd, 2009, 02:11 PM
#42
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Agree on Cape Cod post from yellowbyrd... I am not sure but I think the Daffodil festivel in Nantucket might be around that time? Nantucket is a wonderful place.... weather can be fickle this time of year in NE- but can also be wonderful. I seem to remember this past spring was pretty nice... JUne and July were not nice- I had the heat on in July 5 x!! (but I live in Maine- still not normal to turn your heat on in July!!)
Nov 3rd, 2009, 02:39 PM
#43
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Newport also would be nice (pretty beach; neat tours of mansions, nice restaurants), like the suggestion of the boat trip from Boston to Provincetown- but if you have a car you might want to drive- YOu can visit Quincy, MA; and go to the Birthplaces of 2nd U.S. President John Adams and 6th U.S. President John Quincy Adams, http://www.nps.gov/adam/index.htm.
Also you can visit the JFK museum. In Boston; visit the Isabella Gardner Stewart museum; http://www.gardnermuseum.org/
If you come to Portland, ME please let me know and I can make some suggestions.
Also you can visit the JFK museum. In Boston; visit the Isabella Gardner Stewart museum; http://www.gardnermuseum.org/
If you come to Portland, ME please let me know and I can make some suggestions.
Nov 3rd, 2009, 09:21 PM
#44
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,421
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Daffodil Festival on Nantucket is usually the last weekend in April. There's also one in Brewster, the last weekend in April or first weekend in May (depending on the year).
We used to attend both for many years. More often than not, the weather was very, very cold (often with snow flurries), and only one year was it actually pleasant.
But amandajj67 will be there much earlier in April.
I totally disagree that Cape Cod is a good destination in mid-April. It's more likely to be winter-like than spring-like. We've been to Cape Cod over Memorial Day weekend when it's often still quite cold and the leaves are just coming out on the trees.
We used to attend both for many years. More often than not, the weather was very, very cold (often with snow flurries), and only one year was it actually pleasant.
But amandajj67 will be there much earlier in April.
I totally disagree that Cape Cod is a good destination in mid-April. It's more likely to be winter-like than spring-like. We've been to Cape Cod over Memorial Day weekend when it's often still quite cold and the leaves are just coming out on the trees.
Nov 4th, 2009, 06:39 AM
#46
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dear Amanda,
Your itinerary is very ambitious but you've gotten great advice from others here. I'm concerned that all you'll see of New England will be from the windows of the car.
Going to Western MA from Ogunquit will be the better part of the day since it is at least a 3 1/2 hour drive straight through on the (very uninteresting) highway to Lenox without stopping so add time for lunch and you've spent another day in the car. From there to the CT coast will be another 3 hour drive.
I might suggest that you do your nights in Boston, add a few nights there with day trips if you like to Salem, MA for the seafaring history and "Witchy" fun or Lexington/Concord to see where the "Colonial Rebellion" started, then Ogunquit along with the day trips along the coast of Maine for the New England seaside village experience, then NH for a taste of our Mountains and forests.
Boston to Keene NH is about 2 1/2 hours but you'll travel along wonderfully scenic roads that will invite stopping along the way for photo ops and walks.
Or you could drive north into NH to Lincoln NH and drive the Kacamangus highway which is indeed a misnomer because this a a lovely scenic winding road through beautiful mountains.
Either of these stays in NH will give you a taste of NE that is what people usually think of when they think of visiting NE.
I think that you'll get a better feeling for New England if you pare down your driving and concentrate on the different types of areas, seaside, mountainss, forest, but choose places not quite so far flung.
Here is another current thread with a great report on 4 days in NH that might be a good alternative for you.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-hampshire.cfm
Good luck and please tell us what you decide, I live in NH we're a friendly bunch, we'll be glad to help in any way,
Your itinerary is very ambitious but you've gotten great advice from others here. I'm concerned that all you'll see of New England will be from the windows of the car.
Going to Western MA from Ogunquit will be the better part of the day since it is at least a 3 1/2 hour drive straight through on the (very uninteresting) highway to Lenox without stopping so add time for lunch and you've spent another day in the car. From there to the CT coast will be another 3 hour drive.
I might suggest that you do your nights in Boston, add a few nights there with day trips if you like to Salem, MA for the seafaring history and "Witchy" fun or Lexington/Concord to see where the "Colonial Rebellion" started, then Ogunquit along with the day trips along the coast of Maine for the New England seaside village experience, then NH for a taste of our Mountains and forests.
Boston to Keene NH is about 2 1/2 hours but you'll travel along wonderfully scenic roads that will invite stopping along the way for photo ops and walks.
Or you could drive north into NH to Lincoln NH and drive the Kacamangus highway which is indeed a misnomer because this a a lovely scenic winding road through beautiful mountains.
Either of these stays in NH will give you a taste of NE that is what people usually think of when they think of visiting NE.
I think that you'll get a better feeling for New England if you pare down your driving and concentrate on the different types of areas, seaside, mountainss, forest, but choose places not quite so far flung.
Here is another current thread with a great report on 4 days in NH that might be a good alternative for you.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-hampshire.cfm
Good luck and please tell us what you decide, I live in NH we're a friendly bunch, we'll be glad to help in any way,
Nov 19th, 2009, 04:21 PM
#48
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow that is some itinerary! I think you will need a vacation after your vacation. Why not stay a while some place so you can really take in your scenery, relax and enjoy. I don't think your child will really appreciate eveything so many hours in the car. Why not pick a couple cities/towns and see all they have to offer?
Nov 19th, 2009, 04:32 PM
#49
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2 nights in Boston and 2 in Ogunguit. I think you should enjoy the Boston area, it has so much to offer, then Maine. I would either travel North to the Portland area or to Marble Head/Salem before Cape Cod. A rich sea faring history here. Won't dissapoint.
