North Eastern States
 

My husband and I are planning on a driving trip. One to two weeks is available as far as the time period. We plan on leaving on Monday Sept 12 driving from Peoria, Illinois heading towards Buffalo, NY. possibly for the first day. We are open for suggestions . Heading towards Southern Maine, along the coast. Points of interest are Salem, Mass. Boston, Cape Cod, Martha's Vinyard, Nantucket. Rhode Island is probably the farthest south, we want to go before heading back to Illinois. Looking for suggestions on roads along the way. I have a big gap from Buffalo to Southern Maine which I have no idea what there is to see, that I'm looking for help. I was told Vermont has some nice lighthouses to see around Woodstock. Looking for suggestions. We are retired been out west last fall and doing the northeastern states this fall. Appreciate all the help we can get thank you. Diane

Lighthouses in Vermont:
http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/vermont.html

Why start over? You started a thread here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ter-states.cfm

I started over because we probably aren't gonna include New York City and was looking for advice. I'm pretty new to the site wasn't sure what was the correct way to get advice

You do realize that Vermont has no sea coast and all of the lighthouses are on lakes? If you want to do a lighthouse tour you might want to visit some of those on the coast.

A friend made a similar drive from Buffalo to my house and then to Portland ME. Google Maps gives three basic options for a route that's approx. 8 hours so figure you can stop for lunch and be in southern Maine by the end of the day. Our preferred route is from Albany NY, Bennington to Brattleboro VT to Keene NH to Rt 9 then 202 merging with I89, then your choice of Rt 4 (Concord NH to Portsmouth) or Rt 101 (Manchester NH to I95). I prefer Rt 4 as more scenic with places to stop. Rt 101 is a limited access highway.

I suggest more research since you've listed what I think is too many places for 1 to 2 weeks. It's doable but you'll be driving everyday and missing some local sights. Even if you do Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket as day trips, that would take two full days.

Yankee Magazine is about New England. You might check their website for places of interest. Do you have specific interests? My husband would stop at the classic car museum in VT. I would skip it but I would visit Canterbury Shaker Village just north of Concord NH. I think you could devote your entire time to visiting lighthouses along the Maine coast. I would skip Salem unless you want to visit Peabody Essex Museum and/or witch attractions.

You can also search old posts on fodors about the places you might visit. I would go to Portsmouth NH instead of Salem MA. You might schedule a Boston visit on a weekend when I think hotel rates might be slightly cheaper but parking is expensive and you don't want to drive around Boston.

www.visitmaine.com
www.visitnh.gov
www.vermontvacation.com
www.massvacation.com

To see lighthouses in CT go to this site:

https://www.longislandferry.com/Comm...ghthousecruise

Thank you emalloy your suggestions are great on the previous post. Looks like Peoria, Il to Buffalo. Spend 1st night. Second day to Port Kent Ny and take the ferry across Lake Champlain to Burlington, VT. Spend a night and day in that area. On towards Laconia, NH and on to Portland, ME. Spend night or so there also. Along the coast to Portsmouth, NH and on to Salem, Mass. Spend night or two in that area also. Afterwards heading to Boston. do a few days visiting the area. Lots to see there. After we feel we covered the area enough on towards Cape Cod, Marthas Vinyard. Possible Nantucket afterwards. Will head towards Newport, RI do some exploring there. Last before heading home will be Stonington/ Mystic CT or Saybrook, CT. then back to Peoria from North route 9 to I84 west etc. Any suggestions love to hear. Thank You all.