Pick One: Quebec City, Bar Harbor OR Plymouth?
Apr 24th, 2013, 02:06 PM
#1
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Pick One: Quebec City, Bar Harbor OR Plymouth?
1 week in Boston; 2 1/2 days for a side trip:
Which one would you pick?
Quebec City (6 hr drive)
Bar Harbor (5 hr drive)
Plymouth (1 hr drive)
The places are listed in order of personal preference with the drawback in parenthesis. When weighing the pros and cons of each destination, which one offers the greatest value in view of my time allotment?
Your comments and suggestions are greatly valued - Thank you!
Which one would you pick?
Quebec City (6 hr drive)
Bar Harbor (5 hr drive)
Plymouth (1 hr drive)
The places are listed in order of personal preference with the drawback in parenthesis. When weighing the pros and cons of each destination, which one offers the greatest value in view of my time allotment?
Your comments and suggestions are greatly valued - Thank you!
Apr 24th, 2013, 02:13 PM
#2
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When is this trip?
Plymouth is an easy and short day trip from Boston, you don't need 2 1/2 days there.
Quebec City is interesting but it is another city so after Boston you might prefer something different. Also add border crossing times to your driving estimate if you go to Canada. It could take 15 minutes or it could take well over an hour (each way)
Plymouth is an easy and short day trip from Boston, you don't need 2 1/2 days there.
Quebec City is interesting but it is another city so after Boston you might prefer something different. Also add border crossing times to your driving estimate if you go to Canada. It could take 15 minutes or it could take well over an hour (each way)
Apr 24th, 2013, 02:25 PM
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Are you talking about 2-1/2 days IN one of those places, or 2-1/2 days total including driving. I'd drive to Bar Harbor, stopping along the way (Portsmouth, Kennebunkport, etc).
I will say the drive through Maine to Quebec is stunning, and Quebec City is lovely.
I will say the drive through Maine to Quebec is stunning, and Quebec City is lovely.
Apr 24th, 2013, 03:00 PM
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Quebec is a lively city, filled to the brim with history (that's the place where Canada wound up under British rule rather than French), places to go, and places to eat. Plus, you get the benefit of being in a city that very definitely feels like a foreign country.
Bar Harbor is a great place to chill out, enjoy activities like hiking and kayaking, and has a nice small resort town flavor.
Plymouth has a rock and a little theme park.
Quebec and Bar Harbor are the clear choices ... which one suits you best depends on your mood/interests.
Bar Harbor is a great place to chill out, enjoy activities like hiking and kayaking, and has a nice small resort town flavor.
Plymouth has a rock and a little theme park.
Quebec and Bar Harbor are the clear choices ... which one suits you best depends on your mood/interests.
Apr 24th, 2013, 03:03 PM
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Quebec city is neat, but will really probably take 7 or 8 hours each way to do from Boston. That doesn't really leave you much time to explore the city. Therefore I would say go to Bar Harbor, not for the town, but to go to Acadia NP and eat lobster in town.
Apr 24th, 2013, 04:14 PM
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Quebec City is great, but the drive from Boston is the only concern. It would leave you about 1.5 days in QC, but that said, you should spend them in the Old City which is small and contained. If you don't mind the drive, then go to Quebec.
Apr 24th, 2013, 04:54 PM
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Yeah, the drive to QC is the real question . . . is it worth a more stressful vacation or is it better to relax and stay closer to Boston.
From my calculations, there is not much of a time savings to go to Bar Harbor instead of QC but based on some views, it seems like Bar Harbor is just as worthy a choice. I like one posters comment to stop in Kennebunkport along the way.
I have also considered Martha's Vineyard but several people I know who have day tripped on cruise stops said it was boring?? From my perspective, MV would probably be a great place to stay and unwind for a week but I'm not sure if it's worth a day trip?
I appreciate all the feedback.
From my calculations, there is not much of a time savings to go to Bar Harbor instead of QC but based on some views, it seems like Bar Harbor is just as worthy a choice. I like one posters comment to stop in Kennebunkport along the way.
I have also considered Martha's Vineyard but several people I know who have day tripped on cruise stops said it was boring?? From my perspective, MV would probably be a great place to stay and unwind for a week but I'm not sure if it's worth a day trip?
I appreciate all the feedback.
Apr 24th, 2013, 06:44 PM
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What about Newport? It has Ocean Drive, Cliff Walk, mansions, a historic district centered on Thames Street, a beautiful harbor, some good museums, and more.
What I remember most about Martha's Vineyard is that I spent a day there with a person who enchanted me. I wasn't bored.
It seems like Bar Harbor is just as worthy a choice [as QC].
Not for me. Quebec City is one of the most interesting cities in North America, but I don't think the same can be said about Bar Harbor--worthy though it may be.
HTTY
What I remember most about Martha's Vineyard is that I spent a day there with a person who enchanted me. I wasn't bored.
It seems like Bar Harbor is just as worthy a choice [as QC].
Not for me. Quebec City is one of the most interesting cities in North America, but I don't think the same can be said about Bar Harbor--worthy though it may be.
HTTY
Apr 25th, 2013, 03:25 AM
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Is there old town of QC a reasonable size? I was flipping through pictures online and it seemed like the same street being photographed over and over - granted . . . beautiful and quaint but I truly don't want to drive that far only to find the walled portion of the city is small.
HTTY - Newport is an excellent suggestion that is close enough to Boston but I have been there several times before and loved it!
HTTY - Newport is an excellent suggestion that is close enough to Boston but I have been there several times before and loved it!
Apr 25th, 2013, 04:27 AM
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I am still not clear. Is the total trip time 7 days or 9-1/2 days?
Is this 1 week in Boston PLUS 2 1/2 days for a side trip? or 1 week in Boston to INCLUDE 2 1/2 days for a side trip?
The QC old town is quite large as far as old towns go. We spent a week there (8 days) and spent 5 days in QC with the other 3 days for different day trips up the St. Lawrence. Not too much time at all.
Is this 1 week in Boston PLUS 2 1/2 days for a side trip? or 1 week in Boston to INCLUDE 2 1/2 days for a side trip?
The QC old town is quite large as far as old towns go. We spent a week there (8 days) and spent 5 days in QC with the other 3 days for different day trips up the St. Lawrence. Not too much time at all.
Apr 25th, 2013, 12:32 PM
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Spent five days with no excursion and could easily go back for more, with excursions.
It is the only place I have been in North America that is really Old World, without being Olde Worlde. In other words it is a real place with a life and culture of its own and apart from the tourists.
It is the only place I have been in North America that is really Old World, without being Olde Worlde. In other words it is a real place with a life and culture of its own and apart from the tourists.
Apr 25th, 2013, 02:05 PM
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Banff,
That's helpful.
I still think QC is the best of the three side-trip choices you listed.
Given your available time, I would suggest 2.5 days IN Quebec City and the remainder of your week either in Boston or in transit between the two cities.
That's helpful.
I still think QC is the best of the three side-trip choices you listed.
Given your available time, I would suggest 2.5 days IN Quebec City and the remainder of your week either in Boston or in transit between the two cities.
Apr 25th, 2013, 03:47 PM
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Given that QC is one of the highest places on my list of places that I want to see, it's hard to pass it up. The only problem is the 12 hr drive.
Some might say, "Well, why even go to Boston if QC is where you want to go?"
We are a family of 4 taking what we can get for free . . . we have free air, free hotel and a free car for 3 days in Boston - just can't give that up. SWA doesn't fly into QC. Besides, our children have never been to Boston and my youngest is a huge whale enthusiast.
So, back to the original question . . . you can see my dilemma. I really, really want to see QC but just don't know if it's actually worth turning our vacation into 12 hrs. on the road instead of a relaxed, leisurely time closer to Boston.
Again, thanks for all the comments . . . I'm leaning toward QC w/ Plymouth a close second (because of the proximity). Bar Harbor is high on my list also but if BH is 5 hrs and QC is 6 hrs. it seems worth an extra 2 road hrs. to hit my dream destination???
Some might say, "Well, why even go to Boston if QC is where you want to go?"
We are a family of 4 taking what we can get for free . . . we have free air, free hotel and a free car for 3 days in Boston - just can't give that up. SWA doesn't fly into QC. Besides, our children have never been to Boston and my youngest is a huge whale enthusiast.
So, back to the original question . . . you can see my dilemma. I really, really want to see QC but just don't know if it's actually worth turning our vacation into 12 hrs. on the road instead of a relaxed, leisurely time closer to Boston.
Again, thanks for all the comments . . . I'm leaning toward QC w/ Plymouth a close second (because of the proximity). Bar Harbor is high on my list also but if BH is 5 hrs and QC is 6 hrs. it seems worth an extra 2 road hrs. to hit my dream destination???
