Please Critique our Fall Foliage Trip
 

Hi All,

We are planning a visit to New England for Oct, 2006.

Preliminary plans are to fly ATL to Burlington, VT. Expect to arrive about 3:00 PM if Delta is still in business.

We will drive to our hotel in Vermont the first afternoon. We are thinking of either Vergennes or Middlebury.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Days 2-4 in VT.
Day 5 Drive to MA along the Hudson River.

Days 6-8
We are thinking of staying at the Red Lion inn in Stockbridge.

Is this a good place for visiting the Berkshires? Suggestions and comments welcome.

Day 9 Drive to NH.

Days 9.5 - 12 in NH
We are thinking of staying in Bethlehem.
Suggestions and comments welcome.

Day 12.5 Drive to BTV and fly home.

Thanks for your help.

((I))

Itinerary looks good. We stayed in North Woostock in New Hampshire, which was a very convenient location. When in the White Mountains, be sure to take the Kancamagus Highway that runs from North Woodstock to Conway. One of the most spectacular highways in the world in the fall.

I have one suggestion.......TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!!
I'll spring for gas! ;)

Sounds like a GREAT trip...Mrs Kal and I have it on our To Do list.

Thanks for the tips, TRM

((I))

Change of colors moves from the south to the north, so in order to be at the peak of foliage season you will want to time your trip around Columbus Day. As an FYI, lodging can become scarce and very expensive during foliage season, so you will want to arrange your accomodations early. There is a website that can provide you with which areas are at their peak.

There's a very nice bed and breakfast in Bethlehem, NH. It is on the expensive side, but it is top notch and I will look up the website for you. They do serve tea and chocolate chip cookies in the afternoon, and the restaurant is superb for dinner.

When you're in the Berkshires make sure you stop by the Norman Rockwell museum. If you like antiquing, you will find many antique shops during your travels.

South to north???

I think you have that backwards..

Swing through the Adirondacks for a day and treat yourselves to an overnight at The Sagamore on Bolton Landing, Lake George.

I would consider adding Northampton Mass. about an hour from stockbridge.
Great funky town with many wonderful restaurants and coffee shops.

http://www.noho.com/

Since you have twelve days, my recommendation would be to start out as far northeast as you plan to go and work your way south and west (in the same direction the colors change).

There's a fabulous interactive (with calendars) foliage planning map at http://www.yankeemagazine.com/foliage/findcolor.php

We love the Red Lion Inn. For the last few years, however, we visit rather than stay there (the prices being a bit high, especially during fall, for the quality of the accommodations). The Lions Den (in the basement) is fabulous for atmosphere, New England comfort food, and live music.

Lenox is a fabulous base point for the Berkshires. Check out the Rookwood Inn (but there are dozens).

We also like the 1896 Brookside/Pondside just south of Williamstown for a base point in the Berkshires.

We've come to prefer nice motels rather than B&B's. Soundproofing, plumbing, "rules", even "breakfast" too problematic with the B&B's, along with outrageous fall rates and inflexible cancellation policies.

While in Stockbridge, the Norman Rockwell Museum and Chesterwood are magnificent.

You'd also want to wander as far north as Manchester/Arlington, Vermont (which is why I'd pick Lenox or Williamstown over Stockbridge for a base point.)

Bethlehem is also a terrific base point. From there, highly recommend a drive to Lancaster, east on Route 2 to Gorham, south on Route 16 to Bartlett (skipping North Conway unless you want to visit the outlets, noting NO SALES TAX in New Hampshire), then west on Route 302 through Bretton Woods (with a stop at the magnificent Mount Washington Hotel) and back to Bethlehem. About two hours driving (with no stops), this will take you through some spectacular scenery, including many of the breathtaking notches. If you have time, I'd do it again in the other direction. (We find this route far more sensational than the Kancamagus Highway, which is mobbed and full of RV's in the fall.)

Not too far (and worth the drive) is the Sunset Hill House. Amazing place to be for dinner at sunset with views to the Presidential Range.

Also from Bethlehem, you can take a drive to Dixville Notch, NH and/or the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont (highly recommend).

With 12 days, if it were me, I'd start in Bethlehem, then head for Stowe, VT, then the Berkshires.

You may also wish to consider a stay at the Chesterfield Inn (we LOVE that place) in West Chesterfield. From there, drive to Peterborough, Hancock to the east, and west on Route 9 all the way to Bennington, VT.

Only an hour north of West Chesterfield is the Saint-Gaudens National Historic sight http://www.sgnhs.org/saga.html

The longest covered bridge is in nearby Windsor.

Now is not too soon to book accomodations for the best selection and prices.

A wonderful resource is "Best Loved Drives New England".

Also, "Vermont, An Explorer's Guide" (and New Hampshire, and Massashussetts). These guides are chock full of incredible information, beautifully organized, great for having along with you.

If you're a AAA member, order the maps and follow any of the ....... routes.

Keep in mind that the very best way to enjoy the foliage is by getting in your car every day and driving all over.

We found Jackson NH a great place to visit the white mountains. Close to the Kancamagus highway and Mount Washington.In Massachussets do the Mohawk trail to Williamstown and visit the wonderful Clark museum.Bennington Vermont is close by too. Paul

Ira,

Why is it you are always a step ahead of me on the trip planning? I think the fall foliage is going to be my next trip too! Works out great for me, you get to be the pioneer, then you write great trip reports for us.

I'm saving this one for future ref. this western lady knows next to nothing about the east.

Thanks everyone!

Hi Leslie,

>There's a very nice bed and breakfast in Bethlehem,...<

Mind sharing the name?

Thanks all for your advice.
We shall tweak the plan.

((I))

Ira, going down the Hudson to MA is out of the way. Are you sure you don't mean the Connecticut River? Don't miss Woodstock, VT.

Ira, you might also want to read my trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...0&start=50

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the link.

>...going down the Hudson to MA is out of the way.<

Agreed, but we want to see the Hudson Valley (we think). Is the part from Albany to Lake Champlain scenic enough to be worth the detour?

((I))

Thanks for your suggestions.

Now considering:

Day 1 Oct 1
Fly into Burlington (arr BTV about 3:30)
Drive to Vergennes (or somewhere nearby)
Days 2-4 in VT
Day 5 drive to Bethlehem, NH (or somewhere nearby)
Days 6 and 7 in NH
Day 8 drive to Williamstown, MA (or somewhere nearby)
Days 9-11 in MA
Day 12 Drive back to VT via the Hudson River (about 5 hr)

All suggestions and comments are welcome.

Should I increase NH by a day and lessen MA by a day?

Recommendations for other towns to stay.

Recommendations for hotels, motels and B&Bs. Budget is about $110 - 130/nite.

Restaurant recs?

((I))

Hi Ira,

I'm with DJBooks on the Red Lion. We stayed there a weekend last spring. It was nice, but the rooms were a little faded. And I'm almost positive it won't fit your $100-$130 budget. You may find that a little tight for b&b's at the peak of leaf peeping season out here.

In any case, you might check out the Rookwood Inn in Lenox. I think the prices are reasonable, and I know someone who's stayed there several times and really likes it.

Either Lenox or Stockbridge will make a good base for the Berkshires.

As far as whether to adjust the NH vs MA part of the trip, I think NH might be a little more scenic and offer more in the way of hiking. so it might be a good idea.

I hope you get better foliage next fall than we had this year!

Thanks for the suggestions, CC.

Red Lion Inn is $200 and up.
No longer in our price range.

((I))

We enjoyed staying at the historic Merrell Inn in Stockbridge a few years ago. We were going to stay there again this fall but had to cancel our trip due to illness. I believe their doubles are about $150. Hope we can make it next fall. We love the foliage. www.merrell-inn.com

Thanks for all of your help:

TRM
The Kancamagus Highway is on our list

Holly
We will stay one night at The Sagamore

Hi TKT
Northampton is on our list

Hi djk
We will bee staying at the Pondside.
I have your drives listed.

Thank you for the suggestions, Tov

Thanks for the very useful trip report, Michael.

Questions:

Any comments on the Jardin restaurant at the 1896 House?

Current plan:
Day 1 Oct 1
Fly into Burlington (arr BTV about 3:30)
Drive to Vergennes (or somewhere nearby)
Days 2-3 in VT
Day 4 drive to Bethlehem, NH
*** Accomodation suggestions? ***
Days 5-7 in NH
Day 8 drive to Williamstown, MA
Days 9-10 in MA
Day 11 To The Sagamore
Day 12 To BTV, fly home.

In order to afford the Sagamore, I have to drop a day from either VT or NH. Should I do 2 VT and 3NH or vv?

Thanks,

Ira

Ira, you're gonna love it! Have dinner at the Algonquin, right on the lake there in Bolton.

Le Jardin has been around forever and was a great "get your parents to take you there for a good meal" place when I was a student at Williams (many, many years ago). Other recommendations for Williamstown would be the Dining Room at The Orchards, the Thai place on Spring Street (name escapes me, but there is only one) and for sandwiches to take on the road, Poppa Charlies, also on Spring St.

Ira, in this instance I would trust the map that indicates scenic routes. Mine says that 22 is scenic, but not US4 which goes along the Hudson. I believe that the "classic" Hudson Valley is actually between Poughkeepsie and Albany.

Thanks, Michael

Very good.

((I))

Ira, if you arrive in BTV around 3 pm drive to Stowe (about half hour) and stay two nights there, then drive on route 302 to Jackson, NH and do all touring from there. I agree, it is an ideal place for seeing foliage of NH. It is a short drive from Stowe to Bethlehem. May I ask why Bethlehem? Jackson, is more convenient for touring. If you drive on route 302 do stop in Littleton, NH ice cream place. It is just before Bethlehem.
From Jackson, continue south.
Finaly, instead of Sagamore I suggest taking a drive to the Airondacks and staying in Lake Placid area, then taking a ferry across Champlain Lake to Burlington. The views from both ferries between Port Kent, NY and Burlington, VT and Charlotte,VT and Essex, NY are exceptional in October.

Ira,

Rt 22 and the Taconic Parkway are the two most scenic routes in NY east of the Hudson River. The hilly topography is gorgeous in any season.

The roads and views nearer to the Hudson River just do not compare. But if you do venture to the small city of Hudson, go to Olana, the home of Frederic Church. The view of the river is beautiful from there.

Hi alfi,

Thanks. We shall be taking take Rt 22.

Hi Mama,

>May I ask why Bethlehem?

There is room at the inn?

>...Jackson, is more convenient

Is that the Jackson just S of Jackson Falls, NH on Rt 16?

Any recommendations on places to stay?


Hi TRM,

>...take the Kancamagus Highway that runs from North Woodstock to Conway.<

Is that Rt 112?

I do appreciate all the help.

((I))

Hi folks:

With your help, we have our accomodations reserved.

It wasn't easy. Even though it is 10 months away, we had to rearrange our dates twice.

New itinerary:

Day 1 Oct 2
Fly ATL/BTV arr 15:00. Pick up car and drive to Middlebury, VT.
Days 2 & 3 at Middlebury Inn
Day 4 Drive to Jackson,NH
Days 5-7 Staying at Jackson House B&B
Day 8 Drive to Williamstown, MA
Days 9&10 Staying at 1896 House
Day 11 To Bolton Landing via Rt 22
Stay at The Sagamore
Day 12 Friday, 10/13
Drive to BTV Fly home

I'll be back with questions re: driving routes.

Thanks for the help.

((I))

great itinerary. Middlebury is a good place to stay. I don't know about the inn but if you are interested I can suggest a scenic back route from there to Jackson. I know you already made reservations and this is my oipinion but I wouldn't go all the way to Balton landing to stay at the Sagamore for one night. I think I would rather stop near Burlington for that one last night. What time is your flight back home from BTV?

Hi Mama
>...great itinerary.

Thanks, good to know.

>...if you are interested I can suggest a scenic back route from [Middlebury]to Jackson.<

Please do. The only one I have, at the moment, is from Michelin.

>...I wouldn't go all the way to Balton landing to stay at the Sagamore for one night. I think I would rather stop near Burlington for that one last night.

I think that it is only about 2:30 hr to the Sagamore. It is then only 2 hr to BTV.

I just thought that I would give my LW a treat, but we are open to suggestions.

>What time is your flight back home from BTV?<

About 1600.

((I))

If you go to Vergennes, make a trip to the Shelburne Museum (www.shelburnemuseum.org). You won't regret it. It's on Rt. 7 outside of Vergennes.

The town of Vergennes is a lovely, small town. Rt. 7 runs through it, and can be a busy route (I imagine it can be during leaf-peeping season).

Have fun!

Thanks for the tip, BG

((I))

ttt

Hi all,

Looking for advice re which blue hiway route to take from Jackson, NH to Williamstown, MA.

www.viamichelin.com gives me two ways.

The first (6 hr) crosses NH and Vermont on route 11, going through Sunapee, NH and Chester, Vt before connecting with US 7 and going south to Williamston.

The other follows (6:45 hr) route 9, heading down to toward Concord and going through Keene, NH and Wilmington, VT before connecting to US 7.

Any suggestions on whether the longer route is more scenic, more interesting, worth the extra time?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

((I))

From Chester I would somehow connect with VT 100 and take it all the way down to North Adams.

Middlebury VT is a great place. We liked the Dog Team Tavern a little north of town. I think it's only open for dinner. The drive south from Burlington should be beautiful. Vermont has more open farmland than NH does. I'm not quite sure about how you are getting over to Rt 11 or 9 from Jackson. I would take the scenic route down thru Tamworth and Center Sandwich, then thru Meredith NH to get a good view of Lake Winnipesaukee. Probably the fastest route would be to connect with Rt 93 (expect a lot of traffic in downtown Meredith unless it's a weekday) and then connect with Rt 9 in Concord. This sort of depends on your timing. There's some nice places to eat in Concord and you could enjoy the quieter Rt 9 but there won't be many places to stop to eat until you get to Keene. Keene is a great college town. Rt 11 will take you thru New London, a very pretty small college town but I don't care for the drive between Belmont and New London. Although Rt 93 is a major interstate, it's a nice drive with very few billboards although my most favorite part is the northern section. South of Concord is more commercial. However, if you didn't get to the Queechee, Woodstock VT area when you traveled VT, I would head there from Jackson to have lunch at Simon Pearce in Quechee VT. It's right over the NH line and worth the detour.
If you want a winding route, I would take Rt 9 but head to Peterborough NH and then continue on Rt 101 to Keene, connecting with Rt 9. The southwest corner of NH is quiet and pretty.
Hope you have a great trip and better weather than October 2005!

My recommendation would be to head west on Route 302 (through the magnificent Crawford Notch, and through Littleton, a charming main street town...) to Route 5 in Vermont which runs into I-91 (though an interstate - fabulous scenery all along the way). In Brattleboro, VT, you could head west on Route 9 to Route 7 South. This takes you past Hogback Mountain with an absolutely magnificent overlook in Marlboro. Also along the way are fabulous stops/shops for Vermont Cheddar (incredible at the countrys store in Wilmington), apples, cider, crafts, etc. This route would take about 4-1/2 hours total with no stops. Or you could continue south in Brattleboro on I-91 to Route 2 and go west. Route 2 is the Mohawk Trail (there's a website with sights along the way) - a sensational drive in the fall. This route would take you about five hours total. Or, from Route 9 you could go south on Route 112 or Route 8 to the Mohawk Trail and still drive plenty of that, including the famous (and not to be missed) Hairpin Curve.

I recommend I-91 because about 120 miles of the route will be highway, scenic but most efficient given the short daylight hours.

Thank you all very much.

((I))

Ira: If you do decide to take I-91, highly recommend a stop by the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site (http://www.sgnhs.org/plan.html) and a look at the nearby covered bridge, the longest in the country (http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/bridges/p39.html). To get there, you'd get off I-91 at Exit 10 (I-89) then take Exit 20 (9A South), then take a left on Saint Gaudens Road. This is quicker than the nearest I-91 exit (there are only so many bridges over the river).

Thank you, dj.

That's a great idea.

((I))