After spending a few days in NYC and Boston we are picking up a hire car and doing an 8 day tour - with all the accommodation now booked.
It's a very short time to cover a lot of ground. I am trying to identify the 'must sees' preferably with some wet and dry options. I am really hoping for decent weather for this part of the tour as there is lot of scenery that could be covered - won't mind spending 7 or 8 hours on the road if we are lucky with the weather.
We will probably major on scenery and sights, add in a small touch of culture and avoid spending too long shopping (but don't tell my wife and daughter).
Also worth noting that on the expenditure scale we are usually somewhere between low budget and cheapskate but will fork out if it's really worth it.
Apologies for opening several threads on this but I thought it best to try and be specific rather than cover the whole tour in one.
Thanks in advance
Rick

Should have mentioned that this is in the second half of April
Rick

Should also have mentioned that this is just one day of the tour. We are spending one night in Portsmouth and moving on to the next leg early the following morning.
Rick

Portsmouth: drive thru Newcastle and over into Rye. Great scenery and the huge old hotel is being renovated. Visit Strawbery Banke? Take a boat ride? Visit Odiorne Point and the marine science center? Fly kites? Go to Concord via Rt 4, lots of antique shops. Concord has a great downtown including the state house and the museum of NH History. Great shopping includes the League of NH Craftsmen, Caardvark, and independent retailers. Great bagels but for great pastry visit Bread and Chocolate. There's a tiny place that does mostly take out called In a Pinch for a soup and/or sandwich lunch. There's a few seats but it's usually mobbed. If the weather is good, just get take out and eat outdoors. There's a small park along the river behind the Everett Arena on Loudon Rd. In a Pinch is up near the high school and has incredible homemade soups. From there, you can continue out Rt 103/Pleasant St thru quaint towns and get on Rt 89 after you drive thru Warner. Expect to see kayakers enjoying spring whitewater. There are usually competitions in various places which make interesting viewing. If you or your wife enjoy baking, King Arthur Flour in Vermont is a must stop. They have very unusual baking ingredients. Spring is very beautiful in New England, almost as colorful as Fall but just more subtle. Have a great time!

If you are taking Rt. 89 by Warner, NH, make a stop at the Mt Kearsarge Indian Museum. Again, low-key, but well worth the pause in your travels!

Thank you for very much for the tips so far.
If it is dry I was wondering if it worth being a bit more ambtious. Looking at the scenic roads marked on a map I have I could take the 16 north, turn west on to the Kancamagus Pass to Woodsville, and then take the 302 to Barre and Montpelier. Looks easy on the map, what would it be like in real life?
This would be on a Thursday - is the traffic on the scenic roads likely to be lighter or heavier in April?.
Rick

Great choice Rick. Just watch out for the "FROST HEAVES" and logging trucks other than that you should have the road to yourself.

This is a scenic mountain pass that is closed in the winter, but I would imagine is open by April - even with the winter we just had! You will have to watch out for the frost heaves, and muddy shoulders.
The traffic will be lighter in April, and especially on a Thursday, you should not have a problem. But the only green you'll be seeing is the evergreens! Our leaves don't bud until May, unfortunately.

dreamer are you still a sleep? the kanc has been plowed through to Lincoln all winter even before the big boiler was torn down.it is a major route.Besides how do the route 16 skiers from Portland etc. get to LOON???

We don't get much in the way of frost heaves down here in the south west of England - had to look it up on Google.

Rain seems to be the forecast for New England for much of the next 10 days. Hope it clears up soon after that - well before that for those of you already out there!

Rick