Hi guys: I am going by myself for a few days and concidering these three places in the northeast since they have airports and i don't drive. Can anyone tell me which is the most charming?

Portland and Burlington...haven't been to Providence. Am biased, though since I lived in Maine and most recently Vermont. If you love the ocean, Maine is the way to go! Burlington is on Lake Champlain and is also beautiful...if you want the mountain experience, go there. When are you planning on going?

Hi: i am going soon, this week or next. I think Burlington will be my choice it's just i don't drive and i can not find a charming place in the city to stay. Do you know any?

Hmmmm that is a tough one. I am sure that there must be bed & breakfasts in Burlington (in town) that would have tons of charm. Perhaps try the Burlington chamber of commerce website for ideas.

There are lovely inns in Portland as well as a couple of nice hotels in the downtown area so you don't need to have a car there at all.

Ona, just one suggestion--you don't need to post 3 or 4 separate messages on basically the same topic. You seem to have answers on all of them. It is easier to work this board when you ask the question once. If you need to change information, add details, or ask more questions, you can do it by replying to your own message like you did here.
Enjoy your trip, wherevenr you decide to go!

Burlington is a small city with a large-town feel. Portland is a larger city, but doesn't feel impersonal. I drive all the time in Burlington, and find it easy to navigate, while Portland is a maze {just my opinion!} Burlington is a university town on a huge lake with a sectioned off market area, and a nice waterfront park for strolling. Portland is on the ocean and has much to do with museums, markets, parks, etc. I think that either destination is well worth visiting. I'm not all that familiar with Providence - I've been there several times, but just to visit relatives; offhand, on the charm-meter, I prefer Burlington, then Portland, then Providence, but that's just me.

Definitely Burlington. Great small town that is easily traveled on foot.

I have been to all three places. Burlington and Portland are probably more interesting than Providence, but Providence is very close (40 min or so) to Newport, wich is a great island with plenty to see (shopping, mansions, strolling), great restuarants and great beaches, especially nice for a more relaxing couple of days. Newport definitely beats Burlington anf Portland when it comes to charm, although it is quite toursity in summer.

I live in Burlington and I've heard good things about the Willard Street Inn in Burlington. It's within walking distance to downtown Burlington and the lake. Their website address is www.willardstreetinn.com

Burlington is the whitest city in the lilly white state of Vermont. If ever a melting pot needed to boil it's Vermont and Burlington. Only 0.5% African-Americans in Vermont while the national average is 12%. Hardly any Hispanics or native Americans. Spend your money somewhere else...in an area that better represents the normal distribution of people in this country.

Let me get this right Todd, the poster should boycot Vermont becausee of the low number of minorities?

Even Montana has a better distribution than Vermont. We only have 0.3% African-Americans but at least we have 6.2% native American. Vermont only has 0.4% native American.

I agree, until states like Vermont address this problem spend your money somewhere else.

Todd {and Sam}, I'm curious. are you a minority?
I live in Vt., and have seen little intolerence of minorities. How exactly do you propose that the state diversify?
In what way is it not "addressing this problem"?
Ona, Vt., is a beautiful state - don't let those with an agenda ruin it for you.

Curious

Go back and read what was said. Not a word about intolerance toward minorities, only the fact that your state has so few minorities. I don't think it's their ( Sam and/or Todd ) position or role to lead your state toward diversification. I think that's the role of civic and governmental leaders and you guys have been a state since 1791, you need to get moving.

Let me get this staight - you acknowledge that Vt. isn't intolerant of minorities, but, because minorities in large numbers don't choose to live here, the state should be boycotted?

And legislators are remiss in rectifying this "problem"?

Curious

I'm curious now, the only person who keeps mentioning the word intolerance is you.

What is being said is that Vermont, a liberal, educated state, has a percentage of it's population that is well below the national averages when it comes to minorities. In the United States 1 in 8 Americans is African-American. In Vermont, 1 in 200 is African-American. That's a huge discrepancy. The question is why? Now you are in a better position to answer that than I am. What is it about Vermont that has not allowed African-Americans to move into a state that on the surface looks like an ideal place for minorities to live.

"Hasn't allowed"?

The peoples of color came through here often in the 1850's but wanted to go to Canada.Others have come but they don't like the weather.Gee wiz by golly where is the next train to FL.It is cold here and yes when a black person gets frostbite they turn white.

OK curious, the man asked you a legitimate question. What's your answer?

Who speaks for Vermont out there?

Just for the record the average Jan-Feb temperature for Detroit is 30 - 31 degrees. 83% of their population is African-American.

The average Jan-Feb temperature for Burlington, Vermont is 28 - 29 degrees.

I don't think the argument of cold weather holds much water.