Isn't June the height of "Black Fly Season" in Maine? Bring a hat and plenty of bug repellent, they're nasty!<BR><BR>http://www.mainenature.org/blackfly/bfcomposite01.htm

Thanks for all of the advice. We are going to be starting our trip in the beginning of July. I know that it is the height of tourist season, but we are teachers and have to wait until school is out! Does anyone have any advice about the amount of time that should be spent in each location? I was thinking about 2 days so that we can get a good general overview - a lot of driving though.

You can follow the major route from Bangor over to North Conway. It's not a very picturesque route but it's just a couple of hours. I think part of the fun of traveling is finding out more about the places you visit. I like gardens so I tend to like places with gardens. Bangor has a very interesting Museum of Transportation but my FIL was with us when we visited and became our 'tour guide' because he had used many of the old vehicles. Look for events and activities that are interesting for you. The very best narrated boat ride we ever took was out of Bath, ME. It was a tour of lighthouses with the Maritime Museum. We were told to bring a picnic lunch and had time to relax on a little island. If I went to Bar Harbor again I would visit the top of Cadillac Mtn at sunrise and then find a homey place for breakfast. Incredible views. Our son biked to the top. If you like to bike, the old carriage roads are great. <BR>The time from Lake Winnipesaukee to Keene might be about 2 hours. Probably the fastest way would be to take Rt 93 down to Concord and then 202/9 to Keene. But you might want to visit Canterbury Shaker Village just north of Concord but if you like to bake then I would advise going from Lake W over to Hanover, home to Dartmouth College, and over to Norwich VT to the King Arthur Flour Company Store. Then you could just go down Rt 91 or the slower Rt 12. But if you're in Maine or NH in July there's probably a fun show to see at one of the summer theaters. But if you like hiking then it would be fun to spend a day in the White Mtns and take the hike to Arethusa Falls. If you drive too fast, you can miss some good things. One of the best 4-H working steer programs is in Merrimack County, NH. During the summer it wouldn't be unusual to see a young teen training a pair of oxen walking down the road. The kids are frequently in parades. Places like Canterbury Shaker Village and the farm museums in Milton NH and N Sutton NH have days when people demonstrate working and pulling with their oxen or with draft horses. There are also very active spinners and dyers guilds so it's not unusual to see sheep to shawl events. <BR>

Having lived in New England for a few years, I'm sorry I didn't discover Vermont while I was there. I'm now officially in love with the state since I've travelled there several times from my current NJ home. For you and your husband, I recommend Stowe, a classic picture of a New England village. There are plenty of lodging options for you but I'll say this - try the Dutch Pancake House on Mountain Rd (Rt108). 89 different types of pancakes! You can't go wrong.

Donna and njHooligan-<BR>Thanks for the ideas. Thanks Donna for giving me some drive times. It is hard for me to tell on the maps how long it would take to get from place to place. I don't want to drive more than 4-6 hours without stopping somewhere overnight (husband has a bad back). <BR><BR>I have always wanted to go to Vermont, but I don't know if we have enough time to add it to this trip.