jkr

Husband, 13yr daughter & myself heading east end of July.

In section 2 of our trip we will be driving from Lake George, NY to Franconia Notch, NH in 1 day - on the road 8am-6pm. (Have to allow time to tear down NY tent camp & set up at Lafayette campground).
Want to get a nice though quick glimpse of Vermont in route for our daughter.
Like to see mts, covered bridge, waterfall, cheese factory, syrup shop???

Looking for route suggestions thru Vermont & must see/do things.
Thinking US 4 - I91- NH112

dfrostnh

First, the mountains in VT are the Green Mountains because they aren't as tall and rocky as NH's White Mountains.

You have some hard choices to make. The Vermont Country Store is a fun stop that has some free food samples. There are 2 but not on the best route.

I put Lake George, Bristol VT,Danville VT and Franconia into google maps. The route is different but not too long. You can stop in Middlebury if you need picnic lunch fixings. It's a sweet college town with a fun pedestrian bridge over the river. Head to Bristol. Outside of town as you head toward the Lincoln Gap to Rt 100, there's a popular swimming hole on the river. This is a premier spot. You'll need water shoes if you want to go swimming. When we were there you could walk across the river in the shallow section. Up river is a small waterfall with a deep pool. Kids were jumping off the ledges into the pool. Plenty of shade and places to picnic while watching the fun if you don't want to participate.

Next you are going thru Montpelier which I think is the smallest state capital. If you head toward Stowe, you can stop at Cold Hollow Cider to see the cider making exhibit, do a tour of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory. But then head to Danville VT for the Great Vermont Corn Maze. This far north, VT is very rural.

oops, just check the corn maze website and opening day isn't until July 30. If this works, you need at least 2-3 hours for the maze.

The bad thing is you approach NH's White mountains from the north and that isn't the prettiest approach.

If you decide to take this route, google for Vermont's cheese trail. You should be able to find something that is more farm and less commercial than the Cabot Factory but the Cabot place has a good display etc.

While in NH you could make a detour to the Sandwich Creamery for locally made cheese and ice cream. It's a little adventure finding the place. See their website.

Syrup shops are boring if it isn't a real sugar shack in March when the boiling is going on and you might get sugar on snow.

jkr

Stowe is up by Lake Champlain - Is a drive over by the lake a good idea or is our time spent better else where in the state?

If there would be a better route for NY - Vermont - New Hampshire - love to hear it. We are very flexible. Will leave Lake George, NY by 9am and do not need to arrive at NH campground by Lincoln until 6pm.

For New Hampshire - suggestions things to see? Currently we are hiking Ridge Trail one day. The next day have the morning before we will drive to Miane via Kamm hwy. But if weather is rainy, hiking out and need plan B which we do not have.

dfrostnh

Stowe and Lake Champlain are both in the northern part of the state but VT broadens out so they are a couple of hours apart by state hwys (not interstate).

The western side of VT in the Lake Champlain area has a lot of farmland. Much more than we have in NH. It's beautiful country but very different than the eastern side and NH.

If it rains? We have not been to the science center in Burlington. There's a science center in Norwich VT that we haven't been to in many years. Depends on your interests. Also haven't been to the Squam Lakes science center in Holderness NH in many years. Not sure if that would be a good rainy day activity. We took the pontoon boat ride.

It adds an hour to your drive to go via Concord NH to Franconia (see google maps) but for rainy day you could visit the planetarium, stop in Bead It shop to make your own bracelets, visit NH History Museum, see if Red River Theater has a matinee.

For rainy day on trip from Franconia to Maine, there are 3 summer theaters around Lake Winnipesaukee: Tamworth, Weirs Beach, and Meredith. Check into those for matinees.

Hope someone else has some ideas!