orangetravelcat1

Looking for suggestions for last week of September. Will be flying in/out of BOS with a friend who has never been back East. Would like to fit in a quaint town in VT or NH, and end up someplace near BOS where we can get lobster. Thanks in advance.

travelgourmet

It seems like you are just flying into BOS and don't want to spend too much time there, correct? I grew up in Vermont and don't think much of it as a result, but Woodstock is nice, if a little too well preserved and affluent. Not too far from Boston.

For lobster near Boston (assuming you have a car), we like Woodman's. Very popular with out-of-town guests.

http://www.woodmans.com/

If you are interested in lobster beyond cracking it yourself, I really like the lobster BLT at B&G. The lobster roll at B&G is also good. Jasper White's Summer Shack is also pretty decent for a city place. And, I know I will take heat, but I think The Barking Crab is decent for a lobster dinner.

orangetravelcat1

Correct, travelgourment. We don't want to spend time in Boston.

Ackislander

This will be the beginning of fall color.

If you go north in Vermont, you will see it.

You will also need reservations since it is a busy, busy time.

Vermont Highway 100 bisects much of the state north and is scenic all the way.

Smugglers Notch, between Stowe and Burlington is a good location. Elevation equals early color.

Townsend (SE) and Craftsbury Common (NE) are both quaint but pretty much everywhere except Manchester is pleasant enough.

orangetravelcat1

Thanks for the suggestions. Time to pull out a map and start making plans.

travelgourmet

Craftsbury Common

I remember thumping Craftsbury in the state basketball tournament one year.

pretty much everywhere except Manchester is pleasant enough.

I'd also avoid Rutland and Barre. Both are kind of depressing actually.

Ackislander

Didn't want to dump on Rutland because someone in another post is going there for a wedding, but I agree. Haven't been to Barre, but I know it is economically depressed.

orangetravelcat1

Any suggestions for NH?

dfrostnh

NH would help solve your lobster problem. We like Petey's in Rye on Rt 1. It's an old-fashioned kind of family restaurant, large menu. You can get both fried foods and steamed lobster. Large servings. This is pretty close to Portsmouth which might qualify as a quaint small city. We like the boat trips from Portsmouth. The harbor history is interesting. The inland rivers is fascinating. If there's color, you'll see it but last week in Sept is early for color on the coast.

The biggest problem is quaint town and lodging since some quaint towns are too small for a variety of restaurants and lodging choices.

It's possible to do a road trip north on I93 and end up in NH's White Mountains. From the east side (Conway) you can head over to Portland Maine in about an hour or continue south in NH and then over to the coast. Rt 4 from Concord is my preferred route since it takes you over the Great Bay bridges (before connecting with I95 and lots of traffic).

Meredith NH is on Lake Winnipesaukee and convenient to I93. You might look there for quaint. IF you stay there, my vote for quaint small town is Center Sandwich but it's very small. Lots of beautiful roads in that area.

I like Warner NH which has a tiny downtown which includes an independent bookstore. Up the road is the Kearsarge Indian Museum. There's also a nearby orchard, Gould Hill, which offers an incredible variety of heirloom apples and a nice view. Further up I89 is New London, a college town. Very pretty and a bit upscale (popular with retirees).

You'll probably see some color in the mountains.

It really depends on what you want to see. Canterbury Shaker Village? Keepsake Quilting? League of NH Crafts? wineries, cheese farms, etc.

clarkgriswold

www.wolfeboroinn.com
www.bayside-inn.com

dfrostnh

hey, Wolfeboro is a better suggestion than Meredith! Also puts you closer to seacoast

travelgourmet

It really depends on what you want to see... wineries

Good God, no. Nothing is more troubling than this newfound belief that you can grow grapes anywhere. New England wine is uniformly terrible.

MainerGirl

VT - Stowe or Burlington - tourist friendly, covered bridges, beautiful nature.

NH - Portsmouth and North Conway - Shopping, dinning, and points of interest (Portsmouth - water and history. N. Conway - nature and hiking)
Alton Bay - Lake Winnepesauke small town cute
Jackson - small town in the White Mountains with covered bridges and nature.

New England is Beautiful!

dfrostnh

This NH winery website talks about using different grapes to make different wines. Flag Hill Winery also makes General John Stark Vodka from NH apples (it's not apple flavored). Flag Hill was built on a former family dairy farm to give new purpose to the property and has helped other NH farmers and businesses prosper.

Are the wines terrible? Maybe you should decide for yourself.

jubilada

Must you fly into Boston?

orangetravelcat1

Thanks everyone for your responses. Yes, we have to fly into BOS as we already have tickets. I am going to look up all the places mentioned.

orangetravelcat1

What do you think of Concord, NH as a "base"? Could spend a day driving to/from the White Mountains.

travelgourmet

Concord is fine, but it is a small city, not a quaint town. Vermont will, generally, be more charming and twee than New Hampshire.

dfrostnh

One of the advantages of choosing a small city instead of a twee town is there might be something to do in the evening even if it's only to walk Main Street and window shop (tends to close early except Friday nights). Most lodging is chain hotels/motels except for Centennial Inn on Pleasant St.
Possible evening activities:
independent bookstore, Gibson's has books clubs and author nights. Recently moved into great new space with attached coffee shop
Capital Center for the Arts - check schedule
Red River Theater indepdendent movies and special screenings
different restaurants have live music
There's a bead shop where you can make your own jewelry
NH History Museum right off Main Street. We don't go very much. I've seen some outstanding exhibits and some not so interesting.
Local Newspaper is Concord Monitor. Free Hippo Press weekly lists events in Concord, Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth, etc. Great way to find out what's going on. Regular interviews with local chefs. Interesting articles about what's going on.

There's a better variety of restaurants in Manchester but that's only 15 minutes down the road. Depends on what you are looking for. Do NOT get lobster at the Weathervane chain.

I think the Highland Games will be at Loon in the White Mountains the third weekend in Sept in which case you're fine.

You can also drive up the Wilmot side of Mt Kearsarge (near New London NH) to the state park (fee) which has some nice views. You can continue on foot to the top. It can be very windy and also very uncrowded but if you're looking for early color you do need to head north on I93 to the White Mountains.

Vermont has been spared much of the commercial sprawl that has ruined most of southern NH. You can drive for miles without seeing a fast food place.

rizzo0904

I'm the one going to Rutland...you can dump on it I'm aware it's nothing special.

dfrost gives good advice. Petey's in Rye is a solid choice.

I think Concord would be a nice base. It's an easy drive to the mountains. You could also head west on 89 to visit Quechee VT...walk to the gorge, visit Simon Pearce, check out the Cabot Cheese store. You can also easily get to the coast...spend a day in Portsmouth. Tour Strawberry Bank. And just to the south is Manchester with the Currier Museum.

I always like to mention Pickity Place in Mason for a very nice luncheon. Not sure of your dynamic...it's girly.