Bowsprit

Clarifies????? It's the definitive answer to using buses on the Cape! Fabulous post and I've earmarked it! You are too, too much. And you've given great information.
Thank-you! Is it possible to bring a bike on the bus?

For those who want to try the bus, print out this great information.

Many of the 'attractions' are quite a distance from the bus drop off points, however. A 1 mile walk along some of these roads wouldn't be convenient for many. However, if you're hale and hearty, you might enjoy the experience. If not, there's an Avis or Enterprise car rental service in Orleans that will deliver your rental car right to your hotel room or vacation home door.

lynny2

Fascinating stuff Bachslunch and I think we might take up this public transport idea if we had more time or only wanted to explore the Cape. With less than 4 weeks to see as much of New England as possible, the flexibility of the car is unbeatable. As an aside, anyone thinking of going to Malta will find buses provide the very best way to travel and see the island.
At the end of our trip we need to find a hotel that is convenient for both the airport at Newark and for a day trip to Manhattan by public transport - any ideas? I have no idea if the area near Newark is still part of the suburbs or more countryish. If it's just built up I suppose we might be better off staying in Manhattan but if there are green places we would prefer that.

bachslunch

Was hoping the post above would be useful -- glad it was. But then again, that's one of the things this site should be about.

Re bikes: yes, if memory serves the CCRTA buses do have bike racks on their front ends, so you can bus it out to a particular spot and bike from there if you're so inclined. The Peter Pan/Bonanza and Plymouth and Brockton buses have luggage carrying space underneath, and I've seen people put bikes in those spaces.

Re being "walkable": for me, a half-mile or even mile walk isn't a big deal. This admittedly may be a challenge for some folks, and for them a car is probably more appropriate -- depends on the person. It's also true that the attractions in Bourne, Truro, and Chatham as well as the Marconi Station Site in Wellfleet do require half-mile to mile walks each way from bus stop areas, but those in Falmouth, Woods Hole, Barnstable, Hyannis, Harwich, Eastham, East and central Brewster, a few in Yarmouth, and most of Orleans and Provincetown and Wellfleet require a minimal amount of such walking. And as mentioned above, other attractions just can't be reached reasonably this way.

Bowsprit

Good to know about the bike racks, etc. Very helpful post.

Lynny2: Sorry I can't help you with a hotel in N.J. or N.Y. You might post on the New York forum too for information about hotels convenient to Newark and Manhattan.

ggreen

lynny2, for your Newark-proximity stay, there are some posters here who really enjoy staying at a hotel in I think Secaucus. While the area is largely ex-urban sprawl*, the proximity to the airport is good and prices may be less expensive. Sorry I don't know more specifics, but there have been fairly recent posts about this so a search here might bring up something...

FWIW, last night I was in the town of Rutherford, NJ. (Not to be confused with the adjacent East Rutherford, of Meadowlands fame.) I'd never been before but it looks cute, if not particularly polished, and the local people I met at an event were really nice. Driving into town, there was a stretch of large old homes beautifully lit up for the holidays... It looks like an NJ Transit train station is right in the center of town. I mention this because it also is not far from either Newark (1/2 hour drive in rush hour traffic) or midtown Manhattan and maybe a bit more of a "green place", if you find a hotel there...

* Newark, NJ is in the middle of a vast industrial landscape that is a legacy from the Industrial Age to present. The Port of Newark is one of the largest container ports in the country, and driving through nearby Elizabeth requires rolling up the windows against the chemical smell. But that's not to say there's not nice areas, even in a town like Elizabeth. And since we're so densely populated around here, it only takes a 15 or 20 minute drive to be in beautiful old suburbs with plenty of trees and parks. Unfortunately, these are primarily in the opposite direction from NYC!

Judy_Heyer

Well, if you don't see Lubec, Maine, you haven't seen the Real Down East and that is very important. Lubec is the eastern most town in the continental USA and is absolutely beautiful and pristine -- surrounded by water on three sides with endless water views including lighthouses, fishing boats, Campobello Island, seals, soaring eagles, seagulls and other birds that shall remain nameless (since I don't now what they are). Nevertheless, Lubec celebrating its bicentennial in 2011 and will be busier than ever during the summer months. There are good restaurants and quaint inns. The best of all is Water Street Tavern and Inn at 12 Water Street, Lubec, Maine 04652. Come join us - we are open all year except for one week at Christmas.

isabel

I agree that you need a car rental to see New England is any sort of efficient way. I also do not think the idea of dropping the car and training from Boston to New York is wise, there is a lot of Western New England you'd miss. The only places it's a pain to have a car are Boston, NYC, and the islands. Since you can't see everything anyway, I'd just do Cape Cod and skip the islands this trip, there is so much else to see and then you won't have to worry about car ferry,etc.

You mention one day in NY. Have you been before? Have no interest in it? But since you specifically say one day I assume you know what you want. But stay in Manhattan, Newark is not at all "green".

This is the itinerary I think gives you the "best" of New England, and the "best overview".

Fly into Boston, spend about 5 days. Perhaps do a day trip to Salem on the commuter train.

Rent a car, drive to the cape. If you are interested in history make a stop at Plimouth Plantation. Spend about 3 days.

Drive to Newport RI and spend a day (perhaps two nights).

Drive north (I-495) (around Boston) to I-95 to Portsmouth NH. Spend the night.

Continue north into Maine. Take the coastal route (not I95) and stop in York, Cape Neddick, Ogunquit (nice hike for about a mile along the water), and Kennebunkport. Then get back on the highway to Portland. Spend a couple of nights there, be sure to get out to see Portland Head Lighthouse.

Continue north - highlight of the next stretch are Boothbay Harbor Region, Camden and Rockland (Owl's Head). There are numerous peninsulas jutting out into the Atlantic. You could spend days exploring the region, or get a good taste of it in just one or two.

Go as far as Acadia, spend a couple of days.

Head west to the White Mountains of NH.

Head west to Vermont, through the Green Mountains to Burlington. Then south to the Green Mountain National Forest.

Then continue south through the Berkshires (Stockbridge), and then further south through the Litchfield Hills of Conn.

That puts you almost to New York. Once you hit southern Conn, anyplace you can find to drop the car you can probably take the train the rest of way with no problem.

How long you spend in any of these places depends on your interests, but this route gets you the highlights and a really nice overview of the best of New England without any backtracking.

Here are some photos to get you in the mood http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/new_england

lynny2

Thank you so much for your responses; I really appreciate the advice. I have just ordered a larger scale map of New England so that I can track some of the suggestions and finalise our plans.

We have been to NY and although I love the place, my husband is not so keen (too many shops!).

Thank you for the superb photos Isabel.

Bowsprit

lynny2: If you become a member of AAA (triple 'A'), they'll also put together and map a suggested route for your trip for the price of membership. There are other perks to be had with an AAA membership. You can check their website to see if this is right for your U.S. trip.

yellowbyrd

I really think that a car is the best way to see the outer Cape. But with that said, be aware that the Flex bus that bachslunch mentioned will venture up to a mile off the scheduled route....that's way they call it Flex. You can make a reservation (for an extra $1) for a pick up as well so even if you do have a car, you might want to investigate some bus options. You can see all of your non-car options at http://www.smartguide.org/capecod/land-links.html

As for distances and travel times on the Cape...it takes about 45minutes to drive from the bridge (Sagamore) to Eastham on Rt 6, where the National Seashore begins, and another 30 minutes to drive to Provincetown. Getting around on the other roads like 6A, 28, 132 etc, especially in the Hyannis area, will take additional time due to traffic and lights.