traveling along the east coast on 95N
Sep 14th, 2010, 10:42 AM
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traveling along the east coast on 95N
I frequently travel to our vacation home in PEI, CA along 95N. It is always a mad dash to get there BUT this time I would like to enjoy more of the US along the way. Our trip is in November. We are very familiar with the Mass coast along Ipswich, Gloucester ,etc. area since that is our usual stop. We would love to hear of any new info from Mass. up to the Canadian border of Woodstock . We enjoy National Parks, historic sights, beautiful scenery. This trip will be a ladies trip and include women from the age of 50-72. I know I can google this and read tour books but value personal info from Fodorites
Sep 14th, 2010, 11:50 AM
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Where are you starting from? Have you stopped in CT along 95 at places like New Haven for the great museums at Yale or Mystic Seaport? Have you ventured off 95 over to Newport RI?
In NH do stop at Portsmouth and visit Strawberry Banke.
In Maine, don't miss Acadia NP or go down any of the peninsulas along the coast.
In NH do stop at Portsmouth and visit Strawberry Banke.
In Maine, don't miss Acadia NP or go down any of the peninsulas along the coast.
Sep 14th, 2010, 05:45 PM
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There is a book on this topic. I heard the authors being interviews on National Public Radio. It is, "Drive I-95: Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia, Third Edition," by Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner.
Enjoy, HTTY
Enjoy, HTTY
Sep 15th, 2010, 02:40 AM
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oh a book! Awesome-thank you. I will get this book and research suggested ideas. Thank you. We are staring from Outer Banks. Will travel a straight shot to NY and get on 84E towards Mass. and onto 95N.
Sep 15th, 2010, 02:56 AM
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Portsmouth NH and Strawbery Banke is a great recommendation. Check an events listing. They might have something special going on if it's a weekend. If weather is decent you could walk around the boutique shops. If you have time for a short detour Rt 1B thru Newcastle goes past lovely old homes and the historic Wentworth by the Sea hotel (completely renovated).
Sep 15th, 2010, 03:03 AM
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From the outer banks, have you ever driven up the coast, taken the bay bridge then up the delmarva with a stop at chincoteague then up to Lewes, DE to take the ferry to Cape May, NJ and up the garden state maybe a stop at Atlantic City and then join 95 just south of NY city? Much more fun than all 95.
Sep 15th, 2010, 03:55 AM
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Strongly second emalloy's suggestion.
The Delmarva is beautiful farmland with lots of large green fields (not unlike PEI?) until you hit Delaware and things slow down a bit. There are beautiful small towns on either side od the highway, and Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, with wild poinies.
Lewes, the southern terminus of the ferry is a kind of typical beach town that will have lots of lodging and eating choices. Cape May, the New Jersey terminus, is famous for Victorian architecture and also has a lot of choices, especially in the B&B and inn category.
The Garden State Parkway in southern New Jersey is not crowded, and you can make good time if you can resist the temptation to visit some of the shore towns that are reached from its interchanges. No trucks anywhere on the GSP, so it is much easier than the NJ Turnpike and 95.
Nyack, NY, just north of the Tappan Zee Bridge (the logical Hudson crossing for your destination) was recently named one of America's best small towns by Frommer's Budget Travel, and the three motels also get excellent ratings on TripAdvisor.
After you cross the Tappan Zee and the city of White Plains, watch for the signs for the Merritt Parkway, which will take you truck-free to Milford, CT, and you can continue directly on the Wilbur Cross Parkway to the outskirts of Hartford, Ct, again truck-free.
Hartford has the wonderful Atheneum Museum and the Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe houses or you can take the Charter Oak Bridge to I84, which leads to the Masspike (I90), and you obviously know your way from there!
If you must take I95, the book mentioned above is worth its weight in gold since it lists food, lodging, some attractions, and, blessedly, toilets.
If you take my route, the Garden State Parkway and Merritt Parkway have frequent gas/toilet stops. There are none on the Wilbur Cross Parkway, but soon after joining I-91 below Hartford, there is a very pleasant rest area on the northbound side, and there is a nice one on I-84 at the turnoff for Storrs.
The Delmarva is beautiful farmland with lots of large green fields (not unlike PEI?) until you hit Delaware and things slow down a bit. There are beautiful small towns on either side od the highway, and Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, with wild poinies.
Lewes, the southern terminus of the ferry is a kind of typical beach town that will have lots of lodging and eating choices. Cape May, the New Jersey terminus, is famous for Victorian architecture and also has a lot of choices, especially in the B&B and inn category.
The Garden State Parkway in southern New Jersey is not crowded, and you can make good time if you can resist the temptation to visit some of the shore towns that are reached from its interchanges. No trucks anywhere on the GSP, so it is much easier than the NJ Turnpike and 95.
Nyack, NY, just north of the Tappan Zee Bridge (the logical Hudson crossing for your destination) was recently named one of America's best small towns by Frommer's Budget Travel, and the three motels also get excellent ratings on TripAdvisor.
After you cross the Tappan Zee and the city of White Plains, watch for the signs for the Merritt Parkway, which will take you truck-free to Milford, CT, and you can continue directly on the Wilbur Cross Parkway to the outskirts of Hartford, Ct, again truck-free.
Hartford has the wonderful Atheneum Museum and the Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe houses or you can take the Charter Oak Bridge to I84, which leads to the Masspike (I90), and you obviously know your way from there!
If you must take I95, the book mentioned above is worth its weight in gold since it lists food, lodging, some attractions, and, blessedly, toilets.
If you take my route, the Garden State Parkway and Merritt Parkway have frequent gas/toilet stops. There are none on the Wilbur Cross Parkway, but soon after joining I-91 below Hartford, there is a very pleasant rest area on the northbound side, and there is a nice one on I-84 at the turnoff for Storrs.
Sep 15th, 2010, 05:19 AM
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WOW! Great ideas. I am especially interested in the Hartford houses and the Newcastle detour. My I95 book is on the way so that will be an awesome roadside companion. Need to look at a map for wilbur parkway-seems like a great possibility. I have lived on the Outer Banks for over 20 years moving from the Hudson Valley. I do take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and 13/1 up to jersey turnpike to 17(sometimes garden state--traffic decides) to 84. It is a route well traveled by my family and friends! It is the I95 after the Mass turnpike that we just rush through and this time with all your help we can enjoy the trip and sight see.
Sep 15th, 2010, 05:41 AM
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In CT the parkways change names from Merit to Wilber Cross, and they also are route 15 on most maps. If you come from NY on the Hutchinson river pky, it runs right into the merit which runs into wilber cross. They join I 91 in Meriden CT where there is a spur, I think it is 684/66 which if you were go towards the west joins i 84 west of Hartford. i 91 runs through Hartford and connects to i 84 also. If you listen to am radio 1080. they give traffic every 10 minutes during rush hours.
Really looked good too!
Sep 16th, 2010, 02:29 AM
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It's not completely closed. Here's the listing for November
November 6th-28th
Saturdays and Sundays only. *Also, Friday November 26th. Tours start at 10:00am and run on the hour with the last touring starting at 2pm.
Guided Museum Tours
Join one of Strawbery Banke's knowledgeable guides on a tour of the museum's historic homes. Tours are 90 minutes in length.
November 6th-28th
Saturdays and Sundays only. *Also, Friday November 26th. Tours start at 10:00am and run on the hour with the last touring starting at 2pm.
Guided Museum Tours
Join one of Strawbery Banke's knowledgeable guides on a tour of the museum's historic homes. Tours are 90 minutes in length.
Sep 16th, 2010, 07:31 AM
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Brunswick, Maine, is a wonderful college town just north of Freeport (LL Bean) and Portland. It has lodging from motels to fancy B&B's and inns and good restaurants as well.
If you did an overnight there, you should go out the Harpswell peninsula for a quintessential view of the Maine coast. If you watch the signs coming back from South Harpswell, you can turn for Bailey's Island, Orr's Island, and Cundy's Harbor. I don't know what will be open when you are there, but this is serious lobster country.
If you did an overnight there, you should go out the Harpswell peninsula for a quintessential view of the Maine coast. If you watch the signs coming back from South Harpswell, you can turn for Bailey's Island, Orr's Island, and Cundy's Harbor. I don't know what will be open when you are there, but this is serious lobster country.
Sep 16th, 2010, 08:41 AM
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My husband and I visited the Mark Twain House in West Hartford last weekend, and I highly recommend it. We spent about 3 hours taking both the Main House and the Servant's Quarters tours, watching the Ken Burns documentary and browsing some of the exhibits. The Stowe house is right there, too, and we will see that another time.
The weekend before, on our way back from Philly, we stopped at the Thomas Edison Natl Historic site in West Orange, off the Garden State. Also very interesting. There are exhibits of both his laboratories and his home (only saw the exterior of that due to time constraints)
The weekend before, on our way back from Philly, we stopped at the Thomas Edison Natl Historic site in West Orange, off the Garden State. Also very interesting. There are exhibits of both his laboratories and his home (only saw the exterior of that due to time constraints)
