We live in Marlboro which is a hop, skip and a few miles away.. If your interested in fab. seafood we have a place downtown called Coral Seafoods which beats Legal and Skipjacks. If your going up to Kittery.. there are many outlets...especially a Brookstones...Now, besides the Witches Museum in Salem I can't rave enough about the Peabody Essex Museum. this is not your grandmothers museum, but a bright and open museum which has re-invented itself..
http://www.pem.org/homepage/ The highlight beside the old asian and the items from the old sailing masters is the actual 200 year old chinese house..that was bought by one of their curators walking by..lol. Portsmouth is a great base for driving around with lovely shops and restaurants..and a gateway to Maine... Remember you have picked a lovely time to visit.. and yes.. the apple and pear trees will be laden with fruit... we hope and you can pick or buy.. Our favorite family orchard is the Derby Orchard right on route 117 in Stowe...where they make homemade cider, no preservatives.. We buy apple there for sauce and eating... and of course don't miss the flea market in Harvard on that Saturday, Monday if it rains..... it's a combination of antique dealers and just plain folk..and a heck of a lot of fun.. If you see a couple with a small little white and black dog.. and shlepping a shopping basket.... say hello.. that's us..we will be there

Hello again. I had what you might call a "Lost Weekend" and didn't get computer stuff done.

Wyatt,
What wonderful links and great information. I have lots of decisions to make - they all sound like good places for our Anniversary meal.

ParrotMom,
I need to get a Map! Marlborough sounds like a great place to add to our list. We will stay 3 nights at Kittery (right at the bridge to Portsmouth) and then 4 nights in Stow (Gleasondale) so we will be very close.

I'm sure we will be at the Flea Market at Harvard - and I'll look for your dog and your basket! You can tell us: my husband is a big tall bald man and I'm the short square one with the big smile!!


Questions:
1. What is the difference between Kittery and Kittery Point?
2. Do you have to go through a tunnel to leave Logan?
3. Tell me your experience of renting a car at Logan? Which agency? etc.

Thanks,

Carol

The airport is on a little pennensula east of Boston, land access to the north. You are ok if driving north -- use I93 and road 1A. I think there is a tunnel (Callhoun? Callahan?), but it is not the bad one.

The closed tunnel (`for months' says the governer), is on I-90 to the west.

Thanks capxxx,
That was exactly what I needed to know. And since we are indeed going north leaving Logan shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Of course we will be staying almost due west of Boston (Gleasondale) before we return to the airport. But I'm sure we can allow plenty of time and circle back to where we can enter the same way we left.

Any good maps online that would show a large view of this area?

I guess my only question now is about car rental. Who have you used? Who *wouldn't* you use?

Thanks,

Carol

Kittery/Rt 1 is a couple of miles of outlet malls. A lot of traffic some of the time, esp on weekends. Kittery Point (you'll have to follow signs) is a lovely drive along a tidal river. A lot of people recommend Chauncy's Creek for lobster but we think it's a little expensive. At the end of the point you should see a place to park and there's a short walk to a little beach that seems little known.

We have been in Canada and just got back night before last and lo and behold this trip to Boston/Portsmouth is just 2 weeks away!
We'll have time to unpack, wash and pack again.

By now I guess the tunnels have all reopened, correct? We have rented a car through Enterprise which gave us an excellent price, by the way. (We also rented a car in Calgary through Enterprise and were very pleased with their service)

I have some random questions:
Can you bring apples back from the Boston area on the plane? In a carry-on? I know that a box of checked apples would be terribly bruised.

Are there any fairs going on up there at this time?

Where would be the best place close to Portsmouth/Kittery for a nice walk (mile or two)?

And we're still hoping to find that perfect lobster roll in the area.

Any other tidbits - please pass on!

Carol

There is the Topsfield Fair until Oct 9
topsfieldfair.org - and you can check for other fairs and events under the www.mass.gov web site by clicking on the visitors section. I don't know about fairs in NH, but maybe if you use a search tool online like google and go to their visitor site they should list them also.

In the fall, there are many community and smaller quaint fairs in many towns and hopefully they are listed under visitors sections for areas of the state also.

A lovely time of year to visit - enjoy!