Trip with my mom
 

Hi!!!
I will be traveling to US with my mom. We will arrive in Boston from Washington in September 28th and I would like to be in NYC by October 4th.
I would like to save a day or two to get to know Boston (or parts of it), and spend the others 4 days or so to see some fall foliage, and experience the small town spirit from this area on our way to NYC (by car).
I have never been to this area so I'm trying to get as many information as I can around the internet but it has been difficult because everybody seem to have a different opinion. I have read a lot about NH 112 which apparently is great to see the foliage but has huge traffic problems.
Can we get the foliage one our way to NYC? Should I change my destination from Boston to somewhere else? I'm completely lost. All I have so far is tickets from Brazil (we are from Brazil) to Washington, arriving on early September 25th and leaving NYC on late October 7th.

The first week in October you should see some foliage, if you head out of Boston going north or west. If you are heading to NYC, you might try heading west toward Sturbridge, and stop there for some site seeing in the area, (www.sturbridgevillage.com)
and then head down through Connecticut to New York.

Generally the second week of October, is considered "peak" colours, but it varies each year. You might look around the internet for the website on fall foliage which will give you a pretty good idea of where the brighest colours will be for the times you are planning on being here.

The summer has been cold and WET, so not sure just when the colours are expected to be best.

In NYC you the week you are here, the colours will just have started to change a bit, so mostly the trees here will still be green. A FAVORITE place to see colours is the top of the Metropolitan Museum. The rooftop garden, has a cafe so you can get a glass of wine and enjoy the view.

Hope

Hi Anairam -

Boston is a really fun and easy city to explore. I recommend walking the Freedom Trail and having lunch or dinner at Rabia's on Salem St. in the North End. Portsmouth, NH is lovely with lots of great restaurants and shops.

2 replies already!!! You guys are the best!!!! I was thinking about going deeper Connecticut indeed but I also thought that it might be a little bit early for the foliage, that's why I thought about a day trip to the White Mountains or something like that. Is it too ambitious?

A day trip to the White Mountains might be nice, but you will be in a car for a LONG day. You might think about finding a nice place to stay overnight and then head back to Boston. You might try some of the nice places in the Laconia area, which is about a 3 hour drive from Boston. Meredith and The Weirs are also good suggestions. Try the Inn in Meredith which is a group of 3 or 4 B&B's with the largest being right ON Lake Winnepausauke. From there you could drive up to Old Man of the Mountain, Indian Head and The Flume (water falls). There are also alot of outlet shopping in the area.

I like the idea of Portsmouth NH combined with the Lake Winnipesaukee area. You have the options of a harbor or inland rivers cruise out of Portsmouth or Lake W boat or train ride. Head to Concord via Rt 4 then up Rt 93 to exit 23/Meredith. The outlet shopping is at exit 20 so if you'd rather not do highway you can go rt 3 north. This will take you past the Weirs Beach area. Not a quiet road. If you spent 2 nights that would give you full day to explore the mountains. The Flume is a great hike thru a gorge. The Old Man is gone, the famous rock face collapsed a few years ago but there's plenty else to see.
From there, head to Keene NH and get on Rt 91S in Brattleboro VT. This will go thru rural western MA and then you can go thru CT to NYC. Color in first week of Oct should be pretty good in the lakes region. How you get to Keene from there is up to you, either ramble or go direct on Rt 93S to Rt 89/202 or Rt 101 (goes thru Peterborough/pretty southern NH area).
The direct route will take maybe 7 hours driving fast. You could do an overnight on your way to NYC.

So, I have been doing my homework, taking your advice into consideration and trying to decide what to do.

First I realized that I might be a few days early for fall foliage, so maybe I should consider a norther route (I'll leave DC on sep 28th).

Then I listed all the places I read about here and in other posts and plotted on google maps, which gave me the impression that the nicest places are between I-91 and I-93.
Lake Winnipesaukee (I have to learn how to spell and pronounce that word ASAP!!!) area seems very interesting.

What do you think about this: Since I'm flying from DC, what if I go to some other place instead of Boston and work my way down to Boston and then NYC? Is there a place you would suggest for me to fly to, maybe in the Lincoln area?

That way I will avoid the round trip and save a few miles...

I have no ideal if that is possible or preferable...

So, assuming I'm arriving in the Lincoln area I could drive by NH-112. I have read a lot about this drive and it seem really nice but I'm starting to think that I might get the same kind of view in many other places.
Then I would go down through Laconia, Concord and Manchester.
At this point I think I should choose between Portsmouth or Keene (suggestions?) and finally Boston.

Then, on my way to NYC I would go through Hartford, New Haven and maybe Southampton.
What do you think? Is it too much for Full 6 days?

pronounce the lake as Win a pis saw key

you could fly into Manchester NH and you will be closer to the lake and mountains. Car rentals will be cheaper there than at the Boston airport but you will still face one way/drop off charges.

I would choose Portsmouth over Keene but I've never been to Keene and live very close to Portsmouth so I am biased. Portsmouth is really a small town that is very nice to walk around. I love the shops. If you are contemplating staying over night I highly recommed Wentworth by the Sea (a Marriott hotel).

You could easily drive down to Boston from Portsmouth and stay for a few nights and then head south east to New London, CT (with a stop at either Foxwoods or Mohegan Suns if you like casinos). You can catch the ferry from New London to Orient Point on Long Island (longislandferry.com) and then drive to the Hamptons and onto Manhattan.

Thanks bennnie!! I had the Win a pis saw key thing all wrong!

Thank you for your tips also!!!
I will look up Manchester!
I plan to return the car in NYC so I will pay extra anyway.

I am biased to choose Portsmouth too. Not sure why, though.

As for the "going to NYC" part of the trip, my afternoon research suggests that I should go to Newport instead of Southampton. Maybe I could sleep in Southampton or something like that but spend the day in the Newport area. I still have to figure that out.

I'm starting to think that I should cut one day in NYC or Washington, DC... !!! I'm in love with New England!!!

I just recently did a trip through New Hampshire, Boston and then on to NYC. One thing I learned about Manchester Airport was that several of the car rental companies I like to use (Dollar, Enterprise) don't allow one way rental. Not sure which companies offer that. Because of using some airlines miles for the trip, we ended up flying into Boston. Boston car rental was definitely more expensive than Manchester.

That said we went up to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and loved it. We were pretty far north so you wouldn't have to go that far. It was an easy drive from Boston on I-93. We then returned to Boston and did our sightseeing there.

Now my next big question-Is there a reason you are driving to NYC? Were you planning stops in Connecticut? I drive everywhere and love to drive but saw no reason to drive in NYC. After New Hampshire we dropped our car off at the Boston Airport, used public transportation in Boston and then took the bus to NYC. You can also take the Amtrak. Our bus was $15 a person and we were there in less than 4 hours. Amtrak is more but a nice ride. This way you don't have to worry about paying a one way drop off fee which could be very high. You end up right in Manhattan with no worries about traffic or dropping a car off at one of the airports.

Since you are trying to do all this in 6 days (but remember some those 6 days will be travel time), I would recommend just focusing on New Hampshire and then Boston before moving on to NYC.

BTW-Loved the hike through Flume Gorge. We also took the Aerial Tramway up to the top of Cannon Mt in Franconia State Park. It was a little hazy but we could still see into Maine.

Late in the day on your final day in Boston, you could drive up through Manchester New Hampshire and into the lakes Region, at Alton Bay. This would be a nice 2.5 hour drive from Boston and a good spot to start your "small town" exploration. If you like to hike, you can climb Mt. Major and get a spectacular view. Two places to consider spending a night or two:
http://www.sandypointbeachresort.com/rates.html

www.bpmotel.com

Better to do Boston first since the foliage will probably be more colorful the closer you get to october.

Thank you for your reply paula1470!!

First of all, if you don't me asking, how far north did you go? Do you have any tips about which little town you liked the most and why?? I'm working really hard in figuring out my possible itinerary!!

Now for the questions you made. At first I was planning on stopping somewhere in CT, then I changed to Newport RI and now I'm thinking in CT again. I have been back and forth on this...

At this point I am reconsidering dfrostnh suggestions which I loved. I have read his replies in many topics and they have been really helpful.

As for the Boston to NY, the idea of arriving right in Manhattan is very appealing... I have though about it... I had no idea that the bus was so cheap!!!

But now I'm considering going north and from there straight to NY trough CT, not returning to Boston...

More research ahead!

Thank you divineMissM! I have to keep reminding myself that I have to do Boston firt!!!
I'm not much into hiking as any kind of bugs and insects REALLY REALLY freaks me out. I mean REALLY. I can't even stand an ant. I'm more a urban kind of girl...

I'll check Alton Bay (never heard of it) and the place you suggested for me to spend the night!
Thank you!!!

YOu might want to stop at Sturbridge Village for some site seeing. It's a favorite place of mine. One of the best restorations in the country, and well done with local docents who really know their stuff.

I also think the idea of the bus to NYC is a good idea that way you can return the car in Boston, see Boston and head to South Station for the bus. I'd choose the Mega over the Chinatown buses.

In NH, there are some good outlets for shopping (the holidays are just around the corner now) and a local "legend" are the Annalee Dolls made in Meredith. (check the website or go to ebay to see the designs). Coming from NE and spending lots of time in Meredith as a kid, I have SEVERAL Annalee Dolls as decorations for the Holidays. Be a cute something to bring home as a reminder of your trip.

thanks for the compliment! btw I'm female. Portsmouth is on the ocean and has beautiful Strawbery Banke historic area which compares with Old Sturbridge except a different time period and I think Sturbridge is larger with things like saw mills. From Strawbery Banke you can drive out rt 1B thru New Castle to see very old homes and beautiful scenery. This will take you past the historic Wentworth Hotel that was fabulously restored. A drive on Rt 1 in Rye will take you past private mansions overlooking the ocean. Portsmouth also has fresher seafood than Keene.
MHT is most northern airport for your route but it's only an hour north of Boston. Idea to take bus to NYC sounds like a great plan.
It's been ages since I've driven 112 even though it's practically in our backyard (DH is working in Lincoln today!). It's a very special drive thru the mountains. There are loads of great but different views. I think you'll be happy with whatever you choose. I can see one small, local mountain on my drive home each night and I'm always cheered to see it although sometimes it's more beautiful than at other times. It's still an hour north to the White Mountains so when we drive up Rt 93 they just get bigger and bigger. Lake W is in the middle of the Winnipesaukee Range so you will see mountains even on a lake cruise. Maybe visit Castle in the Clouds.
Of course, I think Lake W is prettiest when it's too early or late in the year for a lot of boat traffic.

Thanks dfrostnh and travelbuff!!!
I will have to check on the tips you gave me and I report later about what I have chosen. You all have been so helpful!!!
And you are so lucky to live in such a nice place!!!
I really think it is going to be a trip to remember! I have never traveled like this with my mom and I just want everything to be perfect!!! And thanks to your helpful tips I think it will be!!!

We were in the Littleton area which is about 30 minutes north of Lincoln. Thought Littleton was a cute town but they were doing some road construction right downtown that took away from the charm. I would hope it would be done soon. Also thought Bethlehem was cute. Really everything we saw in New Hampshire we loved. dfrost is right about the mountains getting bigger and bigger as you go north. The only way to see Flume Gorge is to hike into it. It's not a long hike and I don't remember seeing any bugs and this was during a hot summer day.

Even if you decide to do Boston first, you can still return there after New Hampshire to return the car and get the bus. Travelbuff-We took the Fung Wah bus because my daughter had used it before. After hearing some of the stories, I was a little worried but the bus ride was just fine. Don't know where Mega drops their passengers off but we just grabbed a cab when we got to Chinatown. At South Station I was amazed by how many buses were heading from Boston to NYC. Even on a Tuesday morning, all the buses looked full. Greyhound had a long line and our bus was full. You definitely want to buy your bus ticket ahead of time if you decide to do that.

Also if you took the aerial tramway up Canon Mt. I would imagine the view would be beautiful as you could see all the mountains covered with changing colors. I am sure dfrost could tell you if this is true.