VT/NH Anniv Trip in Oct
 

We're celebrating 25 years in early October and are planning a short trip to New Hampshire (Southwest into Manchester) and Vermont. I'm looking for some romantic accomodations. Prefer something with a nice hot tub for relaxing outside in the evenings. Budget is not an issue.

Also interested in scenic drives, bridges, leaves, etc. Not interested in shopping, unless it is for wine or dinner!

Thanks in advance.
-Jack & Lesa

Just to clarify: We're not limited to Manchester area. We're willing to drive up to 4 hours if needed. We actually prefer a rural setting over anything "in town."

As for scenic drives, as long as you're in an area that isn't too populated, it's actually kind of hard to find a 2-lane road that isn't scenic. Both states have a lot to offer in terms of scenic drives. I like the Connecticut River Valley (border between NH & VT) north of I-89, which is a couple of hours from Manchester). Route 10 in NH through Hanover, Lyme, Orford and on north is a nice ride, as is route 5 on the VT side of the river. Also in VT, the ride from Norwich to Strafford and on to Tunbridge is nice. On the way to Strafford there are covered bridges in Union Village (between Norwich and Thetford Hill) and in Thetford Center (on the way back to VT-132). Once in Tunbridge, heading north on VT-110 to Chelsea most of the side dirt roads still have old covered bridges over the river.

Can't recommend accomodations (we have 2 little kids so what you're looking for hasn't been in our cards for a while), but anything you do find in that area should be relatively out of the way. I often check the satellite picture on Google (or Mapquest or MSN) if I'm going someplace new to see how rural the area around the place I'm staying really is.

Get reservations ASAP for early October. Sorry, since I live in the area hardly ever stay at a hotel close to home. We once stayed at the Grand Mountain View in Whitefield NH that offers a hot tub in a tower room. It's one of the grand hotels that has been refurbished. I think it's a little too far north since it's above the notch and if you don't like the restaurant there's not a lot of options in the area. I've seen recommendations for the Wentworth by the Sea in Portsmouth NH which is terrific for a seacoast location (about an hour from MHT) plus you can take a foliage cruise. For the seacoast location it's not far to Flag Hill Winery in Lee NH. They also make vodka.
I agree with usroadman that you won't have any trouble finding scenic areas. Once you leave the airport even the interstate is scenic. If you head to Vermont via Rt 89 there's a curve not far out of Concord that gives the first view of a mountain. If you are heading up Rt 93 it just keeps getting better and better as you get closer to the mountains.
Some people might recommend Woodstock VT which I would agree would make a great base for exploring both VT and NH. It's right near the border of NH. If you stop at a bookstore and buy an atlas and gazetteer for VT and NH (published by DeLorme) it shows the location of all the covered bridges (and waterfalls). It's oversize with detailed maps of every road. Once you are checked into your hotel try to stay off the highway if it's during commuting hours, Friday afternoon or Sunday afternoon. The traffic backs up esp bad at the Hookset NH toll booth on Rt 93 because Rt 89 from VT feeds into Rt 93 just north of the toll booth.
Peak color in the mountains might be as early as the last weekend in Sept. We've had a lot of cold nights even though today's temps will be in the upper 70s or low 80s.
Congratulations on 25 years!

Thanks. Really glad to hear we are not too early or late for the foliage. Now if I can just find a place to stay!

Have you looked at the Equinox Hotel/spa in Manchester Vermont. It is gorgeous.