schnookies

Ok, we're booked. We're already leaving on the 26th of sep to 6th of oct. I hope this is not too early for leafpeeping....
It's just that we can't do it any other way.
I have saved a lot of info from earlier posts that I will now look over. But if there's anyone that would like to help me with a good intinerary, I'd sure appreciate it. I haven't booked any places to stay at yet and understand I probably should! We're flying into Boston and the places we'd like to see are in no order whatsoever, Cape Cod, Maine, CT, and Vermont. My husband now also wants to drive up to Montreal, but I doubt that we'll have the time.
Where do you recommend us booking a hotel now and saving the other ones as we go along? We're hoping to save some money by mixing up some cheaper motels with maybe a nice place in Cape Cod. I read that it's a nightmare driving in Boston, should we just walk there? Oh, we probably need to book a rental car now. Any advice appreciated!

china_cat

I don't think you are going to be too early. the leaves are just starting to get a little red around the edges here in MA.

What is it you want to see in Connecticut? if your purpose is scenery and foliage, you should skip CT, and make sure to spend some time in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

You should positively book hotels for your weekend dates and for Boston. I'd probably book them all, but thats because I like to plan in advance.

you should not drive around Boston, you will not need to. you can drive into the city, park your car, and then walk or use taxis and public transit. Be aware that parking is like to cost between 25-40 bucks a night.

gail

I am trying to straighten out your questions so I can answer some.

1. No, you should not just walk to Boston from someplace - I suggest driving or flying. Seriously, since you will have a car already, when you book a Boston hotel park the car and leave it there for the duration of your Boston stay.

You can not see Boston, Maine, CT, Vermont, Cape Cod in 10 days - even if you do not go to Montreal.

Foliage timing - there should be nice foliage in northern areas (like Maine, VT, NH), beginning foliage in Boston area, and green leaves on Cape Cod and most of CT, except some of the highest elevations.

First, decide what you want to do ont this trip. Is your primary focus nature - hiking, foliage, beach. Do you want city museums, nightlife, bars.

I would decide on this first, and when you respond perhaps we can come up with an itinerary that meets your vacation wishes. I would also suggest booking hotels in advance, perhaps cancellable ones.

You have a start, but it sounds like only a marathon driving trip - try to decide what you want to do and the rest will follow.

If your husband really wants to go to Montreal (a really great city), you could start in Boston, loop thru NH/VT and then back to Boston - but obviously that leaves out CT, Cape, Maine.

thurstonbb

I am in Maine right now, very southern ME. It is pouring today so leaves will be lost as well as they were yesterday due to a storm. Before that many trees were already turning because of the tremendous heat and dryness!

celfan

I think you are going about a week early, especially considering Southern New England. You can spend time in Southern New England during the early part of your trip, and let the North gain color for the second half. Or you can head north first, and see some moderate color and then head south for more moderate color. Some people have
suggested going north first, but even
Northern Vermont and New Hampshire,don't have much on Sept 26, usually.

I do believe you can include Montreal
in your trip. I might eliminate Connecticut though.

Here's a thought.

Day 1 and 2 Cape Cod
Day 3 and 4 Boston
Day 5 York Beach Maine
Day 6 Stowe, VT
Day 7 Montreal
Day 8 Burlington VT
Day 9 and 10 White Mountains region NH(a must)
Day 11 Boston fly home next day.

I don't think any of thse rides are that long. Stowe to Montreal is
at tops three and that's the longest.

Spend two days in Montreal, and leave for Burlington VT in late afternoon.
Go to Burlington just for dinner on Church Street and hotel.

You can get cheap hotels for Boston, Montreal, and Burlington on Priceline.



Or something like that

wyatt92

No offense, but celfan's itinerary is brutal. All you'll be doing is driving.

And the foliage is proving to be out on the early side this year so you absolutely will see foliage in most areas north of Boston.

But gail's right, what are your primary interests? It's impossible to suggest an itinerary without knowing more info.

gail

celfan has found a way to make it work timewise, but when do you get to see anything?

schnookies

Thanks for all the good info!
Our main interests are just sightseeing pretty much. No time for museums or hikes. But more like driving through those famous covered bridges in VT and see Bar Harbor in Maine, eat lobster, stay at a lighthouse on the Cod, visit or tour where they recorded On the Golden Pond, CT because I dream of living there one day and Montreal to mainly see what its like. Nothing set in stone but to just see all these beautiful places. But you're right, you don't want to end up driving the whole time! Yet, with so little time, it's hard to rest. In what places do you recommend us to book the hotel now?

smartcookie

I agree. The itinerary doesn't leave any time for siteseeing even without Montreal. And I just went to Montreal, and you need at least 3-4 days there to explore. In addition, my trip there wouldn't have been the same without doing at least a day trip to Quebec City, which is 2 hrs away from Montreal.

celfan

Personally I'd skip Montreal. However it can be done. My route doesn't really
have more than a three hour rides . Most of them are two and most foliage trips involve driving.

I wouldn't go to Montreal and skip
Quebec City though, and that would be ompossible on your trip.

Depends how bad you want Montreal.

smartcookie

what I was trying to say is that Montreal and Quebec City need to be left for another trip altogether as they deserve 5-7 days on their own.

dfrostnh

First, check to see if you can take a rental car across the border. I thought this was no longer possible. Since you won't need a car in Boston, maybe do that first or last so you don't have the car rental plus expensive parking charges. Since you reason for traveling to Cape Cod is to stay in a lighthouse, if you don't have one in mind perhaps it would be better to skip the Cape and do some lighthouse viewing in Maine. If we get bad weather I would not go to Bar Harbor. Golden Pond was filmed on Squam Lake northwest of Lake Winnipesaukee. That's a great area combining mountain and lake views, just below NH's White Mountains. There are covered bridges in NH. I would eliminate Stowe because of the distance and the traffic congestion during foliage season. From Boston you might do something like aim for the Vermont Country Store (it's fun to visit) drive north to the Quechee VT area (lots of people recommend Woodstock VT which is near there) and stop at Simon Pearce at least to explore the building, watch glass blowers etc. Then drive over to Squam Lake (there aren't any direct routes). Explore the White Mountains. I keep forgetting the location of the lighthouse in Maine that has a keeper's family in residence re-enacting the old days. It's in the mid-coast Maine area so I would substitute Camden for Bar Harbor to reduce driving times. (It will probably be cheaper to stay in a different town though.) The great lobster shacks usually close after Labor Day or are only open weekends until the end of Sept (Five Islands in Maine) but these are the true shack places with outdoor seating. There are plenty of restaurants where you can get lobster.
I agree that Montreal and Quebec City deserve a special trip of their own. Unless you have some specific destinations, all that driving is going to get boring and you'll miss some of the fine details about New England life. (Some people search out the best cider donuts.) We love the area near Squam Lake in all seasons so enjoy drives around Center Sandwich NH, Tamworth etc.

schnookies

Thanks for taking the time to advise me on this! I take it as we should head toward Vermont first? Since we'll be coming into Boston on the 26th, we're thinking of spending that half day and the day after in Boston. Then head to Vermont and from there on it's wide open. But you've given me som great suggestions! It sounds like Montreal takes up too much time unfortunately. You just can't do it all....Do you recommend any special tours around this area? I just love the movie On Golden Pond and maybe it's worth looking into some tours?
Someone suggested to do the 'Duck Tour" in Boston, what do you think?

schnookies

Trying to put an itinerary for our trip, I'm now realizing the distance between Boston and Maine. I'm beginning to doubt myself about Maine. Part of me wants to go there but I'm starting to wonder if it's worth it?
We arrive on the 26th in Boston and want to spend almost two days there. We then want to see CT, NH, MA, RH, VT, Cape Cod and Nantucket not in this order. Like I said, we're trying to work out a good route. Thinking we might be too early for foliage??
But should we throw Maine in there too?
We like to see a lot and keep busy if you wonder

dfrostnh

The Duck Tour is fun. You should see some great foliage in the first week of October. I think moving around so much, hotel to hotel is going to wear you out. Typically we spend a week in Maine or at least a half week in a particular location. One year we spent a few days in the Burlington VT area then moved to near Rutland. Every day we were driving around but we went back to the same place at night. Think of the time spent packing/unpacking/checking in. You could drive thru VT while staying in the White Mountains. Another day explore the Squam Lake area, take a boat ride. Surprisingly, Portland ME is only about an hour from Conway NH. Head there for lunch then zoom up to Camden for an overnight. I would estimate White Mountains to Providence RI about 3 hours. From there you could make a day trip thru CT and then another day around the Cape. Basically, pick 2 or 3 bases for your travels. But remember if you have to do a lot of driving, you won't have time for hiking, kayaking, etc. I have friends who live in CT and their road looks a lot like mine in NH ... but if there's a particular place in CT you want to see, then you should try to work it in. It's usually the unique experience a person discovers on their travels that becomes the highlight of their trip. Aimless driving could end up being very boring.

schnookies

Thanks for some good advice! But we are not planning on doing any outdorsy activities on this trip We're really just trying to get to see as much as possible. We are early risers and will try to fit in as many spots as we can without overdoing it. I guess people here don't seem to think there's much to see in CT? But I've always dreamed of living there and would like to see it. How about visiting Westport, Mystic, Fairfield?

dfrostnh

Mystic was ok. I haven't been to the historic seaport in a long time. A few years ago we attended a nice little wild mushroom festival at a small nature museum near Mystic but it was third weekend in Sept. Did enjoy the Native American museum at Foxwoods. It's a completely separate building so you don't have to go near the casino. I thought the restaurants in the Mystic area were mediocre but did enjoy a lobster roll at Abbotts. Kind of hard to find but nice view. They might be open weekends only, check hours for the fall. Expect they probably close for the winter. It's a real casual outdoor place.

Vttraveler

For foliage at the time of year you are traveling you definitely want to head north. There will be foliage hotlines for both NH and Vt to give you ideas for driving tours in these states.
When you are leaf peeping lots of driving makes sense, but your idea of going south of Boston to the Cape and north to see leaves seems too much to me. You might consider visiting Cape Ann (Gloucester and Rockport) north of Boston instead.

There is a foliage festival in northeast Vt during the week you will be in New England that you might find interesting. It is put on by different towns in the area and features church dinners, crafts and various activities during the days
http://www.nekchamber.com/pages/3952...tival_2007.htm
I think events like this are more interesting than visits to touristy areas like Stowe or bigger cities like Burlington.

I would definitely save Montreal for another trip when you have time to enjoy the city. You might want to go up into the Eastern Townships area north of Vt for a little taste of Quebec and more scenery/foliage.

suze

I would skip Connecticut and definitely Montreal. From Boston you could do a nice loop, up into southern New Hampshire, then Vermont, back down thru the Berkshires in Massachusetts and back over to Boston (assuming you are flying in and out of Boston?)

If Maine's a must you could head up there first from Boston, and then continue as above.

suze

<We then want to see CT, NH, MA, RH, VT, Cape Cod and Nantucket>

Subtracting two days in Boston, honestly I don't see how this is hardly possible, yet enjoyable, on an 8-day car trip.