topeater

I will be in Boston Wednesday October 10 thru Saturday, October 13. We have Sunday, October 14 until Wednesday to do something else.

We can rent a car, but I don't want to spend days driving. Ideally, we would like this to be a restful vacation where we could hike a bit, find a really cozy Inn where we can read, relax, have some good food & cocktails. We love seafood, particularly oysters!!!

I've thought about driving to some place in Vermont or Maine or Cape Cod. We are a couple in our late 50's, good shape.

We live in Texas, but love crisp, even rainy days since we don't get that kind of weather here.

Please help!!!

dfrostnh

Foliage color will still be good in many areas of New England but you should be able to get reservations for Sun thru Wed. Some seafood restaurants on the Maine coast will not be open during the week that late in the season but you will still have a lot of choices.
I think I would choose the Rockland ME area. In case of bad weather you have the Farnsworth Art Museum, Freeport shopping to the south and also the option of visiting Portland coming or going.

tracys2cents

Wolfeboro Inn, Bayside Inn in Alton Bay, The Balsams in NH?

tomfuller

Think about taking the Amtrak train from Boston to Mystic CT.
http://www.mysticseaport.org/
There is always something interesting going on at the Mystic Seaport. You would not even need a rental car there that would have to be returned to Boston. Unless you already have the return tickets bought (from Boston) you could fly home from NYC or even Newark NJ.

topeater

Thanks for all the suggestions. Would also like to consider something in the mountains where we might have to curl up inside due to the weather. I know that must be heresy for those of you that live in New England!!! After all the heat, burning sun & drought of Texas, something lush, cloudy/rainy would be such a welcome for us.

bachslunch

You'll be right in the middle of foliage season, perhaps slightly past in a few northern mountain areas.

Mountainous areas (or at least very hilly) are found in several areas of New England, including The Berkshires, Pioneer Valley (Amherst, Northampton, Deerfield, etc.), Vermont's Green Mountains, New Hampshire's White Mountains, and the Acadia National Park area in Maine. Chances of encountering chilly and perhaps rainy weather could happen in any of these places.

topeater

Thanks Bachslunch. Does anyone have any suggestions for lodges in any of these areas?

dfrostnh

Several years ago we stayed at the Golden Eagle resort in Stowe VT. The units in the back had large rooms, balconies, gas fireplace, and a nice little reading nook. We opted for a jacuzzi but the other choice is a mini kitchen. That far north, the color will probably be past peak by your dates.

Based on location, I might choose this place
http://millfalls.com/inns/the_cottages.htm
Haven't stayed there, this is close to where we live. The lake is beautiful. Meredith gets a lot of traffic but is a very pretty town. The mountains are just a short drive north. Center Sandwich is one of our favorite areas (near Squam Lakes). You can drive east from Meredith to Center Sandwich and then thru Tamworth to connect with Rt 16 where you can head north to North Conway (huge tourist area) or loop back via the Kancamagus Hwy. Tourist hiking includes The Flume but there are hundreds of hikes in the area. Again, for your dates, this may be slightly past peak but still beautiful.

You might look for suggestions in the Monadnock area of NH. Pretty rural. Several old inns. Some hiking opportunities.

Ackislander

You should google the Appalachian Mountain Club and look at their facility in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire. It is within driving distance of everything in the White Mountains, the seacoast at Portland, Maine, and the crazy outlets of North Conway.

And you can hike as much as you can manage up Mt Washington.