jpie

We will be leaving (driving) from Easton MD on April 24th and want to be in Portland Maine by April 28th where we will spend 2 nights before going to Boston. Any suggestions of 2 places along the way where we could enjoy 2 nights each?

We are not wanting to see big cities on this trip-Philly NYC etc. We have been to Mystic and Newport area but would go again, but I was wondering about maybe somewhere in CT NY or other as an alternative. We have also been to to the Hudson Valley so that seems like maybe a bit far out of the way. We could of course spend one night in 4 places, but we thought it might be nice to not have to deal with so many hotel stops and luggage...

Any thoughts would be appreciated-I will need to book something soon but just can't decide on what areas

Ackislander

With four days, a somewhat winding route could take you to the Delaware Water Gap, on the New Jersey -Pennsylvania border which is rural and beautiful and the eastern border of the Poconos.

A base in Litchfield, CT, gorgeous itself, would allow you to explore NW Connecticut, the southern Berkshires, and the Hartford and/or New Haven museums.

There are lots of great paces you could go in NH or VT, but this is mud season.

Depending on your interests and what is open, the Hudson Valley between Tarrytown and Hudson has a lot to interest, from great houses to the DIA foundation to mid century modern " antiques."

You could also do things in the suburbs of Boston where you need a car, either Cape Ann or Lexington-Concord-Andover.

vincenzo32951

You didn't say what your interests are, so just off the top of my head, and given the places you've ruled out, I'd suggest Cape May NJ and Northampton MA. The distances and directions seem like they might work for you.

jpie

Thanks so much. In terms of interests, we love to explore communities,sit in coffee shops, and are semi-foodies. We won't be shopping or buying much since we are headed back to Europe to resettle so our suitcases are pretty full, so it is more just about discovering scenic, nice mid-size kind of places we haven't visited before. For instance, I was wondering about Princeton, or some place like New Haven as a base to just drive around the surrounding areas.

Just to be clear we haven't ruled any place out-other than stopping in the big cities, we loved the Newport area, Mystic, and also Hudson Valley where we ate at the casual CIA restaurant and visited Hyde Park last time we were there about 3 years ago. I guess I am really asking if there are other places that seem "obvious" that we should include as folks who know the East coast.

I will check out the places you mentioned-and thanks for the help!

Ackislander

Then, Litchfield, Connecticut, Canaan,CT, the Berkshires (Great Barrington, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, Lenox, Pittsfield, and Williamstown, Massachusetts, a college town with the great Clark Museum. Then Bennington, VT, Brattleboro, Vt; Keene, Jaffrey, and Peterboro, NH, followed by Manchester, NH where the Currier Museum of Art owns and gives tours of a small Frank Lloyd Wright house. eBay striking distance to Portland.

If you are English, this may be very confusing. I used to live near the "real" Great Barrington. Neither it nor Stockbridge is anywhere near Berkshire. Peterboro is nothing like Peterborough, and Litchfield is nothing like Litchfield, though Manchester was a cotton mill city like Manchester, England, and the largest cotton mill under one roof in the US if not the world is/was there.

Have fun!

jpie

Thanks so much-I will check all the possibilities out. We would be especially interested in the Wright house as we are currently driving up from Florida and just stopped at Lakeland to see the collection of Wright buildings at the campus Florida Southern College.

Luckily I am not English, so I won't be any more confused than usual

dfrostnh

Our preferred route to Manchester NH if you want to see the Wright house on your way north would be to get to Hartford CT via the Tapanzee bridge, then continue north to I91 thru western MA into VT. Although an interstate it has far less traffic than close to Boston. Get off in Brattleboro VT and head to Keene NH then Rt 101 to Nashua and then north on Everett Turnpike to Manchester. Nashua is congested but for the most part Rt 101 from Keene is very pleasant and you can stop in Dublin and Peterborough! (Peterborough is well worth a stop even if it's just for lunch.)

I think you have to reserve a tour of the Wright house in advance.

Although a former mill town a little bit worn, some of the mills have been turned into restaurants and offices. There's a great science museum for kids. Manchester NH has a great reputation for restaurants so even if you get budget lodging, a great lunch or dinner combined with a visit to the Wright house might be well worth a stop for the night. Portland ME is about 2 hours away via Rt 101 to I95 if you want the quickest route. But head north on I293 or I93 to Concord NH then I393 to Rt 4 thru some nice towns. The real gem is after going thru Durham NH the scenery gets really nice and then you go over the bridges across Great Bay. Really pretty first glimpse of the seacoast.

Vttraveler

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Actually mud season should be over by April 24th. I think (hope!) the worst is over this year. And it really is not a problem if you are not going on dirt roads.

If you go up route 91 as suggested by dfrost in the last post, I highly recommend the Mark Twain House in West Hartford and Old Deerfield Village in western MA.

jpie

thanks all! I will probably tentatively book something and then wait and see what the weather is doing when we get closer. We still have another couple of weeks to play around thinking about this.

jubilada

If you come up 91 do stop in Northamton , MA where there are several great coffee shops. My favorite is Haymarket, right on Main St or Northampton Coffee on Pleasant street on the left about three blocks after you get off exit 18.
The campus of Smith College is gorgeous at the end of April and their gardens are a great place for a stroll.
There are a few great book stores and other interesting boutique rye shops on Main St and Smith has a surprisingly good art museum.
Lots of good food too.