Touring New England 8-10 days - Completed (1 Viewer)

[rick6668]

Trying to schedule a trip to the New England states this summer. Likely during mid July.

Leaving and returning to Upstate NY (Rochester area).

Planning on driving through the Adirondacks, take a Ferry across Lake Champlain to Vermont. Visit White Mountain in New Hampshire, onto Acadia National Park in ME, then would like to stop by Lexington and Concord MA for some sightseeing, visit Boston for a Day, drive down to Plymouth and onto Cape Cod. Drive back through Rhode Island and Connecticut, then back to NY.

Right now we are looking at the following places

Ben and Jerry's Factory

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Acadia National Park

Various places in Lexington and Concord

Various places in Boston

Plymouth Rock and Mayflower II

Cape Cod

Various places in RI and CT

Bromley Mountain Resort

Been doing some research on Trip Advisor and various websites.

Anyone have any recommendations on places to stay as well as places we should stop and visit? I will be travelling with my wife and 3 kids ages 6-14.

We would be travelling for 8-10 days and this is our first time visiting the New England States. I am especially looking for a nice hotel to stay at outside of Boston and using Public Transportation to visit the City.

Thanks

Updated as trip is complete. See post #54.

 

[DiStefano]

Stay away from the Canadian border. You can never tell what those crazy Canucks will do.

 

[Don Quixote]

I think there was a thread last year started by somebody planning a similar trip which you could search for.

Near Ben & Jerry's, Stowe is about 10 miles away and could be a place to spend the night. Since you are hitting up Cadillac Mountain and Mount Washington, you could also cross Mount Mansfield off the list while you are there.

Maine is one of my favorite states to visit. In addition to Acadia, there are a lot of great towns/cities along the coast, such as Camden, Portland, or Kennebunkport that you can visit. The Portland Head Light is a pretty iconic stop. Time may be your only issue with those.

 

[spOOfy]

no advice, but very interested in what you find out and end up doing. enjoy and please fill us in on how it goes, what you see, etc.

 

[rick6668]

I think there was a thread last year started by somebody planning a similar trip which you could search for.

Near Ben & Jerry's, Stowe is about 10 miles away and could be a place to spend the night. Since you are hitting up Cadillac Mountain and Mount Washington, you could also cross Mount Mansfield off the list while you are there.

Maine is one of my favorite states to visit. In addition to Acadia, there are a lot of great towns/cities along the coast, such as Camden, Portland, or Kennebunkport that you can visit. The Portland Head Light is a pretty iconic stop. Time may be your only issue with those.

Thanks, found the thread. http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=680645&hl=acadia#entry15472257

Any other comments are welcome.. Thanks

I know it's a lot to pack into 8-10 days, but we will be going back, just wanted to hit a bunch of spots to see what works for us as well as take in the popular yourist attractions.

 

[Morton Muffley]

Off the top of my head, here are my thoughts:

[SIZE=medium]Burlington- fun & funky college town, haven’t been there in years and never with the family so couldn’t really give you much advice on specific activities[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]North Conway – personally, I’d suggest skipping the cog mountain railroad as I have heard many families talk about it being a bit boring and overlong. Check out Adventure Suites motel, Bretton Woods area, the nearby town of Jackson has some great restaurants (North Conway doesn’t have any in my opinion) and Jackson would be fun side trip for the kids if you are saying in North Conway as there’s a falls that even your youngest could climb and swim in[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Acadia - bike the carriage roads then have lunch at Jordan Pond House, walk to bar island at low tide...many other things to do as well[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Portland – great town, great restaurants, good shopping, take a Lucky Catch Lobster cruise, Fort Williams Park should not be missed as it has EVERYTHING for your family (the previously mentioned Portland Head Light, plenty of room for the kids to run, throw a Frisbee/ball, explore the old fort, climb the rocks down to the ocean, walk down to the sandy beach, swim in the cold maine waters)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Boston - duckboat tour, walk freedom trail, game at fenway park, faneuil hall (too touristy for me, but I guess you gotta go), harvard square, eat great italian in the north end, if it rains go to the Museum of Fine Arts or Museum of Science, stay in Quincy/Braintree (check out the Hampton Inn in Braintree) as this will give you easy access to the city via mass transit[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Cape Cod - Chatham or Yarmouth would be my choices for places to stay on the cape. These are considered mid-cape and have the benefit of being a little (albeit very little) less touristy than the bustling busyness of the upper cape (Falmouth, Sandwich, Mashpee, etc.) and while not as quaint/artsy as the lower cape (Provincetown, Wellfleet, and Truro) the mid cape is quite a bit more convenient & centrally located. I’d also consider taking a ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard (departing frequently from Hyannis) as the Vineyard offers the kids a relatively short ferry ride and access to a great island with three distinct villages: quaint Edgartown, artsy Vineyard Haven and fun & funky Oak Bluffs.[/SIZE]

Have fun.

 

[John Bender]

I can handle CT and RI for you.

Rhode Island is an amazing state for beaches. Head right to Point Judith and grab some clam cakes and red chowder at Aunt Carries. Clam caked are a Rhode Island thing and absolutely delicious/worth the trip. Head over to Newport to Brenton Point State Park and check out the tide pools and the tennis hall of fame. Really you can't not have a good time in Newport even if you aren't into the beach. It's the quintessential New England coastal village.

Head over to CT and (food them again) head to We-Li-Kit Ice Cream in Ashford CT on Route 44 Get the best ice cream you'll ever eat and then just take the scenic Route of 44 West toward Hartford where you can visit the Mark Twain House among many other things. Hit 91 South if you're interested in checking out Yale (do not drive randomly through New Haven, have pointed directions... It's very dangerous). If you're still hungry, Frank Pepes Pizza is world famous and the best pie you can get (get the clam pie).

Follow 95 the rest of the way back to nyc. Stop in Westport if you just want to drive through the town where some of the richest celebrities live(d) (exit 17 iirc). You can drive by Paul Newman and Martha Stewarts house and shop in one of the nicest downtowns there it.

Overall both States are quite boring when compared to the rest of the country, but those are my best recommendations.

 

[Parrothead]

If you are in Burlington, go to the Magic Hat brewery and have a tasting.. awesome place

 

[John Bender]

If you are in Burlington, go to the Magic Hat brewery and have a tasting.. awesome place

This is also correct.

 

[Don Quixote]

If you are in Burlington, go to the Magic Hat brewery and have a tasting.. awesome place

This is also correct.

And if you love IPAs, Alchemist Heady Topper is as good as it gets. They are based in Waterbury, same as Ben & Jerry's.

 

[bostonfred]

Burlington vermont is a pretty awesome town. Nice downtown, laid back people, beautiful area, lots of college girls, good local beers. The drive on 89 is long and there are awesome views. If you're not a huge mountain person you could drive that road and have your fill of mountains and trees. Note that what we call a mountain isn't really a mountain for people in denver.

Portland maine and portsmouth new hampshire are very close to each other and both are good for a day trip with cool views, nice shopping areas and restaurants.

Northern maine and new hampshire are kind of a waste.

Mondanock and washington are two relatively easy mountains worth checking out if you're into hiking and/or camping. The easy trails at monadnock aren't bad. Washington is drivable and has lookout areas up top.

Gloucester (pronounced glosster) is good for a whale watch and a lobster roll.

Hampton beach is pretty cheesy but its a beach and there are bikini girls for you and the 14 year old, lots of arcades for the kids, kitschy shopping for mom, and sometimes a half decent concert plays up there. There's even a very small casinoish thing where they have high rake poker and four dollar max games like blackjack. You literally can't bet more than four bucks per hand by law.

Sturbridge village is in a good spot for a day trip. Old quaker village where they try to be authentic. Lots of stuff for the kids. Haven't been in ages, though, so anyone with newer info is welcome to correct me.

Lexington and concord are kind of boring imo but if you're into history that's cool. Recommend checking out coco keys which is an indoor water park attached to a hotel.

Cape cod and nantucket are a couple hours extra driving (and a ferry if you go to nantucket) but if you want authentic new england memories you could do worse. There are no chain stores or restaurants in nantucket, which is kind of refreshing.

Downtown boston is worth a day and a half. You seem to like history and touristy crap, so the freedom trail is always fun and there's stuff to do along the way that's worth checking out even if you're not into history. The north end has awesome italian food, and mikes pastries makes the best cannoli in boston. #### southie. Fake southie is gentrified and real southie isn't for tourists. The fenway area and copley/pru area are both fun.

Rhode island isn't really a state. They have providence and beaches. The rest is just highway.

Connecticut is foxwoods casino and a bunch of rich people in darien and greenwich separated by a hundred odd miles of woods. The closer you get to new york, the more insurance companies you will see. You'd be better off in the woods with the ticks than talking to western connecticutians. The whole state blows.

There's a six flags in western mass, also near the basketball hall of fame. But you might die driving through springfield, so there's that. Still, six flags. Or maybe canobie lake park if you're staying in the portsmouth/northern mass/southern new hampshire area.

 

[nightmare]

Driving north and south in ME and NH is fairly quick on the state routes.

East and West is a different story. On the map it looks good but the roads

are almost all 25 to 35 MPH, twisty, narrow, bumpy, and in the summer-busy.

Not bumper to bumper busy but plan on 30 MPH as your average speed.

Once you get north of Portland, Me traffic is not as bad

This is my experience from driving the southern half of NH and south ME-

think Freeport, Gray, and Portland. Any town/city near a lake or "outlet" malls(Conway,

Freeport, Kittery) will be busy so plan on slow going.

 

[peaces]

if your on the cape at night there's a drive in movie in Wellfleet...worth looking to see what's playing with kids that age.

 

[squidrope]

If staying in the White Mtns. (northern NH) I highly recommend this place http://www.mountainviewgrand.com Great kids programs/activities, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, "meet the farmer", golf, nightly campfires, spectacular views, friendly staff, great spa, etc.

Another refurbished hotel that is spectacular http://www.wentworth.com/ (Seacoast NH) it is five minutes from Portsmouth NH. Portsmouth has lots of nice little shops, good dining (Jumping Jays). In the summer they have outdoor plays/concerts in Prescott Park. Strawberry Banke (across from PP) has many historic homes that you can tour.

For a great lobster in the rough experience try http://www.chaunceycreek.com/ (10-15minutes N of Portsmouth). It's on the water, clean, BYOB, and has great food.

 

[McGarnicle]

Main Wine & Liquor Shoppe on Main St. in Bridgeport, CT -- nice deals on booze.

 

[Nigel]

Skip RI and CT, not because there's nothing worth seeing but you don't have enough time. Spend those extra days in Boston and Cape Cod

 

[Gawain]

Bar Harbor:

Breakfast at Two Cats

Popovers at Jordan's Pond House

 

[Deepster]

CT resident here. Drive right through CT. If you need to stop, pull off 95 and order a Pepe's Pizza in New Haven. Other than that? Drive right through our lame state.

I'd also say....

1) Drive up Mt Washington instead of the Cog Railway. It's slow, boring and there's no scenery to speak of. You're just clicking up the mountain a notch at a time with a bunch of senior citizens.

2) To the suggestion of Martha's Vineyard, I think that's an awful lot to cram in with all the other sites/states listed on the itinerary. You can get plenty of sweatshirts, salt water taffy and chowder on the other stops they have mentioned without the ferry wait and rides over and back.

 

[John Bender]

CT resident here. Drive right through CT. If you need to stop, pull off 95 and order a Pepe's Pizza in New Haven. Other than that? Drive right through our lame state.

I'd also say....

1) Drive up Mt Washington instead of the Cog Railway. It's slow, boring and there's no scenery to speak of. You're just clicking up the mountain a notch at a time with a bunch of senior citizens.

2) To the suggestion of Martha's Vineyard, I think that's an awful lot to cram in with all the other sites/states listed on the itinerary. You can get plenty of sweatshirts, salt water taffy and chowder on the other stops they have mentioned without the ferry wait and rides over and back.

Pretty good posting.

Just get a pizza at Pepes and call it a day in CT

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

Skip RI and CT, not because there's nothing worth seeing but you don't have enough time. Spend those extra days in Boston and Cape Cod

Cape Cod beaches suck compared to the beaches in Rhode Island and Newport is far superior to visit than any town on the Cape (and it is not even close).

I would also suggest seeing if there is a Water Fire in Providence during your trip as it is a very cool event that is kid friendly.

 

[rick6668]

CT resident here. Drive right through CT. If you need to stop, pull off 95 and order a Pepe's Pizza in New Haven. Other than that? Drive right through our lame state.

I'd also say....

1) Drive up Mt Washington instead of the Cog Railway. It's slow, boring and there's no scenery to speak of. You're just clicking up the mountain a notch at a time with a bunch of senior citizens.

2) To the suggestion of Martha's Vineyard, I think that's an awful lot to cram in with all the other sites/states listed on the itinerary. You can get plenty of sweatshirts, salt water taffy and chowder on the other stops they have mentioned without the ferry wait and rides over and back.

Thanks for the info. My oldest son is a train enthusiast, so we thought the Cog Railway would be cool. Would the drive up be from the west like the railway or from the east?

Thanks everyone for your posts. This is really helpful.

 

[rick6668]

Skip RI and CT, not because there's nothing worth seeing but you don't have enough time. Spend those extra days in Boston and Cape Cod

Cape Cod beaches suck compared to the beaches in Rhode Island and Newport is far superior to visit than any town on the Cape (and it is not even close).

I would also suggest seeing if there is a Water Fire in Providence during your trip as it is a very cool event that is kid friendly.

Water Fire is not running the weekend we will be there..

 

[gadkins]

Saratoga is the place to be during horse racing season.

 

[squidrope]

Day 1-Rochester to Lake Placid I'd stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Lake Placid It's on the lake and walking distance to town

Day 2-Lake Placid to Whitefield NH www.mountainviewgrand.com (Near Mt. Washington. I'd drive up, rather than Cog)

Day 3-Whitefield to Camden ME (beautiful coastal town with lots of shops/waterfront dining.

Day 4-Camden to Bar Harbor, ME (Acadia)

Day 5-Explore Acadia (bike trails is great way to do it)

Day 6-Bar Harbor to Portsmouth NH www.wentworth.com (might stop in Rockland or Rockport ME along the way)

Day 7-Portsmouth to Boston freedom trail and North End

Day 8-Boston to Plymouth Rock/Mayflower

Day 9-Southern side of Cape Cod

Day 10-Newport RI gotta see the town and the mansions

Day 11-Go Home

Have Fun!

 

[John Bender]

CT resident here. Drive right through CT. If you need to stop, pull off 95 and order a Pepe's Pizza in New Haven. Other than that? Drive right through our lame state.

I'd also say....

1) Drive up Mt Washington instead of the Cog Railway. It's slow, boring and there's no scenery to speak of. You're just clicking up the mountain a notch at a time with a bunch of senior citizens.

2) To the suggestion of Martha's Vineyard, I think that's an awful lot to cram in with all the other sites/states listed on the itinerary. You can get plenty of sweatshirts, salt water taffy and chowder on the other stops they have mentioned without the ferry wait and rides over and back.

Thanks for the info. My oldest son is a train enthusiast, so we thought the Cog Railway would be cool. Would the drive up be from the west like the railway or from the east?Thanks everyone for your posts. This is really helpful.

If your son likes steam trains, go take the Steam Train ride in Essex, CT train ride. It's a straight shot over from Newport, RI and then only about 25 mins to Frank Pepes in New Haven. While in Essex you can also tour Gillette Castle. It's relatively interesting.Eta... This itinerary will also have you shooting straight through Mystic. Another great New England coastal village with a really good aquarium and some historic ships you can tour.

 

[Don Quixote]

I think there was a thread last year started by somebody planning a similar trip which you could search for.

Near Ben & Jerry's, Stowe is about 10 miles away and could be a place to spend the night. Since you are hitting up Cadillac Mountain and Mount Washington, you could also cross Mount Mansfield off the list while you are there.

Maine is one of my favorite states to visit. In addition to Acadia, there are a lot of great towns/cities along the coast, such as Camden, Portland, or Kennebunkport that you can visit. The Portland Head Light is a pretty iconic stop. Time may be your only issue with those.

Thanks, found the thread. http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=680645&hl=acadia#entry15472257

Any other comments are welcome.. Thanks

I know it's a lot to pack into 8-10 days, but we will be going back, just wanted to hit a bunch of spots to see what works for us as well as take in the popular yourist attractions.

That's the thread that I was thinking of.

For hotels, I looked up the name of the place that I stayed the last time I was in Acadia; that was Moseley Cottage Inn. It was alright; good central location in Bar Harbor, convenient to the restaurants/shops. Nothing too fancy.

 

[whoknew]

If you are a baseball fan, catching a game or two in the Cape Cod League seems like it'd be awesome.

 

[The_Man]

Day 1-Rochester to Lake Placid I'd stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Lake Placid It's on the lake and walking distance to town

Day 2-Lake Placid to Whitefield NH www.mountainviewgrand.com (Near Mt. Washington. I'd drive up, rather than Cog)

Day 3-Whitefield to Camden ME (beautiful coastal town with lots of shops/waterfront dining.

Day 4-Camden to Bar Harbor, ME (Acadia)

Day 5-Explore Acadia (bike trails is great way to do it)

Day 6-Bar Harbor to Portsmouth NH www.wentworth.com (might stop in Rockland or Rockport ME along the way)

Day 7-Portsmouth to Boston freedom trail and North End

Day 8-Boston to Plymouth Rock/Mayflower

Day 9-Southern side of Cape Cod

Day 10-Newport RI gotta see the town and the mansions

Day 11-Go Home

Have Fun!

I grew up spending summers in NH, lived in Burlington for 7 years, and my wife is from Boston - and I say this is a very good post. After spending the night in Lake Placid, take the Lake Champlain ferry from Essex, NY to Charlotte, VT. Very scenic and relaxing - the Plattsburgh ferry isn't as charming. You can buzz through downtown Burlington in an hour or two - awesome place to live, but not all that exciting to visit. Although if you come through on a Saturday morning, the downtown market is pretty cool.

Ben & Jerry's shouldn't take much more than an hour or two. As noted above, the most geeked-after beer in the country is made right next door - Headdy Topper by the Alchemist. Depending on the day, you can stop in and grab a couple 4-packs for the week. Then go ahead and make it to NH.

I'd save Mount Washington for early the next day - definitely drive up. We did the Cog Railroad a few years ago, and it was like being a passenger on a bus during a traffic jam. A steep traffic jam. You can see the train plenty well at both the bottom and top without committing to the mind-numbing ride up and down on it.

I would probably spend a little more time in Portsmouth/Portland, but that's just my preference. I like the feel of those brick New England seaside towns more than I like mountains and lakes. LL Bean headquarters is worth visiting if you're at all into that. Stay away from Cape Cod on the weekends. You can slide your schedule to do that, so there's no reason to subject yourself to that punishing traffic. I might even suggest an overnight on Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard but that can be very expensive, even if you don't bring the car and just stay somewhere walkable/cab-able from the dock.

And then I agree you probably want more than one day in Boston (Red Sox game would be awesome) and a swing through Newport is pretty cool.

Have a good time, sounds like a nice trip.

 

[Gawain]

I went to Hampton Beach as a kid and always thought it was the nicest of the NE beaches (though never got to RI). Worth a stop if it hasn't changed and you need a day with a little more relaxation in between walking around Acadia and Boston.

 

[Deepster]

CT resident here. Drive right through CT. If you need to stop, pull off 95 and order a Pepe's Pizza in New Haven. Other than that? Drive right through our lame state.

I'd also say....

1) Drive up Mt Washington instead of the Cog Railway. It's slow, boring and there's no scenery to speak of. You're just clicking up the mountain a notch at a time with a bunch of senior citizens.

2) To the suggestion of Martha's Vineyard, I think that's an awful lot to cram in with all the other sites/states listed on the itinerary. You can get plenty of sweatshirts, salt water taffy and chowder on the other stops they have mentioned without the ferry wait and rides over and back.

Pretty good posting.

Just get a pizza at Pepes and call it a day in CT

Interesting article and poll that's getting a little buzz here in CT.

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/30/5668588/illinois-connecticut-maryland-gallup-interstate-migration-rates

Hafl the CT residents polled would like to move to another state. And my initial recco on your vacation plans still stands.

 

[jhib]

Eta... This itinerary will also have you shooting straight through Mystic. Another great New England coastal village with a really good aquarium and some historic ships you can tour.

Yeah, not too much in Mystic, but it's a nice relaxing town to grab lunch in and go to the aquarium. My family enjoys that aquarium much more than the Boston one. Better layout, smaller crowds, just better experience all around.

 

[rick6668]

Alright, I've made all my reservations, here's what were looking at:

Day 1: Drive from Rochester through the Adirondacks (Lake Placid), Ferry across Lake Champlain, Visit Ben and Jerry's Factory, stay in Waterbury.

Day 2: Drive to Mount Washington - Auto Road, on to Bar Harbour

Day 3: Spend the Day in Acadia, possibly rent bikes for half a day and/or Bar Harbour Whale Watch.

Day 4: Drive to Portsmouth NH along the coast, stopping at Fort Williams Park in Portland.

Day 5: Drive to Cape Cod/Yarmouth. Stop at Plymouth, visit Mayflower II, spend rest of day exploring Cape.

Day 6: Day at the Cape, Cape Cod National Seashore

Day 7: Drive to Newport RI. Fort Adams State Park, possibly drive up the coast to Mystic

Day 8: Drive to Braintree MA. Take MBTA into Boston. Duck Tours, Freedom Trail

Day 9 Boston - open agenda

Day 10 Drive home.

Looking for any other suggestions on things we should stop at or see in these places. All my reservations have been made(hotels) so we're not likely changing that.

Could use some specific info on getting from the hotel in Braintree into Boston using the MBTA and where to get off for the Duck Tours and Freedom Trail. Can I get a 1 day ticket for the subway? I am not driving into downtown Boston. (Did Paris and Tokyo, never a big city again)

Thanks for all the previous info, it helped cut some things out.

 

[johnnycakes]

Trying to schedule a trip to the New England states this summer. Likely during mid July.

Leaving and returning to Upstate NY (Rochester area).

Planning on driving through the Adirondacks, take a Ferry across Lake Champlain to Vermont. Visit White Mountain in New Hampshire, onto Acadia National Park in ME, then would like to stop by Lexington and Concord MA for some sightseeing, visit Boston for a Day, drive down to Plymouth and onto Cape Cod. Drive back through Rhode Island and Connecticut, then back to NY.

Right now we are looking at the following places

Ben and Jerry's Factory

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Acadia National Park

Various places in Lexington and Concord

Various places in Boston

Plymouth Rock and Mayflower II

Cape Cod

Various places in RI and CT

Bromley Mountain Resort

Been doing some research on Trip Advisor and various websites.

Anyone have any recommendations on places to stay as well as places we should stop and visit? I will be travelling with my wife and 3 kids ages 6-14.

We would be travelling for 8-10 days and this is our first time visiting the New England States. I am especially looking for a nice hotel to stay at outside of Boston and using Public Transportation to visit the City.

Thanks

Every day at this time of the year I see the tour busses stopped at the Lexington town green. Sorry, but I just don't get it... there really isn't that much to see in Lexington OR Concord, especially if you're only talking about a week to 10 days for sightseeing... so many other good options.

My advice: be sure to hit Newport, RI and, if possible, take the high-speed ferry from Boston to Provincetown for a day or two of sightseeing on the Cape. time much better spent than in Lexington & Concord.

 

[rick6668]

Trying to schedule a trip to the New England states this summer. Likely during mid July.

Leaving and returning to Upstate NY (Rochester area).

Planning on driving through the Adirondacks, take a Ferry across Lake Champlain to Vermont. Visit White Mountain in New Hampshire, onto Acadia National Park in ME, then would like to stop by Lexington and Concord MA for some sightseeing, visit Boston for a Day, drive down to Plymouth and onto Cape Cod. Drive back through Rhode Island and Connecticut, then back to NY.

Right now we are looking at the following places

Ben and Jerry's Factory

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Acadia National Park

Various places in Lexington and Concord

Various places in Boston

Plymouth Rock and Mayflower II

Cape Cod

Various places in RI and CT

Bromley Mountain Resort

Been doing some research on Trip Advisor and various websites.

Anyone have any recommendations on places to stay as well as places we should stop and visit? I will be travelling with my wife and 3 kids ages 6-14.

We would be travelling for 8-10 days and this is our first time visiting the New England States. I am especially looking for a nice hotel to stay at outside of Boston and using Public Transportation to visit the City.

Thanks

Every day at this time of the year I see the tour busses stopped at the Lexington town green. Sorry, but I just don't get it... there really isn't that much to see in Lexington OR Concord, especially if you're only talking about a week to 10 days for sightseeing... so many other good options.

My advice: be sure to hit Newport, RI and, if possible, take the high-speed ferry from Boston to Provincetown for a day or two of sightseeing on the Cape. time much better spent than in Lexington & Concord.

Thanks,

From my post today, you can see I did cut out Lexington and Concord. as many had suggested.

 

[Gawain]

Alright, I've made all my reservations, here's what were looking at:

Day 1: Drive from Rochester through the Adirondacks (Lake Placid), Ferry across Lake Champlain, Visit Ben and Jerry's Factory, stay in Waterbury.

Day 2: Drive to Mount Washington - Auto Road, on to Bar Harbour

Day 3: Spend the Day in Acadia, possibly rent bikes for half a day and/or Bar Harbour Whale Watch.

Day 4: Drive to Portsmouth NH along the coast, stopping at Fort Williams Park in Portland.

Day 5: Drive to Cape Cod/Yarmouth. Stop at Plymouth, visit Mayflower II, spend rest of day exploring Cape.

Day 6: Day at the Cape, Cape Cod National Seashore

Day 7: Drive to Newport RI. Fort Adams State Park, possibly drive up the coast to Mystic

Day 8: Drive to Braintree MA. Take MBTA into Boston. Duck Tours, Freedom Trail

Day 9 Boston - open agenda

Day 10 Drive home.

Looking for any other suggestions on things we should stop at or see in these places. All my reservations have been made(hotels) so we're not likely changing that.

Could use some specific info on getting from the hotel in Braintree into Boston using the MBTA and where to get off for the Duck Tours and Freedom Trail. Can I get a 1 day ticket for the subway? I am not driving into downtown Boston. (Did Paris and Tokyo, never a big city again)

Thanks for all the previous info, it helped cut some things out.

Need to get a garbage plate at Tahou's.

 

[rick6668]

Alright, I've made all my reservations, here's what were looking at:

Day 1: Drive from Rochester through the Adirondacks (Lake Placid), Ferry across Lake Champlain, Visit Ben and Jerry's Factory, stay in Waterbury.

Day 2: Drive to Mount Washington - Auto Road, on to Bar Harbour

Day 3: Spend the Day in Acadia, possibly rent bikes for half a day and/or Bar Harbour Whale Watch.

Day 4: Drive to Portsmouth NH along the coast, stopping at Fort Williams Park in Portland.

Day 5: Drive to Cape Cod/Yarmouth. Stop at Plymouth, visit Mayflower II, spend rest of day exploring Cape.

Day 6: Day at the Cape, Cape Cod National Seashore

Day 7: Drive to Newport RI. Fort Adams State Park, possibly drive up the coast to Mystic

Day 8: Drive to Braintree MA. Take MBTA into Boston. Duck Tours, Freedom Trail

Day 9 Boston - open agenda

Day 10 Drive home.

Looking for any other suggestions on things we should stop at or see in these places. All my reservations have been made(hotels) so we're not likely changing that.

Could use some specific info on getting from the hotel in Braintree into Boston using the MBTA and where to get off for the Duck Tours and Freedom Trail. Can I get a 1 day ticket for the subway? I am not driving into downtown Boston. (Did Paris and Tokyo, never a big city again)

Thanks for all the previous info, it helped cut some things out.

Need to get a garbage plate at Tahou's.

Had that for lunch today

 

[mphtrilogy]

Ogunquit is one of my favorite places

 

[johnnycakes]

Alright, I've made all my reservations, here's what were looking at:

Day 1: Drive from Rochester through the Adirondacks (Lake Placid), Ferry across Lake Champlain, Visit Ben and Jerry's Factory, stay in Waterbury.

Day 2: Drive to Mount Washington - Auto Road, on to Bar Harbour

Day 3: Spend the Day in Acadia, possibly rent bikes for half a day and/or Bar Harbour Whale Watch.

Day 4: Drive to Portsmouth NH along the coast, stopping at Fort Williams Park in Portland.

Day 5: Drive to Cape Cod/Yarmouth. Stop at Plymouth, visit Mayflower II, spend rest of day exploring Cape.

Day 6: Day at the Cape, Cape Cod National Seashore

Day 7: Drive to Newport RI. Fort Adams State Park, possibly drive up the coast to Mystic

Day 8: Drive to Braintree MA. Take MBTA into Boston. Duck Tours, Freedom Trail

Day 9 Boston - open agenda

Day 10 Drive home.

Looking for any other suggestions on things we should stop at or see in these places. All my reservations have been made(hotels) so we're not likely changing that.

Could use some specific info on getting from the hotel in Braintree into Boston using the MBTA and where to get off for the Duck Tours and Freedom Trail. Can I get a 1 day ticket for the subway? I am not driving into downtown Boston. (Did Paris and Tokyo, never a big city again)

Thanks for all the previous info, it helped cut some things out.

Doesn't look too bad... but Days 5, 6, & 8: Need some rearranging here. Newport is a slam-dunk. But I would think long and hard about how to combine the Boston-Provincetown Ferry with my tour of the Cape and the Boston open day. Imo, not much to see on the upper cape... outer cape has the best sights and that can be a long drive from the mainland. I guess, if it were me, I'd just drive to Boston, park... take the ferry to P-Town, go and see the Cape that way... spend a day in Boston, etc... and then drive down to Newport after I was done with Boston & the Cape.

So I'd drive from Portsmouth to Boston... park... take ferry to P-town and arrange a B&B or whatever in P-town. See if you can catch a bus tour of the cape or a whale watch from P-town... when done with the Cape, just return to Boston on the ferry and hoof it to see what you can of Boston, then head down to Newport. I would NOT try driving all the way down to the Cape and mess around with the bridges, etc. Too long a drive, too much time wasted.

my

 

[captain_amazing]

I went to Hampton Beach as a kid and always thought it was the nicest of the NE beaches (though never got to RI). Worth a stop if it hasn't changed and you need a day with a little more relaxation in between walking around Acadia and Boston.

Loved Hampton Beach when I was a kid too. As an adult, it's hell on earth. Avoid at all costs (unless you want to get some awesome pizza at this place called Christy's).

 

[johnnycakes]

I went to Hampton Beach as a kid and always thought it was the nicest of the NE beaches (though never got to RI). Worth a stop if it hasn't changed and you need a day with a little more relaxation in between walking around Acadia and Boston.

Loved Hampton Beach when I was a kid too. As an adult, it's hell on earth. Avoid at all costs (unless you want to get some awesome pizza at this place called Christy's).

My kids LOVE Hampton Beach! I've never been there, myself, though. I send them with their nanny for expense-paid weeks (over the summer) and weekends (during the school year) to get them out of my hair for a while. But they always seem to love it. So if you have kids, Hampton Beach might not be a bad stop.

 

[Balco]

Skip RI and CT, not because there's nothing worth seeing but you don't have enough time. Spend those extra days in Boston and Cape Cod

I can't speak to Rhode Island, but as a Connecticut native, I agree with the skip Connecticut advice.

 

[Balco]

Skip RI and CT, not because there's nothing worth seeing but you don't have enough time. Spend those extra days in Boston and Cape Cod

Cape Cod beaches suck compared to the beaches in Rhode Island and Newport is far superior to visit than any town on the Cape (and it is not even close).

I would also suggest seeing if there is a Water Fire in Providence during your trip as it is a very cool event that is kid friendly.

I also agree with this. Cape Cod is ridiculously overrated. Go to Newport.

 

[johnnycakes]

Trying to schedule a trip to the New England states this summer. Likely during mid July.

Leaving and returning to Upstate NY (Rochester area).

Planning on driving through the Adirondacks, take a Ferry across Lake Champlain to Vermont. Visit White Mountain in New Hampshire, onto Acadia National Park in ME, then would like to stop by Lexington and Concord MA for some sightseeing, visit Boston for a Day, drive down to Plymouth and onto Cape Cod. Drive back through Rhode Island and Connecticut, then back to NY.

Right now we are looking at the following places

Ben and Jerry's Factory

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Acadia National Park

Various places in Lexington and Concord

Various places in Boston

Plymouth Rock and Mayflower II

Cape Cod

Various places in RI and CT

Bromley Mountain Resort

Been doing some research on Trip Advisor and various websites.

Anyone have any recommendations on places to stay as well as places we should stop and visit? I will be travelling with my wife and 3 kids ages 6-14.

We would be travelling for 8-10 days and this is our first time visiting the New England States. I am especially looking for a nice hotel to stay at outside of Boston and using Public Transportation to visit the City.

Thanks

Suggestion: in sync with my previous recommendations, why don't you just drive into Boston... it sucks, I know... valet the car at a nice hotel downtown (I recommend Copley Plaza Hotel; I stayed there many times when I was working late nights for The Firm)... don't drive the car again until you leave for Newport or wherever.

 

[otello]

go here:

http://lobstershacktwolights.com/

 

[johnnycakes]

Skip RI and CT, not because there's nothing worth seeing but you don't have enough time. Spend those extra days in Boston and Cape Cod

Cape Cod beaches suck compared to the beaches in Rhode Island and Newport is far superior to visit than any town on the Cape (and it is not even close).

I would also suggest seeing if there is a Water Fire in Providence during your trip as it is a very cool event that is kid friendly.

I also agree with this. Cape Cod is ridiculously overrated. Go to Newport.

The OUTER CAPE is absolutely fantastic. And P-Town, imo, is UNDER-rated because of the whole NTTAWWT stigma, but there is something there for everyone and there are MANY families that go to P-town and the outer cape.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

Alright, I've made all my reservations, here's what were looking at:

Day 1: Drive from Rochester through the Adirondacks (Lake Placid), Ferry across Lake Champlain, Visit Ben and Jerry's Factory, stay in Waterbury.

Day 2: Drive to Mount Washington - Auto Road, on to Bar Harbour

Day 3: Spend the Day in Acadia, possibly rent bikes for half a day and/or Bar Harbour Whale Watch.

Day 4: Drive to Portsmouth NH along the coast, stopping at Fort Williams Park in Portland.

Day 5: Drive to Cape Cod/Yarmouth. Stop at Plymouth, visit Mayflower II, spend rest of day exploring Cape.

Day 6: Day at the Cape, Cape Cod National Seashore

Day 7: Drive to Newport RI. Fort Adams State Park, possibly drive up the coast to Mystic

Day 8: Drive to Braintree MA. Take MBTA into Boston. Duck Tours, Freedom Trail

Day 9 Boston - open agenda

Day 10 Drive home.

Looking for any other suggestions on things we should stop at or see in these places. All my reservations have been made(hotels) so we're not likely changing that.

Could use some specific info on getting from the hotel in Braintree into Boston using the MBTA and where to get off for the Duck Tours and Freedom Trail. Can I get a 1 day ticket for the subway? I am not driving into downtown Boston. (Did Paris and Tokyo, never a big city again)

Thanks for all the previous info, it helped cut some things out.

Where are you staying in Braintree? Closest MBTA (aka "T") stop is likely the Quincy Adams station, which is right near most of the Braintree hotels. It's the Red Line ... stay on that to Park Street station and you will be right near the start of the Freedom Trail on Boston Common.

You can get on a Duck Tour near the New England Aquarium, which will be on the water behind Quincy Market. There also are Duck Tours that start near the Prudential Center, if you end up in that part of town.

(*Note: If you do take the Red Line in, make sure you take a Braintree train going back. The Mattapan trains will take you in a completely different direction.)

 

[Balco]

Skip RI and CT, not because there's nothing worth seeing but you don't have enough time. Spend those extra days in Boston and Cape Cod

Cape Cod beaches suck compared to the beaches in Rhode Island and Newport is far superior to visit than any town on the Cape (and it is not even close).

I would also suggest seeing if there is a Water Fire in Providence during your trip as it is a very cool event that is kid friendly.

I also agree with this. Cape Cod is ridiculously overrated. Go to Newport.

The OUTER CAPE is absolutely fantastic. And P-Town, imo, is UNDER-rated because of the whole NTTAWWT stigma, but there is something there for everyone and there are MANY families that go to P-town and the outer cape.

I have been all over the cape, including Provincetown, and it is completely overrated. I still go to Yarmouth every summer for a family vacation too. Rhode Island beaches are better, IMO. For someone coming to New England for the first time, I just think it is smarter to go to Newport, and spend time that would be spent in Cape Cod on a better destination.

 

[rick6668]

Alright, I've made all my reservations, here's what were looking at:

Day 1: Drive from Rochester through the Adirondacks (Lake Placid), Ferry across Lake Champlain, Visit Ben and Jerry's Factory, stay in Waterbury.

Day 2: Drive to Mount Washington - Auto Road, on to Bar Harbour

Day 3: Spend the Day in Acadia, possibly rent bikes for half a day and/or Bar Harbour Whale Watch.

Day 4: Drive to Portsmouth NH along the coast, stopping at Fort Williams Park in Portland.

Day 5: Drive to Cape Cod/Yarmouth. Stop at Plymouth, visit Mayflower II, spend rest of day exploring Cape.

Day 6: Day at the Cape, Cape Cod National Seashore

Day 7: Drive to Newport RI. Fort Adams State Park, possibly drive up the coast to Mystic

Day 8: Drive to Braintree MA. Take MBTA into Boston. Duck Tours, Freedom Trail

Day 9 Boston - open agenda

Day 10 Drive home.

Looking for any other suggestions on things we should stop at or see in these places. All my reservations have been made(hotels) so we're not likely changing that.

Could use some specific info on getting from the hotel in Braintree into Boston using the MBTA and where to get off for the Duck Tours and Freedom Trail. Can I get a 1 day ticket for the subway? I am not driving into downtown Boston. (Did Paris and Tokyo, never a big city again)

Thanks for all the previous info, it helped cut some things out.

Where are you staying in Braintree? Closest MBTA (aka "T") stop is likely the Quincy Adams station, which is right near most of the Braintree hotels. It's the Red Line ... stay on that to Park Street station and you will be right near the start of the Freedom Trail on Boston Common.

You can get on a Duck Tour near the New England Aquarium, which will be on the water behind Quincy Market. There also are Duck Tours that start near the Prudential Center, if you end up in that part of town.

(*Note: If you do take the Red Line in, make sure you take a Braintree train going back. The Mattapan trains will take you in a completely different direction.)

Thanks! Staying at the Hampton Inn in Braintree, Quincy Adams is real close. Is there a place to park there? I have a 6 year old girl and we'll already be doing a lot of walking with the freedom trail so I didn't want to walk back and forth from the hotel if I can help it..

 

[BustedKnuckles]

Trying to schedule a trip to the New England states this summer. Likely during mid July.

Leaving and returning to Upstate NY (Rochester area).

Planning on driving through the Adirondacks, take a Ferry across Lake Champlain to Vermont. Visit White Mountain in New Hampshire, onto Acadia National Park in ME, then would like to stop by Lexington and Concord MA for some sightseeing, visit Boston for a Day, drive down to Plymouth and onto Cape Cod. Drive back through Rhode Island and Connecticut, then back to NY.

Right now we are looking at the following places

Ben and Jerry's Factory

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Acadia National Park

Various places in Lexington and Concord

Various places in Boston

Plymouth Rock and Mayflower II

Cape Cod

Various places in RI and CT

Bromley Mountain Resort

Been doing some research on Trip Advisor and various websites.

Anyone have any recommendations on places to stay as well as places we should stop and visit? I will be travelling with my wife and 3 kids ages 6-14.

We would be travelling for 8-10 days and this is our first time visiting the New England States. I am especially looking for a nice hotel to stay at outside of Boston and using Public Transportation to visit the City.

Thanks

Craigville beach ...nice

 

[johnnycakes]

Skip RI and CT, not because there's nothing worth seeing but you don't have enough time. Spend those extra days in Boston and Cape Cod

Cape Cod beaches suck compared to the beaches in Rhode Island and Newport is far superior to visit than any town on the Cape (and it is not even close).

I would also suggest seeing if there is a Water Fire in Providence during your trip as it is a very cool event that is kid friendly.

I also agree with this. Cape Cod is ridiculously overrated. Go to Newport.

The OUTER CAPE is absolutely fantastic. And P-Town, imo, is UNDER-rated because of the whole NTTAWWT stigma, but there is something there for everyone and there are MANY families that go to P-town and the outer cape.

I have been all over the cape, including Provincetown, and it is completely overrated. I still go to Yarmouth every summer for a family vacation too. Rhode Island beaches are better, IMO. For someone coming to New England for the first time, I just think it is smarter to go to Newport, and spend time that would be spent in Cape Cod on a better destination.

You are entitled to your opinion, as am I. I still like P-town an awful lot. For anyone, even families.