I'm spending a week here soon. What do? So far I have
>Maine
Acadia National Park
>New Hampshire
Mt. Washington Auto Road
White Mountain National Forest
Route 12/12A/10
>Vermont
Quechee Gorge
Julie Fowlis concert in Barre
Montpelier
Burlington
Champlain Island
>Connecticut
Yale University
>Rhode Island
idk lol
Probably skipping Massachusetts because I've already been there.
go to cape cod and visit edward gorey's house
philly
that's a pretty big list already for just one week
Yea. New England is my favorite place to visit; I have spent a combined total of ~12 weeks there. There's still a lot I haven't done. I haven't even visited Vermont at all, just driven through it. If you're only going to be there a week, I recommend focusing on just two states.
If I had to come up with a weeklong summer itinerary for someone who wanted to skip Massachusetts, I would tell them to spend 4-5 days in Rhode Island and then whatever time left in Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park. Rhode Island is packed full of stuff but small, so there's not much time wasted traveling between points of interest. The drive to Bar Harbor isn't bad either and the park is worth the trip.
You are prepared to drive the Auto Road in October? I don't believe you.
Why not? Is it hard? We are from Nigeria and used to driving on the other side of the road, will that be a problem?
The road is narrow and precarious and the weather on Mount Washington is notoriously bad. If you're planning a trip for late October there's a chance the road won't be open at all.
Be prepared. It is already snowing up there, winds are touching 30 and 40 mph, if it is snowing the road map be closed.
The road route you want to drive in NH is this:
Coming from Fryeburg, Maine you take route 302 to Conway, NH. From Conway, you take route 112, also known as the Kancamagus Highway, to Lincoln, NH. From here you can either get on 93 North, take route 3 to route 302 and loop back to Conway and then go south towards Ashland. This option will have more mountains to look at. OR, from Lincoln, you can take routes 11 to 116, and then head south to Orford NH. From Orford, you will head south on Route 10 until you get to a right-hand turn called River Road. Following River Road will give you a very pretty view of the Connecticut River, as well as some nice houses to look at as you approach the town of Hanover.
Hanover is the home of Dartmouth College - if you're looking at frickin' New Haven then you'll certainly appreciate the idyllic campus of Dartmouth and the town of Hanover. I would then spend a night at the Hanover Inn and enjoy the place.
Starting in Hanover you can cross the Connecticut and get on 91 South, getting off the highway quickly to get on 89 North, and then getting off of that quickly to get on Route 4. Follow this and you'll get to the Quechee Gorge, and then you can do brunch in the town of Woodstock, another idyllic New England town. From there I'd follow Route 4 to Rutland, then Route 7 all the way to Burlington. Afterward, you can loop back around to Montpelier and head south to Massachusetts.
But, I question why you would want to go to Connecticut. Newport Rhode Island is a far more interesting town with its Gilded Age history. New Haven is awful.
I’m visiting every state. Never been to Connecticut.
Oh and thanks for the suggestions. I’ll take that route.
Lots of people were doing it with no issue.
Rhode Island here. Newport is worth it, but there is traffic for sure. Driving down Bellevue Avenue and along Ocean Road is an incredible experience. Providence is fun, and the new mayor is cleaning the city up. Jamestown is a hidden gem and it's right over the bridge from Newport. Bristol is nice too.
But you already have a lot for northern New England. Things get colder there a lot quicker than the rest of the country, be ready for weather in the 40's.
providence for sure, jamestown/newport
hard to go wrong with the towns and coast along us 1 in maine, wiscasset, boothbay harbor, etc. also coastal maine botanical garden
I'll second Providence. OP says he doesn't know what to do in Rhode Island. So, just go to Providence and wander around. It's the nicest city on the coast of New England. Maybe head down to Newport.
If you’re going to drive the Kancamagus hwy in NH, just be careful. There are hippies in the area who will make a human chain across the road, then kill you when you stop. You’ve been warned.
when you're in Bar Harbor try to time your arrival or departure at low tide so you can walk the land bridge across to the other island before/after you visit Acadia
went to a restaurant called The Skinny Pancake in Quechee. their Noah's Ark breakfast was 10/10
and be careful around here speeding there are a ton of cops the will enforce the 35mph speed limit coming down the mountain. They expect you to ride your brakes the whole time or else you'll get a ticket and they do not give warnings.
in White Mountain in NH don't forget Diana's Bath
if you drive through Portland, ME that was the best place for lobster rolls in our experience.
for Rhode Island the thing to do is drive to Newport and do the cliff walk
while your in New Haven seeing Yale, New Haven is known for it's distinct pizza and the famous one is from a place called Sally's but there are other pizza places there too. Sally's is super busy though it was like a 3 hour wait when we stopped by.
when you're in RI, check out Carr Pond in Big River Management Area. One of the state's gems and my favorite place in the world
Best of luck OP, sounds like a packed week but you’re doing well
Funny story, I used to live in the apartment complex by the wal mart on center of New England blvd. I used to run in a big loop around carr pond. Back then my digestion was frickin whack and I had to stop to poop in the woods a few times because it was so far away from a bathroom. I used to call it the poop loop. One of those days I wiped my ass with some leaves turns out it was poison ivy and I was having butt orgasms it itches so bad. Anyways cool little area I used ti run on the bike path by tiogue lake too
just did this trip recently, so I've got some experience for RI and ME
1. Newport, RI - You could honestly spend a whole day here. Imagine a little touristy beach resort, except the weather is cooler and the atmosphere is different than beaches on the Gulf or West Coast
2. Providence, RI - Honestly, just walk around. I didn't spend much time here but the area around the capital is beautiful
3. Kennebunkport, ME - Honest to god, underrated. Look into it, although it's mainly just a little detour to look at the ocean
4. Portland, ME - Go to The Holy Donut and pick up a potato donut. They're more savory than a normal donut and are very good. Go to Luke's Lobster Portland Pier and get a lobster roll
I went to KBP in the fall and enjoyed it but in July it was the worst boomer clusterfrick.
Montpellier is a village essentially; it's funny because it's the state capitol, It's really small; quaint but there isn't a lot.
Since youì're driving down Kancamagus,I'd spent some time in and around that area at Flume Gorge and Mt Liberty and the drive up mt washington. All along kancamagus and the Pemi are cool overlooks. however watch out because there's weird shit in the forest in that area at night,
boston and white mountains
Do some breweries up here in Vermont. I'd be happy to meet up with you if you want.
Go hiking. Go skiing.
The Alchemist, Harpoon, Magic Hat, Vermont Pub and Brewery, and Long Trail are all decent Breweries that you can visit here.
> Acadia National Park
Yes, do it. Otherwise, everything to see in ME will just be a more spread out version of what's in NH and VT. Maybe stop in Portland Me if it's convenient, otherwise there's not a lot to see besides pretty coastline, and Acadia is the best of it.
> Mt. Washington Auto Road
Mt Washington Auto road closes around mid Oct. Also, don't be a fat pussy. Hike any 4,000+ footer instead. Driving up the Mt Washington auto road is for fat tourists to experience standing atop a mountain without working for it. It's also a half day activity, not some quick stop. You'd be better off hiking Franconia Ridge if you're in good shape, Mt Washington if you're in really good shape and an experienced hiker, or something smaller with a view like Mt. Willard.
>White Mountain National Forest
Yes, that's where Mt Washington is. You may as well stay in/around WMNF during your time in NH, unless you do some hike off Winnepesauke, like Rattlesnake Mt, or Mt Major. Both are short hikes with excellent views.
> Route 12/12A/10
Not familiar with this.. Do you mean Rt 112? That's the Kancamangus highway, which is *the* thing to do for tourists to experience the white mountains. It's a scenic highway stretching from North Conway to Lincoln. From the road itself, there aren't many amazing views. The views here are the stops. Lots of stops with a spectacular view, or something to see within a short walk, such as waterfalls, covered bridges, etc.
> Quechee Gorge
Yes, check it out.
> Montpelier
I'm glad you mentioned this. I loved hanging out in Montpelier when I lived in the area for six months. It's a beautiful little town with a lot of character. Get a burger and a beer and the fries at Three Penny Taproom, assuming it's still there. Positive Pie always felt like it had an identity crisis going on, but the food there was great too. My experiences were a decade ago though.
>Burlington
Yes. Incredible town, I visit often, lived there for a while. *Set aside extra time to stay here.* There will be the most to do in/around here on your trip. Lots of nice restaurants, active nightlife, plenty of great coffee and small bites. Beautiful parks. I recommend going to Shelburne Farms which is about 20 minutes south, and/or hiking Mt. Philo, a very short hike with an incredible view of lake champlain about 25 minutes south of Burlington.
> Champlain Island
There's not much out there except for people's houses. You're better off renting/bringing a bike and cycling out on "the causeway". Referring to the colchester causeway. An old railroad turned bikepath that extends several miles out over the lake, towards grand aisle. Great views and a very cool experience. While you're on a bike, assuming you're in okay shape, just bike up the lake champlain bikepath from Burlington to the causeway. It's about 26miles to the end of the causeway and back from burlington, and tons of views along the way. If you're doing all this in the summer, check out some of the beaches.
>Connecticut
>Rhode Island
Idk what there is to do in these places.
Mainer here, Acadia is over rated and the worst national park I have ever been to. If you hunt lots of animals are in season right now. The county (aroostok) is the comfiest part of the state. Check out dunn lobster co in Ellsworth on the way to Acadia if you go. Avoid bar harbor and the rest of mount desert island, its a tourist trap. Western Maine near NH is really nice, Grafton Notch is worth checking out.
Bar Harbor resident here. Acadia is paradise on earth in winter. Imagine hiking the Beehive and seeing zero people.
Only the locals here are all shitty and awful so it’s not a good place to live.
You’ve probably already finished your trip by now but I want to throw in the recommendations of the Palace Diner in Maine and Funspot arcade in Laconia NH if you ever come back to New England.
If it was only a week, I'd just split Boston / Cape Cod and go up to Bar Harbor / Acadia and drive through the little country roads to avoid the New Yorkers this time of year and look at the pretty leaves.
prob too late now looking at the date thread
but you should check out some of the newport mansions, book a tour, theyre really beautiful
its a beautiful seaside town to walk around too, and theres a great walking path on the ocean cliffside near the mansions
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You can see a ww2-era battleship in Fall River. If you're driving from Rhode Island or Connecticut to Boston, it's not too far off.
white mountain summit
Bumping. Any fun shit to do in Boston?
Get a lobster tail pastry from Mike's
how much driving do you want to do in one week and why the frick would you want to go to Yale on vacation?
see
Above average compared to what, Walmart?
I hate Yale students but they are above average attractiveness. this isn't surprising for their type of affluence