OFF TOPIC -- New England Vacation

[Jeff Kleb]

Well, this is truly OFF TOPIC; but I know there are a lot of good folks here at the T4R Brain Trust, as I still lurk here despite turning in my leased 4Runner more than (Gulp!) four years ago.

I am on vacation for an entire week next month (June) and will be spending some much-need father & son 'quality time' with my teenage son. I have rented a luxury car (Cadillac DTS) for an entire week and we're leaving on a Sunday morning and returning on a Friday night. Our destination is the northern part of PA for Sunday & early Monday, then the Hudson Valley of New York Monday afternoon until Tuesday morning.

Tuesday afternoon through Friday morning will put us in VT, NH, ME and MA. We will come back through RI, CT and possibly NYC and NJ on the drive homeward. We don't exactly have a set agenda, but will be doing a lot of "sightseeing" from inside the car. I plan to stay at cheaper motels along the way and both of us love to travel by car. (I am a trucker by trade and already drive nearly 100,000 miles a year, so I am used to a lot of hours behind the wheel.)

We're more concerned with going through each state than anything else, but I am curious as to anything that might be a "must see" within VT, NH or ME. We're not on an unlimited budget, of course, but I don't mind shelling out a few ducats if there is something that my son might enjoy and remember forever. I was last in VT & NH back in the 1970s, so it will be 'new' to me as well.

Any suggestions, advice or comments are greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!!

P.S. I have unlimited mileage on the rental car and estimate I will put on roughly 1800 to 2000 miles for the week. I will bring my EZ-PASS toll transponder with me as well.

:bluejump::jump:

 

[Jeff Kleb]

ATTENTION MODERATOR:

Sorry. I put this in the wrong forum. Please move it to the "off topic" section if you can. Thank you very much!

Mea culpa.

:roadkill::withstupid:

 

[jdkilroy]

Are you planning on going through the northern part of NH or southern ?

 

[cfranck1]

Maybe climb MT Washington in NH in the rental car?

Stop at the Quechee Gorge in VT, there are trails that run parallel to the river.
And looks like on Fathers Day weekend (if you're in VT that weekend) there is a Hot Air balloon festival that they have every year. QuecheeBalloonfestival

Could also stop at the Hemming Garage in Bennington VT?

 

[tbst]

Did not see this until now.

As stupid as it sounds I would go to Philly and see the liberty bell if you are going to be in NE PA anyway.

Obviously spend a day in Boston. IMO, I would make a list of points to see. It doesnt mean you have to see them all, but then at least you aren't wondering around in Boston pointlessly.

As far as CT, I don't know. Been there several times was never really impressed with the yuppies and other *******s that live there (ratio wise).

NH is a nice place. Don't they have a state park there? I would check that out.

You have to go to ME and VT. Don't speed in VT. Once you are in ME it maybe worth a shot up to Quebec as mentioned.

I will try to find the places I have been in NH ME VT when I get to work.

If you are in NE PA I would check out the Delaware Water Gap area. There is a cool covered bridge and a few hikes that are good

Once again will try and find links, on my phone.

 

[pat161]

I would come up through the Adirondacks and cross into northern VT, then head south east towards NH by way of VT 108, aka Smugglers Notch. I would suggest planning it so you can stop in Jeffersonvulle and have a meal at The Family Table, right on 15, a friend of mine owns it and its a fantastic restaurant, closed Tues and Weds. Into NH plan on hitting the Kancamagus RT 112 from the Conway area over to Lincoln, it runs right through the White Mtns and is a real nice road. Cross into Maine around Fryeburg and right through maine's western mtns, watch out for moose through VT, NH and ME. Maine is a big state with a whole lot of nothing, its worth it to go up to Baxter State Park, but way north of where you will be, if you like the coast you may want to head towards Bar Harbor and work your way down Rt 1, I would stop in Portland if you like cities. In MA it really depends what you want, we have rural mountainous areas, but they are west and can't compete with NH, ME and VT so you may want to switch to urban mode and hit Boston, maybe check out the Cape if you're into that. Central MA is more for residents than tourists, there are cool spots, maybe because I live here I discount what's close, I don't see many tourists around here though. I would also skip CT, maybe hit RI instead. Providence can be a fun city and there are fantastic restaurants, hosting Johnson and Wales leaves plenty of aspiring chefs who work cheap, you could also hit Newport. Enjoy New England, having lived here my whole life I can say it s a great place, you'll see lot's of cool sites and meet some nice people. Keep in mind you will find people very different state to state, more patient and friendly up north, more hustle and bustle down south.

And as an example 108 doesn't go all the way to NH, just saying you should plan to hit it, you will have to plan out the trip and just include the roads I mentioned if interested.

 

[Evilmunkey]

Check out the Cape and Islands (Nantucket & the Vineyard)

 

[westwind77]

maybe check out the Cape if you're into that.

And what is THAT suppose to mean, huh?!

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Thanks for the suggestions! I do appreciate it and will refer back to this thread during the coming weeks.

:guitar2:

 

[snoope]

Enjoy your trip and hers a few hints

www.VermontVacation.com

If you leave NY from RT.4 you will fall upon a Welcome Center in Fair Haven....great guide books to be had....

Go north on RT.7 into Burlington for a "taste" of everything,the Lake, a college town plus a GREAT downtown.park at the garage and WALK to everything ( cheap and well worth it)

OR

Travel across Rt.4 for a quiet adventure with Woodstock Village smack in the middle;plenty to do here also,old mills converted into shops,hot air balloon rides,antiquing the right way and Quechee Gorge just minutes away....

New Hampshire can be found at New Hampshire's White Mountains - Making Memories Every Day!

Welcome center is just after you leave White River Junction VT. and enter Lebanon ,NH..

A little bit of everything here....hiking, kayaking, ZIP_LINE rides and even 6 wheel off-road adventures PLUS not a bad view to be found at any of the hotels ....

Finish your travels down to the Coast( my area) and enjoy our beaches,waterfronts; LOBSTER , and old New England towns....

Maine is easy....Home - Maine Office of Tourism

The ride along the Coast is great, LL Bean in Freeport,Great little Village...true Down Mainers...a-yuh.....with the Best Western just outside of town headed towards Bath/Brunswick having canoe rentals and a GREAT breakfast !!!!

If you need more exact info on anything and can not find it on the WEB, give me a PM.. I Enjoy all 3 states and have a little back ground with each....we will try to help...

Like you,driving is in my "Blood"....my "Mack Office" sees me enough to pay for little get-aways too.....:fishing:

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Pretty good information. Thanks!

 

[034RUNNER]

I guess we in CT are borderline NE, but Lime Rock Race Park is always a good time, one of my favorite things about living here and I'm 23.

Loudon in NH should be sweet as well.

Besides that I got nothin.

 

[cfranck1]

I guess we in CT are borderline NE, but Lime Rock Race Park is always a good time, one of my favorite things about living here and I'm 23.

Lime Rock is always a good time!! :bigok:
Good thing I'm only 20 min away.
A friend of mine lives 2 miles away in the neighboring town and gets free event passes for every race!