New England trip
Discussion
We are planning a summer trip to New England, picking hire car up at Boston Airport and travelling north to around Portland and going inland the New Hampshire, near Jackson, and then to Maine and the Acadia National Park then returning to Boston.
Any recommendations for "must travel" roads, and sights to see?
Never driven in the US before; any advice? I hear speed limits are tightly enforced, is this true of back roads as well?
Any recommendations for "must travel" roads, and sights to see?
Never driven in the US before; any advice? I hear speed limits are tightly enforced, is this true of back roads as well?
TheHeretic said:
Get up to the Nantucket/Martha's Vineyard area. Utterly lovely.
Agree with this - although it's 'down' from Boston, rather than 'up' - so in the opposite direction to your intended direction, but I couldn't stress enough how lovely it is there, and it would be so worth your while to spend a day or two in that area. Newport RI is also lovely - some of the best lobster bisque you'll get anywhere in the world.I'm lucky to have traveled extensively, but I'd say that area is up there with the best anywhere...
Wollemi said:
We are planning a summer trip to New England, picking hire car up at Boston Airport and travelling north to around Portland and going inland the New Hampshire, near Jackson, and then to Maine and the Acadia National Park then returning to Boston.
Any recommendations for "must travel" roads, and sights to see?
Never driven in the US before; any advice? I hear speed limits are tightly enforced, is this true of back roads as well?
I've been to New England a few times over the years. The scenery in and around the White Mountain National Park in New Hampshire is fantastic. I would suggest driving there on the way down from Acadia National Park - that way you can drive along some of the roads in rural western Maine, crossing the state line at Fryeburg and then heading up routes 302 and 16 towards Mount Washington.Any recommendations for "must travel" roads, and sights to see?
Never driven in the US before; any advice? I hear speed limits are tightly enforced, is this true of back roads as well?
As for speed limit enforcement in the New England states, my experience has been that the authorities are fairly tolerant (unlike in Virginia where I got ticketed for going 6mph over the limit). On one occasion I was making progress down I93 through New Hampshire en route to Boston Logan Airport when I came over a small rise and saw a state trooper parked up in the central median. He merely activated his emergency lights and pointed at me as I went by (I was probably doing about 80-85mph in a 65 zone.
Bertie W
If you're going to Acadia, do stop off in Bar Harbour it's such a pretty Town...they do an awesome (recommended) bi-plane tour of Bar Harbour nearby. http://acadiaairtours.com/
We did the lighthouse tour and it was brilliant !
We did the lighthouse tour and it was brilliant !
If stopping in Bar Harbor this is a great hotel
http://www.theharborsidehotel.com/
but go via this website for excellent discounts
http://www.mainesummervacation.com/
we got over $500 off a stay (4 of us stopping there in 2 rooms)
Then a trip to http://www.geddys.com/ for a pint of Blueberry Ale
http://www.theharborsidehotel.com/
but go via this website for excellent discounts
http://www.mainesummervacation.com/
we got over $500 off a stay (4 of us stopping there in 2 rooms)
Then a trip to http://www.geddys.com/ for a pint of Blueberry Ale
I used to go to Boston regularly on business and I've also had several holidays flying in/out of there from the UK. The holidays have been up to Maine and also out to the Cape Cod areas, usually.
Here's my two penny worth to add to the above.
1. There are some day flights from Boston to the UK...great, as you do not suffer jet lag. The flights leave around 9am and six or so hours later you arrive in the UK at around 9pm. I've always used these for the return where possible.
2. Kennybunkport is up from Boston and a superb small town to visit. In fact, we spent a week there on one trip. It's very cultural, nice riverside restaurants, and Goose Beach nearby is good for a day out by the sea.
3. Further up is Freeport. This is a major outlet town so if you're into shopping this is the place to be. It is huge and you need to get from shop to shop by car. It sells everything at vast discounts. Get your Levis here!
4. Further up is Camden National Park, Maine. The drive up to the top for the view is superb.
5. And if you want to go for a spectacular drive to a magnificent view, from Portland take a day's drive to Rangely Lake. It is a long trip though.
6. You mentioned Portland, Maine. Not much of a place IMHO. We based ourselves there for three days when we went autumn "leaf peeping".
Hope this adds to your considerations!
R.
Here's my two penny worth to add to the above.
1. There are some day flights from Boston to the UK...great, as you do not suffer jet lag. The flights leave around 9am and six or so hours later you arrive in the UK at around 9pm. I've always used these for the return where possible.
2. Kennybunkport is up from Boston and a superb small town to visit. In fact, we spent a week there on one trip. It's very cultural, nice riverside restaurants, and Goose Beach nearby is good for a day out by the sea.
3. Further up is Freeport. This is a major outlet town so if you're into shopping this is the place to be. It is huge and you need to get from shop to shop by car. It sells everything at vast discounts. Get your Levis here!
4. Further up is Camden National Park, Maine. The drive up to the top for the view is superb.
5. And if you want to go for a spectacular drive to a magnificent view, from Portland take a day's drive to Rangely Lake. It is a long trip though.
6. You mentioned Portland, Maine. Not much of a place IMHO. We based ourselves there for three days when we went autumn "leaf peeping".
Hope this adds to your considerations!
R.
The Leaper said:
I used to go to Boston regularly on business and I've also had several holidays flying in/out of there from the UK. The holidays have been up to Maine and also out to the Cape Cod areas, usually.
Here's my two penny worth to add to the above.
1. There are some day flights from Boston to the UK...great, as you do not suffer jet lag. The flights leave around 9am and six or so hours later you arrive in the UK at around 9pm. I've always used these for the return where possible.
2. Kennybunkport is up from Boston and a superb small town to visit. In fact, we spent a week there on one trip. It's very cultural, nice riverside restaurants, and Goose Beach nearby is good for a day out by the sea.
3. Further up is Freeport. This is a major outlet town so if you're into shopping this is the place to be. It is huge and you need to get from shop to shop by car. It sells everything at vast discounts. Get your Levis here!
4. Further up is Camden National Park, Maine. The drive up to the top for the view is superb.
5. And if you want to go for a spectacular drive to a magnificent view, from Portland take a day's drive to Rangely Lake. It is a long trip though.
6. You mentioned Portland, Maine. Not much of a place IMHO. We based ourselves there for three days when we went autumn "leaf peeping".
Hope this adds to your considerations!
R.
I agree re Kennebunkport.Here's my two penny worth to add to the above.
1. There are some day flights from Boston to the UK...great, as you do not suffer jet lag. The flights leave around 9am and six or so hours later you arrive in the UK at around 9pm. I've always used these for the return where possible.
2. Kennybunkport is up from Boston and a superb small town to visit. In fact, we spent a week there on one trip. It's very cultural, nice riverside restaurants, and Goose Beach nearby is good for a day out by the sea.
3. Further up is Freeport. This is a major outlet town so if you're into shopping this is the place to be. It is huge and you need to get from shop to shop by car. It sells everything at vast discounts. Get your Levis here!
4. Further up is Camden National Park, Maine. The drive up to the top for the view is superb.
5. And if you want to go for a spectacular drive to a magnificent view, from Portland take a day's drive to Rangely Lake. It is a long trip though.
6. You mentioned Portland, Maine. Not much of a place IMHO. We based ourselves there for three days when we went autumn "leaf peeping".
Hope this adds to your considerations!
R.
My sister lives there and it is lovely!
If you going to Wiscasset then you have to have a meal here http://goo.gl/maps/eyt44 Spragues the food is excellent and so cheap.
There's the famous Red's Lobsters on the other side of the road but this one is excellent.
For Kennebunkport we stopped here http://www.yachtsmanlodge.com/ was a nice place.
and you have to eat and drink here http://www.federaljacks.com/ excellent beers brewed on site.
But Geddy's is a must in Bar Harbor
and if you can drag yourself out of bed go see the sunrise at the top of Mt Cadillac, it's amazing.
There's the famous Red's Lobsters on the other side of the road but this one is excellent.
For Kennebunkport we stopped here http://www.yachtsmanlodge.com/ was a nice place.
and you have to eat and drink here http://www.federaljacks.com/ excellent beers brewed on site.
But Geddy's is a must in Bar Harbor
and if you can drag yourself out of bed go see the sunrise at the top of Mt Cadillac, it's amazing.
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