Boston areas (US)
Discussion
Looking for some help planning a trip to Boston and surrounding area later this year. I've been to Boston itself many times so happy with the city and where to stay, but looking to head towards Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire etc for a few days - this is the first time outside the city for me. Thinking 2 nights/3 days in the city and then hiring a car and driving for a five/six days before heaing back to Boston for the last night and flight home.
Anyone have any must sees and must stays they can share? We love the outdoors generally, so mountains, national parks, sea views etc are ideal, plus decent hotels - budget is not the main issue - nice hotels, good food and great surroundings are key. We don't mind travelling a few miles either - we're both used to heading across Europe in our Lotuses, so a few hours driving on some of the days is no issue, but we don't want to be driving all day every day, iyswim.
All tips and advice appreciated
Anyone have any must sees and must stays they can share? We love the outdoors generally, so mountains, national parks, sea views etc are ideal, plus decent hotels - budget is not the main issue - nice hotels, good food and great surroundings are key. We don't mind travelling a few miles either - we're both used to heading across Europe in our Lotuses, so a few hours driving on some of the days is no issue, but we don't want to be driving all day every day, iyswim.
All tips and advice appreciated
I'll recomend two things:
1. Spend some time at Kennybunkport. It's a delightful small town. Can recommend a stay at the Nonentum Resort.
2. Rangely Lake in Maine. Wonderful drive to get there and sensational views once there. Mind you, we were there at the time of the leaf fall. You'll need to find somewhere to stay...we were based in Augusta, Maine, at the time for a few days.
R.
1. Spend some time at Kennybunkport. It's a delightful small town. Can recommend a stay at the Nonentum Resort.
2. Rangely Lake in Maine. Wonderful drive to get there and sensational views once there. Mind you, we were there at the time of the leaf fall. You'll need to find somewhere to stay...we were based in Augusta, Maine, at the time for a few days.
R.
Maine and New Hampshire are really nice places to explore. I lived 2 years in Portland Maine and explored the states thoroughly. I still go back frequently to see friends. Maine is all about gorgeous coastal scenery while New Hampshire is about the mountains and lakes.
My suggestions:
- I agree with everyones comments so far about Kennebunkport.
- The Old Port District of Portland down by the waterfront is a nice place to wander around, grab a lunch of a lobster roll and explore the wharfs with all the lobster and fishing boats.
- While in Portland, detour over the Casco Bay Bridge on Rt 77 and veer left following the signs to Fort Williams/Portland Head Lighthouse. Great views from there. Continue heading south in Cape Elizabeth and you eventually reach Two Lights State Park. The views again are great but the best bit is the Lobster Shack located here. Take a bottle of wine from a nearby supermarket and some plastic cups, order your whole steamed lobster (they cook live lobsters to order) and sit on the picnic tables to feast while looking at thec Atlantic ocean roll in. This was a frequent hangout with friends in summer on a nice Sunday afternoon. If not nice outside then they have a small dining area inside.
- At Freeport they have the LL Bean shop which is an interesting place to explore.
- Continuing to head north, not far from Freeport, a classic Maine coastal drive is to turn off Rt 1 at New Brunsiwck and follow Rt 24 south towards Orr and Baileys Islands. First bit of the road is boring until you clear New Brunswick suburbia. Rt 24 turns into Harpswell Islands Road but keep heading out to the very tip of Orr Island. This is a peninsula so you will have to retrace your tracks back up to Rt 1 eventually. There is a souvenier store at the end but who cares about that. All along the scenery of lobster shacks, pine trees down to the rocky coast, boats bobbing in bays, etc is just great. Nice driving road too. There is good lobster pound for a pinic fresh lobster lunch on the right just after crossing the cobb bridge onto Orr Island.
- Rockland ME has a great museum (Owls Head Transportation Museum) of planes and cars that they get out driving/flying on weekends.
- Camden ME is another great town on the water to explore. Just north of the town on Rt 1 is a left turn off for Mt Battie which has great views of the area.
- Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are spectacular but may be too far north given your time constraints.
- Rangely Lakes is definitely way up there and again probably too far for your time allowed but the scenery is unspoiled. If you do make it there then take Rt 4 west towards New Hampshire. Every time I have driven that road I have seen a moose just hanging out somewhere on the side of the road, lake, etc. They are wild so be careful and they will kill you if you drive a car into one.
Over in New Hampshire my suggestions are:
- Take the drive up Mt Washington. Or if this is not to your liking, take the steam train from Bretton Woods. Bretton Woods Mt Washington Resort is a huge old style NH mountain hotel. Interesting to explore but can be pricey to stay.
- Second the Kancamagus Drive - spectacular in Fall with the leaves changing color.
- Lake Winnapasaukee is very attractive as someone has already mentioned.
Enjoy your trip!
My suggestions:
- I agree with everyones comments so far about Kennebunkport.
- The Old Port District of Portland down by the waterfront is a nice place to wander around, grab a lunch of a lobster roll and explore the wharfs with all the lobster and fishing boats.
- While in Portland, detour over the Casco Bay Bridge on Rt 77 and veer left following the signs to Fort Williams/Portland Head Lighthouse. Great views from there. Continue heading south in Cape Elizabeth and you eventually reach Two Lights State Park. The views again are great but the best bit is the Lobster Shack located here. Take a bottle of wine from a nearby supermarket and some plastic cups, order your whole steamed lobster (they cook live lobsters to order) and sit on the picnic tables to feast while looking at thec Atlantic ocean roll in. This was a frequent hangout with friends in summer on a nice Sunday afternoon. If not nice outside then they have a small dining area inside.
- At Freeport they have the LL Bean shop which is an interesting place to explore.
- Continuing to head north, not far from Freeport, a classic Maine coastal drive is to turn off Rt 1 at New Brunsiwck and follow Rt 24 south towards Orr and Baileys Islands. First bit of the road is boring until you clear New Brunswick suburbia. Rt 24 turns into Harpswell Islands Road but keep heading out to the very tip of Orr Island. This is a peninsula so you will have to retrace your tracks back up to Rt 1 eventually. There is a souvenier store at the end but who cares about that. All along the scenery of lobster shacks, pine trees down to the rocky coast, boats bobbing in bays, etc is just great. Nice driving road too. There is good lobster pound for a pinic fresh lobster lunch on the right just after crossing the cobb bridge onto Orr Island.
- Rockland ME has a great museum (Owls Head Transportation Museum) of planes and cars that they get out driving/flying on weekends.
- Camden ME is another great town on the water to explore. Just north of the town on Rt 1 is a left turn off for Mt Battie which has great views of the area.
- Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are spectacular but may be too far north given your time constraints.
- Rangely Lakes is definitely way up there and again probably too far for your time allowed but the scenery is unspoiled. If you do make it there then take Rt 4 west towards New Hampshire. Every time I have driven that road I have seen a moose just hanging out somewhere on the side of the road, lake, etc. They are wild so be careful and they will kill you if you drive a car into one.
Over in New Hampshire my suggestions are:
- Take the drive up Mt Washington. Or if this is not to your liking, take the steam train from Bretton Woods. Bretton Woods Mt Washington Resort is a huge old style NH mountain hotel. Interesting to explore but can be pricey to stay.
- Second the Kancamagus Drive - spectacular in Fall with the leaves changing color.
- Lake Winnapasaukee is very attractive as someone has already mentioned.
Enjoy your trip!
Some great advice above.
Another suggestion is just down the road from Kennebunkport there's a place called York Harbor. We stayed in this place www.yorkharborinn.com for a couple of nights during a trip round the area a few years ago and really liked it.
Another suggestion is just down the road from Kennebunkport there's a place called York Harbor. We stayed in this place www.yorkharborinn.com for a couple of nights during a trip round the area a few years ago and really liked it.
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