Hey Karen

Chase just did (is she back yet?) a fantastic trip through the NE states, the recommendations are in the attached link. I bet you can find some great ideas there....

Here is a link that might be useful: NE Road Trip

I don't know when you're going...but if it's in the next week or three, and you'll be in Southern coastal Maine, you've gotta have lunch at The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport. It's what it sounds like, a walk up shack that gives you fried whole-belly clams (and other sea foods) with fries in a paper boat (guard your boat from the gulls!). No frills, but my mouth waters for those clams every time someone talks about going back East. I called them, and they will be open Columbus day weekend...after that, it depends on the weather. If it's nice, and there is foot traffic, they'll stay open another week or two. It's worth a call to check.

It's right on the river mouth at Kennebunk harbor, and proceeding through town there's a really nice drive along the coast with great views.

If you like rocky coastlines and sandy beaches for walking, stop in Ogunquit. Cute little shops & art galleries, fancy hotels, Down east architecture. Best of all,get someone to point out the beginning of "The Marginal Way" for a walk with breathtaking views. Lots of people miss it, and it's too bad. Right off route 1, which is the best way to toodle up the Maine coast anyway.

http://gonewengland.about.com/od/mainesightseeing/a/marginal-way-ogunquit-maine.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: The Clam Shack

I am from Ct and spend summers there. Can you give us a general idea of your itinerary so that we can make suggestions?

jo

Alexa, I don't remember seeing Chase's thread back in August. Thanks for the info.

jo, We really have no itinerary at this point. Going to take the Toll Road from Indiana in PA and then up through New York. We thought we would go up the middle of the States and come back down on the coast. That is all we have planned at this point. That's why I'm looking for advice.

Karen, it's the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia and if you manage to land there on Oct 23rd, a bunch of us CFers will be there as well! Lots to see and do and eat in Philadelphia.

Keep in mind that Pennsylvania is not New England -- we're in the Mid-Atlantic region. New York is also considered Mid-Atlantic, although upstate NY sure feels a lot more like NE than Mid-Atlantic to me.

Do you enjoy history? You may want to visit Valley Forge and Gettysburg.

It's strange but I consider myself more a denizen of the East Coast rather than the state of PA. I have never seen a lot of PA, but it is a pretty big state.

Are you starting in Indiana, PA and then heading to Philadelphia? Gettysburg is along the way and is far more interesting than Valley Forge.

Anyway, I can tell you lots to do in Philadelphia depending on how long you plane to be here.

One thing you could do is head towards the north eastern part of NY state, through Saratoga Springs, before heading over the border into Vermont. Saratoga Springs is a great place to visit.

If you end up in the Fingerlakes area of upstate NY, let me know (although I will be in Ct for the long weekend closing my cottage).

Your most important decision has been made and is a good one. October here on Cape Cod is the finest part of the year. The weather is typically comfortable as can be and there is an amazing calmness here. In the mountains, temperatures may be brisk but fall colors should be good.

What to do and where to eat would fill a guidebook and depends on individual preferences, so I will just make a few suggestions. Check them against your other references to see if they suit you.

Staying in country inns can be very pleasant in places like the Berkshires, Green Mountains or coastal Maine. I remember an especially enjoyable stay in Ogunquit, ME. If this interests you, get a country inn guidebook.

Two outstanding outdoor museums are Mystic Seaport in Mystic CT and the Hancock Shaker Vilage at Hancock, MA. I've enjoyed both several times. (Be aware that there is a smaller museum in Pittsfield, MA also called Hancock Shaker Village). The town of Concord, MA is a museum in itself, with immaculately kept old houses once lived in by the likes of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Thoreau. It's very worthwhile visiting.

Boston has a very good Chinatown with lots of good Asian restaurants, some specializing in dim sum, some featuring seafood. For Italian food it's the North End, which has winding streets and historic landmarks such as Old North Church.

Vermont Rte. 100 is noted as a scenic drive. It goes north-south right up the middle of Vermont.

If you have special interests (quilting?, used books?), let me know. Maybe I can help. Some of the nicest little towns are ones you never hear about. You'll have more than enough to do. Enjoy!

Jim

Karen:
Guess you wouldn't be going anywhere near Jim Thorpe, Pa. or the Pocono Raceway, PA.
I'd treat for Lunch or Dinner. Even have room to stay for a night.
Lou

Wow, you are all awesome. I'm overwhelmed with opportunities.

Lou, that is so kind of you to offer lunch or dinner and even any overnight stay.

Jim, you sound like you really know the area well. Thanks for so many ideas.

dedtired, thanks for the name of the market. I messed it up a little bit. We want to head up through PA, New York and Vermont then to Maine and over to the coast and travel the coast line south. That is our plan so far, as for places to visit, well that's why I've turned to you folks, I know I will get great advice. Thanks again.

rachelellen, thanks for the suggestions of places to eat and see.

I have a lot to think about and plan for. Please keep suggestions coming. We are very excited about this trip. Neither one of us have been to the east coast.

If I were taking this trip, I would also rely on Roadfood.com for recommendations. A link is below; just put in the state where you will be and then choose "All Restaurants" from the drop-down menu or specify what kind of food you are hungry for. Don't overlook really good ice cream in New England! There is a reason why Vermont has so many milk cows!

There are some lovely B&B inns in the area if you like the B&B experience while traveling.

Teresa

Here is a link that might be useful: Roadfood.com link

We love Leaf Peeping trips to NE. Last year was spectacular as we were at the peak of leaf color--important to those of us with no fall color.

I love the whole White Mountain area in NH. One of my favorite day trips was to the Mt. Washington Hotel . We had lunch there; the food wasn't anything special but I love going to the hotel for it's historic value and beauty.

As Rachel mentioned, we also did lunch at The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport; then strolled the neat shops.

Bar Harbor, ME was a great ride with lots of stops to view the ocean and nice shops with Acadia National Park surrounding the town center. Acadia National Park overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is a wonderful day trip. Hills and valleys seem to makeup the area. Eating in a quaint little restaurant right on Main St. The lobster roll was a hit with the group. We took a three hour cruise around the coastal islands. The cruise was inexpensive and worth every penny! Oh, we saw Martha Stewart's house.

The group agreed to stop at the Stonewall Kitchen Outlet in York to humor me; it's huge.

We didn't experience any really cold weather except on top of Mt. Washington. We took the cog up from the Mt. Washington hotel area and went from fall to a white out! That was sure fun for us Floridians.

All in all, NE is one of my favorite places for a road trip not to mention that I can visit with family in NH. They NEVER leave NH--my mother being the exception, my dad took her away when I was a baby, that's how I ended up being raised in Florida.

It would be hard not to have a good time! Enjoy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mt Washington Hotel

Karen,
I'll second Jim's vote for Rte 100 in Vermont. Also for scenic drives Rte. 17 called the Height of the Land runs between Rumford and Rangeley Maine is gorgeous. We LOVE Ragneley, ME small town New Egnland but just a tad upscale. Best restaurant in Rangeley is at Loon Lodge, a restored 1880's log lodge right on Rangeley Lake. It's our favorite hang out for martini's and appetizers and our anniversary go to spot.

If you haven't taken in a turn of the century grand hotel, check out the Balsams in Dixville Notch, NH (Dixville Notch is the first in the nation to vote in the Presidential Primary and Election.) Dixville Notch itself is the ultimate notch especially going through it from east to west. The cusine at the Balsams main dining room is fantastic in the grand style. Or check out the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH anothe fabulous grand hotel.

In Massacusetts, make a trip to Newburyport, MA. Newburyport is a restored seaport with historic architecture, fabulous shops and great restaurants. Don't miss Sea Glass restaurant in Salisbury Beach just across the river to the north of Newburyport. It's a farm to table steakhouse with great local seafood as well. South of Newburyport on Route 1A in Ipswich, MA is the Clam Box. Fried fresh seafood at its best. (Yes they have clams with bellies.)Just acrossed the river to the west of Newburyport is Amesbury, MA the birthplace of carriage making in the U.S. The downtown has a vibrant artist community, great little shops and not to be missed Flatbread Company. Organic, clay oven, thin crust pizza. Oh and the seaweed salad is heaven. There's also a Flatbread Company in Portsmouth, NH but Amesbury is the original location.

For outlet shopping, hit Route 1 in Kittery, Maine. And if you are an outdoors person, don't miss Kittery Trading Post. There's also outlet shopping in North Conway, NH but I prefer Kittery even with the sales tax.

Last but not least don't forget to check out the NH State Liquor stores. They have very good prices, worth stocking up. They have some great sales, click on Promotions.

Here is a link that might be useful: NH State Liquor Stores

We just got back from a delightful trip to the Atlantic Coast.

I posted our route on the thread Alex linked to.

Not sure what interests you but here's some of the highlights of our trip.

We crossed out of NY just east of Albany and traveled along Hwy 2 in northern Mass. It's a lovely drive especially in the Fall lots of places to stop and picnic if yu enjoy that type of thing.

In Williamstown we visited a fabulous Art Gallery, The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. It hoses the largest single collection of Impressionist art in the US.

We headed down to the Atlantic at Greenfiend, there is a very historic town just outside Greenfield called Deerfield. They have restored many homes to their original 18th century design and many are open for touring.

In Groton Connecticut, just east of New London, we visited the Submarine Museum and toured the Nautilus. MY DH loved it!

Jimster mentioned Mystic. The old seaport museum is a must. We enjoyed a wonderful meal there, forget the name of the restaurant but it was right at the foot of the drawbridge in downtown mystic. You can't miss it! There is also a restaurant on the main street about half way down on the ocean side that serves Mac and Cheese with big hunks of lobster in it...oh my!

If you are in Newport you have to go see the mansions of Newport, unbelievable. We did a three house tour and loved it.

Cape Cod was fabulous! We stayed in Hyanis and then took day trips up to Providence, over to Martha's Vineyard. We rented mopeds in Martha's vineyard but there is great between the three main towns. All of them are worth a visit but Edgartown was my favourite.

In Boston take a quided walking tour of downtown Boston, you miss so much if you don't. The Quincy market area is fun but it's really just a bunch of restaurants and shops but you have to see it.

The market in The North end ( all of this is in walking distance) is a must but I think it's only open weekends this time of year...not sure. The Italian restaurants in the North end are fabulous. We ate at Carmen's and loved it but it;s not open Mondays.

The drive along the coast up to Portland is breath taking . We loved, loved, loved the strip from Ogunquit to Kennebunkport.

You mus do the Marginal walk in Ogunquit. We ate at the Oarweed in Ogunquit, Billy's Clam Shack in Wells and the Warf in Kennebunkport. All very good!

Stay on Hwy 1 and 1 A so you don't miss the views.

Here is the first thread I posted there are lots of good ideas in it too.

Have a great time and wishing you great weather, ours was fabulous. 70's the whole time but I suspect it will be chillier now!!

Here is a link that might be useful: New England Raod Trip

In addtion to all the great ideas here:

1. look for lobster roll at Mcdonalds.

2. Roadside small lobster/clam shacks are great.

3. pick berries.

4. May be too cold for white water rafting.

5. Look out for mooses if you are driving. Mating season is on.

dcarch

Newport, RI is wonderful. The cliff walk is a must do, if you are up for it and the "cottages" are breathtaking. If you go through CT, try to make a visit to Pepe's Pizza, in New Haven. It is considered to be one of the best pizza places in the country (with lines to back it up.) Yale is also in New Haven and you can have a guided tour of the campus with an historian. My parents did that this summer and loved the tour. In Madison, Ct, a wonderful seafood joint is Lenny and Joes. Great for lunch. Plastic baskets, picnic tables (or inside dining) and great fresh seafood. Reasonable prices, too.
Guilford, CT has a great market called Bishops. Lots of fresh produce, homemade wine and ready to eat take out containers. They also have many orchards (peach, apple) for pick your own.
Further south in CT is Westport, with great restaurants and superb shopping. Great local theater too, at the Westport Playhouse.
Jo

Thank you, thank you! You all have given us so many ideas. I love that all this information comes from people who have experienced it. We are making our decisions on good advice not just going by information that the internet gives me.

Chase, Are the colors good right now? I'm hoping we don't miss the color. The internet states that inland the colors peak around mid-October and on the coast the end of October first of November. Is that correct?

I'm printing this entire thread off and my DH and I are going over it with the atlas and maps of each State this afternoon. I sent to the Chamber of Commerence and asked for information on their States. Only received something from Maine and Vermont. I guess the other States don't really care if we come. It was over three weeks ago. Ha

Karen

Karen the leaves were just starting to turn, some place more than others of course. The White mountains in NH were just starting so hopefully they will be in full tilt soon.

One tip , get the most detailed maps you can and avoid the Inter States and regular hwys unless you just want to "get" somewhere. For example there are some neat lighthouses, gorgeous homes and some great wildlife reserves if you take Hwy 28 instead of Hwy 6 on Cape Cod. You have to visit Provincetown when you are on the Cape! Very, very eclectic. We didn't do the whale watching thing there because we had done it before but you might want to check that out....not sure if it's Whale season.

I found the State Internet Sites to be somewhat helpful. Some of them have recommended scenic drives. Can't recall which.

Also found that even the nicest restaurants are very casual about dress so leave the jewels at home!

Whale watching along the coast...awesome. If you go through Pennsylvania either coming or going, I recommend Longwood Gardens. OMG it would take more than a day to see all the gorgeous gardens and flowers. We went there about this time two years ago...outstanding.

I lived in New England most of my life.

If in northeastern Mass, check out Salem, Gloucester, Marblehead, Ipswich and Newburyport. Tons of great eats and history.

Drive up Route 1/1A from the NH/Mass border into Maine. Glorious scenery and again, good eats.

Most of the roadside stands serving seafood will be closed in October. Some of the roadside ice cream may still be open. Hit any one which still is, it will be worth it.

While I could give you a million places to see and go to eat, I can't think of many I would advise against, so go where the wind sends you.

One drive I would recommend, and should be (crosses fingers) snow free in October, is the Kancamagus Highway. Stunning mountain views. Be sure to fill your tank first, there aren't any stores on it.

Have fun! Bring toll money.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Kanc

I agree with driving the Kank. We were there same time two years ago and it was gorgeous.

Another vote for Longwood Gardens; I've been there three times already and would go back in a heartbeat! Each season has its own special attractions. I think Winterthur House and Gardens is not too far from Longwood and is well worth a visit.

If you are up for it, rent bikes on Martha's Vineyard and ride along the lovely, FLAT, ocean route.

Teresa

I hope you are not in the New England States this week as the weather has been rainy , and not expected to clear till thursday or friday..
All the above recommendations are fabulous...
Enjoy your stay here.

We are leaving on our trip this coming Monday the 11th. My DH is now talking about going to Niagra Falls instead of driving through PA. I'm not sure I'm sold on that, but I do have let him have a little say in this.

We sat down yesterday with all your suggestions and mapped out a possible route. Not sure completely but have used many of your suggestions in preparing it.

Thanks again for the advice. I hope it will be done raining when we leave.

Karen

Karen,

There are an incredible number of things to do and see. They cover many miles, escpecially if you include Pennsylvania. Looks like your toughest job will be to pare the itinerary down to something which will fit the allotted time at a comfortable pace. Leave some of it for future trips.

In my previous post, I failed to mention whale watches. I recommend them. If you have sea sickness tendencies, medicate. And dress warmly. No matter how warm the day is on land, it will be chilly and breezy at sea.

I think you lucked out on the weather. This week isn't good. Next week should be fine.

Jim

I agree on the whale watching, I took Dad when we went to Maine. It was cold, the weather was a bit stormy and the boat tossed around quite a lot. Most of the passengers were sick, so definitely get some ginger or something for motion sickness, just in case.

We saw seals and puffins too, on the same trip, a double bonus. Maine has some wondrous beasts!

Annie

Seasickness on whale watch cruises is a dilemma. My daughter vomited throughout her first one. She took dramamine before the second on and slept comfortably the whole time.

Jim

Many swear that this works, no drugs:

wristband

dcarch

Janet, we just arrived at our cottage yesterday and the leaves are pretty much done, Central Ontario.

Not sure if you intend to drive along the coast but if you do you may want to leaf peep first and then head back home along the coast.

Cape Cod: Chatham
Islands: If you have to choose one, I'd recommend Nantucket over Martha's Vinyard. There is a high speed ferry which only takes an hour but be sure to make reservations. The Vinyard is beautiful but very much like the rest of the Cape. Nantucket's historic district is truly like walking back through time - complete with cobblestone roads! Definitely worth googling to see if it's of interest to you.

RI: Newport - Cliff Walk, Mansions, Thames St shops/restaurants, Inn at Castle Hill - fabulous (but pricey) waterfront dining/lodging or just enjoy a drink while sitting in their Adirondack chairs (weather permitting). Fantastic sunsets.

CT: Mystic - downtown & Sea Port
Waterford: Harkness State Park - beautiful, waterfront, mansion, popular with fishermen/family picnics.
Essex: Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Tour: http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/
Madison: Lenny & Joes - casual, seafood

Have a great trip!