NFR - Planning another 10 day driving vacation starting in Boston - where to go?

M

music-city-missy

Well-known member
Daughter is doing another leadership program this time at Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering just outside of Boston. DH has cousin in Boston area so that is a given. After that we have time (approximately 10 days) to drive the region. So which direction to go and what to see, do, stay and eat?

 
You have probably done it, but I love the Carolinas coast, especially the Outer Banks.

 
A zillion years ago when I went to college north of Boston...

we always took the train into the city on Sat mornings. The first stop was Faneuil Hall and the nearby farmers market. If it's still good it is certainly worth a stop.

 
Since you live in the South, I would suggest you do New England.

2 options or both, depending on how much you want to drive. I live on Cape Cod and that would be ideal. About 70 miles from Boston and then 50 more miles to Provincetown on the tip. Its lovely now that Spring is here and the best time of year (except for the Fall) Plymouth is on the way and you can follow the coast all the way down 3A going thru all the little towns rather than the highway RTE 3. Then go on to New Bedford, (whaling) and Fall River (Lizzie Borden of the famous axe), detour thru Newport (Astor and Vanderbilt, etc. "cottages") and so to Providence, a jewel of a college city (Brown Univ). Alternatively, drive north along the coast thru Salem (witches) and Rockport (famous art colony) and on to Portland. Maine (Home of the outlets and Winslow Homers Black Rock just outside of Portland) then up as far as Mt Desert Island's National Park and Northeast Harbor(old money summer resorts) And don't forget Boston itself with it's Museums, theaters, Boston Common and Public Garden, Swan Boats and the North End (follow the Freedom Trail for historical sites). Enjoy!!

 
If you are driving north from Boston

along the coast, you shouldn't miss Newburyport or Portsmouth, NH either.
What time of year are you thinking about doing this? That could affect your choices.
Vermont & New Hampshire are also nice to drive through.

 
There are two sessions- one late June into July or Mid-July (probably this one)....

I guess we have been looking mainly going north but probably down into Providence also since it is such a happening city these days when it comes to food.

Last year when she did a similar program at U of Maryland we did this HUGE loop - around Maryland for a couple of days before dropping her off to visit SIL, dropped her off, into DC, down through VA to Staunton (just to eat at Mrs. Rowe's) & over to Charlottesville to visit DH cousin, then to Williamsburg (too touristy and fake) up to Chincoteague, all through the back roads over there and up to Oxford, then through Delware to Atlantic City, then through Cherry Hill (had to see a Wegmans) to Philly - by then too tired to do much but go to Reading Terminal and eat at Le Bec Fin, then down through Longwood Gardens and into Baltimore before picking up DD and flying home.

I guess the one thing that I found out is that you can see a lot and cover a lot of ground up on the East coast compared to the same milage down south.

Of course we tend to plan most of our stays around food, farmers markets and gardens. Those tend to be our main interests. And we love taking backroads and avoiding as many touristy places as possible.

 
North to

Ogunquit Maine. Make reservations at Arrows. Enjoy one of the finest meals you'll ever eat in this life time.

Drive west across N. Hampshire and go to the King Arthur Mother Ship right across the border in Norwich, Vermont. Stop at Dartmouth in Hanover, NH right before you cross into Vermont. Lots of fun little shops, drive down the highway on the Vermont side, there is an artist colony that escapes my memory. Glass blowing and the like.

Drop down into the Berkshires and take in Tanglewood and a concert by the Boston Symphony on the Lawn.

Drive back to Boston.

Enjoy all the quaint New England towns with their white church steeples and village greens all along the way. It's a beautiful part of the country.

 
If you happen to get to Maine, be sure to go up Rt. 1 to Wells and

stop at Lords' Harborside restaurant for baked stuffed lobster. It is the Best!!!! I grew up in Portsmouth,NH and have spent many summers up and down the coast of Maine. Absolutely love the area and miss it very much. One day we will get a trip home. Miss being able to go to Boston also. Soooo much to see and do. Portsmouth has changed a great deal since we left. Growing up it was a quiet, laid back place. You would probably enjoy seeing the Strawberry Banke area. Restored old homes etc. Could go on and on and on, but shouldn't take too much space. LOL Have a great trip. Lords' has a website, if you want a look see.

 
And Federal Hill- the italian food district and a fabulous food store and

cafe called Venda. There is a poultry store where they sell rabbit but they have to kill it after you select it and I drew the line at that. The sales clerk as much as called me a hypocrit and I agreed with him.

 
Yes, come to the Berkshires! Tanglewood, Boston Symp Orchestra, (more)

the Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, etc.. So much to see and do. Please let me know if you plan on making it out here and I will give you some ideas. Also, if you are an antiques buff, there is the Brimfield Antiques Show in mid July between here and Boston--acres and acres of antique sellers. Fun to experience.

 
Go north to Ba Ha-ba, Maine! So many quaint towns between there and Boston...

I took a trip with a friend over 20 (!!!) years ago and we spent every night in a different B&B. We drove north on the coast and back south inland. My favorite memory was a little town called Belfast. We stayed in The Pink Tourmalane (sp?) Inn owned by a young couple from Alaska. Beautiful (of course, this was 20+ years ago!) I remember clearly eating twin lobsters with slaw, rolls for something like $7 which was a deal even that long ago. Old cemeteries, covered bridges, rolling mountains.

And if you've never had a lobster roll....Mmmmmmm!

History, beauty, and good food all combined!

Let us know what you do!

Debbie

 
Okay - keep the info coming - starting to map it out now - heading NORTH!

Though we may have to make a trip into NYC for one day before we take DD to her program - when she saw how close it was, she started jumping up and down to go to NYC. Anybody know a good place to stay (cheap and safe) in NYC?

 
I cannot speak for NYC, but these reviews of NE are amazing

I lived on the North Shore of Boston for 10 years and fell in love with it! I just hope on your trip North that you will stop in Marblehead, MA (where I lived initially with my dh). I just can't describe the history and beauty there.
Also, I think it's Rte. 97 that you should follow up the coastline if you have time.
Just an opinion!
I'm excited for you!
Denice

 
I'm not sure when your trip will start, but for more affordable accomodations in NYC

you'd do better on the weekend. It is truly a business person's town, so during the week the prices are generally higher.

If you end up in Vermont, consider going to Grafton and see the cheese maker there - excellent cheese and a beautiful drive.

http://www.graftonvillagecheese.com/

 
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