Must see places in NE USA?

[skiprat]

Hi guys.
Please help us out. My better half and I have 99.9% decided that we will visit USA in July to celebrate our 25th.
We have also decided to limit our tour to NE USA, namely Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.
Time permitting, we might pop over the border into Canada.
We plan on being there for about 10 days.

Besides the seriously commercialised trippers traps, can you recommend a couple places that shouldn't be missed?

Many thanks in advance:wink:

 

[wolftat]

Mystic mariitime center is great, and if you are going to be in CT, I am going to have to buy you lunch or dinner at least once.

 

[PenMan1]

Skip;
Welcome back and I really hope Lenny Howard chimes in here! The "common link" to all of the states you mentioned is the worlds best lobster! See what you'd like, but if this were MY TRIP, I see the inside of every "historically significant" lobster shack

GREAT area to visit and a good time of year to be there.

 

[rej19]

If want to tackle a big city Boston has lots of historical sites. The freedom trail walk thru the city is definitely worth the time. It is very well marked and takes you to most of the sites you want to see. We started there and went up the coast to Maine. It was a great vacation.

 

[Culprit]

Boston, Massachusetts has a lot of history, my favorite of which is the USS Constitution. Official Website of USS Constitution

And if you travel up into Canada, Prince Edward Island is gorgeous - especially if your wife is a fan of any of L. M. Montomery's writings. I know that none of the men will publicly admit to having seen the movies, but she is the author who wrote Anne of Green Gables (or so my wife tells me). Green Gables, the farm where the author partially grew up, is there and you can tour it. The whole island is great.

 

[sbwertz]

Norman Rockwell Museum

On our last trip back east one of our favorite stops was at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Vermont.

http://www.nrm.org/

We spent almost the whole day there.

Sharon

 

[foamcapt40]

We visited Salem, Ma a couple of years ago and it was very worthwhile!

 

[Dalecamino]

Steve, Newport, Rhode Island has some interesting Summer Cottages. Do a quick google on the Newport mansions. Some (if not all) have tours open to the public. Although, I not sure if it is seasonal. I would also take Neils offer :biggrin:

 

[skiprat]

Nice ideas !! Thanks a lot!!:biggrin:

Neil, I'll be in touch closer to the time and if we can, then we'll definately 'do' lunch. We can arm wrestle to see who pays !!:biggrin:

 

[Lenny]

I hear the Zumba classes in Kennebunkport, Maine can be fun! :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

(at least until the court date.) :wink:

I will say Kennebunkport is a beautiful town though!

Some of the best class 5 White Water Rafting on the Kennebec in Northern Maine... lots of fun and you can do alot of damage to yourself in the process ...DAMHIKT

Baxter State Park if your into hiking and camping... You WILL see deer, Moose, possibly bear. The Dacey Pond area is one of the nicest places I have seen on this earth. (but then I don't get out much)


Lobster, Lots of Lobster ... if you like that stuff! Did you know years ago lobster was considered food for the poor. It was so plentiful they fed it to the inmates at the Maine State prison 7 days a week. People could just gather it up when it washed up on the beach.
The favorite local spot is Youngs Lobster Pound, not really a resturaunt so much but they have lots of lobster and will cook it up for you (or overnight ship it) and there is a deck with picnic tables overlooking Penobscott Bay.


Penobscott Marine Museum .. (again ...I don't get out much), so it makes my list as it is right next door!


Acadia National Park and Whale watching trips in Bar Harbor (busy, tourist town in the Summer)
They promise you will see a whale or you get a coupon to do it again.... Which for us meant we were on the boat for several hours as we were the last trip of the day and they didn't want to give up easy.

Beautiful area though with lots of hiking and cycling trails.

I will keep thinking .... I'm a little out of practice in that area as of late, and try to come up with some other ideas!

Keep me informed!

 

[gallianp]

I am crying now!

 

[ctubbs]

I am crying now!

I'm with you. Haven't been back there since '68 but can still taste the world's best lobster, yum, Yum, YUMMMMMMM!

Charles

 

[dplloyd]

Sam Adam's Brewery in Boston. If you like beer.

Great tour!:bananen_smilies046:

Make sure you hotel room is close.

 

[monophoto]

Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT - shipbuilding center
Providence, RI (Brown University campus)
Newport, RI (mansions)
Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA - historical recreation
Schwamb Mill, Arlington, MA - an old water-powered wood-working shop that is famous for making oval picture frames on a lathe
Boston - seafood (!) and Freedom Trail, colleges (MIT and Harvard), people watching at Harvard Square or Quincy Market
Salem, MA (House of Seven Gables)
Cape Cod (Provincetown, etc)
Rockland, Maine (Farnsworth Gallery - Wyeth paintings)
Bucksport, Maine (Fort Knox)
Freeport, Maine (LL Bean store)
Springfield, CT (Springfield Arsenal, Valley Photographic Center)

 

[stolicky]

You have a lot of options to pick from. A couple of things to prepare for - plan for it to be hot and humid in July, bring sun block because you will likely see the sun here, and remember that we drive on the right side of the road here! : ) (note, the previous statement all stems from my experience when I went to Uni in Wales)

There are already a lot of ideas mentioned above. Boston is a really great place to see, and although its cool to be there on the 4th of July, I'd recommend only going that day if you plan on spending hours in crowds of people along the Charles River.

Other than the food choices discussed above, you would probably stay along the general shoreline, or go right up into the mountains. Without knowing what your (or the Mrs.) interests are, I'm not sure there is a whole lot in between to be worth gong to during a 10 day trip.

If there happens to be any kind of gathering in the greater central New England area, I would try to head out that way and meet up. I would certainly buy you a nice Sam Adams - one of the better 'larger than micro-breweries' we have over here....!

Anyway. Good luck on the planning, and if you have any questions, many of us are willing to help. Just let us know.

 

[bgio13]

If you do visit Boston you have to take a trip down to Cape Cod, and of course no trip to the Cape would be complete unless you take a day trip over to Martha's Vineyard and visit the favorite vacation spot of our last two presidents. A "lobstah" roll and some homemade clam chowder and mabey even some fried clams will make the trip worthwhile. If you decide to come let me know, but it has to be during the summer months because everythings closed during the winter. Look forward to seeing you,

Bill Giordano

 

[bigevilgrape]

I don't have anything to add to whats on the list, but if your wife knits I can tell you were to head

 

[edicehouse]

Adirondacks in upstate NY.

 

[IPD_Mr]

Hold off until early August and you can hit the DC Pen Show. I bet Lou would love to see you.

 

[RussFromNH]

There is a lot to pick from. What do you like to do? Are you city or country? Hiking or guided bus tour?


Boston is nice, don't forget to visit the North End, take in a Red Sox game and take the misses to Newbury Street then to the Boston Commons for a Swan Boat ride. You can get touresty and take a Duck Tour of the muddy waters and see the history of Boston.

South of Boston Cape Cod has some beautiful beaches. from there you can take a trip to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Whale watching is also a good day trip.


If you are into hiking, the Mountains of NH are stunning. Mount Monadnock is the second most hiked mountain in the world and makes a great day hike to the top and back. You can drive to the top of Mount Washington where the 2nd most powerful winds have ever been recorded.

If you come over the 4th of July ask around and take in a fireworks display. Most areas have a good display. Boston has a great show with the Boston Pops playing at the Hatch Shell, but you need to get there early morning to get a seat for the night.

When in Maine, get a lobstah and have some real clam chowdah. You can also take a sail for the day or 1/2 day on a schooner.

Just remember the rules of Boston... Driving...
1. Making eye contact revokes your right of way.
2. Never use directional signals when changing lanes. They only warn other drivers to speed up and not let you in.
3. Boston Drivers expect to be flipped off, it is like the Boston wave.
4. Always look both ways before going through a green light.
5. When on a one way street, stay to the right to allow for oncoming traffic to pass.
6. Never, ever stop for a pedestrian unless he flings himself under the wheels of your car.
7. The first parking space you see will be the last parking space you see. Grab it.
8. Learn to swerve abruptly. Boston is the home of slalom driving, thanks to the Department of Transportation, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them on their toes.
9. When another car pulls up close behind you and "flashes their brights", slam on your breaks.
10. Be prepared for abundant construction detours.


11. Only those pedestrians not looking where they're going, head and eyes fixed firmly forward, are allowed to cross in front of traffic. Be sure to "break" hard and stop as close to them as possible.

• Tip: Only pedestrians crossing within "Cross Walks" have legal rights. Pedestrians outside of "Cross Walks" are "fair game" or "10 points".

Most Important of all... Never get in the way of a car that needs extensive bodywork.

 

[ve3bax]

didnt see it mentioned so ill throw it out there... take in a game at fenway park... as a life long jays fan i went to my first game at fenway last year and the jays swept the series... plenty of fellow jays fans around us... cheering for the opponents when they are winning makes fenway even more fun

also, i saw sam adams mentioned, so ill give my 2c on that... tour is ok, samples are good, but i enjoyed the harpoon brewery tour much more... they give you some samples to drink while doing the tour, and afterwards you end up in their taproom, and you are free to try everything they have on offer at that time (12 or 13 beers and a cider while i was there in the summer!)

 

[raar25]

Of course NY City has an endless number of sites, but I would recommend a Yankess Game instead of the Redsox if you want to see the local team win....sorry I couldn't resist.

When you go through CT there are hundreds of historic sites which a few would fill a day (like Mark Twain house, Mystic Aquarium, Frank Pepes Pizza voted best pizza in the world etc). I will create a list for you, just give me a day or two.

 

[wolftat]

Nice ideas !! Thanks a lot!!:biggrin:

Neil, I'll be in touch closer to the time and if we can, then we'll definately 'do' lunch. We can arm wrestle to see who pays !!:biggrin:

Sounds good to me, just to be clear, does the winner or the loser pay? :biggrin:

 

[wood-of-1kind]

If you make it north into Canada (Toronto to be specific) you (& Mrs. Skippie)will be welcomed guests and dinner/ lunch on me. If you enjoy baseball then we can take in a Blue Jays game and you will be part of history, given that we will win out third(3) World Series away from the Yanks.

 

[NewLondon88]

.. plenty of fellow jays fans around us... cheering for the opponents when they are winning makes fenway even more fun

Skip ... PLEASE understand that Fenway is one of the only parks in the
country where you could get away with your life doing this.
(People who try this in New York are called "the deceased")

In Boston, they'll give you some lip just because they should, but it is
one of the best places to see fans who actually appreciate sportsmanship
even if it comes from the opposing team.

BTW.. if you're gonna make it to New England, I expect to know where
this wrestling match is taking place so I can bring a camera..

 

[jeff]

Adirondacks in upstate NY.

I'll second that! If you can go a little farther West, the Hudson Valley, the Catskill Mountains, and the Adirondack mountains are worth the visit. You could also take a day cruise on the lower Hudson around New York City, seeing the Statue of Liberty, and the USS Intrepid Museum where the Space Shuttle Enterprise will be on display.

About 90 miles of New York City is Hyde Park, NY, where you can tour the home and library of US President Franklin Roosevelt, and the mansions of other famous families such as the Vanderbilts and The Mills. Because of it's proximity to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, the Hudson Valley (and NYC of course) are full of outstanding dining opportunities.

 

[skiprat]

Well, thanks to all your wonderful suggestions we have actually now paid for the flights, booked the hotels and also paid for the car rental. :biggrin:

We decided to change our dates for two reasons; Moving it from July to March/April actually saved us around £1000 !!
But the big reason for changing dates is that our 25th anniversary is on 2nd April so we'll be 'Stateside' to celibrate!!!:biggrin:
I think places will be a little less crowded on our new dates too
We arrive in USA on 25th March till 3rd April

We will be spending nights in Massachusetts x 1, New Hampshire x 1, Maine x 2, Vermont x 1, New York State x 2, Connecticut x 1 and finally New York x 1(Newark ) so we can do a day trip to places like Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island etc, before we go home.

Many thanks for all your ideas and we really are looking forward to spending time in your great country and with luck we will meet up with a few IAP members even if only for a few minutes, lunch or hopefully even dinner. :biggrin:

 

[firewhatfire]

look at going to the Statue of Liberty from the New Jersey side. Alot less crowded on the boats. I picked me up a piece of wood while there and used it to make a stylus with. Just a little bit of something from the trip.

 

[Lenny]

The Hudson Valley area is very nice! We would usually stay in Hyde Park when visiting/picking up our son from Vassar College ... visited the Vanderbilt mansion ... the guest house was impressive as well, built in 90 days by over 300 craftsman working elbow to elbow. Never made it to see the Roosevelt Home and Library ... maybe next time.

 

[Lenny]

We decided to change our dates for two reasons; Moving it from July to March/April actually saved us around £1000 !!
But the big reason for changing dates is that our 25th anniversary is on 2nd April so we'll be 'Stateside' to celibrate!!!:biggrin:
I think places will be a little less crowded on our new dates too
We arrive in USA on 25th March till 3rd April

Skip, you do realize that Maine has only 2 seasons ... Winter and July 4th! Bring your long johns! :tongue: