Help from the Vermont, Upper NY, Maine Crowd!

[fireview2788]

I'm working on a 20th anniversary trip for me and my wife. We have never been to up state NY, Vermont, Maine, etc. Any suggestions? What should be avoided? The only thing we specifically want to do is whale watching.


fv

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Well, not many whales in upstate NY or VT.

A weekend at a B&B in the Lake Placid area is nice.

What time of year?

 

[Jack Straw]

Drive through the Adirondacks (NY), stop at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, continue east and take one of the ferries into Vermont. There is lots to see in Vermont. Go to Stowe and take a gondola ride and then drive through Smuggler's Notch. Map your route and then check the internet for attractions.

Have a good time!

 

[heat seeker]

In Maine, don't miss Acadia National Park.

New Hampshire, see Mount Washington - drive up, take a coach up, or take the cog railway to the top.

 

[fireview2788]

Obviously we'll be heading to the coast for the whale watching. Our anniversary is in October but whale watching ends in Mid-September so we are looking at late August to mid-September.

Keep the ideas coming!

fv

 

[Adios Pantalones]

You will be in the foliage mid Sept up there. I second the ferry- we have gone on the one out of Burlington, which is a nice place to stop for lunch etc.

 

[Delta-T]

what, are we chopped liver over here in NH? we have whale watching too. even if the traditional "whal watching" isn't running, you could catch the boat to the Isles of Shoals and run a pretty good chance of seeing some whales anyways. the circuitous route through upstate NY, past Old Forge and LakePLacid is a nice drive..brings you right to the Lake George area, then through Vermont into NH, and on into Maine if you chose. Its not as fast as I90, but it's far more interesting.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

T was actually born in a town named Chopped Liver, NH. He's always been bitter about it.

 

[fireview2788]

what, are we chopped liver over here in NH? we have whale watching too. even if the traditional "whal watching" isn't running, you could catch the boat to the Isles of Shoals and run a pretty good chance of seeing some whales anyways. the circuitous route through upstate NY, past Old Forge and LakePLacid is a nice drive..brings you right to the Lake George area, then through Vermont into NH, and on into Maine if you chose. Its not as fast as I90, but it's far more interesting.

That's what we're looking for!

 

[firefighterjake]

I guess it goes without saying . . . Woodstock Woodstoves!

As for other places . . . guess it depends on what you enjoy doing and how you like to vacation . . . if you're more into the relax and do nothing sort of persons, live life on the edge and cram as much fun stuff in as you can sort of folks . . . if you want to see the "must see" attractions or like to go off the beaten path and see stuff that not a lot of tourists see.

Vermont . . . If you like history you may want to check out Calvin Coolidge's home in Vermont.

Maine . . . there is Acadia National Park . . . also the Verona Island Bridge which has an observation tower at the top that offers outstanding views . . . Fort Knox (the less famous Fort Knox) in Prospect . . . lots of lighthouses . . .

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Sorry I don't know any of the current group that takes folks out whale watching but check out the Eastport/Lubec area for boat charters.

The Harris family used to run fishing/whale watching boats as well.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...Harris_Point_Shore_Cabins-Eastport_Maine.html

 

[Grisu]

Sounds like a fun trip. Here would be my suggestions for VT:

After Lake Placid go to Essex, NY and take the ferry to Charlotte. If it is already dinner time you can buy some food, turn south on Route 7 and go to Mount Philo State Park for picnic while watching the sunset. If you want to splurge you can go north to Shelburne and have dinner in the Inn at Shelburne Farms. Great estate at the lake, sunset over the lake included. For the night there are a lot of budget friendly hotels at route 7 between Shelburne and Burlington. Burlington is a lively college town with an outside pedestrian mall (Church Street) and many food options. If you need a recommendation for a good dinner spot just tell me which cuisine you would like. You can stroll through downtown, go down to the waterfront and board the “Spirit of Ethan Allen” for a lake cruise (no whales though), or maybe join a brewtour visiting several microbreweries (http://www.burlingtonbrewtours.com/).

The next morning I would recommend breakfast in either “Mirabelles” or “Penny Cluse” or the Inn at Shelburne Farms if you missed it the evening before. Then head north-east to Essex Junction, continue route 15 to Jeffersonville and switch to route 108. If you want to stock up on real VT maple syrup keep looking for small signs along the road. A ½ gallon from a family sugaring operation is between 25 to 30 dollars. Drive careful up the mountain; there are some tough corners in between (not recommended with a RV!). You will be early for fall foliage (peak usually first week of October) but maybe you will see the beginnings. A few miles after crossing the peak you will come into the Stowe Mountain Resort. Take a gondola up Mount Mansfield or drive up if you are adventurous. Enjoy the view over the Champlain Valley and the lake to the Adirondacks. Continue on route 108 south. Should your wife be a fan of “The Sound of Music” the Trapp family lodge is only a short detour. Don’t expect any references to the movie there though; they hate it. Nevertheless, the food and beer is really good. Continue driving to Stowe, take a stroll around town and maybe stay there overnight. When you continue further south you will drive by the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waitsfield. They have tours with free ice cream. A little bit more to the south you will hit I-89 which you can use to get to NH or you just pass it and go further south on route 100 into the Mad River Valley. Nice scenery there, too.

Those would be my ideas. If you have trouble finding anything in google or need some clarification just ask. Try to reserve rooms soon; you will be close to the peak tourist season. Have a great trip!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

By all means you need to stop in West Lebanon, NH.

 

[Ncountry]

If you make it as far as the Thousand islands on theSt Lawrence river, Bolt castle and a tour of the islands is fun.

 

[xman23]

One great place to go out whale watching is out of provincetown cape cod MA. Check the season. A few whales would rub the bottom of the boat.. Felt like the could roll the boat if they wanted to. I love the main coast, hike Acadia national park.
Check out MT Washington NH, car road to the top or the cog rail way to the top.

 

[firefighterjake]

http://www.mainewhales.com/

(broken link removed to http://www.barharborwhales.com/default.php)


I've gone out with both of these tour groups -- first is in Boothbay Harbor . . . second in Bar Harbor. Both were decent tours. Saw whales both times.

 

[peakbagger]

I would suggest the previous Burlington and Stowe Vermont options then head east on RT 2 to Jefferson NH, then head south on Rt 115 to Rt 302. Route 309 goes through Crawford Notch throuhg the center of the white mountains and goes by the Mt Washington Hotel (Worth a stay there if you want to visit a classic Grand Resort of the late 1800s). If you are train person, there is the Cog Railroad to the top of Mt Washington nearby. There is also a tourist train that goes through Crawford Notch based in North Conway. From there head south to Portland Maine which is the cruise ship capital of the Northeast and spend a day in the Old Port . Right next door in Cape Elizabeth is Fort William which is where Portland Head Light is one of the most photographed light houses around. A cheap way to see the islands off Portland is to take a Mailboat cruise on the ferries that supply the islands. In the Old port there are all sorts of boat tours including some where you go out with a lobsterman and catch lobster. Portland also had a large walking trail network that wraps around the waterfront and the city. The walk along the base of the Eastern Promenade and over to Back Cove is free and scenic.

The next stop is Freeport Maine, home of LL Bean and numerous outlets. Heading up the coast you have choice, either take RT 1 or stay on the interstate. Rt 1 is parking lot in the summer especially Wiscasset than can take hours to drive through. The interstate is less scenic but when you get to August take RT 3 to Searsport (the coast) and then head north to Ellsworth (entrance to Acadia NP). Don't worry about skipping Brunswick to Searsport , there is still plenty of coast and its somewhat less busy. The tourist traffic really drops off east of Acadia, there is some spectacular territory heading over the Machias but most will head up to Bangor along the river and then head back to Portland via the interstate.

 

[fireview2788]

I guess it goes without saying . . . Woodstock Woodstoves!

As for other places . . . guess it depends on what you enjoy doing and how you like to vacation . . . if you're more into the relax and do nothing sort of persons, live life on the edge and cram as much fun stuff in as you can sort of folks . . . if you want to see the "must see" attractions or like to go off the beaten path and see stuff that not a lot of tourists see.

Vermont . . . If you like history you may want to check out Calvin Coolidge's home in Vermont.

Maine . . . there is Acadia National Park . . . also the Verona Island Bridge which has an observation tower at the top that offers outstanding views . . . Fort Knox (the less famous Fort Knox) in Prospect . . . lots of lighthouses . . .

I got made fun of when I mentioned that.....

 

[firefighterjake]

I got made fun of when I mentioned that.....

You're among friends here though . . . maybe you can sweeten the deal by suggesting Woodstock Woodstoves for you . . . and a tour of the Teddy Bear factory or Ben and Jerry's for whoever else is going with you on the ride.

 

[fireview2788]

You're among friends here though . . . maybe you can sweeten the deal by suggesting Woodstock Woodstoves for you . . . and a tour of the Teddy Bear factory or Ben and Jerry's for whoever else is going with you on the ride.

Teddy bears maybe, I can't do Ben and Jerry's due to one of the owner's stance on a convicted police murderer.

fv

 

[fireview2788]

Keep the ideas coming! I'm going to have to sit down with her and start looking this stuff more closely and with a map.


fv

 

[Delta-T]

I second and third the Cog on MT. Washington...especially in the fall. There aren't very many "straight shots" through NH East-West, but you can catch the Kanc (Kancamagus Hwy R112) from Rt 302. Its a curvey mountain pass with its own weather patterns. Few good places to stop and catch the scenic views. Dotted with swimming holes and hiking trails. Commercial villages of Lincoln and Conway on either side. On the other side it rejoins 302 into Fryeburg Maine, passed Lake Sebago and on into Portland. The Mount Washington Hotel is impressive to see, as is the Mountain View Grand Hotel (I've not stayed at either, but I have stayed at the Spalding Inn next to the Mountain View, its "haunted" and owned by the Ghost Hunters guys, is nice).

 

[Grisu]

Teddy bears maybe, I can't do Ben and Jerry's due to one of the owner's stance on a convicted police murderer. fv

I don't want to get in an argument about the political leanings of Ben Cohen but Ben&Jerry's is owned by Unilever since 2000.

 

[Hogwildz]

Up around the Finger Lakes is very nice. Shops, wine, etc. We used to ride up there a couple times a year.
Maybe a nice place to pass through and stop over for a day or so.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Should be a lot of good places for lobster in that area,as for the whale watching, id be going to hawaii in december. They tend to play just off the coast near hilo, i think it may be breeding season.