bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Every time we've been to Acadia Np there was an entrance right at the top of the town of Bar Harbor, you must be thinking of maybe Ellsworth? 2 hours is even long for that town to Acadia, Bar Harbor and Boothbay are worth the traffic, in fact our plan this year, hope it works, will include them and be sometime in late September early October, plans haven't been firmed up yet so no reservations yet but not worried about them.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

How things have changed! In 1962 my father loaned me his Buick Regal (crappy car) to go on a fall foliage honeymoon trip to Vermont. I don't remember any traffic nor any difficulty in staying at beautiful inns without prior reservations. I don't think that hordes of tourists would have enhanced the experience.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Sorry to have been unclear on that. It's the trip from the mainland TO Bar Harbor and Acadia on the island that's the problem. I have spent as much as two hours on the Trenton Bridge on a weekend day during peak season. And moving around the island is like moving around Manhattan on a holiday weekend. We generally prefer to wait till later in the fall or earlier in spring. It's a beautiful place, but the crowds are too much for us any more. We stay further downeast or bypass and try to make it to Machias and vicinity.

matty

I love Keene, New Hampshire! It is (or was at least - It's been awhile) one of the absolute prettiest small towns in the country. :)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

LOL, who you calling Missy, Mister?!

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

We think so!

wetreed

josquin1 Loc: Massachusetts

Western Mass is great. The hilltowns along rt 9 ; Cummington, Worthington, Chesterfield, Ashfield etc. Route 2 going into North Adams. Practically all of Vermont, the white mountains of New Hampshire, Mt Monadnock area in the south of the state. Maine is beautiful and rugged esp up north in the Baxter state park area.

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Lots of good replies, but what you choose to visit depends largely on what you want to see. The cities? We got lots. Forests and parks? We got 'em. Lighthouses? We got 'em. Mountains? We got 'em. Coastal vistas? Yep. History? In spades. And all within a few hours of each other.

If you visit Boston, don't miss the Freedom Trail, and the archives in the basement of the State House. Want to see the Mayflower Compact? It's there. Want to visit Plymouth? Pilgrims, Thanksgiving, and the Rock? Easy access even during the season (altho the Mayflower II is out for restoration). Go on a whale watch? You can do it from there.

Like leaf-peeping? You and about a zillion others, but the color starts early up north and takes its time to work down this way. Some years peak in my area (I'm three miles from Plymouth Rock) isn't until very late October or even first week of November.

Connecticut has Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium, both fun. Or the nearby Gillette Castle, that overlooks the Connecticut River valley and is gorgeous in the fall. Newport, RI has fabulous mansions (showing off the Gilded Age) and the Tennis Hall of Fame.

Springfield, Mass. has the basketball Hall of Fame. Salem (Mass.) has witches. Lots of them, especially around Halloween! New Hampshire has Portsmouth (visit the Albacore, the first submarine designed to 'fly' underwater), and further north, the White Mountains and the nastiest weather in the world atop Mt. Washington! Don't miss the Cog Railway if you visit Bretton Woods and that area. Great fun! Or 'America's Stonehenge' in Salem, NH.

Southern Maine has gorgeous coastal scenes and lighthouses. Ogunquit (the Marginal Way), Kennebunkport, (the Bush Compound, great beaches, Cape Porpoise harbor) Portland, all worth the trip. Acadia National Park further north is about as pretty and rugged as a coast can get. Freeport for LL Bean and tons of outlets.

Way too much to do in a single trip, but at least there are a few ideas for you. And of course, if you come anywhere close, give me a shout and I'll come say hello and give you a tour of Plymouth!

Vern L

If you get to Northern Vermont, don't miss Mary's restaurant in Bristol, just south of Burlington, worth a side trip and generally recognized as the best restaurant in NE. Route 8 cross NY state, thru the Adirondacks should be spectacular and a great way to get to Vermont.

jpgto Loc: North East Tennessee

Golly gee Jay. New England is picturesque no matter where you are. In CT a ride up RT 7 starting at I95 can take you through some
quaint little towns, up into MA, Stockbridge, following it through MA into VT all kinds of neat places. Then take a cut over into
NH up into Franconia around the White Mountains to Conway and N. Conway. Then over to ME. So many neat places in ME.
Back to MA toward Boston, down 495 to the Cape, great shore scenes. Over to RT 1 in RI, numerous shore scenes and
RT 1/1A in CT to Mystic, quaint town, to Noank for Abbotts Lobster in the Rough! Run RT 1 all the way to NY!
Some of these RTs are slow but picturesque. Also, get off the beaten path as you have on your other excursions. Have fun.
If you come into CT and would like to have a coffee send me a PM.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

This isn't a recommendation for what to do in New England, others are doing a great job at that! Getting here is what I'll recommend. I suggest that you take US 40 as much as possible through Indiana and Ohio. I would get of off 40 and take I-70 through the cities. US 40 is the National Road, the first "interstate highway." There are numerous towns and small cities that sprouted up along the National Road with buildings dating back to the early 1800s. Much of US 40 is four lane and it is a short distance (in most cases) from I-70, should you need gas, food or lodging. I took US 40 twice while driving to and from California. I changed routes in Missouri. US 40 has wide shoulders so you can safely pull over to take photographs (something you can't really do on the interstate).

I would return to the Interstate just before Columbus. In Columbus you have the choice of going east (through W. Virginia and Pennsylvania) or north toward (just) Pennsylvania. The roads in Pennsylvania are narrow and tend to be curvy; there are few places to pull over for photographic opportunities, for this reason I suggest getting on the Interstate to expedite your travel.

I will be so bold as to make a suggestion. At Columbus, OH, I would take I-270 north to I-71 (north). South of Cleveland I would take I-271 (to avoid Cleveland traffic). Take it north to I-90 to Pennsylvania and New York. In New York I would take I-86 through the "Southern Tier". I would take it to Binghampton and I-88. I would take I-88 to Schenectady/Albany. Schenectady's Stockade area is pre-Revolutionary War. At Schenectady/Albany, you have a choice to make: which part of New England do you want to see? From the Albany/Schenectady area you can either go on to Boston (and parts east) or go further north into Vermont. Taking NY Route 7 out of Troy, NY will bring you to Bennington, VT (Robert Frost territory and the Bennington Battlefield Monument). From Bennington you stay on Rt 9 until Rt 100 (North).

Well, I'm going on way too long. From the Albany/Schenectady area you have New England a short ride away and you can either go to the coast or to the mountains. But I still recommend that you take US from Indiana to Columbus, OH!

stevinri Loc: Rhode Island

If you want to avoid the crowds, traffic, and what ever, the place to visit is Block Island. You have to take a ferry to get there, you can take your car, but I wouldn't. You can rent bikes, bring your own if you have them or rent motor scooters. The best and only way is by foot. A quick walk right or left, after getting off the ferry, and you have beaches. Can't do that in any of those other places that were recommended. Trust me you will not be disappointed.

Photocraig

Spoken like a true Maniac! However, there are some excellent historic sites in Southern New England. Bur Linda, as usual, is correct. The spectacular COLORS and scenery, especially Mt. Washington which is one of the few accessible Alpine environments in New England (Yup, Linda, ya cah hike to t'others, but where else can you freeze your flappers off in August better than Mt. Washington.

If this is your only New England experience, Boston is a must. Otherwise, I suggest an earlier summer trip by plane and use taxi's and perhaps Uber and the T i Boston. DON'T drive. Ya don't stand a chahhhnce. Then rent a car and see the South Coast and Cape Cod, and if time allows Providence.

Have fun,
And get those rooms wicked Quick if there are any.
C

aubreybogle Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Having lived in Rhode Island for over 10 years and loved it, I have to agree with the defenders of a southern NE itinerary as part of any fall visit to NE. Ultimately your itinerary should reflect your own interests and tastes. If those interests include important national historical sites (especially with older children) and beautiful, unspoiled coastline, you won't go wrong in Southern NE. Do your homework, and make informed choices. Early reservations at lodgings in the fall are especially important, and may influence the timing of your trip. Have a great one, I know you will enjoy it.