New England vacation

[John A. Campbell]

My lady friend Barbara and I are thinking about a 1-week vacation in New England and are especially interested in Vermont. We would fly to Burlington and pick up a rental vehicle there. We are interested in lots of scenery (foliage, mountains, waterfalls, etc), crafts, historical stuff, and would like to spend at least a little time on water (canoeing or nice boat rides on the Connecticut River or Lake Champlain).....zero interest in golf. We're looking at around mid-October. Any Forumites have suggestions?......would something in New Hampshire be better?

Many thanks in advance !

[jimmy lee]

Well, The scenary from Burlington to Portland,Maine is just beautiful. My wife and I have driven that route many times back when our son lived in Maine. The week you spend there will make you want to go back. Take time to see Kenibunkport. The boats the history the arts and crafts, boy oh boy. You'll have memories!!! We do. I saw my first live MOOSE just north of Portland, and don't forget Freeport, Maine. LL Bean store will blow your mind. Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, they are just picture perfect places. Good Luck!

[Mrleft8]

I suggest flying in to Bradley (Hartford, CT.) and driving up It's about an hour from the airport to Vermont, and you'll go up through "The Pioneer Valley" which is AKA The Connecticut River Valley. Home of the finest shade leaf tobacco in the world (Did you know that some of the best Cuban cigars are wrapped in Connecticut shade leaf?). The trip will take you through some beautiful countryside. You can rent boats in Brattleboro to take out onto the Connecticut river. From Brattleboro you can head west towards Bennington and spend some time on the Harriman resivoir. There are boats to rent there too. From there head north on Rt. 100, one of the most scenic routes in New England. You can take 100 all the way up to Champlain if you want, but it's over rated in my humble opinion.
I would suggest early mid-October as opposed to mid mid or late mid... AND Yes you'll be subject to all sorts of predjudice, and derision because you'll be in a rental car, have funny accents and be there in "Leaf season". Remember to check your turn signal lever often. Nothing irritates a New Englander more than a rental car driving 5 MPH under the speed limit with their left turn blinker flashing... ;)

[Fitz]

The foliage will likely be peak in the higher elevations before mid-October. The last week in September - first week in October is your best bet for the Green (VT), White (NH), and Blue Mountains (ME).

Lefty was quicker with the leaf peeping advice.

[Torna]

John,

I live on the Connecticut River in N. Thetford, VT - immediately adjacent to a public boat launch. Should you venture this way I can offer you bed & breakfast, maybe could even arrange a shuttle service upstream.

What the others say is very true. Best time here is 1st & 2nd weeks of October. Lots of rubberneckers on the roads, but the waters are very quiet by then. If camping, be prepared for frosty temps overnight, 50s & 60s by day.

As for airports, Burlington, VT (BTV) and Manchester, NH (MHT) are the ones everyone from here uses. You'll probably find better fares through MHT, but both are exactly 1 3/4 hours from this area. Lefty's Bradley suggestion might be better if your plans put you into 2nd & 3rd weeks of Oct.

-leif

[Canoez]

I'd agree with Lefty and Fitz in terms of timing and activities.

Route 100 is rural and has some of the best scenery around. (runs up the middle of the state) Bennington, Arlington and Manchester on the west side of Vermont have some interesting things to see, do and places to eat.

Over on the east side, the stretch around Windsor/Queechee/Woodstock is pretty nice. I've paddled the Connecticut river from Hartland down to Ascutney at that time of year. Pretty scenery, but the river can be low that time of year. (Then again, that's what rental boats are for...) You might be better off to paddle from just above the Windsor Bridge to Ascutney. The bridge at Windsor is a beautiful covered bridge that spans the Connecticut river between Vermont and New Hampshire.

Nearby is the Saint-Gaudens National Historic site over in Cornish, New Hampshire - there are hiking trails on the property and some of the artist's sculptures on display. Saint-Guadens is famous for his bas-relief work - in particular the sculpture on the memorial honoring the 54th Massachusetts Regiment that fought in the Civil War - that piece is in Boston, 'tho.

If you are around for Columbus Day weekend, there is a great slice of Norman Rockwell "Americana" in Ashfield, MA in the form of a fall festival that's held on the Saturday and Sunday that weekend right in the center of town. There is music, food, arts and crafts and it's really a very home-spun kinda event. Worth a look.

The Village at Deerfield, MA is also interesting to see...

Too much to choose from.