Cruising East in the Land Yacht

[Another One]

So it looks like we're headed South through Chicago and then East to Brooksville (Maine) in a few weeks. Originally we were going to stop in Hartford one night along the way, but our potential hosts are previously booked. So now we can basically pick any route we want, and sightsee along the way as we deem it appropriate.

One thought was to go through Montreal - - I used to love that city and it would be wonderful to see it again. But I haven't tried to cross the Canadian border in a long time and I thing I heard it's gotten to be a pain.

So, assuming (1) a limited budget; (2) a canine companion; and (3) a reasonably flexible schedule, what routes do you suggest and what should we stop to see along the way?

Jami

[Michael s/v Sannyasin]

From Chicago, Route 90 will take you across some of upstate NY, which has some really pretty areas. Then, it will dip down into MA. Concord is a cute little town, and you can visit the Old North Bridge where the Revolutionary war was supposed to have started. You can rent canoes on the Concord river. Also, Walden Pond is nearby.

On into Boston and backbay. May be difficult to find a place in town to stay with the dog though. Just North of the city you can visit the Constitution (old Ironsides), or travel further North to Salem and Marblehead.

Further North is Glouchester. I stay at a place called the Cape Anne Motor Inn which is right on the beach. I've stayed there with dogs many times, but I can't remember if I snuck them in or if they were allowed... I think they're allowed, but you might need to stay on the ground floor or something. The beach there is great. Rockport is nearby.

Then, you'd want to bomb North on 95 until you get up to Portland Maine. There is a Holiday Inn in South Portland that might allow dogs. Portland is a fun college town, lots of Micro-breweries, places to eat etc.

Just North of Portland, you turn off onto Highway 1 up through Bath and Dharmascottia. If you have extra time, you can stop at Port Clyde, catch the ferry over to Monhegan Island for the day... dogs are OK on the ferry. Stay overnight if you can, though, only a few rooms are available that will allow dogs.

Once you are up there, be sure to visit Blue Hill. Also, I think I went to a well known local lobster shack out on Deer Island? It was great.

Good luck, you've got some great scenery to travel through.

[Bruce Hooke]

The direct route (staying within the US) is I-90 to just east of Worcester, Massachusetts, I-495 around Boston, and then I-95 north to Maine. The best route from I-95 to Brooksville is a matter of debate. Route 1 is the "scenic coastal route" but in the summer it is pretty busy and slow and it isn't really very scenic unless you have time to get off of Route 1. So, I usually take I-95 to Augusta and then Route 3 east from Augusta to Belfast, and then Route 1 to Bucksport and then route 15 and various other small roads down to the coast depending on my exact destination. Other people prefer to take I-95 all the way to Bangor and then come down from there on back roads.

So much for the direct route. Where you stop along the way depends greatly on what you are interested in and how much time you actually have to sightsee. If you like pretty mountain scenery then the Adirondaks, the Green Mountains and the White Mountains are all not too far off the direct route. The Berkshires are right on the direct route. The Finger Lakes are also near your route and quite scenic. If you want marine related stuff then Mystic Seaport, The Maine Maritime Museum, and the Penobscot Marine Museum are not too far off the direct route either. In fact the Penobscot Marine Museum is right on Route 1 in Searsport. Boston is, of course, filled with all sorts of interesting things to see and do, from the USS Constitution to various historic buildings and landmarks to various excellent art museums. There are also various marine related museums and suchlike down here in Rhode Island as well as nice beaches and coastal scenery.

Yes, I'm sure crossing the US - Canada border has gotten a little harder (I expect it has mostly gotten harder coming back into the US), but I wouldn't get too scared about that. A lot of people cross the border so they can't have made things too rough. Just make sure you know what the regs are about dogs, make sure you have the type of ID the US Customs wants (a passport would be great but is not yet required to the best of my knowledge. I think you are OK if you have both a drivers license or other government ID and a birth certificate for each person). For driving in Canada you should also get a Canadian Insurance Card, which your insurance company should be able to provide to you at no charge. For details on entry requirements see this website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1082.html

The drive from Montreal to Brooksville is scenic no matter what route you take. One option is to head east from Montreal to Sherbrooke and then on east from there to the border crossing at Coburn Gore (this was a dirt road crossing back in the 1970's). From there head down Route 27 towards Augusta and make your way across to Bucksport and then down to Brooksville. Another option is to cross near the VT/NH border and head down through Dixville Notch. This takes you past a very pretty "flume" in Maine known as Screw Auger Falls. For crossing into Canada it might be easier to avoid Detroit - Windsor and head up to the Port Huron - Sarnia crossing. This allows you to avoid the traffic in Detroit and go to a crossing that may be a little friendlier since it is not right in between two large and somewhat down-at-the-heels cities. Toronto would be right on your route and would be another interesting place to visit.

[PaulC]

You can't miss a little bit of Michigan...
Just across the Michigan border on I-94 (Exit 16 I think) is a pretty nice set of sand dunes c/w with a state park (Warren Dunes). A few miles further up the coast is South Haven. It's kind of typical of all of the little lake towns spaced every 15 or 20 miles along the shoreline.

There are really great dunes a few hours north at the Sleeping Bear Dunes, along with Traverse City and Leelanau County...

FYI - the state parks all have day passes so you are more than welcome. Let them know you are coming and it could be a nice spot to park for the night!

[Ed Harrow]

If you do 90 you'll pass within < mile from home. Do stop in.

Ed

[Mrleft8]

If you still want to come through CT, (A visit to Mystic ?) You can always moor your yacht here in Guilford for a night or two... Providing you're not axe murderers....Or Revnooers!

[Ken Hutchins]

I heard on the news that sometime soon they are going to require passports for travelling in and out of Canada.
Now on the way to Maine, you can't get there from there with out travelling thru New Hampshire, we have another place for you to park and we are certainly dog friendly.

[Bruce Hooke]

I heard on the news that sometime soon they are going to require passports for travelling in and out of Canada.

From http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/va...entary_req.xml

Important Note: The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will soon require all travelers to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted form of documentation to enter or reenter the United States. The program will be rolled out in phases. The proposed timeline is as follows:

• December 31, 2006: Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
• December 31, 2007: Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

I remember the old days when you were simply asked if you were a US citizen when crossing the border from Canada into the US...

[Another One]

Thanks for all the great comments (and invites)! I'll let you know as the plans unfold. Boston traffic sounds like more work than I want to do, but it would be interesting to pass through Lennox and the scenes of some of my misspent youth. Sudburry could be fun, too. Meanwhile, it turns out that the Montreal Jass Festival will be playing the first week of July, with Elvis Costello and Al Toussant headlining on the night of the 3rd. I'm negotiating for a chance to stop by the show.

Mystic, hmmm? I had a close friend a few decades ago in college from Paucatuck, CT, just around the corner from you. I lost touch with him, and a name like "Kevin Scott" is just way too common to google successfully. Let me know if you ever come across him!

And Paul, I've had the pleasure of spending time in the area of South Haven and the dunes of Silver Lake. I have quite a bit of family in the Fremont area, so I pass right through there several times a year. South Haven is a nice little area, but I live for the day that they'll put more than one stupid bridge over the river mouth to the north. When that bridge is backed up or out, it's impossible to get through there!

Bruce, when I was going to school in Scarborough, I had a teacher who was also tenor in a gospel quartet. They took the band bus up to Quebec one time, and the guard asked them if they had anything to declare? Some smartass in the back of the bus yelled, "Just a whole lot of love!" The guard aparently didn't feel the love, and made them spend 4 hours unpacking and stripping the bus before they'd let them through.

[Paul Scheuer]

I think I'd skip Chicago all together, especially at this time of year. If I was going east from WI, I'd catch the ferry to Michigan at Manatowoc, (or Milwaukee, if it's running yet). Chicago's an interesting place to visit, but a nightmare to pass through during road construction season.

[Another One]

I'd love to take the car ferry, but must refer you back to assumtion (1), above. The Badger Ferry out of Manitowoc is merely gawdawful expensive for cars; the high speed ferry out of Milwaukee is frickin' ridiculous.

When I'm headed for Michigan, I usually have good luck passing through Chicago at non-peak hours by just staying on the expressway, locking all sphincters and keeping my foot down. However, now that they've doubled the tolls and are playing in the road on the Dan Ryan, it's less fun.

[Bruce Hooke]

Boston traffic sounds like more work than I want to do...

I can think of plenty of more pleasant things than dealing with Boston traffic. However, Boston has excellent public transportation, so especially for the downtown area, it is quite viable to park outside the city, ride in on a commuter rail train, and then get around on foot or on the subway.

That said, I remember now that you are traveling with a dog. I don't know what the policy is on taking dogs on the T in Boston, but even if it is possible (and I bet it isn't), or even if you did decide to brave Boston traffic, having a dog with you makes it pretty hard to visit a lot of the interesting tourist attractions in Boston.

[Bruce Hooke]

If you are planning to go to Montreal then you might be better off skipping Chicago entirely and starting your trip by heading north to the U.P. and the border crossing at Sault St. Marie. In know the shortest route from the Twin Cities to downeast Maine is via Sault St. Marie and Montreal. I suspect it might also be the shortest route, or close to the shortest route from Waldo, WI. The traffic should certainly be lighter on this route.

[Stari27]

1- I go to Nova Scotia each year. Customs is no big deal at all, just make sure you have a birthcertificate or a passport.
2- We do use the Lake Express from Milwaukee to Muskegon and then cross Michigan to Port Huron / Sarnia. Before Toronto we decide whether to go through Canada or cross back at Buffalo and the NY Turnpike. Note gas in Canada is about $1.12 per Liter or roughly $3.40 a gallon and right not the US dollar is about at parity with the Canadian dollar.
3- if you go through NY, might I suggest taking Hwy 2 out of Troy and accross northern Mass. It is shorter and slower and is beautiful. We did it several yaers ago and often think of doing it again when we have time.
PetrB

[Another One]

Okay, so maybe this:

East
1. Somewhere around London, Ontario (through Chicago, then across Michigan on I-69)
2. Montreal
3. Brooksville.

West
1. Pittsfield, MA
2. Ypsilanti (by way of Niagra Falls)
3. Home

Thanks for the gas and border info, PetrB. Gas prices were going to be the next thing I checked on. And it looks like we might leave the kids and dog home, so as to do the romantic "couple" thing!

Will there be fireworks in Canada for Canada Day (7/1)? And do they still do fireworks on the Maine beach for the 4th of July?

Jami

[Bruce Hooke]

If you are going to be in Brooksville for the 4th I can tell you about at least one parade and fireworks display nearby. There is a parade at 10AM in Deer Isle village and there are fireworks at 9PM over Stonington Harbor (which makes for nice reflections!). I expect to be at the parade so if you see a tall thin guy with a bushy beard and a wide brimmed hat (if it is sunny), say hello. We usually stand at the corner - near where the band plays. Additional Deer Isle/Stonginton 4th of July events are listed here http://www.deerisle.com/calendarofevents.html (you have to scroll fairly far down to find the section on the 4th).

I have come across people shooting off fireworks of their own on various beaches but you do need to be a bit cautious about this because fireworks are illegal in Maine...

[danforth]

Hello, If you drive north on I 95 towards Portland, exit at So. Portland and connect with I 295 heading north. Re-enter the Maine Turnpike for about 15 miles exit at interchange 113 and head east on Route 3. You will be in Belfast an hour later....head for the water front and breathe the good Maine air! For a super view of upper Penobscot Bay............swing down Navy Street in Searsport, park in front of my house...walk the lane to the shore and simply enjoy. Have a great trip!..Richard

[PaulC]

Ypsi???

[qm]

I vote for you to go what a writer above referred to as Route 2 out of Troy after Albany as being very scenic . In fact it is the "old" way and used to be called the "Mohawk Trail"(better than the Mass Pike!!). I also advise going southwest of Toledo and across south of Cleveland to the Penn border(go to Meadville,Pa, to Warren,Pa,) and catch famous and beautifull Route 6 across the northern tier of Pa. Or after getting on Route 6, cut up to NY Route 17 through Allegheny State Park(good sites) and go across to Binghamton. Good camping and lower gas prices, no tolls,no winds off of Erie and no crowded, bumpy, New York Throughway. Most of this is four lane highway, but some is good two lane. Either way you get yourself to Binghamton and then take I- 88 up to Albany, going right down to the shore of the Hudson and up to Troy. Thence Route 2. When you get around the bypass to North of Boston, I add to the list of stops the
Amesbury Dory Company(may not have the name just right). QM-Bob

[Another One]

Ypsi???

Sure! My Packers-crazy cousin and her family are in Ypsi, and will spare us a bed. Is that your neighborhood too?

[Ron Williamson]

Yes there are fireworks on Canada Day.
Ottawa has great ones(no surprise).
Gas around here is a bit over a buck/litre and stable.
R

[PaulC]

"Sure! My Packers-crazy cousin and her family are in Ypsi, and will spare us a bed. Is that your neighborhood too?"

Lived in Ann Arbor for several years...