Suggestions for North Eastern States Please

[prstlk]

We are currently in Philadelphia and will be heading to New York next. After that we are heading north pretty much following I-95 until we get to Maine. Our goal there is Acadia National Park.

I am looking for suggestions of "must see" things to do in Connecticut, Rhode Island (we already plan on stopping in Providence to visit the Culinary Arts Museum - that's our kind of thing), the Boston area, New Hampshire and Maine (Portland, Bangor, etc.).

We like to do things that are based on history, cars, boats and ships. Not really interested in artsy fartsy, gallery things or museums (unless they are history).

Also looking for recommendations on some good eats along the way. Not expensive but what and where the locals might like to go.

Thanks to all!

[Drbolasky]

ryegatevt wrote:

Drbolasky wrote:
Do NOT miss Mystic Seaport. In Groton take in the Submarine Museum & the USS Nautilaus. We also liked the aquarium in Mystic. In Noank CT get a dinner at Lobster in the Rough, right on the waterfront.

Providence RI - if you stop at only one place, make it The Breakers, the summer home of the Vanderbilt family.

Enjoy & safe travels.

I believe The Breakers is in Newport, RI...

You are correct. Mind gone haywire.

[ct1964ups]

loggenrock wrote:
CT ideas:
Guilford - Henry Whitfield House Museum - ca. 1639, also Thomas Griswold House, Hyland House, town dock, town center - definitely a colonial town.
Madison - Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale Restaurant
Gillette Castle - East Haddam, CT
Groton, CT - USS Nautilus Museum
Mystic - Mystic Seaport as mentioned
NH ideas:
Laconia area - Lake Winnepesaukee - day trip on the M/V Mt. Washington
White Mountains - loop Kancamagus Highway/Rte 112 to Conway, up through Crawford Notch (Mt Washington Hotel, Mt. Washington Cog Railway) on Rte 302, south on Rte 3 thru Franconia Notch (The Flume, Cannon Mtn. Tramway, The Basin) back to start of the "Kanc" in Lincoln. Watch for Moose! Evening Moose tours from Lincoln... LOTS to see in NH! ST

try Bill's Fish at the sining bridge...on the madison/Clinton line...really hands above Lenny's

[dahkota]

We are on pretty much the same path but a couple of weeks ahead of you.

We stayed at Fishermen's Memorial State Park in Narragansett, RI and took day trips into Newport and Mystic. We enjoyed Newport a lot more than Mystic. Narragansett is a great town and FMSP has full hook up sites.

[The_Painting_Te]

I would suggest Mystic Seaport in CT, Newport RI for both a tour of the harbor and its incredible boats and the mansion "cottages." Take in Cape Cod if you're around in Sept (waaaay to crowded July + August). Ogunquit and Boothbay Harbor in Maine are both worth a stop. If you're anyway near Gettysburg PA, either coming or going, you should not miss it. Camp on!

[ryegatevt]

Drbolasky wrote:
Do NOT miss Mystic Seaport. In Groton take in the Submarine Museum & the USS Nautilaus. We also liked the aquarium in Mystic. In Noank CT get a dinner at Lobster in the Rough, right on the waterfront.

Providence RI - if you stop at only one place, make it The Breakers, the summer home of the Vanderbilt family.

Enjoy & safe travels.

I believe The Breakers is in Newport, RI...

[Drbolasky]

Do NOT miss Mystic Seaport. In Groton take in the Submarine Museum & the USS Nautilaus. We also liked the aquarium in Mystic. In Noank CT get a dinner at Lobster in the Rough, right on the waterfront.

Providence RI - if you stop at only one place, make it The Breakers, the summer home of the Vanderbilt family.

Enjoy & safe travels.

[loggenrock]

CT ideas:
Guilford - Henry Whitfield House Museum - ca. 1639, also Thomas Griswold House, Hyland House, town dock, town center - definitely a colonial town.
Madison - Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale Restaurant
Gillette Castle - East Haddam, CT
Groton, CT - USS Nautilus Museum
Mystic - Mystic Seaport as mentioned
NH ideas:
Laconia area - Lake Winnepesaukee - day trip on the M/V Mt. Washington
White Mountains - loop Kancamagus Highway/Rte 112 to Conway, up through Crawford Notch (Mt Washington Hotel, Mt. Washington Cog Railway) on Rte 302, south on Rte 3 thru Franconia Notch (The Flume, Cannon Mtn. Tramway, The Basin) back to start of the "Kanc" in Lincoln. Watch for Moose! Evening Moose tours from Lincoln... LOTS to see in NH! ST

[K_Charles]

Mystic seaport and aquarium, Newport mansions. National seashore on the cape. The mayflower and the Plymouth plantation. The Cumberland and Oxford canal was built in 1825 and had 27 locks, one still works at the end of Santiago lake in Maine. A swing bridge and lock are still operated by man power to get boats thru. Acadia national park. Roosevelt use to summer on Campabello Island in New Brunswick Canada.

I have lived in New England most of my life and haven't seen it all yet ( I'm trying tho)

[Gene_Ginny]

Another vote for Mystic Seaport, it is really a living museum. You might want to read some comments on Tripadviser.

Those Newport "summer cottages of the rich" are quite special too.

[DrewE]

Mystic seaport should be an absolute essential for you. It is the largest maritime museum in the world.

Bath, ME has a maritime museum that looked well worth seeing (from the outside—I didn't have time to go through it when I was there, unfortunately.)

In Boston, besides Old Ironsides, I might suggest the aquarium (if that sort of thing is of interest) and the Science Museum, if only to see the enormous van de graf generator spew out lightning. I second 4runnerguy's comment on driving. Driving under Boston is not quite so bad, at least when avoiding rush hour, but propane is banned from the tunnels and the fines are very steep and you do have to emerge and drive and park in the city to do anything useful.

If you like traditional amusement parks, both Lake Compounce (Bristol, CT) and Canobie Lake Park (Salem, NH) are fun, medium-sized traditional parks.

In Vermont, there's the Lake Champlain Maritime museum and the Shelburne Museum. The latter is large and extremely eclectic, with (among other things) hat boxes, a miniature circus, the last steam boat operating on Lake Champlain, a lighthouse, a carousel, a covered bridge, and many other things.

The Mt. Washington Cog Railway might be a fun day's trip.

[gbopp]

Freeport Maine, nice town.

Seadog Brewing Company, Bangor. 🙂

[4runnerguy]

If you like ships, Mystic is a must see.

Newport, RI has lots of sea side mansions one can tour. Historic and ornate. The Cliff Walk takes you along the ocean side of these mansions.

Have you thought about a day trip to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket?

For Boston, park outside of the city and take mass transit in. Downtown Boston is a nightmare in a sedan. Anything larger is :E

[Johno02]

For something to talk about for a long time, and a lot of laughs, look for the Great Maine Desert. If it hasn't completely grown over by now.

[WNYBob]

I loved Mystic Harbor, CT