new england in the fall

[bubbles4920]

wanting to fly to new england and then take a trip from there. can anyone recommend where to fly to and stay. im assuming there will be trips on offer once we arrive.

[jno]

You can book packages here if you want,

http://www.titanhitours.co.uk/autumn.asp

but we went in September/October and simply hired a car outside Boston. There are motels and restaurants everywhere (we paid about �30-40 a night per room and a bit less for an evening meal for 2). Driving is easy and petrol is cheap. We went wherever we wanted, looking for the most colourful foliage. If you google 'leaf-peeping' you'll find websites that are updated every day or two in the autumn telling you where the best colour is to be found. The exact days vary from year to year, of course, but it starts in the north in Canada and occurs on the highest ground first.

And just to encourage you, here's a couple of pictures I took

http://i21.tinypic.com/28mv0h.jpg

http://i24.tinypic.com/2vuh46t.jpg

[spudqueen]

There's quite a few travel guides on the market
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=sear ch-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=new+engla nd&Go.x=6&Go.y=14
I'm reading one at the moment it's by Fodor, but it is about 20 years old! It does make me want to visit there though.

[Clanad]

Living as I do in the U.S. and having friends in the New England States, we've often visited the area in the fall. Surprisingly, the colors often last until early November, but the "peak" is certainly in mid-October.

I like flying into Boston, renting a car (ya'll call it car hire, no?) and immediately head up (north) Interstate ("I" for short) 95 to Portland, Maine. It's a little over 100 miles, but a rather quick 2 hours will cover it. Unless, of course one stops in Kittery, Maine. Kittery is home to over 120 Outlet Stores featuring really good bargains of name brands. Add a few hours if you do that.

In Portland, we enjoy The Eastland Park Hotel... it's in the heart of Portland, reasonable, clean and has the charm of an older traditional hotel. The nice thing is that it's only a few blocks, easily walked, to the "Old Port" of Portland with many fine shops but terrific eating establishments. If you do go, don't miss DeMillo's on the harbor. It's an old ferry boat converted to the best seafood restaurant in Portland. Try their 2 lobsters (about 1 pound each) cooked anyway you'd like, but be sure to have one stuffed with crabmeat.

So, OK, the next day we head out to several of the lighthouses along the rugged coast. There are about 6 or 7 within just a few minutes of Portland, including the world famous Portland Head Lighthouse. We end up in Freeport, Maine, home of L.L. Bean's Maine store. It's huge and one can wander all day if you'd like. Have a Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia cone outside near the waterfall.

In Freeport, we stay at the Comfort Inn. They're a good, reasonable chain here in the U.S. For supper don;t miss any restaurant serving lobster (or lobstah in Down East Maine vernacular) stew!

Contd.

[Clanad]

Contd.

The next day, color watching begins in earnest. We leave Freeport, drive up State highway 4 to highway 108, which follows the Androscoggin River valley all the way (via U.S. Highway 2) to Bethel, ME in time for supper at the old barn converted to Bistro L'Auberge... a little expensive, but well worth the splurge (try the braised Leek soup to start). We always plan to stay at The Sudbury Inn in Bethel... an old farmhouse converted to a really charming hotel. Very reasonable and great service.

Next day (you're headed west and about to enter New Hampshire) stay on U.S. 2 to the White Mountain National Forest. There are several good roads one can take to tour the Forest. You're on your own for food, but there's never a dearth.

I'd plan on making it as far as The Connecticut River Valley(distances are short in the two small states of Vermont and New Hampshire). There are numerous great places to stay at any of the small villages on the Connecticut River.

Tour as long as you have, crossing into Vermont, but on the finish drive back (down the Connecticut) try staying at The Quechee Inn at Quechee, Vermont. Seen here; http://www.quecheeinn.com/ . We, then travel on back to Boston, through Nashua, New Hampshire. There's lots to do and see in Boston as well...

Welcome to the U.S!

[bubbles4920]

wow! fantastic replies on here, thank you so much for all your great information, cant wait to tree it out now freestyle!