Welcome to another trip report of our travels!
First of all, I should introduce ourselves!
I am Mel, a 49 year old training manager. I am mum to two and wife to just one! We live in the south west of France and have done for many years!
J - my husband. He isn't as big a fan of travelling but humours me! However, he knows I take into account his love of water and so far has really enjoyed our trips! He isn't quite in holiday mood yet as he is working until Wednesday evening whereas I am already on holiday (I get more days..)
O - our lovely son who will he 17 on this trip. A boy with a sense of humour who is quietly determined -a word usually used by his teachers is discrete. More on him later!
F - our 13 year old daughter. Horse mad (see later). She is a type 1 diabetic - this doesn't stop her doing anything but may affect how we do it! She is a homebird so takes a little persuasion that she will have fun but throws herself into it all once there! Luke her dad another fish!
So we are off in 4 days time! Packing has begun! This is quite a difficult subject as we booked flights with no luggage included. I have booked two cases. J doesn't understand the art of packing light and was a bit horrified when I only gave him two packing cubes! He has managed quite well.
The other issue is that O us currently in India. Yes, we go in 4 days time! He arrives back 36h beforehand. So I gave to recycle all his stuff and hope it goes in...
We will book a third case for the way back - plus we are taking a wheely cabin case full of F's diabetic stuff so will have a bit more space on the way home!
So details!
We fly out via Lisbon to Boston with TAP. I haven't flown with them before but my in laws who use them every year say they are fine. We have 3 1/2 hours connection time on the way out - so it should be fine. They were a bargain price (even adding in the cost of luggage)!
We fly back 24 nights later on the same route!
We should land at Boston at 1.40pm. We have booked a SUV from dollar with free fuel and additional driver.
We then have an hours drive north to Hampton Beach - a popular beach resort. The initial plan had been to go first to Cape Cod but we were originally flying on the Friday and everything I read was that traffic would be horrendous! So we booked an airbnb condo just north of Hampton Beach. Then our flight to Lisbon was cancelled so as the airbnb was available we bought the flights forward a day.
We are staying in a condo overlooking the beach for 5 nights.
Plans for here are easy - beach and shopping (no sales tax in NH! )
O wants to get clothes! The reason for the extra bag..
Then we move onto Vermont - a small town called Hyde Park just north if Stowe.
We are staying 6 nights on a horse farm. F is very excited. J, O and F will ride - which has added to our baggage woes as both J and F are taking jodphurs and boots!
The farm looks stunning! I can't wait!
Plans in Vermont include:
Riding
Ben & Jerry visit
Stowe
Burlington - a friend is there at the same time so we hope to catch up with her and her family
A minor league baseball game
A drive in film
We then have a long drive to Acadia National Park in Maine. I am probably most excited about here! There will be lots of hiking, water fun and perhaps a boat trip.
We are staying in a house in Northeast Harbor - away from the crowds of Bar Harbor. The owner sounds lovely - she sent us a load of tourist info!
The house is one street back from the main street and a 5 minute walk from the water!
Our final stop is Plymouth - a base to explore both Boston and Cape Cod. I have been to Boston before and feel that two days will be enough to fo the Freedom Trail and Harvard.
Cape Cod - we will see what we feel we would like to do. I have crabbing as a possible activity!
Beach time will be a must! Perhaps Martha's Vineyard.
In Plymouth we will probably go to Plimouth Plantation.
The apartment is near Plymouth Rock so we will no doubt see that too!
Food - we will eat in a fair bit (I don't mind cooking! ) but J and I am looking forward to trying lobster roll and clam chowder. The kids are more looking forward to whoopie pies!
So there we are! I plan, as usual, to do a live trip report! I love looking back on our adventures! Feel free to follow!