Advice on New England itinerary

Wismgari · 19 May 19, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by CrispyA

Sounds like a good trip. I would recommend longer in Acadia if you can - it is one of our favourite National Parks that we have visited and there is lots to do there. Personally, the Universities are okay but don�t necessarily take that long to see. We preferred MIT to Harvard but you don�t necessarily need all that long to visit them.

Point noted thanks - I will be playing around with the timings again before I start booking accommodation. Any suggestions of the best things to see in Acadia/ best hikes?

Originally Posted by amy56

We drove Mt Washington last summer, all the way back down are places to pull over to cool your brakes - whilst it seems OTT I would take advantage of every one - we just thought stopping a few times would be sufficient, but after a couple of breaks, our brakes started smoking and we then had to stop for a long period! Thankfully the car was fine afterwards, but we probably should of taken more stops - despite them seeming to pop up every couple of minutes! Lol!

This sounds terrifying! If we drive it I will definitely take your advice, thanks! Was it worth the stressful drive at least?

Originally Posted by Ridersmom

My DD recommended Oseola as a nice, relative easy, good view hike. In my youth, I climbed Washington. I think it would be scarier to drive. There is a race up but I think it's in June. Washington is great as the highest point but It can also be cloudy once up and cold.

If you drive slowing and pay attention to your driving, that's fine. It's those who don't seem to understand, they are not the only ones on the road that drive me crazy (or worse are looking at the scenery and not where they are going).

I, too, love Acadia and there are some good hikes but read the descriptions carefully. some may seem easy but have ladders on the trails, which I cannot do.

Also, if you are driving up the coast (not the Maine Turnpike. This is a great lunch stop mainediner/. It was a must do for my kids growing up.

Thanks again, all looks great! Not sure what I am going to do about Mt Washington - I don't think we are going to have time to hike it, even it we were fit enough... and the drive sounds terrifying!

Originally Posted by Loretta

I�ve lived on the Cape for fifty years and Chatham, Sandwich and Falmouth are lovely towns and worth a visit if you have time.

Noted - thank you! How lucky you are to live there!

Originally Posted by Ridersmom

I agree that Chatham and Sandwich (isn't there a glass company there worth a visit?) are lovely. To me, Falmouth has some nice areas but also some very built up areas.

I love the Cape and when my kids weren't in school we would vacation in September and October-off season rates and the weather could be lovely.

I am always disappointed when people just go to Hyannis and then say they were disappointed in the Cape.

We will definitely go all the way to the end of Cape Cod to experience it all

Originally Posted by amy56

We didn�t just go to Hyannis, we went all over the Cape & there were some lovely parts (notably Chatham as I mentioned earlier), but overall we much preferred New Hampshire and Maine 👍

Looking at pictures I think I, like you, will like Maine and the White Mountain area best, but still want to see Cape Cod whilst we are there

Originally Posted by Loretta

Sandwich still has a glass museum as well as Heritage Museum and Gardens. Falmouth has some great independent restaurants and our bike path is worth a visit.

Noted, thanks!

Originally Posted by folkie

If it's near your route a visit to Canterbury Shaker Village is a really interesting and peaceful break on a long car journey, we stopped off on our way from Brewster to the White Mountains.

Will take a look at this - thank you!