need advice where to stay near Pat's Peak week of 2/14

Good morning, saw Colby hill inn in magazine but is booked.

Any recommendations for party of 2 where to stay 3/4 nites and ski 2/3 days.

Any discount or lift ticket plans?

Thanks, Ely New york city.

need advice where to stay near Pat's Peak week of 2/14

try www.skinh.com

need advice where to stay near Pat's Peak week of 2/14

Also in Henniker is the Henniker House. Just ten minutes away in Hillsborough there are several B%26amp;Bs including Stonewall Farm B%26amp;B.

Are you committed to skiing two or three days at Pat%26#39;s Peak...it%26#39;s a nice little ski area but you might find it a little small. Perhaps a twenty minute drive up the road to Sunapee might give you some extra variety.

For food, I know there is a Mexican restaurant in Henniker that I have heard good things about but I would highly suggest Nonni%26#39;s Italian Restaurant in Hillsborough just ten minutes away.

If you want to ski at Sunapee as well as Pat%26#39;s Peak...that opens you up to quite a few more B%26amp;Bs up in Sunapee/New London/Newport.

Another great place to eat in Hillsborough is Tooky%26#39;s Mill Pub.

Hampton Inn in Bow, NH has a deal where you get 2 ski passes to Pat%26#39;s Peak with every night you stay, I think they call it the ';Family Getaway';. Great complementary breakfast in the morning with at least one hot item. They also have bagged items that you can take with you in the morning which came in handy for a mid-morning snack. Lastly, on the night we arrived they had a big pot of chili available at check in and on the next night when we came back from skiing they had a big pot of chicken soup (looked and tasted home made!). Chen Yang Li Restaurant across the street has pretty good food also.

Almost forgot, free Wi-Fi (good signal on 3rd floor) and HBO.

If you can afford the Colby Hill Inn, I would recommend the Centennial Inn in Concord which is 15-20 minutes away from Henniker.

http://www.thecentennialhotel.com/

There are a bunch of Chains in concord as well, days inn, hampton inn, holiday inn, marriot etc.

Not sure if anyone has discount tickets to Pats or not. Depending on what day of the week you come there may be a special. There is a deals section on skinh.com

cat

Any Help With Itinerary Most Welcome

Hi Everyone

Last Year My wife (Lyn) and I took what was to date our holiday of a life time to America. Our fabulous journey took in Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce and Zion National Parks, Death Valley, Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterey, Cambria and Los Angeles – we loved our trip so much that this year we have already booked our flights to visit New England the first 3 weeks in October.

When planning last year’s trip to the US I spent a lot of time speaking to TAs who provided us with invaluable information that made a real difference to the quality of our holiday experience.

So I am back again to ask again for your time and help.

We have done a little research so far but the only thing that is set in concrete is the flights – we fly into Boston on the 30th September 2009 and fly out of Washington on 22nd October.

Our main objective is to see the beautiful countryside in the fall – so scenic drives are our number 1 priority – we really enjoyed the coastal drive between San Francisco and Los Angeles last year and Lyn would like to include another coastal drive on this trip. We also want to see the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

So as usual we have a very packed schedule to fit in – as with last year we appreciate that we will not be able to do justice to all the lovely places that will be available but as with our trip last year it was better to get a glimpse of some of the most stunning scenery that America has to offer than to miss it all together.

This is a very, very rough first draft of a proposed itinerary:-

Wed 30th September – Boston

Thursday 1st October – Boston

Friday 2nd October – Boston to either Camden or Warren Island or Islesboro Island Maine – 220 miles 4.5 hours

Saturday 3rd October – Camden or Warren Island or Islesboro Island

Sunday 4th October Camden or Warren Island or Islesboro Island to Moosehead Lake – 100 miles 3.5 hours. Taking in the scenic Lakes and Leaves drive on Route 15

Monday 5th October Moosehead Lake

Tuesday 6th October - Moosehead Lake to Lincoln (New Hampshire) –

Moosehead to Bingham 40 miles – 30 mins (or is this the Lakes and Leaves drive)

Bingham to Albany – 163 miles – 3 hours (via Jackson)

Albany to Lincoln - 37 miles – 1 hour - (Kancamagus Scenic Highway – New

Hamp taking in the Sabaday Falls)

Wednesday 7th October – Lincoln to Williamstown

Lincoln to Woodstock – 92 miles – 2.25 hours

Woodstock to Killington - 20 miles – 25 mins (Vermont – Scenic Drive)

Killington to Williamstown - 82.miles – 1.75 hours

Thursday 8th October – Williamstown

Friday 9th October Williamstown to Narragansett

Williamstown to Shirley – 100 miles – 2.25 (Massachusetts – Mohawk Trail)

Shirley to Woodstock – 55 miles (1.25 hours)

Woodstock to Lisbon – 35 miles – 1 hour (Connecticut – Route 160)

Lisbon to Narragansett – 37 miles – 1 hour 10 minutes

Saturday 10th October – Narragansett

Sunday 11th October Narragansett – New York

Narragansett to Westlery – 25 miles – 40 minutes (Rhode Island Coast Scenic Drive)

Westerly to New York – 145 miles – 2.75 hours

Monday 12th October – New York to Baltimore

New York to Philadelphia - 102 miles – 2 hours

Philadelphia to Baltimore – 102 miles – 2 hours

Tuesday 13th October Baltimore to The Rockfish Gap

Baltimore to Front Royal Virginia– 107 miles – 2 hours (start of Skyline Drive)

Front Royal to Rockfish Gap (Skyline Drive)102 miles – 2 hours

Wednesday 14th October - Rockfish Gap

Thursday 15th October – Rockfish Gap to The Rocky Knob Cabins

Rockfish Gap to The Rocky Knob Cabin (Blue Ridge Parkway) - 160 miles 3 hours

Friday 16th October – The Rocky Knob Cabins

Saturday 17th October – The Rocky Knob Cabins to Lauda – 260 miles 4.5 hours

Sunday 18th October – Lauda

Monday 19th October - Lauada to Atlanta – 149 miles 3 hours

Tuesday 20th October - Atlanta – Washington (Flight $160 each 1.5 hrs flight)

Wednesday 21st October - Washington

Thursday 22nd October – Fly home Washington to Heathrow

As I say this is all very provisional at the moment and anything and everything is up for change – but as you know you have to start somewhere.

Be very grateful for your comments – have I missed any ‘must sees’

Thanks in advance

Ray

Any Help With Itinerary Most Welcome

Ray, I would say your tentative plan here is fantastic, TONS of driving, but you%26#39;re right, you will see some breathtaking scenery along the way. You%26#39;re going to see more than the locals like me ever saw, I never went north of Freeport, Maine in my entire life, so good for you!

I did that same type of west coast California trip about 7 years ago, it was fantastic!

Boston right up to Camden, Maine is a good way to start your trip off, you will see some stunning scenery as you head north of Boston. Where are you staying in Boston, any ideas yet? You should see about either the Omni Parker House, Jury%26#39;s or the Copley Plaza Hotel may be?? Try to book a Duck Tour while you%26#39;re there, it%26#39;ll be a good way to quickly check out some Boston sites %26amp; attractions:

www.bostonducktours.com

Paul Revere%26#39;s House is in the North End, you could go there to see it, then head to one of the North End%26#39;s many fine Italian restaurants for a late lunch or early dinner, check this site, then click on dining to see all of your choices, remember this gem, it%26#39;s called La Summa%26#39;s and it%26#39;s located on Fleet Street. It%26#39;s one of our favorites on TA:

www.northendboston.com

You might want to put this same post in the Boston forum as well as the Maine forum, just for more input %26amp; ideas from the various local TA%26#39;s.

What a trip you%26#39;re planning, it%26#39;s going to be fantastic, I hope you get to do all of it, there%26#39;s quite a lot to see %26amp; tons of driving! Wait until you see Williamstown, it%26#39;s one place I loved and finally saw for the first time a few years ago. It%26#39;s definitely a place that you want to take pictures of, it%26#39;s quaint old fashioned New England at its finest.

One place that%26#39;s near Williamstown past that beautiful Mohawk Trail, is a town called Stockbridge. If you can try to get there, you won%26#39;t regret it one bit. You could try to get to the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Red Lion Inn for lunch or dinner may be, there%26#39;s also the Chamber of Commerce%26#39;s site to see all that it offers there:

www.nrm.org

www.redlioninn.com

www.stockbridgechamber.org

Enjoy your trip, keep asking here or in the Boston and Maine thread as well because there%26#39;s many more ideas and suggestions for you in all of them!

Any Help With Itinerary Most Welcome

Wow, that%26#39;s some itinerary. I hope that you have narrowed down the places that you want to spend the night. Being peak foliage season you may have a hard time finding a place to sleep if you don%26#39;t make reservations.

I have visited most of the places that you went the last time you were in America. The East coast is very different. Hwy 1 in California is the most spectacular road I have ever been on. You%26#39;ll see great scenery here but for beauty you can%26#39;t compare the East to the West. IMO the West wins hands down. No matter, with careful planning you%26#39;ll have a great time. If you hit the foliage at peak that in itself is spectacular. Enjoy your time in America!

Hi Nomo - that was a fabulous reply - thanks so much I am copying all of my replies and we will spend the weekend revising our itinerary.

Hi Msar - haven%26#39;t even started looking for accommodation yet - I will have to get a move on I agree - I think I want to get the main structure of the itinerary sorted first though - TAs are already making us think twice about the where we should and shouldn%26#39;t visit.

Great fun

Take care

Ray

Well I personally would shoot myself if I had to spend that much time in a car so I cannot comment on the itinerary itself. That is why we are all different. I just hope that you get to immerse yourself for a little bit in some local culture, etc. Certainly, the view passing by is beautiful but it is even better when you see it on a hike, spend some time at a fall festival, etc.

Some thoughts though. The Northeast has incredibly crowded highways and byways especially during peak seasons. Travel in and out of NY can be very slow. It is not unusual for it to take over an hour just to get to and cross the GW bridge.

Another place that I think everyone should visit is Gettysburg. Well worth a day wandering the fields and town.

The speed limit on skyline drive is 35-45 so 2 hours to go over 100 miles just is not realistic. Again, that road during peak fall season is crowded and you will want to stop along the way.

Other thoughts, for instance Killington to Williamstown

You pass Weston (which many consider the quintessential NE village), Arlington, Bennington, etc to get to Williamstown which is very nice (one of the best college art museums I have ever been to - includes the letter from King Geo replying to our Declaration of Independence) But Williamstown is not the jewel of the Berkshires and there is Lenox and Stockbridge which get you a little further into the Berkshires.

Another question, how many trees do you want to see?

I have never been to Atlanta but it probably deserves more than a day.

Anyway, forgive me my prejudices. You have traveled this way before and enjoy it. Bottom line, be realistic about what you can do and please leave time to say you experienced the North East and just did not see it.

You need to realize that this trip will be entirely different from the one that you did last year. Your southwest trip covered huge distances and a lot of open territory with focused time of destnaitions and scenery.

In contrast, your plan for this year needs to be revised in that you will get far more out of the trip by deleting about half of the destnations and concentrating on interacting with the people along the way, as much if not more than the scenery. And the roads you%26#39;ll be driving will be more akin to what you%26#39;re leaving at home as opposed to the wide open stretches you encountered in the west.

New England alone is about the same size as the state of Utah, but you be wise to spend the entire 3 weeks just there, as opposed to trying to travel the whole east coast. the trip you have planned will take you to many places, but in the time you have planned, you won%26#39;t see anything.

You should (IMHO) devote at least a full weeek to the cape around Boston, then head up the maine Coast and spend another 5=7 days there, and finally move inland, into the mountains and give yourselves another week in New Hampshire and back down to Mass and NY.

Your timing is ideal to enjoy the wonder of fall in New England, but prebooking your lodging is an absolute must, or you will find yourself sleeping in your car on weekend nights.

Finally, I look forward to your full account of the journey when you%26#39;re finished. Your TR last year was one of the all time greats.

Good luck.

RedRox

You said that so much better than I did!!!!

RedRox always had good ideas...

I am tired just reading this itinerary!

I am now going to read last year%26#39;s TR.

This is why I love this site soooo much - neslaw1 and Redrox - fabulous advice as usual

This is why I love this site soooo much - neslaw1 and Redrox - fabulous advice as usual. You certainly make your point well and given us a lot of food for thought - Lyn and I have talked over both of your replies at some length.

I think you may be right - In my heart of heart I knew that we were trying to pack in too much. The truth is we origially only intended to see New England and it was only a afterthought that we added Virginia - we were so close and the thought of taking another feast of scenery was so tempting.

I am probably the one in our marriage who is more than happy just taking in the awesome scenery even if it is only a glimpse- Lyn is the one that (although also loving the scenery) would prefer the slower more detailed look at a new location.

Last year when we visited the south west I wouldn%26#39;t swop anything for just a glimpse of The Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Zion and Bryce National Parks; Death Valley, Yosemite and the Highway but I realise that fleeting visits are not everyones cup of tea.

But you know how it is - we are now of an age when we can afford holidaysthat are further abroad - the kids have all grown up and moved on - we can at last start thinking about ourselves for the first time for a long time - we can go where we want to go and it doesn%26#39;t have to include a theme or water park but time is moving on and there is a lot of incredible sights out there to see before the final bell is rung.

We%26#39;ve been deprived of these fabulous locations for a longtime and there is a large element of see what you can, when you can you can never be sure if you will ever pass this way again.

But I still think you are right it will probably be a much better experience if we reduce our itinerary.

Thanks again for your very helpful comments

Take care

Ray

I think you may be right - In my heart of heart I knew that we were trying to pack in too much. The truth is we origially only intended to see New England and it was only a afterthought that we added Virginia - we were so close and the thought of taking another feast of scenery was so tempting.

But you are not close. Virginia is 10 to 12 hrs from Massachusetts and with traffic on 95 a lot longer. Stay in New England and enjoy everything it has to offer.

State parks/forests

We%26#39;re staying in Gloucester for a week in April/May and are looking to spend a day taking in some of the natural beauty of New Hampshire. Can anyone suggest a state park or forest not too far (within a couple of hours drive) from Gloucester which has some good walks? Nothing too strenuous just a nice few hours walking perhaps with a waterfall or something!!!

Thanks

State parks/forests

Lot%26#39;s of places for a good walk within hours of Gloucester. I do not know if you will be there for Patriot%26#39;s day (4/21/09) but certainly Lexington/Concord/Walden Pond would fit the bill (no waterfalls). It is about 2 1/2 hours to many places such as Kennebunkport, N. Conway, or Lake Winni. In the White Mountains, you have Glen Ellis Falls in Pinkham Notch which is right off the road for a very nice 60+foot waterfall and lots of easy hikes in the area. Mt Chocorua is the closest mountain with any elevation for some walks/hikes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Chocorua

Gloucester%26#39;s location on Cape Ann adds about 30-45 minutes to anyplace you want to get to which is north. I have only passed thru the area up Spaulding Pike from Portsmouth to Conway so I don%26#39;t any places to stop that may be closer. Maybe someone near Durham, NH or Portsmouth will have other suggestions.

State parks/forests

Thanks for your suggestions, will look into it a bit further.

There are some very nice nature preserves that are used by University of NH for research, etc. that are within easy driving distance.

Coastal NH and ME........

For a very easy hike, I would visit the Odiorne State Park in Rye, NH. It is about 45 miles from Gloucester but it will take more than 90 minutes driving the coastal roads which I would recommend. After your visit to the park in Rye, drive about 30 minutes north and view Nubble Light at Cape Neddick. From here drive an additional 10 minutes to Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, ME and walk The Marginal Way, another very easy hike but it is a beautiful walk.

From Gloucester, MA to Rt 133 to Ipswich to Newburyport. Follow 1 A as much as possible or the side roads that drive by the coast as it is the most scenic, pass by Salisbury and pass Hampton Beach, pass Rye Beach. Odiorne State Park will be on your right. After the Park go to New Castle Route 1 B (go pass Wentworth-by -the- Sea ) to Portsmouth, NH then continue into Kitty, Maine via Rt 1 to Rt 103 to Rt 1A, drive to York Beach then to Cape Neddick take Pine Hill Rd to Ogunquit. Enjoy!

http://www.nhstateparks.com/odiorne.html

http://www.lighthouse.cc/capeneddick/

www.meliving.com/marginalway/index.shtml

http://www.ogunquit.org/

White Mountains....

Many, many hiking trails and the area is very scenic. The Basin is relatively an easy hike at Franconia Notch. The Flume is wonderful but it is filled with tourists and charges an admission charge.

The Franconia Area or the North Conway Area are both popular destinations but both are approximately a 3 hour drive from Gloucester.

nhstateparks.org/state-parks/…

http://www.visitnh.gov/flume/index.html

outdoorplaces.com/Destination/…

www.nhliving.com/hiking/whitemtns.shtml

http://www.nhstateparks.com/waterfalls.html

Wow, great. Thanks for all the info, will have a look through all that.

The Kancamangus Highway starting in Lincoln, NH is great for seeing the ';natural beauty of NH';. Many trails- but we always like to stop at Sabbaday Falls for a quick, easy hike up the trail right beside the falls. This trail is often not as busy as others along the kanc. Plus lots of other places to stop and explore all the way to Conway.

The drive is right up I93 to Lincoln (a scenic drive in itself) and then a few miles up the highway. About 2 1/2 - 2 3/4 hrs drive from Gloucester (depending on traffic).

www.northeastwaterfalls.com/waterfall.php…

www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/waterfall.php…

How about Franconia Notch. What is that like? Is that too far?

Franconia is about 3 hours from Gloucester. Lots to do there. I love the Flume Gorge. Also Cannon Mountain Tramway. Check out Franconia Notch Chamber of Commerce website and Franconia Notch State Park site for some good info.

The Flume Gorge is beautiful but it will not be open until the second week in May.

Romantic Getaways

Hi, my husband and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary this July and I am wondering where in NH we should go for romance, relaxation, biking, walking, scenic views. We don%26#39;t really care for B%26amp;Bs. Does any one have any suggestions ?

Romantic Getaways

For a slightly upscale environment in one of the most scenic regions, with access to lots of activities and sightseeing options I like the Mt Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods. Also nearby is Jackson and I like the Eagle Mtn House there.

Romantic Getaways

Other options are the Balsams. http://www.thebalsams.com/about_us.aspx

or

Wentworth Inn in Jackson http://www.thewentworth.com/

I don%26#39;t know if you are spa folks and this is not in NH, but Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA (very upscale) may be worth looking into.

Church Landing in Meredith, NH

I 2nd Jackson and the Eagle Mountain House or Bretton Woods. You could stay one place or the other, and visit the other area easily. AT EMH, I%26#39;d request a room with a view of the mountains, golf course and pool-so the front of the building. Bretton Woods is a huge resort and probably much more expensive, but it is beautiful.

While EMH is a very neat place to stay, you do have to be careful as not all suites are the same and some are more run down than others. I had looked there to buy but did not because of that. Loved the lobby, restaurant, location, on site golf course, etc but did not love the rooms. If anyone has stayed there recently, let us know or check out reviews to make sure it is what you want. I am hesitant to say anything bad, this is more to make sure that you know about the property.

If you%26#39;re checking out Jackson, look at the Inn at Thorn Hill, Snowflake Inn and Xmas Farm Inn - all very different. Also if you don%26#39;t want to drive this far, southwestern NH and western Mass offers some great places to stay.

I had not thought of this originally, but in July, there are great romantic places to stay in the Lakes region. This is not an area that I have great familiarity with but maybe a little g--gling will find a bunch of places or check out www.nhliving.com/lodging/hotels/lakes.shtml

also check out Squam Lake Inn- while it is a b%26amp;b, it has incredible ratings at tripadvisors.

Thanks so much for all the information, going to start checking out the suggestions. And if you think of any more, please post them.

Consider The Manor in Holderness or Rockywold/DeepHaven Cabins in Holderness on Squam Lake

One of the most wonderful trips my DH ever took for our Anv was to Wentworth By The Sea http://www.wentworth.com/ We dream of going back there someday. This place has everything your looking.

acne

elopement help

I am so desperate for any help on finding a beautiful small wooden white church set in gorgeous surroundings for my fiancé and i to elope to.

We don%26#39;t have a huge budget, but we have enough if you get my meaning.

We want to stay in a place where we can get pampered and have good service - spa%26#39;s, dinner etc.

So in all we want small church, great accommodation, and fab scenery.

Any help welcomed xx

elopement help

I was married at the Little White Church in Eaton, NH. It does not have a regular congregation or pastor - you bring your own. You can rent it for $400/day. It%26#39;s set on a lake in a tiny little village, and is just lovely.

http://www.littlewhitechurch.com/

There are some nice smaller resorts in the N. Conway/Jackson area, or you could head up to Bretton Woods.

elopement help

I usually have more info on slopes than elopes but having traveled thru NE, one of the prettiest towns is Weston, VT. It has the quintessential village green with a white church. Here is a website that I never knew existed that may be of assistance.

There is the same in Jackson, NH. There are lots of great places to stay in either place.

weddingmapper.com/wedding_vendors/…

A third option is Manchester, VT. manchester-vermont.com/manchestervthistory.h…

What time of year are you planning to elope? There are several chapels that are on lakes but are not open during the winter. One in Marlborough NH on Stone Pond comes to mind that is exceptionally pretty.

I read her post in the Boston forum and I believe it was April.

You can also hire a justice of the peace and go to an outdoor setting. Not necessarily a church. My husband and I renewed our vows in Maine in October. I picked the place meaning city or town that I wanted to do it and then googled juctice of the peace York Maine. I had several options to choose. From there we worked it out via email as it was a surprise for my husband for our 20th anniversary. She helped pick the park for us, picked up flowers for me, etc. Seeing we were already married it wasn%26#39;t a problem. It will be more involved in your case because you%26#39;ll need a marriage license. But nothing is impossible. Just narrow down your area, find a jp or minister and go from there. If you are looking at April you need to get something in motion soon. You%26#39;ll have to contact to city or town hall in the place that you want to get married. Some have waiting periods. Good luck to you.

There is a white church in Sugar Hill NH. And I think it is one the corner of Lover%26#39;s Lane!! Sugar Hill has one of the best views in NH. Just Google church in Sugar Hill NH

I got married in a little white church in Jackson, NH. The area is beautiful and the minister/pastor was a great guy and really funny. He is on you tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bslwgFm_eKw

We had our reception/stayed at the Inn at Thorn Hill - rooms, service, food pampering all first class!!

We got married during mud season (April) since everything was cheaper then....

Points for sale...

Where does one go to sell one%26#39;s points for use at Inn Seasons Resorts.

Any help?

blond hair

Cold Spring Resort

My wife and I are planning to spend a week June 23 thru July 3.Any suggestions on what to see and do? Any recommendations on restaurants in the area? Thanks for any information

Cold Spring Resort

Alot of people like The Common Man in Ashland and Church Landing in Meredith. Also Canoe in Center Harbor. There is the Science Center of NH in Holderness and review On Golden Pond because it was filmed on Squam Lake. Agreat hike is off Rte. 113 in Holderness called West Rattlesnake which overlooks Squam Lake. Visit The League Of NH Craftsmen in Center Sandwich or Meredith. How is that for starters?

Cold Spring Resort

great, Thanks for your inputs they are definitely helpful. Any uther suggestions in the area will be appreciated Thanks again.

Hello artaline

You can also drive the other way into Plymouth ... a college town with lots of services and many local, non-chain restaurants (Main St Station for diner bkfst or lunch; The Lucky Dog Tavern for ';neighborhood feel'; lunch or dinner; Thai Smile and 6 Burner Bistro - two new restaurants both allowing BYOB and great food! They%26#39;ve both been hits ... and of course, the well-known Foster%26#39;s/Common Man Inn).

Then you can drive out west on the Tenney Mtn Hiway - there is the ';famous'; Polar Caves tourist spot or visit the Rumney Rocks that attract rock climbers from all over the world! (There is also a good hike to top of Stinson Mtn if you are in reasonable shape ... you%26#39;ll see lots of young back-packers there and serious rock climbers).

And of course - take any of the country roads in any direction for lots of forest scenery.

Or leave Plymouth on Rte 3 north for a drive thru other small towns all the way to North Woodstock - or detour into Waterville Valley ... or continue from N. Woodstock to Lincoln and on up the kancamangus Highway.

If you are into outdoor activities the possiblities abound everywhere - kayaking, hiking, biking, canoeing, golfing, etc. The people at cold Springs will have info and brochures for you to choose from. But for touring around in your car and finding places to stop for a meal - this part of NH can%26#39;t be beat!

Enjoy!

P,S, One of our favorite ';upscale for NH'; restaurants is at another golf resort - The Sunset Room at Owl%26#39;s Nest in Campton. That%26#39;s where we always take our guest visiitng the White Mtns.

thanks for your suggestions. all the restaurants appeal to us.

North Conway in winter

Hi, I am thinking of taking my wife and 1-year old daugther to North Conway for a winter getaway. How do you drive to North Conway from Boston in winter? Do you still go up I-93 and turn onto Kancamagus Hwy to North Conway? I am not sure about the road condition in winter. Is there a better (safer) route?

My other question is about activities. We don%26#39;t ski, but would like to visit some slopes just for taking pictures and enjoy the scenary, is this possible? Where do you recommend? Other than the winter sports, what else can we do in North Conway in winter?

Thanks in advance!!

North Conway in winter

There was another post about this a few months ago (maybe you can find it in a search), and people were debating the best route... I-93 or Rt 16. My opinion is to stay away from the Kangamangus if there%26#39;s been snow recently, and take the slower Rt 16.

As for other activities, there%26#39;s sledding at Mt Cranmore, plus lots of shopping at the outlets and restaurants.

I don%26#39;t know if you can get good photos at the slopes, but you can always go to them and try. You just won%26#39;t be able to go up the lifts without a ticket.

North Conway in winter

There is also a third possible route -- a little longer, but roads are good and, depending on when you%26#39;re going, it may be less congested...

North on I-95 out of Boston to Portland, ME -- then US 302 through Bridgton and Fryeburg to Conway and North Conway. If weather/road conditions are of concern, I-95 in Maine is the Maine Turnpike -- far and away the best maintained highway in the state. US 302 is a major route for all kinds of traffic and gets high attention from the Maine Department of Transportation.

Total travel time from Boston: 2-3/4 to 3-1/4 hours depending on traffic and how you drive.

Just another possibility if you%26#39;re ';iffy'; about how to get there.

95 to Rt 16 is the most direct although the time difference is negligible no matter which way you go when roads are clear. If roads have been cleared for a couple of days and the sun is out, then the Kanc is the most scenic route. Recently saw a neat undercast as we drove the Kanc with wispy fingers of fog funneling down thru the various notches in the mountains. No one suggests driving thru a storm but 48 hours after any storm, most main roads are in great shape. I miss NE, here in MD we close school cause of clouds (LOL)

Activities for a 1 yr old are tough but you could sled, sleigh ride, visit bear show at Clark%26#39;s Trading Post ( I think it is in the winter also)

You can usually take a gondola ride to the top of a resort. May be able to see cost on websites but is worth the trip on a clear day to look across at MW for Wildcat. Other activities (not necessarily for baby) include ice skating at outdoor rink in N Conway village green - it was there over Xmas- don%26#39;t known when it is taken down. Long slow drives along the Kanc and 302 are great ways to spend a day if you can%26#39;t be on the slopes. Maybe a Moose tour???

Hope this helps!!!

I would go 93N to 95N toward Maine. While on 95N take Rte 16 (Spauling Turnpike) all the way to North Conway. There are 3 or 4 tolls on Rte 16 they are all about .75 each. It%26#39;s a nice straight road. Plowed really well in the winter unless of course the storm is happening at the time you plan on driving there.

While in N Conway you can take a sleigh ride, go tubing at Cranmore, ice skate at the Ham Ice Arena, shopping, restaurants.

The Hampton Inn and I believe Red Jacket Motor Inn have indoor water parks that your 1 yr old might like.

You%26#39;ll be able to take pictures while at the bottom of the slopes but like someone said you won%26#39;t have access to them unless you buy a ski ticket. Black Mtn in Jackson is a nice small mountain. Maybe you and your wife would like to try to ski. Most mountains have excellent babysitting services.

for sleigh rides www.nestlenookfarm.com

www.farmbytheriver.com

for ice skating: www.hamarena.com

Red Jacket Resort

http://www.kahunalaguna.com

I95N to Rte 16 seems like a really good route. I am too chicken to drive through the mountain on Kancamagus Hwy in a wintry condition. :) How long would a typical drive (on I95 to Rte 16 to NC) take from Boston?

Another question :) I am not familiar with cross-country skiing.. are there trails specific to this kind of skiiing? Are we allow to go on the trails without equipments (ski, etc.)?

Well, we won%26#39;t try to dissuade you. Drive would be 3 1/2 max in good conditions. If you really do not like heights (or driving along heights) then 302 is a better scenic road when you are there. It follows the valleys while the Kanc is along the ridges.

There are x country trails in Jackson but I would not suggest w/o equipment. It isn%26#39;t good for the trails and more importantly, have you ever tried to walk thru your front lawn after a blizzard?

Going Rt 16 to N Conway is 2 1/2 hrs from Boston. It%26#39;s about 135 miles. If you want to check out cross country ski trails visit www.skinh.com and click on the obvious crosscountry.

Do you know where you are staying yet?

THanks msar1076.. and no, we haven%26#39;t decided on where to stay yet. Do you want to recommend some places for us? We prefer something that is not too expensive and welcome young babies. It%26#39;d be great if full breakfast is included since it won%26#39;t be easy for us to go out in the morning with our young daugther.

By the way, we are not only limited to North Conway.. please feel free to suggest any other places. We just want some place we can relax (maybe with some heated indoor pools) and with easy access to snowy scenary :)

What do you consider not too expensive? I usually rent a condo but before that I would always stay at the Green Granite. They do have an indoor pool and free breakfast. There is also the Hampton Inn with the indoor water park and breakfast. That is a fairly new hotel so may be better than GG. Other options are the Holiday Inn or Comfort Inn. Those are the newer hotels in N Conway.

Pesce Blue, Brazo, Radici, Dunway?

Hi there!

Hoping for some guidance for dinner picks. We will be spending 2 nights in Portsmouth on 02/14 and 02/15 as a long awaited substitute ';mini-moon'; since we had to cancel our planned honeymoon far away this past summer. :(

Which of these four places would you recommend for an intimate and romantic dinner with amazing food and a hip/funky atmosphere that makes it seem as if you have left New England for a night?

Thanks for the help!

Pesce Blue, Brazo, Radici, Dunway?

Ditch Pecse Blue. I have not been to Brazo, but we do love Radici and the Dunaway. Rudi%26#39;s is also delicious.

Pesce Blue, Brazo, Radici, Dunway?

1. Radici

2. Pesce Blue

3. Dunaway

4. Brazo

Most recently I went to Dunaway, less than a week ago, and was utterly disappointed. Everyone e;se%26#39;s dishes were good but ';elf food'; as I like to describe it now. I had a awful $12 cup of onion soup that tasted like red wine reduction with a few raw onions thrown in. I only rated it third because some nights it has been delicous.

Radici is quite consistant, but it isn%26#39;t romantic. Good prices though, perhaps try it on another night.

I would say that Ristorante Massimo would be most suitable for a romantic dinner. The atmosphere is elegant and cozy without being stuffy. The food is never bad, though sometimes better than other times.

lift passes best deals

we are staying in north conway next week and never skied in america before. would it be better to pay daily on each mountain or buy an area pass. we are a family of 4 staying 1 week. also best place to hire skis and boots. any advise would be great.

willis family

lift passes best deals

Hello Willis family,

What dates are you going to be here? It may be a little late for you to get an area pass. Most mountains have sold out for the season. Are you skiers or do you need to take lessons? Okay, this is what I did last week. I went to www.skinh.com and on the left there is a place that says ski lift ticket packages. From there click on anywhere/anytime lift ticket packages. You have to purchase 12 lift tickets that can be used for the 2008-2009 ski season. So, if you ski 3 days you can save. I am going the week after next 15-21st which is school vacation week and very busy here. By buying my tickets that way I saved 87.00. The problem you have is being out of the country. You can try to contact skinh and ask them what they advise. If you are coming the week before and skiing during the week you get a substantially reduced ticket price anyway because that is considered mid week pricing. If that is the case you should be all set. Also visit that website and click the link for downhill skiing. It will give you information on every mtn.

For rentals, if you%26#39;re not taking lessons you can rent from Joe Jones. www.joejonessports.com There are also a couple other places you can rent. I can%26#39;t remember the names but we%26#39;ve rented from one place right on Rte 16 next to Muddy Moose restaurant. You can rent for the whole week instead of bringing them back and forth everyday.

I also bring my lunch to the mountain. I get a locker to put it in. It gets very expensive eating there. Kind of outrageous what they charge to eat. You%26#39;ll save a ton of money. Have a nice trip.

lift passes best deals

Have your read sorchap%26#39;s trip report?

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g46186-i527-k24629鈥?/a>

Maybe you can PM sorchap and he can fill you in as to what he did about passes/rentals.

Here%26#39;s a great article about skiing in New England:

telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/northame鈥?/a>

Some great suggestions. There are a number of mountains in a very short distance. You can try to ski a couple or just 1. Wildcat is a great mountain but is not a fancy resort like you may have visted in Europe. Actually, none of them are fancy resorts, except for the Bretton Woods complex which is 35 minutes away. Attitash has more facilities and alot of great skiing as well.

If you can%26#39;t get a multi mountain ticket, then multiday tickets at 1 mountain do offer a significant discount. Wildcat has a 2nd day ticket for $39, which is a good deal if you ski 2 days in a row.

Even if you don%26#39;t bring lunch, definitely bring a cooler pack with water or other drinks (it is the same 10 cent bottle at Walmart that you will pay $3 at the mountain. There are a couple of grocery stores where you can get food. You don%26#39;t say if you are in a condo or hotel room. One very reasonable place to pick up a sandwich or get breakfast is called ';Kringles';. It is about 1/2 mile up from Storyland (you will learn your way around very quickly) and has great pizza, subs, sandwiches (lunch and breakfast). Much less than the fancier places in town.

Another rental place is the Great American ski Renting Company which is across from the Eastern Slope Inn.

Last thought, your check in desk may have some coupons for discounts as well. Email now, so you don%26#39;t spend too much time trying to decide where to rent and can get on the slopes quickly.

Have a great trip!!!

Is Kringles the old Stanleys?

I don%26#39;t know. It has been Kringles since I have been visiting regularly over the past 5 years. It is on the same side as and 3/4 of a mile past Storyland at the access road to Xmas mountain.

I know the place you%26#39;re talking about. That wasn%26#39;t the old Stanleys. The place your talking about has good pizza.

acne

Bachelorette Dinner in Manchester

I am the maid of honor and my bride is getting married in Manchester. She wants to do a bachelorette night a couple of days before the wedding, and i am looking for a restaurant that possibly has a private room for 8 or 10 people. I don%26#39;t have a price range, nor a type of food, i just want something with a trendy atmosphere with fun drinks and martini%26#39;s. Any suggestions?

A deep purple duvet cover

Romantic Winter Weekend B&B Cross Country Skiing

I am looking for a B%26amp;B for my husband and I to stay in for the weekend that is close to Cross Country ski trails and good restaurants. We want a more quiet and quaint town, not North Conway. We loved the Bungay Jar but I understand that is now closed. Any suggestions?

Romantic Winter Weekend B%26amp;B Cross Country Skiing

There are a lot of places in the Monadnock region tht fit the bill. Cross country ski trials at Granite Gorge, the rail trails, Surry Mt Park, Otter Brook Park, etc and several nice B%26amp;Bs as well as good restaurants in Keene. Not as far to drive either.

Romantic Winter Weekend B%26amp;B Cross Country Skiing

The Woodbound Inn in Rindge (Monadnock Region of Southern NH) was recently completely renovated and they have x-country trails. The rooms looked very nice when I walked through and Aylmer%26#39;s Grill which is right in the inn is fantastic!

www.woodboundinn.com

Is Jackson too close to NC? Lots of Cross country, also places like Wildcat Inn or Inn at Thorn Hill, and restaurants. You don%26#39;t have to go into NC and still get the great MW views.

I love Jackson as well. It%26#39;s about as quaint as you%26#39;re going to get. It%26#39;s beautiful. Yes, it%26#39;s near North Conway but you don%26#39;t have to go into town if you don%26#39;t want to. You can bypass Rte 16 to get to Jackson so you won%26#39;t have to sit in traffic. They added a new road maybe 5 years ago.

Funny how you asked for suggestions about B%26amp;B%26#39;s in Franconia and everyone gave you suggestions elsewhere...oh well..

There are three excellent inns / B%26amp;B%26#39;s in the area.

In order I would rank...

Sugar Hill Inn as at the top of the list. Exquiste chef there who puts out an absolutely 5-Star menu at very reasonable price. The rooms are incredibly well maintained and tastefully done. There are several cottages on the property if you were looking for a little more room and elegance.

Adair Inn in Bethlehem is a very close second with equally fine dining and beautifully decorated rooms.

Finally the Franconia Inn...a little more country-inn%26#39;ish with average dining and comfortable rooms. The nice thing about the Franconia Inn is that some of the best x-country skiing is accessible on the inn%26#39;s property and adjacent lands. If you want ';from the front door access to the trails'; then the Franconia Inn is your best bet...

You can also stay at the other Inns and drive to the Franconia Inn as they have nordic ski passes for the public. There are also some excellent x-country trails through the Franconia Notch and out across the Old Route 3 heading towards Twin Mt.

For dining..other than the inns I%26#39;ve mentioned - some excellent restaurants in the area include Lloyds, Cold Mt. Cafe, and Rosa Flamingo%26#39;s in Bethlehem or Italian Oasis, Balywick%26#39;s, and Cantina de Gerardo in Littleton. Several noteworthy breakfast places as well such as Littleton Diner, the Coffee Pot, and my favorite Topic of the Town all in Littleton. Both Littleton and Bethlehem are only a short drive from Franconia...

Happy trails...

Funny, but I don%26#39;t see anywhere in this post asking for Franconia, only a desire not to be in North Conway. That leaves options for people in all areas of the state, and all areas of the state has cross country ski trails and quaint towns. We all have been to great spots and have favorites, and all suggestions fit the bill as far as this post.

NE Weaver

We all missed that this was posted in the Franconia forum. My bad. By the way, Donna did you find someplace? How was it?

Is it me, or did newenglandweaver seem a little testy in his/her last post. Thanks neslaw1 for connecting the dots!!!

President's Week

Mom and my family decided to take a road trip for President%26#39;s Week. We want a small resort or inn with a spa, not too pricey but lovely. Anyone come across any deals? Thanks!

President's Week

Sorry I don%26#39;t have a specific suggestions - just be aware that this is a HUGE week for all NH resorts - especially in ski country (and our snow levels are incredible this year so all ski resorts are humming). Typicaly - since it is school vacation for those in Mass and maybe NY - rooms are booked well ahead for this week.

So research and book soon. On second thought - The Common Man Inn is local to us - in Plymouth NH - and meets your criteria. Check them out @ www.thecmaninn.com. They are not smack in the middle of a ski resort so perhaps there%26#39;s some availability. But they are usually pretty busy ...

Good Luck! The ';whip Cream'; snow banks up here are very high and very beautiful this year!

President's Week

NH 13, thanks..we do not want to be on a mountain or ski resort for the very reason you suggest..indoor pool and spa would be divine.

I believe the Inn at East Hill Farm over in the Monadnock region might hit the nail on the head as well..not sure about the spa thought...do know they had an indoor pool there years ago, used to lifeguard there for them. It%26#39;s a working farm, so getting back to nature is part of the package...if you have allergies to animals probably not the place to be...Common Man is a very good choice too. Another option might include the Mountain View in Whitefield...all the amenities, but not the first choice for downhill skiers since its a bit of a haul to the area%26#39;s ski resorts...x-country is more their game...

How to get from Keene, NH to Manchester, NH

I%26#39;m coming to Keene for a grad school interview in early March. I%26#39;m pretty sure that the closest major airport to Keene is Manchester. Since I don%26#39;t have a driver%26#39;s license and it appears that Greyhound doesn%26#39;t go from the airport to Keene, I need to find the least expensive way to get there. Any way one of you can help me with this? Thank you so much!

How to get from Keene, NH to Manchester, NH

If you haven%26#39;t already purchased your plane ticket, you might be better off flying into Boston and then taking greyhound from there to Keene. Another option would be to fly into Hartford and take the Amtrak Vermonter to Brattleboro, VT and then Greyhound from there to Keene. Neither is a great solution, but are, from what I can tell, the only methods of getting to Keene w/out a car.

How to get from Keene, NH to Manchester, NH

The other airport option is Bradley outside of Hartford CT. Boston is farther and a lot more difficult to deal with. Thomas Transportation, in Swanzey, next door to Keene has shuttle service from all the major airports.

Here%26#39;s the link to Thomas Transportation rate schedule...http://www.thomastransportation.com/manchesternh.shtml

If you are coming to NH, think seriously about getting a license!!!

Ha! Oh, no worries, if I have to move outside of Chicago, then I%26#39;m going to need a license to survive. Thanks so much for the schedule, I appreciate it. :)

Difference choices to go up Mt.Washington

I%26#39;m planning to North Conway in October for foliage tour and would like to go up Mt.Washington. As far as I know, there are a few ways to go up and I would like to know difference between each way before making decision.

1) Drive up myself. How long would it take and how far is it? Is it dangerous/steep road to drive up? I%26#39;m from Thailand where driving is on different side so , if possible, I prefer not to have another obstacle to cope with. Would the road be packed during Oct? Is there anywhere we can stop for picture or we need to drive all the way to the top?

2) Go with the group by van. How long can we stay up at the top and do we need to go down with the same van?

3) Cog railway, Valley Train , Notch Train. What are the different between the three? Would I get the same scenery for each of these train and from auto road i.e. should I do both train and auto road? Do they have the same destination which is top of Mt.Washington and how long are we allowed to stay on the top?

By the way, is there much to do on the top or just for taking pictures?

Thanks for every response.

Difference choices to go up Mt.Washington

Weather is key. October is a transition month and you need to pick a day with relatively clear weather in the forecast or you won%26#39;t have any views from the summit. If driving is an issue for you in any way I would urge you to take the van. They give you plenty of time at the summit and will transport you there safely.

The other option is the Cog Railway. The other trains you mentioned do not go up the mountain. They are entirely different rail tours. The CR is an historic and unique way to go up the mountain and would be my first choice as long as the weather is good.

Which ever route you decide, take warm clothing. The difference in the weather between the base and the summit will be dramatic. Expect high winds and extreme cold.

Difference choices to go up Mt.Washington

I understand that you don%26#39;t want any more obstacles than necessary but we are talking about driving up a mountain. You certainly have to pay attention if you are driving yourself. Many people drive themselves but it is up to you to decide if you should. It is the best way to customize your visit as you can stop at various places on the way up/down for scenic views and stay at the summit as long as you like.

The vans only stay at the summit for 30 minutes except the first one of the day which is 60 minutes. I am doing this from memory so you may want to check the Glen Trails website which runs the coaches. You do have to stay on the same coach the entire trip.

The cog is a very slow trip but quite unique. This is from the cog website '; The round trip cog ride takes approximately three hours, including a 20 minute stop at the summit. Please check our operating schedule for departure times.'; I am not sure if you have to stay with the same train.

There is a small weather museum, gift and food at the top but you are going up for the views. You should check out the mountwashington.org website which has webcams from various locations including the summit. It can be an amazing view even if it is overcast at the base as it may be undercast at the top.

I would not take both the cog and coach as it the same destination. Also, the cog and coaches are about 35 miles away from each other at the base .

If you do drive yourself, then you may be able to take a hike off of the peak but as they say at MW, it is all about the weather.

I would not be concerned about driving. Plenty of folks from the UK do th edrive without problem. Yes, there are places to stop, and the road has a remarkable safety record. I would not be concerned about driving... if you can drive on the wrong side on the highways, you%26#39;ll be fine.

That said, the cog railroad is very unique.

The auto road is about 6 or 7 miles and I think takes about 30-40 minutes driving at a very reasonable pace.

Still trying to decide whether or not to drive yourself or take a van?

The following link to the ';Drive Yourself'; section of the Mt Washington Auto Road website may help you decide...

www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/Page-22.html

As others have said...be prepared for very different weather on top of the mountain than you experience at the base of the mountain.

Temperature differences can be as much as 40 degrees Farenheit different from bottom to top. And it can be dead calm at the base and blowing a gale on top of the mountain. Have had both experiences a number of times myself.

But if you check the weather reports (local television stations almost all include mention of the Mt Washington weather in their daily news broadcasts), and take some extra clothing along ';just in case';, the view from the top of the mountain is something that cannot be matched anywhere else in the Eastern United States!

However you finally decide to get to the top, it%26#39;s definitely worth the trip!

I%26#39;ve only taken the Cog to the top of Mt Washington. I wouldn%26#39;t recommend it unless you%26#39;re an extreme steam engine enthusiast. Very slow and expensive.

I highly recommend the Notch train for scenery viewing. I%26#39;m not too keen on the Valley train because IMO the scenery doesn%26#39;t get spectacular until you start the climb to Crawford Notch.

Thanks for all responses. After reading, I may do both going up the mountain and take the Notch Train.

Can anybody advise whether the autoroad up to the mountain is very spirals with dangerous turns and steep sections?

Follow this link to get an idea of the auto road

http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/arvp/

You can also click on the webcam link for various views from and towards MW. Today is a good day to look. As has been said, the auto road has a great safety record. You won%26#39;t want to ruin it.

The Wentworth Hotel North Conway

Be very careful of this hotel. They altered the tip I had put on my incidentals bill without my permission, they kept my credit card details on file and 4 months after our holiday they charged another amount to my card-which should have been charged to the tour company but as they didn%26#39;t have their details on file simply charged it to mine.

Set in a beautiful place but certainly a place I will avoid the next time I tour New England

The Wentworth Hotel North Conway

I hope you called your credit card company to dispute the charges. That happened to me at a very fancy hotel in Chicago. We were at a conference and splitting the room and because the other persons card was declined they charged the whole amount to mine. What a mess. Kind of leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

The Wentworth Hotel North Conway

Are you referring to the Wentworth in Jackson?

acne

web development

Restaurants in Bethlehem and Littleton

We will be staying in Franconia this weekend and are interested in some of these restaurants in Bethlehem and Littleton. None of these has a web site, so we have no idea how their menus are like.

- Tim-Bir Alley

- Angelica%26#39;s

- Crustaceans Seafood Eatery and Tavern

- Bailiwicks Fine Restaurant

Anyone has their menus and would like to share? Are they up-scale? Any other restaurants near Franconia you want to recommend?

Restaurants in Bethlehem and Littleton

Tim-Gir Alley is very good...little pricey, Angelicas, located in Bethlehem, is closed and in the process of being sold. Crustaceans is closed...

Bailiwicks is excellent but small and can get crowded and noisy...sort of a CHEERS kind of place for the locals, but visitors might feel a little displaced.

Here are a couple of other suggestions...

Italian Oasis...food is good, they have a microbrewery there, but it hasn%26#39;t gotten very good reviews on some of the microbrewer%26#39;s review web sites.

New Thai placed opened on Main Street with outstanding Thai Food...

Great Chinese restaurant on Meadow Street/Rte 302 called Jing Fong with a great All you Can eat buffet very reasonably priced for both lunch and dinner.

A couple of nice restaurants over in nearby Bethlehem...Rosa Flamingo - absolutely terrific Italian Also Loyd Hills is probably the best all around restaurant in the area...excellent and unique dishes.

A great breakfast place is Topic of the Town on Main Street Littleton or the Littleton Diner, also on Main Street (old fashioned diner with all the atmosphere).

Avoid the restaurants in Franconia...both are local bars...one has good food, but lousy (and I mean LOUSY) service...the other had a reputation for good food (especially pizza) but has been slipping lately.

If you are looking for fine dining...the Sugar Hill Inn is a number ONE recommendation...or the Adair Inn in Bethlehem...both of which have incredible dining. Little pricey, but the quality of food at both places is 5-star.

Restaurants in Bethlehem and Littleton

Thanks ramblinmaninnh..

Tim-Bir was kinda our first choice based on reviews. It%26#39;s great to hear you also liked it. Now we will be dining there with a one-year-old, do you think it%26#39;s OK? We plan to go early for dinner though.. maybe around 6pm.

Too bad angelica%26#39;s and Crustaceans have closed their doors... well I am sure I can find other equally good restaurants there.

Thanks again.

Holiday report

Just returned from a wonderful holiday in North Conway.

Driving from Boston was easy the roads were clear and dry. The hotel,Comfort Inn, was ok nothing special but good value. The skiing in Cranmore was great, the instructors couldn%26#39;t have been more helpful, we weren%26#39;t very good and we ended up getting one-to-one tuition which was excellent. The Muddy Moose Restaurant had great atmosphere but the food was only ok, Bellini%26#39;s was expensive and I felt we were seated in a corridor, not a restaurant. Mae Kelly%26#39;s was excellent, and we discovered that the owner originally lived two streets away from where we now live, so small world. Zebs store was amazing, everyone staying in North Conway should visit it. As for Settlers Green, we shopped %26#39;till we dropped.

This was one of the best holidays we%26#39;ve ever had, thanks to everyone on this site for your advice and hopefully we will be back next year!

Holiday report

Great to read you had a nice visit. Hope you can return someday.

Holiday report

Thanks for the report and glad that my friend from Dundalk, England (not Maryland) had a great time. I hope that you had some clear days to see the mountains.

Now, come back in the summer when it is just as much fun. (And my daughter loves Zeb%26#39;s also)

MrsRedPony and I make an annual visit to Zebs. She swears it%26#39;s the only place where she can buy her Jordan Almonds. We buy 5lbs and bring them home. She has a jar on her desk all the time. When it%26#39;s empty, it%26#39;s time to go back to North Conway.

Sorchap --

Thanks for the trip report -- always nice to hear how trips turn out.... From our experience in North Conway, your restaurant comments are ';spot on'; -- we always make May Kelly%26#39;s a ';must-do'; even if we don%26#39;t have the geographic connection you do -- talk about a small, small world. Glad you had a great trip -- and agree, you need to come back and see it (and Maine) in the summertime.

What is Zeb%26#39;s store? What kind of store is it?

It is difficult to describe Zeb%26#39;s. Part penny candy store (nothing costs a penny), part gift shop, part general store, lots of chachkas (if you don%26#39;t know what it means, you will have to look it up), part local food and crafts emporium, all around very amusing, entertaining, and fun place to wander--many times. In the end you will find you had to buy something. It has nothing you need but everything you want.

Thank you for the answer to my question-my favorite kind of store, then. I will look it up!

As someone who lives outside the USA the best description I can give of Zebs is - its like walking into Ike Godsey%26#39;s General Store from the t.v. show the Waltons ( if anyone%26#39;s old enough to remember that).

I think Zeb%26#39;s would be pleased with Sorchap%26#39;s comparison.... They%26#39;ve tried (with partial success) to create the feeling of an old-time (early 1900%26#39;s) New England general store.... but have also added some modern-day merchandise (music CD%26#39;s, T-shirts, etc.) Lots of ';specialty'; or regional soda-pop type beverages you won%26#39;t find very many other places in New England but that some of us remember savoring when wewere kids; a huge glass-fronted wooden case of ';penny-candy'; (again lots of things we treasured as kids that aren%26#39;t generally available and more -- think root-beer-barrels, jaw-breakers, wax figures with colored, flavored water inside); a variety of specialty cheeses; a separate room devoted to candles and scented sachets; old-time signs that make great decorations for camps or family rooms; a huge selection of cooking hot-sauces; a fairly good display of books by local authors or of regional interest; and even a corner upstairs of merchandise designed especially for your dog or cat. It%26#39;s a fun place to visit anytime, but especially useful for killing part of a rainy or icy-cold day if one comes along while you%26#39;re in North Conway. We%26#39;ve reached the point where a trip to North Conway isn%26#39;t complete unless we%26#39;ve been to Zeb%26#39;s.

There are very few places left that are able to successfully create that timewarp as we cross the threshold from the main street to that nostalgic place that fewer of us remember when it was current. Zeb%26#39;s is one. The Vermont Country Store in Weston, VT is another. I skiied for many years at Stratton and the Winhall Market, while not as extensive always had great food cooking. I enjoy the questions here because it makes me do some research. There is a website that attempts to catalog these gems. visitingnewengland.com/holiday-shopping.html

One mentioned there is Hebert%26#39;s, where my family always stopped for chocolates after a visit to Sturbridge Village. One whose passing I lament is Spag%26#39;s which many of my TA friends from Mass will remember fondly I am sure. The point is that these are not just shops but treasures without whom visitors like Sorchap could not continue.

Manchester hotel near airport

Hi,

could anybody advise me where can we stay for night close to airport or somewhere whith free shuttle to airport. I am looking something cheap :)

thanks

Ewelina

Manchester hotel near airport

Hopefully this link helps. For ';something cheap'; try ';Sleep Inn'; in Londonderry, NH

www.parksleepfly.com/reservation/search.php

Manchester hotel near airport

Good bets are:

Highlander Inn - which is right next to the airport

or

Holiday Inn on Brown Ave (2280 Brown) which is about 1 1/2 miles away.

Both have reliable shuttles and good rooms and services. Neither is particularly ';cheap'; but reasonable in the $125-$135 range ... we%26#39;ve negotiated prices as low as $89 at the Higlander in the past. Depends on time of year. very convenient and reliable for catching a flight.

There are lots of other choices around Manchester - I believe a Super 8 is nearby (also on Brown Ave) and probably cheaper. Probably has a shuttle as well. If you google these and others in Manchester you might find some good deals. Manchester is not that big so anywhere within city limits should work re: getting a ride to the airport (taxi or shuttle).

Good luck!

Hampton Inn Manchester-Bedford is less than a mile and a half from the airport and, the last time we stayed there (although it was a while ago) offered park-and-fly and an airport shuttle. You might check with them....

Website: 鈥ilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml鈥?/a>

Sunapee hotels

We%26#39;re looking for CLEAN and relativly cheap (100 or less) over-night accomodations on a weekend in March (one night) in Sunapee area. Accompanied by one sweetheart of a brown lab, so must be pet friendly. Tried Dexter%26#39;s through Expedia, then told directly by the innkeeper that the room offered on Expedia was not one that pets were allowed in (even though the only thing mentioned on the site was a $10 dollar surcharge!). HELP!

Sunapee hotels

I have never stayed there but consider Maple Farm B%26amp;B in New London.

Sunapee hotels

Thanks for the input. I was trying to locate one that had actually been stayed in though...always thinking about the cleanliness aspect..anyone else?

Dining in Concord

Trust me, the list that shows up as the most popular places to eat in Concord is crazy. Makes us sound like a bunch of yahoos that have never experienced fine dining.....

Dining in Concord

Agreed. There are so many other fine restaurants in Concord. If this list is representative of the kinds of places that are named ';top'; restaurants in other cities, I%26#39;ll know not to trust the recommendations.

Dining in Concord

Well then, what would you suggest for fine dining in Concord?

Probably the best restaurant in Concord is the new Common Man, part of a chain of New Hampshire-owned restaurants that is known for fairly good food, good service, nice ambiance, somewhat reasonable prices.

Concord is not known for its restaurants, but besides the Common Man, try Hermanos for New England Mexican food, Angelina%26#39;s, and the Centennial Inn.

If you%26#39;re interested in nationwide chain restaurants and pizzas joint, we%26#39;ve got plenty of those.

Have you tried 55 Degrees? It is in downtown, we went a few weeks ago and the food is fantastic. Finally a decent restaurant in Concord.

I also love the Common Man, it%26#39;s great to bring travelers since the atmosphere is so classicly New England cozy. My only beef (ha ha!) is that the food is so rich. Yummy definately, but nothing diet friendly there!

Where else? Moritomo is our favorite sushi spot, Angelina%26#39;s for italian. Favorite ';local spot'; is the Gaslighter - a little place with ice cold beer, great burgers and onion rings, and awesome gyros.

This list is ridiculous. I%26#39;m getting heartburn just reading it. Having not yet been to 55 Degrees, here is what I reccomend.

1, Don Giovannis- It has a more authentic Italian menu. For instance, don%26#39;t expect soup or salad. I have been going there since they opened, and everything I have ever had has been excellent. I highly reccomend the veal chop, and if youre feeling adventurous the drowned octopus is world class. John and Brenda are great hosts, and have an exceptional staff.

2, Angelina%26#39;s- More American Italian, but equally as good. The service is excellent. If you only have a party of 2 ask for table 12. It is off in a little alcove. Romantic. Don%26#39;t leave without trying the chocolate pot for dessert. A little shot of Sambuca with your coffee doesn%26#39;t hurt either.

In either one of these fine establishments you can expect your stay to be around 2 hours, which to me is the best way to dine.

3, The Barley House- Yes, The Barley House. They have been open for over 5 years now, and I would bet I have been over 100 times. I have never had a bad meal. From the appetizers, to the entrees, and even the tavern pizzas. Everything is good. Great selection of beers, hence the name. If you have a sweet tooth try the giant chocalate cake. It is more than enough for 2.

Honorable Mention : The Red Blazer, The Common Man

Trust me. If there is one thing I know its good food.

My Common Man experience has been what Left Coasters would call ';coffee shop'; food. I%26#39;ve been there three times. I had the turkey dinner, halibut and salmon. All were good. Nothing to write home about. It%26#39;s just another high volume food mill.

';55'; on the other hand is the opposite. I sat at a table four weeks after they opened. Service was a little unsure, but attentive and apologetic. I had pork loin and it was outstanding. Second time there, I sat at the bar, which I recommend especially for solo diners who like being sociable. I had perfect salmon. Appetizers and desserts are wonderful too. However... if you%26#39;re hungry, be aware that the portions are quite small, and the prices are high. I wound up ordering two entrees because the guy next to me at the bar had ordered lamb that he said was some of the best he had ever had... and he was from New Zealand!

We just left the Common Man in Concord, NH. Had a great meal after the opera at Capitol Arts. The prime rib was outstanding, the duck just average. The mashed potatoes and squash were fresh, and delicious. I agree the Trip Advisor list for Concord is tottaly off base except for Moritomo. Don Giovani%26#39;s is excellent but I don%26#39;t like their vegetables. Hermano%26#39;s also makes the cut. My persdonal favorites are Mise en Place in Wolfeboro and the White Barn Inn (Chateau %26amp; Relais) in Kennebunk.

A few years ago we had a family gathering a Common Man; it was perfect for what we needed. Warm and comfortable, good food, reasonably priced and they took a large group and handled us wonderfully.

This year, we hoped to do the same thing. Common Man is telling us they cannot take a reservation for 16 people unless we book and pay for a separate ';party'; room.

So: bearing in mind the above posts started a few years ago to present- I need some updated advice for a reasonably priced restaurant, comfortable: not too fancy, not too ';diner or pizza place-ish';.

Family is coming from Loudon, Franklin, Deerfield, Somersworth, Stratham...so Concord seems to be a good compromise.

Mise en Place in Wolfeboro was mentioned above and I just want to add that the last time I was in Wolfeboro it was closed..empty closed. I think they have gone out of business.

Concord is in need of better restaurants. So many chains, so few mom and pops.

Siam Orchid is very good Thai food

Johnson%26#39;s steak and seafood in both Northwood and New Durham serves very good food and Richardson%26#39;s ice cream..if you have never has Richardson%26#39;s ice cream, you need to try it.Yum. No atmosphere, very casual but the food is very good.

The Windmill on Loudon Rd in Concord also has good food. This is a mom and pop establishment.

The owner is very community conscious and serves free Thanksgiving dinners to the homeless (has in the past, anyway)

I agree the Common Man is excellent.

Don Giovanni%26#39;s, excellent food, higher priced.

Gilford: Ellacoya Barn %26amp; Grill

Patricks Pub, (excellent)

The Gas Lighter is our favorite stop when we don%26#39;t feel like cooking and want some excellent Greek comfort food! The decor hasn%26#39;t changed in years and that%26#39;s part of the comfort!

Margarita%26#39;s is a great experience. The food is good americanized mexican and the margaritas are terrific! Also, the ambiance is next to none. Its the old concord jail and you can request to dine privately in one of the many cells. That can not be beat!!!

ittwit

Neat webcam photo of Ravines

A great way to see what is happening in MWV is to check out the webcams at Mountwashington.org

Right now, there is a great picture of the fog rolling over the summit and down thru the ravines

www.mountwashington.org/weather/cam/ravines/

Neat webcam photo of Ravines

Thanks for the link. It%26#39;s always cool to see what%26#39;s going on up there.

Just yeaterday I walked into the Costco store in Prescott AZ. As usual they had dozens of large screen HDTV sets in the aisles near the front entry. I looked at the images and they were featuring a loop from the Travel Channel about the Mt Washington Valley. I stood and watched for about 5 minutes as all of the screens showed me images of a snow covered Mt Washington and the surrounding region. All home turf.

Neat webcam photo of Ravines

Whenever it is really cold here in the southern part of the state I like to go to the Mt Wash site to see the pics and look at the outrageously low temps (it makes me feel better).

It%26#39;s a fun site!

It helps me feel connected almost every day. It really is amazing to see a beautiful sunset from the summit and then click on the Wildcat cam and it is a miserable rainy day in the valley or bright sunshine to the West and total fog to the North.

I am going to put together some links and ask TA if it can be made a sticky. Please feel free to contribute. You guys are a heck of alot more knowledgeable than me.

acne

Girls Weekend Away end of March

Three of us planning our annual weekend away. We have decided on North Conway or Jackson NH. Our girls weekend away we like to relax, eat,shop and find a good place for some laughs, drinks at night. We might try tubing for some fun. And we are always game for a spa treatment, but not a priority.

Any suggestions that we can check out? (Lodging, Dining etc)

Girls Weekend Away end of March

For lodging, the North Conway Grand is a bit over-priced in my opinion, but you can%26#39;t beat the fact that you walk out the hotel and you%26#39;re immediately at the Settler%26#39;s Green outlet.

Girls Weekend Away end of March

A couple of dining suggestions:

May Kelly%26#39;s (Irish) Cottage is just north of the business district of downtown North Conway. The owner is from Ireland and offers a variety of Irish fare -- stews, pot pies, chicken and fish prepared in a variety of manners -- plus some killer desserts -- and some good Irish brews on-draft. Not a big place, but a great spot to have a leisurely meal with some good libations.

Flatbread and Co. is located in the Eastern Slope Inn on the north end of downtown. Brick-oven baked flatbreads (similar to pizza but without the yeast) with an emphasis on all-natural toppings. Not the place for your typical ham-and-cheese pizza, but some different offerings (free-range chicken with a pesto sauce for example), the advantage of being able to watch the wood-fired open-faced brick oven visible from anywhere in the dining room, and a good selection of local and regional micro-brews to accompany your meal -- topped off with a hot brownie sundae after they heat the brownie in the brick oven.

Check the chalk-board on the way in for the night%26#39;s special offerings -- one vegetarian and one for those who prefer meat on their flatbreads.

Both of these spots are ';must-do%26#39;s'; for us every time we visit our timeshare in North Conway or just happen to be passing through the area.

The Comfort Inn and Suites in North Conway is a nice spot too. The rooms are beautiful, there is a small indoor pool and a modest continental breakfast included. Hales White Mountain Resort outside North Conway on the West Side Road is pretty too.

Thanks to all your responses. For lodging, I am waiting for a response from the Kearsage Inn. Does anyone know it? Seems like we might be able to walk to shops etc from their location. And close to everything? I did see a few mixed reviews, but was glad to see management response. Love to hear your restaurant tips too!

Red Parka Pub and Wildcat Tavern are a bit more adult and are fun places to get a drink and dinner. Also, Moat Mountain Smokehouse. Wildcat has live music on weekends- you can check out their website.

There is a Thai Restaurant across the street from the Eastern Slope. I have not eaten there but have seen good reviews.

Re: Kersarge Inn....have never stayed there myself...but yes, it would be close to the downtown ';village'; shops of North Conway....however, if you%26#39;re looking for outlet shopping, that%26#39;s going to be a couple of miles down the road....but easy to get to, just ask the locals about the North-South Road, much easier than battling the traffic on Rt 16/302.

Kersarge would also be walking distance to some of the local eateries, although many of them are also spread out along Rt 16/302. But as far as being able to ';walk the village'; Kersarge would fit the bill -- as would Eastern Slope Inn if you haven%26#39;t checked it already -- but caution: it%26#39;s really two operations under one roof.

The ';Eastern Slope Inn'; is an old-style New England Inn - smallish rooms, etc. The ';Suites at Eastern Slope'; refers to timeshare units in more modern buildings located immediately behind the old Inn itself. Although they may be farily well booked with late-March skiers, you might check with them if a somewhat larger room unit for somewhat more money appeals to you -- the Suites units inlude a basic kitchen set-up, a table large enough for six to use comfortably, and a living room section with fireplace. Configurations include ';studio'; -- a queed-sized Murphy bed that folds out of the wall and a queen-sized sleep sofa - ';one bedroom'; -- same as a studio unit plus a connecting bedroom with oversized bed and queen sized sleep sofa, another fireplace, and a jacuzzi tub in the bedroom area -- and ';two bedroom'; -- studio, plus two extra bedrooms. Depending on how much space you need, might or might not be of interest.

Hi,

I have stayed at the Kearsage inn twice and am going back with my wife and friends again beginning of MArch.

It is one of the best places i have ever stayed and in a great location. You can walk to some shops and restuarants. Settlers green is just a couple of kms down the main road.

In march if you stay 3 nights you get the last night free which is a great offer.

Decades restaurant is next door to Kearsage and very good for Martinis.

Hope you decide to stay there and look forward to hearing what you think.

thanks Mike, Yorkshire, england

Nature/Golf and something to do at night for family vacation

Searching for a location for our summer vacation. We%26#39;ve visited Sedona Arizona (spring) and Mont Tremblant, Canada (summer), recently and loved hiking and enjoying nature during the day, but going into ';town'; at night for our 15 year old daughter and 7 year old son to enjoy the touristy shops. Other places we liked are the quiet side of Cape Cod MA (Ocean%26#39;s Edge Resort). We prefer lodging that is a condo/cottage, so we can have some room to spread out.

This year we want to stay closer to home, and are interested in New Hampshire, upstate NY or Maine and are looking for some suggestions.

We expect to pay around $1500 per week for lodging, a little more or less would work as well.

Where can you point us to begin looking?

Nature/Golf and something to do at night for family vacation

The Mount Washington Valley region in the White Mtns of New Hampshire, specifically North Conway would probably be a good spot.

Like Sedona and some of the other places you have enjoyed it is a toursit driven economy environment with plenty of hiking and outdoor activity options for day time, plus lots of lodging, dining and evening entertainment options.

Take a look at the lodging at the Eastern Slope Inn in North Conway. it functions as both a hotel and time shareresort so accomodations are geared for family stays of a week or longer. And the location in town is great for walking to shops and nightlife.

Can I ask for your help again please

Hi All

Can I first of all thank you for the help and guidance you have provided so far – we are very grateful and it has already proved to be of immense help. Since my last flurry of posts Lyn and I have been revising our plans in the light of your suggestions.

Ok – we now have our second itinerary and again we would be very pleased to receive any observations that you have. We also still have many unanswered questions that we would like to ask:-

Fly into Boston, Mass – 30th September 2009

Spend 3 nights in all in Boston

We have not sorted out any accommodation yet – suggestions would be very welcome – we are trying to stick to a budget of about £100 per night ($140) – in the cities we like to stay sort of downtown – within walking distance to most of the major attractions – safe areas – clean and tidy. In the country we like Condos, log cabins, basic but clean – waterfront is a big bonus but just great views are what we want.

From Boston we intend to drive in one day all the way to Bar Harbour in Maine – I know it’s a long drive and we wont be able to stop and look around this wonderful coastal area but it one of the compromises we have had to make.

We intend to spend 3 nights in Bar Harbour – again any accommodation suggestions would be much appreciated.

From Bar Harbour, ME we intend to drive to Moosehead Lake, ME to take in the Lakes and Leaves Drive, take a trip on the steamer and maybe go on a Moose Safari. Again any accommodation suggestions would be much appreciated – we plan to stay 3 nights at Moosehead Lake.

From Moosehead Lake we plan to drive to the White Mountain area of New Hampshire. Now as yet we haven’t sorted out a location to stay but I can tell you where we intend to visit – its really a big square – North Woodstock, Franconia Notch, Franconia, Bethlehem, Gorham, Mount Washington, Jackson, North Conway, Lincoln – taking in of course along the way the Kancamagus Highway. Again, recommendations of which town to stay in and accommodation as well would be so useful – we intend staying in this area for 3 nights.

We than intend driving from New Hampshire to the Green Mountain National Forest of Central Vermont. Again, we haven’t sorted out a location to stay but I can tell you where we intend to visit – and yes again its really a big square – Rutland, Bethel, Quechee, Woodstock, Bridgewate rand Plymouth. Again, recommendations of which town to stay in and accommodation as well would be so helpful – we intend staying in this area for 2 nights.

From Central Vermont we intend to drive to the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts via Rutland – Ludlow – Weston – Peru – Manchester Village – Arlington – Bennington.

Once again, we haven’t sorted out a location to stay but I can tell you where we intend to visit – another big square – Williamstown, North Adams, Shelburne Falls, Deerfield, Northampton, Springfield, Monterey, Sheffield, Great Barrington, Lenox, and Williamstown – of course taking in the Mohawk Trail along the way. Recommendations of which town to stay in and accommodation as well would be very much appreciated – we intend staying in this area for 3 nights.

This is where it is still a bit sketchy (well ok a bit more sketchy). From Massachusetts we think we will drive to Philadelphia – have an overnight stop – really just to break the long journey.

From Philadelphia we will then drive to the Skyline Drive in Virginia – we are looking to stay some where on the Skyline Drive itself (probably about half way along) we really have no idea about accommodation here – any nice romantic getaway suggestions would be very welcome – we intend spending 2 nights on the Skyline Drive.

From the Skyline Drive we drive to Washington DC for 3 nights. Again no accommodation sorted out as yet.

I appreciate we are asking for a lot of information and we don’t expect for you to provide all the answers for us – any help would be most appreciated.

Oh sorry just a couple more questions – we would like to try and take in as many fairs, concerts, festivals as possible – can anyone point us in the right direction

Does any one have any suggestions for the best place to hire a car we are obviously looking to pick it up in Boston and drop it off in Washington – preferably a medium size car with an open top.

Thank you so much

Speak soon

Take care

Ray

Can I ask for your help again please

Two thoughts, Ray,

First, tell more about what you%26#39;d like to do most in the White Mountains -- if you enjoy walks in the woods -- maountains, more outdoorsy stuff -- I%26#39;d suggest Lincoln as a base -- then grab a copy of the Appalachian Mountain Clubs book on best day hikes in the White Mountains. Alternately, if you want to mix in shopping and restaurants, North Conway might be better. Keep in mind that this is the start of fall foliage season and things will start to get busy, especially on weekends.

Second, dropping a car off in other than the original pick-up location can add lots and lots of expense to your rental. There is excellent train service from Boston to Washington, with stops in New York and Philadelphia along the way if you like. You may want to consider leaving the car in Boston, then taking a train. Traffic in this corridor can be very heavy, and the train, especially the high-speed Acela service is a really nice alternative. I%26#39;ll bet too that with gasoline, tolls, parking and that hefty drop charge for a one-way rental, you%26#39;d save money on the train.

Lmm

Can I ask for your help again please

Thank you Lmm - the car option is worth thinking about - the only trouble is the reason for flying out of Washington was that my wife wanted to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains - otherwise I think your idea would have been a good solution.

As far as what we would be looking to do - right - I love the outdoors - I love magnificent scenery - the stuff where you look at it and say wow will you just look at that (with your mouth slightly open - lol) - I could do that all day - I love photography - New England in the Fall - could you want for anything more!! now Lyn on the other hand loves the outdoors - but she has a limit where a beautiful tree is just another beautiful tree and 3 weeks of leaf peeping might send her over the edge. So she would like to mix it up a bit with gentle strolls around some of the New England towns - looking at galleries - museums - trying to catch the odd fesival.

We like to walk but four of five miles per day is enough and not too steep. That is the sort of thing

Thanks Lmm

Take care

Ray

Welcome back Ray. Since I have home base in the White Mtns of NH I%26#39;ll address that part of your plan and give you a few thoughts to consider. Three days is a good minimum for your time there. Your likely schedules each day will have you doing drives with short hikes or activities in the mountains. The routes that you will take will most assuredly be loops through the notches. The primary roads will cover Pinkham, Crawford and Franconia Notches plus the Kangamagus highway. Lincoln is the town at the west end of the Kanc and the south end of Franconia. North Conway is central to the east end of the Kanc and the Mt Washington Valley with access to Pinkham and Crawford Notches. IMO North Conway has more to offer and will be more central to your day trips. If you do end up using NC as a base, then I would encourage you to include the Bear Mtn Road in one of your drives. It%26#39;s a scenic route that connects the town of Bartlett with the Kanc. It would make a fun addition to any of the days and will bring you back to a place that is only a few minutes from NC at either end.

Hi RedRox - I was hoping that you would see my post. Your advice has always been invaluable - it contributed enormously last year when we visited the west.

North Conway it is then - I%26#39;ll start looking for accommodation.

Yes most of the vacation will be spent exactly as you described - a drive followed by a short (ish) hike - we normally like to feel that we%26#39;ve had a good walk by the end of the day - normally we are so tired that from our day time activity that the evening is spent on a terrace watching the sun go down with a nice glass of wine - ah heaven.

Thanks again RedRox

Take Care

Ray

As far as the skyline drive, there is only camping along the drive, no hotels. The drive is beautiful, and not terribly long, so unless you are prepared to camp you will have to stay at the end or beginning of the drive. Good luck!

Ray

don%26#39;t even know where to start but I am already exhausted. After all the Northeastern stuff, Skyline is really overkill and since you are traveling south, it will be before any leaves have changed. If you insist on coming this far south, then I would suggest a trip to Harper%26#39;s Ferry or Williamsburg. Both lots of history and very pretty. You can bike along the canal or rent kayaks depending on weather in Harpers Ferry.

You can%26#39;t hit all the places you mention except to drive thru town. Most fairs and festivals are over by labor day (1st Monday in Sept). I would suggest finding local chamber of commerce websites or the official state websites to check out any concerts or shows. Also, the online version of most newspapers will include local entertainment. Usually, the only way to get a 1 way drive car is to rent from an airport location. You will not find any online discounts (at least I did not the last time I tried).

As much as I love NC, if you are going to Vt after NH, then you may want to consider Lincoln (maybe a condo at Loon Mtn) as you will wake up with a shorter drive since you are already on the West side of the state.

Hope this helps.

Wow is my back end sore from all this driving. To do this in 3 weeks is going to mean spending much more time in the car than you probably think. From boston to Bar Harbor and then to NC via NH, VT, MA, PA is hours and hours in the car. If this is going to be your only trip to the US then go for it, but if you are planning on a return in a few years stay in one part of the country. Either decide to go south to NC, VA and PA then back to Boston. Or in the NE and still take in PA. I%26#39;ve traveled from central NH to various places in NC and you can plan on 17 hours or so.

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy the US because all of the places you%26#39;ve chosen are great.

Hi Beckjet82 - I think the best we are going to do with regard to accommodation on the Skyline Drive is:-

Skyland Lodge and Big Meadows Lodge

My days of camping are long behind me - lol

I know neslaw1 it is a lot of travelling but Lyn is determined to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains - mind you Harper%26#39;s Ferry looks great - I wonder if we will find Tom Brown%26#39;s body?

Thanks for the advice re Lincoln and Loon Mountain - I will definately use this information especially as this has come from you. Thanks also for all of the other info re concerts etc - very very helpful.

Sunshine2go - you%26#39;re right it is a lot of driving - I%26#39;m never sure when we will ever return to a location - there is so much of the world to see - i must say that we don%26#39;t mind driving that much - last year we drove 2,500 miles around the SW USA - I know the roads are different in the west but as long as we can get out from time to time have a short hike or mooch around a nice little town we will be more than happy - I would pay the money for the scenery alone - Lyn needs slightly more.

Thanks everyone - much appreciated

Take care

Ray

Suggestion

You seem to be going from Philly to Skyline drive (which starts in Front Royal, Va). You can go to Harpers Ferry without going out of your way. It is a 4 hour drive from Philly to Front Royal and Harper%26#39;s Ferry is at the 3 hour mark. You can easily spend a few hours there and still be able to get a great feel for the town and history. Since Skyline is a daytime trip, I don%26#39;t know how much time you will have to explore if you go straight there. Another really nice little town to visit is Frederick, MD. Lots of great restaurants in the downtown area. Again, not out of your way. Other places to stop are Gettysburg or Antietam Battlefields. Remember Skyline is a 100 mile drive that will take 6-8 hours if you stop alot or 3 hours non-stop @ 35 mph. Here is a website for that area. www.virginia.org/site/features.asp…

Although, I am not a TA ';expert'; on the midatlantic, it is my back yard, so I will be happy to give you any suggestions for travel through this area.

Thanks again neslaw - more great suggestions - we intend to spend two nights at the Skyline Drive and have no idea what to do at the moment (except maybe the Luray Caverns)so your suggestions will be very useful for our 1st day on the way to Skyline Drive.

Thanks again - its all coming together very nicely with the kind help of TAs.

Another big itinerary revision weekend coming up - I sometime think I enjoy the planning more than i do the holiday - no maybe that%26#39;s a slight exaggeration - but it is fun

Take care

Ray