Need New England Vacation Advice

DH and I are planning to do a Bike Vermont trip the end of Sept. We're going to tack on a few days of free time & want to visit smaller NE towns, preferably by the water. I was looking at Gloucester - is that a nice town? It seemed like it would be equidistant to things we want to do, e.g., the smaller towns along the coast of Maine & maybe some inland towns. We're flying out of Boston, so would like to stay around that area.

Any advice on places to go/see/stay? Is Gloucester a good pick? We would like to stay at a B&B if possible. DH is a history buff and I like shopping the smaller local shops, farmer's markets, etc.

Thanks!

There's a bunch to do in the Gloucester/Salem area. I really like Marblehead and Plum Island is always popular.

I wouldn't stay in Gloucester. There's good historical stuff to see/do there, but it's kind of a gritty old town...
Lots of beautiful small towns on the north shore: Rockport, Essex, Marblehead, Newburyport. They are all not far apart and you can easily travel to a few in a day. Also close to Portsmouth, NH, and southern Maine, i.e. Ogonquit, Saco, Wells, and Portland.
I'd vote for staying in Newburyport. It's the most northern of the above towns in MA, and central to the places above. I've stayed there and spent time eating/riding there. I've also stayed in Rockport, but that was long before I started riding. Lots of artist stuff, but a little touristy. Newburyport and Portsmouth, NH (as well as Portland, Maine) are much funkier towns, with good restaurants, history, and real people, not just tourists.
When will you be here?
September is generally a beautiful month here.

I'm from that part of the world. I grew up in Ipswich. My mom is from Gloucester. But I moved away 20 years ago and I don't get back often enough to advise on what the area is like to visit nowadays. I'm sure you'll have a good time though!

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Originally Posted by Crankin

I wouldn't stay in Gloucester. There's good historical stuff to see/do there, but it's kind of a gritty old town...
Lots of beautiful small towns on the north shore: Rockport, Essex, Marblehead, Newburyport. They are all not far apart and you can easily travel to a few in a day. Also close to Portsmouth, NH, and southern Maine, i.e. Ogonquit, Saco, Wells, and Portland.
I'd vote for staying in Newburyport. It's the most northern of the above towns in MA, and central to the places above. I've stayed there and spent time eating/riding there. I've also stayed in Rockport, but that was long before I started riding. Lots of artist stuff, but a little touristy. Newburyport and Portsmouth, NH (as well as Portland, Maine) are much funkier towns, with good restaurants, history, and real people, not just tourists.
When will you be here?
September is generally a beautiful month here.

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Thank you so much!! That is EXACTLY the information I need!! Newburyport looks absolutely perfect! It's 3 hours from our ride in VT (Bridgewater Corners) and not far from lots of little towns. I especially like the "real people" aspect.

We'll be there the end of September. We've done a Bike VT tour and they're really nice. I had never seen New England in the Fall and I was blown away with the beautiful colors. Out here, it's mostly cactus. They don't change colors - just get wrinkled in the drought.

Dogmama, I never stop appreciating the ever changing natural beauty here, in all seasons. New Englanders are constant complainers about the weather. 23 years of AZ and Florida made me think differently and to want to return to the place I spent my first 15 years.
PM me, and maybe we can meet.

I always associate the term "wintry mix" with New England :) Personally, I loved every part of the year... especially the cusp of seasons when there's so much excitement for what's coming. The first snowflakes in October or November and the creeping scent of winter. The slightly burnt scent of autumn as it arrives in late august. The mud of early spring!

Can't say I ever look forward to the first heatwaves though ;)

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Originally Posted by Crankin

I wouldn't stay in Gloucester. There's good historical stuff to see/do there, but it's kind of a gritty old town...

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HEY!! I lived in Gloucester for 7 years!! :eek: Sure, it's blue-collar, working class relative to the hoity-toity blue blood towns surrounding it ("Manchester-by-the-Sea" anyone?? Yeah...I lived in "Gloucester-by-the-Smell" thank you!), but it certainly has its own unique charms. And it can't help but take on a certain "gritty" persona when it's been working hard and taking names since 1623.

That said, if you want B&B's, biking, shopping, and generally hanging out in areas with awesome vibes, anywhere along the North Shore of MA or southern NH and ME will fill your bill. Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth NH is great.
Places other folks have said: Newburyport, Ipswich (try the famous clams!), Rockport. It's all wonderful - especially in the summer and fall. In many ways, I regret leaving. If only....

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Originally Posted by 7rider

It's all wonderful - especially in the summer and fall. In many ways, I regret leaving. If only....

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Ugh, me too (though I do love the PNW)!

If you are a history buff, you have to visit Salem. So much fun stuff to explore there - particularly on foot.

And if you want REAL New England seafood, Woodman's in Essex (if I remember correctly) and Brown's in Seabrook, NH are two of the best 'seafood in the rough' places in all the world!

No offense,I hope 7 Rider. I really meant that for a vacation, I wouldn't stay there, for the reasons you stated. I've actually done quite a bit of riding there.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

No offense,I hope 7 Rider. I really meant that for a vacation, I wouldn't stay there, for the reasons you stated. I've actually done quite a bit of riding there.

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None taken. I'm just funnin' with you! ;):p
Gloucesterites can be sensitive about detractors and comparisons to their more well-heeled neighbors (and some just flat out couldn't give a rat's you-know-what!)!

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

Ugh, me too (though I do love the PNW)!

If you are a history buff, you have to visit Salem. So much fun stuff to explore there - particularly on foot.

And if you want REAL New England seafood, Woodman's in Essex (if I remember correctly) and Brown's in Seabrook, NH are two of the best 'seafood in the rough' places in all the world!

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Thanks! I've always been interested in the witch trials, having pagan leanings & all that. And seafood - thank you for the recommendations! You can imagine, fresh seafood in the desert is a precious commodity. Most seafood has been flash frozen or otherwise abused. I love how the people in Maine eat lobster so casually. Out here, it's a very special occasion!

There are lots of places in Maine where you can walk right up to a boat and ask for lobster, but they've gotten wise and still charge market price. You can get a great deal on mussels though!

I usually don't waste my money on the lobster "dinner" too which means you're paying another ten bucks for bucket coleslaw, fries etc. I'd rather have a 2nd lobster for my money ;)

If you like to go to museums, the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem is a really nice small museum. http://www.pem.org/visit/ They have a great section on all the sea going trades that shaped that area. And I second the Strawbery Banke suggestion in Portsmouth NH - actually, all of Portsmouth is a fun place to visit.

If you do find yourself driving up the coast from Salem MA to Portsmouth NH, stop by the Beach Plum ice cream stand on rt 1A in North Hampton NH. Yummy, yummy! :)

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Originally Posted by 7rider

("Manchester-by-the-Sea" anyone?? Yeah...I lived in "Gloucester-by-the-Smell" thank you!),

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LOL....."Manchester-by-the-Sea," "Gloucester-by-the-Smell" and "Magnolia-by-the-dump."

LOL

Thanks everybody & keep the suggestions coming if you have some! I'm copying all of them to take with me. :D

Another tip is to travel light. I always travel light to maintain my flexibility during the trip.

Timely thread! My family and I will be spending a few days in Boston this summer, then driving up to Deer Isle, Maine (near Bar Harbor). I'd like to take a couple of days to do the drive so that we can stop and see some of the sights. Strawberry Banke looks fun. Any other suggestions as we work our way north? Any favorite towns for spending the night? And what's on your must-see list in Boston? My sons are 10 and 13.

What are your sons really interested in? There's several years' worth of things to do!
Walk the Freedom Trail; you'll see many of the important historical sites. If you don't so this, at least walk through the Public Gardens and Common. The North End/Paul Revere's House (Italian section of town). The Waterfront, Aquarium. The Museum of Science, Fenway Park. Cambridge/Harvard Square. Museum of Fine Arts.
There are several good walking tours and bike tours you can do in the city. Sometimes it's nice to focus in on one or two and have a guide.
Strawberry Banke and Portsmouth itself are awesome. I would also stop in Portland, Maine on the way up. Similar, but bigger than Portsmouth and quite a foodie town. On the way to Bar Harbor, I would stay somewhere in mid-coast Maine. I love Camden.

I second the science museum and aquarium for Boston... I have many incredible memories at both of those places.

My first and last Maine true love is inland... Sebago Lake! I also like to paddle the rivers.

If you can find a Windjammer day cruise, that would be well worth it. Here's one!
http://www.camdenmainevacation.com/c...trips-sail.php

Fantastic! Thanks! So many interesting ideas. The Freedom Trail looks great--is that a full day if we take our time? the Waterfront/aquarium should be a hit, and I think my DH is already checking the schedule at Fenway Park.

Reesha, what rivers do you paddle? We're ex-kayakers turned rafters (since the kids). Any suggestions for a class 3 day trip?

Chile Pepper, if you like to kayak, there are a ton of sea kayaking opportunities around the midcoast Maine area (Rockland/Belfast/Camden). I like the Sebago Lake area, too (especially for camping), but I adore Camden. If you need a B&B rec there, I like the Camden Maine Stay. If you decide to venture further north to Bar Harbor, make sure that you get up to see the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain (and take a blanket-- its cold up there!) and have popovers later at Jordan Pond.

Don't forget to hit the LLBean (flagship and outlet) in Freeport! Sometimes you can pick up some great discounted gear at the outlet, and the flagship is open 24 hours. They also have 20-30 mi group road rides from the main store on Saturday mornings.

The Magalloway will have more reliable rapids than the androscoggin or saco... those two rivers are gentler for the most part and better for canoeing or kayaking. Nice for kids learning to kayak or canoe :)

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Originally Posted by Crankin

Dogmama, I never stop appreciating the ever changing natural beauty here, in all seasons. New Englanders are constant complainers about the weather. 23 years of AZ and Florida made me think differently and to want to return to the place I spent my first 15 years.
PM me, and maybe we can meet.

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I'm with you, Crankin. I have lived here my entire life and plan to stay until the show is over. I love the changing seasons and the various activities associated with them. (Heck, sometimes you can get the flavor of 2-4 seasons in one day.) :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Kubla

(Heck, sometimes you can get the flavor of 2-4 seasons in one day.) :rolleyes:

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:D So true!

I don't think the Freedom Trail is a whole day; maybe half or 3/4.
Hey, you could come out here where I live and see the many historical sights from the Revolutionary War. You can take the train...


http://www.concordchamberofcommerce....sitor-info.htm

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Originally Posted by Kubla

I'm with you, Crankin. I have lived here my entire life and plan to stay until the show is over. I love the changing seasons and the various activities associated with them. (Heck, sometimes you can get the flavor of 2-4 seasons in one day.) :rolleyes:

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Gawd, I hate the desert in the summer. We've already had 107 degrees. Leaves fall off the trees around Christmas - those that are deciduous. Cactus just wrinkles up. I'd leave in a heartbeat but DH has his business here.