Where to visit in New England?

March 19, 2006 9:37 AM

My boyfriend and I are driving from Minnesota to Novia Scotia this Spring. We'll be doing some camping along the way. I'm specifically looking for recommendations of where to visit in New England - Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire? Thanks.
posted by Ailla to travel & transportation (17 comments total)

Acadia National Park, on the Maine coast, is quite beautiful. And from Bar Harbor you can catch a ferry up to Nova Scotia, which is a fun ride.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 9:45 AM on March 19, 2006

Second Acadia NP. My famliy used to spend a few weeks there every summer. For um, about a decade. You will not run out of good stuff to do.

Also, if you don't place the license plate game, you should start. Makes the time fly.
posted by tiamat at 10:08 AM on March 19, 2006

Third Acadia. Info on "The Cat" high-speed ferry from Maine to Nova Scotia.
posted by ericb at 10:18 AM on March 19, 2006

Top 10 Things to See and Do in Maine.
posted by ericb at 10:19 AM on March 19, 2006

If you're in southern Maine, stop at the Fat Boy Drive In in Brunswick.
posted by Mayor Curley at 10:21 AM on March 19, 2006

Stop in Camden, Maine for maybe two or three hours. It's a beautiful, quant town and is not too far a drive from Aracadia National Park. Drive up Mount Battie for the view.

According to this page, for most of the latter part of March, Quoddy Head State Park is the first place in the U.S.-proper to see the sun rise. After that, until September, Mars Hill, ME is the first to see it rise.
posted by bitpart at 11:00 AM on March 19, 2006

Check out Burlington, Vermont!
posted by jpep at 11:35 AM on March 19, 2006

I liked Portland, Maine.
posted by salvia at 11:43 AM on March 19, 2006

Not an answer to your question, but if you're driving around Halifax, I would suggest driving the 333 - it's beautiful. Have a good trip!
posted by Dasein at 2:12 PM on March 19, 2006

I know you asked for camping spots out East, but there are some great ones on the North side of superior. Fantastic, and not very busy. Pukaskwa for sure. Have fun.
posted by maxpower at 2:32 PM on March 19, 2006

Do an AskMe search; there are several similar queries in the archives.
posted by Miko at 2:37 PM on March 19, 2006

Fourthing Acadia, but I also love Ogunquit, Maine (on the southern coast). A restaurant on Shore Drive called Amore has the best breakfast I've ever had (wild blueberry French toast with cream cheese, lobster frittatas). Another restaurant in Perkins Cove, Jackies Too, has the best clam chowder. There's a mile long shoreline walk called The Marginal Way, that, while busy in some areas, has some amazing spots where you can climb out on the high rocks atop the ocean. The streets in the main part of Ogunquit are also fun to walk, lots of cute shops and very nice people. I've vacationed in Ogunquit almost yearly for about 5-6 years and loved every visit.
posted by justonegirl at 4:53 PM on March 19, 2006

You might consider Monhegan Island if it seems like a good fit.

And I second the Marginal Way suggestion.
posted by Saccade at 8:24 PM on March 19, 2006

Ben & Jerry's in Waterbury VT.
posted by booth at 9:01 AM on March 20, 2006

I highly recommend driving the Kancamagus Highway and Pass in New Hampshire - it's notable because it leads to the Old Man in the Mountain, but we skipped that; the drive itself was lovely enough, and there are good camping opportunities in the White Mountains. We were completely charmed by Montpelier, Vermont, which has some nice restaurants because it's home to the New England Culinary Institute. If you like that sort of thing, just down the road from Montpelier is a cemetery filled with incredible gravestones carved by the stonemasons who rest there. Even though I'm a fan, the best part about the Ben & Jerry's tour was the free samples - I'd skip it unless you feel you must go.

I will millionth the Acadia recommendation, but it's enough for its own vacation - the number and variety of things to do is huge. Choose what seems best to you at the time (hiking Cadillac Mountain at sunrise, sea kayaking, popovers at the Jordan Pond House, sealwatching, canoeing....) and you can't go wrong. I will say that I appreciated staying on the west side of the island in West Tremont; it was quieter and less touristy than Bar Harbor - but we still went to Bar Harbor for blueberry pie at the Give Thanks bakery, which I obviously still think about, occasionally. Have fun - New England is beautiful!
posted by deliriouscool at 9:08 AM on March 20, 2006

Alas, deliriouscool, the Old Man fell down in 2003, and all that remains is a nub.

In NH, I highly recommend visiting the White Mountains - there's tons of day hikes and accessible camp sites. If you're interested, the Appalachian Mountain Club Hut System is a classic NH experience, albeit a bit expensive these days. (disclaimer: former AMC employee).

If you don't want to stay overnight, all of the huts are accessible via day hike, and they'll usually sell you tea and soup for a dollar or two. You could also camp at the at Lafayette Campground, which in itself is nothing special, but it's an easy 1.5 mile hike to Lonesome Lake Hut with a gorgeous view of Franconia Ridge, and an especially snazzy bog. :>)
posted by ilyanassa at 9:39 AM on March 20, 2006

The white mountains are great. Dolly Copp campground, near Gorham, NH is pheonomenal. The sites are very private and are beautifully maintained.

And you can't go wrong with Acadia.
posted by Could it be, El Guapo ... at 9:57 AM on March 20, 2006