New England Trip Planning Suggestions for a Nine-Day Vacation

Editor's note: We thought it would be a great idea to answer our readers' email inquiries here at the Weekly New England Travel and Vacation Gazette. We hope our perspectives will be helpful to that specific reader and others that are interested in similar New England vacations. Here is the first in a series of many inquiries:

Q.: My wife and I are visiting the US for the first time in August this year. We have nine days to spend exploring New England and want to spend at least three days in Boston. What would you recommend in terms of exploring by car for the rest of the trip? We have been playing with the idea to travel south to New Haven and then back up to Boston via the coast or explore north up the Maine coast. Some advice would be highly appreciated.

A: So many possibilities, so little time!  I do think, however, that nine days of vacation will give you a good sampler of the diversity of New England. Boston to New Haven is a two and a half hour drive, New Haven is particularly impressive around the Yale University area with lots of nice shops and restaurants -- and that incredible, tree-lined campus, Ivy League feel!  When in New Haven, we recommend stopping by Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana at 157 Wooster St. The Italian-style pizza is legendary! On the way back -- along or close to the coast -- we recommend stopping in classic Connecticut towns like Guilford, Mystic, Noank, and Stonington Borough.  Essex, surely one of New England's most beautiful small towns, is a bit north off Route 95 off Route 9.  The town is very Norman Rockwell-like and situated beautifully on the Connecticut River.  Not too far from Essex is a noteworthy New England travel attraction: the Gillette Castle in East Haddam. Here, you'll find a magnificent piece of architecture with 24 rooms, 47 doors (each one different), white oak woodwork and carvings, stone stairways, built-in couches, a movable table on tracks, an inside porch fountain and sweeping views of the Connecticut River.

Crossing into Rhode Island, take some time to visit the beaches in Westerly, the live fishing village of Galilee in Narragansett, and the amazing mansions in Newport. In Newport, you'll find plenty of other attractions, like great seafood restaurants (try the Black Pearl on the waterfront), Easton's Beach, the Cliff Walk and the magnificent Ocean Drive.  From Newport, you might want to hit route 114 to visit Bristol, a charming small town located on the scenic Narragansett and Mt. Hope Bays with a great downtown and plenty of restaurants and shops (and a mile down the  road, the scenic Colt State Park). Going north on Route 114, get on Route 95 and be sure to stop by Providence, a historical city that has experienced a tremendous renaissance. Providence back to Boston is about an hour's drive.

Going north from Boston to the southern Maine coast also is about an hour's drive. You don't have to travel too far up in Maine to get a true taste of the "Down East" lifestyle. Here, you'll find many beaches,  beautiful lighthouses, quaint downtowns, and places to eat lobster (try Fox's Lobster House right near Nubble Lighthouse at Cape Neddick). I would recommend starting your southern Maine itinerary at York Beach, Maine, and working your way through towns like Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunkport, Kennebunk, Biddeford Pool (part of Biddeford), Old Orchard Beach and ending this part of your trip in Portland.  What a fantastic small city, especially around the Port Exchange neighborhood where you'll stroll the brick and cobblestone while enjoying the many shops and restaurants.  Portland back to Boston is about a two-hour drive.  Oh, and here are some resources for visiting Boston: http://www.visitingnewengland.com/boston-travel-vacations.html . Before you return to Boston, however, we recommend visiting Portsmouth, N.H., a small coastal city with loads of historical charm and plenty of shopping and dining opportunities (some with a water view).

Thanks for writing us! Hope this info helps. Readers, please feel free to post your suggestions here, also. Your feedback will provide additional and valuable trip planning ideas. Thanks and happy travels!

Additional resources: search for hotels at discount rates in more than 300 New England towns and cities

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Maine Fall Harvest Season Food and Wine Events

(Photo: A bounty of pumpkins. Credit: Maine Office of Tourism)


We recently received word from our friends at the Maine Office of Tourism that several local Fall food events -- and a wine event in Portland -- will be celebrating the bounty of the season.

The scenic mid-Maine coastal town of Camden will be hosting the 4th Annual Maine Fare culinary celebration, Sept. 11-13. This tasty food event starts with the Grand Tasting on Camden Harbor with Maine chefs, wine makers, distillers and brewers, and continues with cooking classes, demonstrations, guided tastings, and a marketplace of artisan and organic foods, and hand crafted beverages.

The 21st Annual AppleFest will celebrate and pay tribute to Monmouth's historic apple orchards on Sept. 26. Cider pressing, apple arts and crafts, children's games, pies and pastries, and historic artifacts associated with apple harvesting and processing will take place on the grounds of the Monmouth Museum.

VinFest at Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville is Maine's largest grape harvest celebration. This year's event will take place Oct. 2-3, with highlights including an outdoor wine dinner and dance on Friday, grape stomping, a hot air balloon ride over the vineyard, a wine cellar tour, live music, and a chance to enter the homemade wine competition on Saturday.

The 4th Annual Foliage, Food & Wine Festival on Oct. 15-18, will feature "The best of the Blue Hill Peninsula." Fun things to do will include wine dinners or a wine and cheese tasting, the Blue Hill Farmers Market, or sampling the creations of more than 40 food and beverage vendors at a giant tasting event.

The Colonial feel to the 25th Annual Harvestfestt in York and York Beach on Oct. 16-18 will include a kick-off parade, pumpkin carving, a craft fair, children's activities, an ox roast and bean hole baked beans, live music and fireworks.

Downtown Waterville will showcase the city's 7th Annual Harvest Fest on Oct. 18 with scarecrow building, pumpkin bowling, candy apple making and a chili cook-off.

The 2nd Annual Harvest on the Harbor will make its way into Portland on Oct. 22-24. Reserve a spot at the Grand Tasting on the Harbor with Maine chefs and dozens of wine, beer and spirit makers; learn at cooking demonstrations, order from a special harvest menu at local restaurants, and indulge at a food and wine marketplace.

Great Maine Apple Day on Oct. 24 will have some great apple-related events like Unity with cider pressing, orchard tending skills workshops and talks, as well as an orchard tour, and the opportunity to purchase apples, pies and cider.

For more information about Maine fall harvest festivities, log on to www.visitmaine.com.

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Marshfield Fair Runs until Aug. 30

Just a reminder that the 142nd annual Marshfield Fair, in Marshfield, Mass., runs until Sunday, Aug. 30. Truly one of New England's most special fairs, this year's event will include plenty of vendor comfort foods and midway rides, plus demolition derby, wrestling
motocross, truck pulling, blues festivals, lawn mower races
and pony, horse and ox pulling.

As they say in the infomercials:" But wait, that's not all!" We suggest you check out the Marshfield Fair Web Site's schedule of events before traveling to this fun, seasonal attraction on the South Shore of Massachusetts. You can also call (781)834-6629 for more information. We hope you enjoy this traditional New England event!

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The Best Summer Attractions in York Beach, Maine

Article and photo by Eric H.

The latest VisitingNewEngland.com summer travel article is "Ten Reasons to Visit York Beach, Maine." One of New England's best family-oriented vacation destinations, York Beach features two fantastic ocean beaches (Long Sands and Short Sands), the famous Nubble Lighthouse, York Wild Kingdom Zoo and Fun Park, Brown's Ice Cream stand with its famous wild Maine blueberry ice cream, and The Goldenrod -- a restaurant that is best known for its salt water taffy making. The York Beach area is also a great place to dine on Maine seafood at places like Fosters Downeast Clambake we've fallen in love with the lobster and clam chowder You can read the full article on York Beach attractions by clicking the link above.

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We Will Miss Tom's Tavern in Wrentham, MA

Article by Eric H.

Tom's Tavern, a long-time favorite local restaurant in Wrentham, MA, for the past three decades, closed its doors last Saturday, according to the Attleboro Sun Chronicle.

A classic roadside restaurant/bar, Tom's Tavern looked slightly menacing from the outside -- with its dive-like, rather drab look and motorcycles out front -- but once inside, everyone from the drinking crowd to families coexisted peacefully with the very friendly staff. Fresh seafood and a good variety of beer were signatures at Tom's Tavern, along with the knack of making a fantastic burger. It appears that the closing had more to do with management and debt conflicts rather than a poor economy, according to the Sun Chronicle. Tom's still drew a great crowd despite the recession.

We will miss this great local restaurant and bar -- and the air hockey game, too! Thanks for all the years of dining excellence, Tom's Tavern.

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New England Town of the Day: Somesville, Maine

Article and Photos (from Port In a Storm Book Store in Somesville) by Eric H.

Not to be confused with the more urbane Somerville, MA, Somesville, Maine, isn't even officially a town: it's part of the municipality of Mt. Desert Island! Regardless of its designation, Somesville sure looks like a real New England coastal town with its quaint look enhanced by amazing views of Somes Sound, mountains, inlets and other rural scenery that remain unspoiled. There's not much to do in Somesville except take in the views and visit the wonderful Port In A Storm Book Store -- one of the best examples of a successful, friendly independent book store that we've found in New England. Of course, it helps to have those great water views (including a waterfall) within a stone's throw of the book store. Port In A Storm is up to date on many of the latest books, but offers an especially impressive selection of books about Maine.

Acadia National Park is the real draw within Mt. Desert Island with its stunning views of the ocean and mountains, but make sure to include Somesville as part of your travel plans here. Its unassuming qualities might just rank up there with the best memories during your Acadia National Park vacation.

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