North East Vacation

[im4cyclones]

I used to live in western MA, near Pittsfield. Not far off I90, there is a little town called Lennox. Just outside of that town is Tanglewood, which is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

At that time, there was a stage area with a bandshell. Then a ton of open grass. We would throw out a blanket, have a glass of our favorite beverage, and listen to one of the greatest orchestras in the world. And it was completely free. I am not a classical music aficionado but it was awesome.

The best one was when John Williams was the guest conductor.

 

[Wesley]

Maine is great. Portland is a nice town with cool shops, bars and restaurants. Bar Harbor is even better (though a bit of a tourist trap). Acadia national park is really nice and we had a great whale watching trip while in Bar Harbor.

I was just in Portland and I also recommend it.

At Cape Cod, Marthas Vineyard ferry should now be open.

 

[ISUME]

Ahem, haven't we overlooked something very important? The Worldwide Leader in Sports HQ is in Hartford, CT.

Seriously, here's my advice. Be really careful driving out of the airport in your rental car. Boston has pedestrian-rights laws. I've often almost creamed guys who just walk out in front of the car. It seems worst at the airport, but will also be an issue in other places. Nothing like a vehicular manslaughter charge to ruin a vacation.

Yeah, just ask Matthew Broderick.

 

[CycloneGamecock]

Hill Farmstead Brewery has world class beer and is a fun place to visit. Its out of the way but worth it if you are into beer.

 

[intrepid27]

Spent a week on Cape Cod in early Sept a while a go and it was great. Tourist season was over that crowds were no issue. Martha's Vineyard, whale watching at Provincetown were two things that stick in my mind. There was a killer Irish pub in East Falmouth.

Biggest disappointment was Plymouth Rock. It's about the size of a large Igloo cooler and it's stuck down in a pit.

 

[Cycsk]

I used to live in western MA, near Pittsfield. Not far off I90, there is a little town called Lennox. Just outside of that town is Tanglewood, which is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

At that time, there was a stage area with a bandshell. Then a ton of open grass. We would throw out a blanket, have a glass of our favorite beverage, and listen to one of the greatest orchestras in the world. And it was completely free. I am not a classical music aficionado but it was awesome.

The best one was when John Williams was the guest conductor.

I concur. Have lots of friends in Lenox. It is a great place, especially for its musical heritage. Lots of American composers did their writing in this area.

 

[bugs4cy]

We've been seriously looking flying out to Boston and spending 5 or 6 days in Maine this summer. If anyone took the Entomology & Our Health (Ent 374) class at ISU, you're familiar with Wayne Rowley. He is now retired and living on the coast in Maine. I definitely want to stop in and see him again.

I've been trying to figure out if we need to book nights now or if we can catch places to stay without reservations. I look forward to any and all advice given in this thread.

 

[Lexclone]

Spent a week on Cape Cod in early Sept a while a go and it was great. Tourist season was over that crowds were no issue. Martha's Vineyard, whale watching at Provincetown were two things that stick in my mind. There was a killer Irish pub in East Falmouth.

Biggest disappointment was Plymouth Rock. It's about the size of a large Igloo cooler and it's stuck down in a pit.

I agree, but Plymouth Plantation just south of the town of Plymouth is worthwhile. In a similar vein, out west on The Pike (I-90) is Old Sturbridge Village which is like Plymouth Plantation only covering a period about 200 years later in New England.

 

[dtlantz]

I used to live in western MA, near Pittsfield. Not far off I90, there is a little town called Lennox. Just outside of that town is Tanglewood, which is the summer home of the Boston Symphony.

Spent a couple days working out there last fall. Beautiful country. Melville's house is just outside Pittsfield, if I remember correctly.

 

[Wesley]

Spent a week on Cape Cod in early Sept a while a go and it was great. Tourist season was over that crowds were no issue. Martha's Vineyard, whale watching at Provincetown were two things that stick in my mind. There was a killer Irish pub in East Falmouth.

Biggest disappointment was Plymouth Rock. It's about the size of a large Igloo cooler and it's stuck down in a pit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Rock

You sure you were not snookered by the locals?

Pilgrims landed and lived at ProvinceTown for several months before moving across the small vboidy of water.

 

[Wesley]

We've been seriously looking flying out to Boston and spending 5 or 6 days in Maine this summer. If anyone took the Entomology & Our Health (Ent 374) class at ISU, you're familiar with Wayne Rowley. He is now retired and living on the coast in Maine. I definitely want to stop in and see him again.

I've been trying to figure out if we need to book nights now or if we can catch places to stay without reservations. I look forward to any and all advice given in this thread.

Book now. You can always cancel.

 

[Wesley]

We have booked a trip flying in and out of Boston. We are staying for 6 nights and we are renting a car. Looking for a little help from anyone that lives or has been out that way. We are interested in traveling to Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Looking for ideas on museums, historical sites, towns to visit, great restaurants, breweries, and more. Anything you can add would be awesome.
Thanks

In Rhode Island, the Newport Mansions is a must.

 

[1100011CS]

Cheers?

 

[Clone9]

Been living in Boston for 3.5 years now....a few things: I'll second the advice about driving - it is a little crazy around here - be careful and don't take it personally when you get honked at (and you will). Also, people aren't very nice. Don't expect a real warm reception when you ask for directions, advice on a restaurant, etc. Of course this decreases the further you get out of the city.

Best part: the seafood. It isn't always cheap, but it is very good. Neptune Oyster is the best (but unlike a previous poster said, they don't take reservations, and I'm guessing you don't want to spend 3 hours of your vacation waiting for a table). Island Creek Oyster Bar is good, and Legal Harborside is also a good spot with great seats right on Boston Harbor (avoid Union Oyster House - it is the oldest restaurant in American or something, but it is overpriced and is crappy food). I also like Bell Isle Seafood up in Winthrop for a lobster roll...although it lost some appeal when they moved into the new building. Of course there are a ton of amazing options outside of the city, but I'm less familiar with those.

Definitely hit the North End (i.e. Little Italy) and have some Italian food. I like Maurizio's best, but Il Villagio is good when the lines are long everywhere else. Then hit up Mike's for a cannoli....it is a tourist trap but cool and good. True story about the neighborhood locals always seeming to be up to something (not in a dangerous or weird way though).

Fenway Park is awesome if you're a baseball fan, and a stroll up and down Newbury and Boylston Streets is fun for shopping/people watching (with the bonus of seeing the marathon finish line and where the chaos took place a year ago). I think it is fun to check out Harvard and Harvard Square - which is a really awesome area to grab lunch and check out some of the more eclectic things Boston has to offer. Try to drive along Memorial Drive in Cambridge for great views of downtown Boston and Back Bay (as well as checking out MIT). Also, a walk through Beacon Hill is really cool and is the type of thing you don't see every day in other places.

Of course, the Freedom Trail is fun (even for the kids a little), and essentially serves as a walking tour of downtown Boston...and touring the USS Constitution (i.e. Old Ironsides) is a cool and free thing to do.

I'll second the Aquarium for the 3 year old. It'll be a hit for sure. Also, you can take the ferry from near there over to Charlestown (by the USS Constitution) for very cheap (like $2 or $3) and it basically serves as a quick harbor tour without the heavy price tag of "official" harbor cruises.

Sam Adams brewery tour is free, as is Harpoon....but there are better beer factories up north as others have suggested....but I did enjoy the Sam Adams tour (and you get like 3-4 free beers out of it!).

Have fun!

 

[josh4cy]

Thanks everyone for the input.
The twins will be in town during our trip so we will definitely be taking in a game at Fenway. Eating lots of oysters and other seafood will also be on the list.