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New England trip advice end of Sept/Oct?

RusM

Amateur Viking
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North Bend WA
I'm coming out to eat all of your chowdah, lobstah and micro brews! So me and the wife are planning on taking our first trip without the kid. Initially we were going to Spain and Portugal, but with the latest Rona BS and the EU recommending canceling non-essential travel from the US we pivoted and decided on New England.

Here's our tentative plan, might cut off some of the southern parts and try to stay a couple days in one area:
Fly into – Boston, MA
Cape Cod, MA
Providence/Newport, RI
New Haven, CT
Manchester, VT
Burlington, VT/Montpelier, VT
Bar Harbor, ME
Portland, ME
Salem, MA
Boston, MA.

I usually plan my trips around the breweries I want to visit, wife may have different plans....:laughing: So far I'd really like to hit up The Alchemist, Allagash, Trillium, Hill Farmstead, and the Sam Adams Brewery in Boston. Any others I should add to the list near where we're going?

Any advice on museums, restaurants, historical sites, etc along the way?

What's the Rona situation up there? Completely retarded or just mildly annoying?

Any areas to avoid that aren't immediately apparent as a nonlocal?

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Well I can tell you there are several breweries in Ellsworth Maine which you will be driving thru on your way to Bar Harbor. Unfortunately I can’t tell you if they are good or not as I haven’t yet had the chance to go and check them out since we moved here. Been too busy with other things.

Freeport Maine might be worth a stop to hit the giant L.L. bean campus. Been meaning to get down there and check that out myself as well.

1A relics as you come into Ellsworth is an amazing antique store. Definitely worth a stop to browse. Apart from an amazing selection of stuff the store itself is super cool. You can’t miss it as it sits right on 1A and it definitely stands out.

Wish I could offer more advice on Bar Harbor and this general area, but we haven’t had the chance to explore it too much ourselves just yet. I will say on the Rona precautions it’s pretty light around here. Haven’t worn a mask into a store, shop, or restaurant once since we arrived. And nobody has been checking or asking for proof of vax status anywhere either.
 
Montpelier sucks.

Head to Stowe if you want beer, which is where the Alchemist is. Coming out of Stowe towards Burlington take 108 through Smugglers Notch.

Burlington has plenty of beer.

Manchester is pretty bougie, but be sure to drive up the Equinox while you're there.

Any other questions regarding VT, post up. Right now places aren't requiring masks here, but that could change. I know Massachusetts is falling back into mask mandates.

New Haven is a shit hole. Also dubbed Gun wavin' New Haven. Around Yale is nice, the rest is gross.
 
Feline's Pizza in Providence, RI

About the only thing ive missed since moving out of that shithole.


Edit: Get some Chinese food while your there. I miss that too! This crap Texas calls Chinese food is utter garbage
 
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Since you're probably headed up 95 to get to Maine, think about Portsmouth (NH) Brewery. Not a brewery guy per say, but it's been there for ages, food and atmospherere are great, and Portmouth is a killer town, especially if you like history. Look into Strawbery Banke. Even in downtown there are still 2-300 year old houses. Wicked cool. Pro tip - Hanover parking garage is right in the middle of the cool stuff, but Foundry Place Garage is cheaper, easier and only another 5 minute walk.

And nothing else to see in NH. Promise.
 
Stay North of Epsom if you don't want to be near people.

Coos County is awesome. I can't really think of anything specifically to visit. White Mountains and hiking? Ride down the Kanc and hit up some trails. Santa's Village in Jackson or whatever. Conway has a bunch of shopping. Errol is my favorite place in the world. Nothing but woods and moose.
 
Diana's Bath and Cathedral Ledge is another. Pinkham Notch. Maine coast is a bit more touristy.

Strawberry Banke is pretty neat too like mentioned. That area isn't bad.

But yea, NH is kind of meh. Just woods, mountains, and rivers if you stay north. Anything below RT4 is a shithole.
 
We liked the Harpoon brewery more than Sam Adams because... dun dun dun... Sam Adams make the vast majority of their beer in Ohio. Was still a good time and don't regret it one bit. The Harpoon brewery also had the best hot pretzel I've ever had, they make them out of the spent grains from the brewery itself.
 
Providence is a shithole. Trinity and Union Station are two breweries in PVD that have been around since long before craft beer became a big thing so if you end up in town check them out. Federal Hill has plenty of other dining opportunities. Make an appearance at Olneyville NY Systems for hot wieners and coffee milk. Order them all the way and bring your situational awareness because its in the middle of the 'hood. Newport is definitely more of a destination, very walkable, and the summer crowds will be gone.

Breweries that I would recommend include Tilted Barn in North Kingstown, Whalers in South Kingstown, Apponaug in Warwick, and Newport Craft in Newport. Driving time between any of these is less than it takes to drive about 2 blocks in Boston.

[EDIT] One cool event in Providence is Waterfire. Basically a street party along the river. Fires burning in the river, vendors, performance artists, music, and apparently they suspend the public alcohol consumption laws. There is a lighting scheduled for Oct 2 if it fits in your schedule.
 
Eric said:
Providence is a shithole. Trinity and Union Station are two breweries in PVD that have been around since long before craft beer became a big thing so if you end up in town check them out. Federal Hill has plenty of other dining opportunities. Make an appearance at Olneyville NY Systems for hot wieners and coffee milk. Order them all the way and bring your situational awareness because its in the middle of the 'hood. Newport is definitely more of a destination, very walkable, and the summer crowds will be gone.

Breweries that I would recommend include Tilted Barn in North Kingstown, Whalers in South Kingstown, Apponaug in Warwick, and Newport Craft in Newport. Driving time between any of these is less than it takes to drive about 2 blocks in Boston.

[EDIT] One cool event in Providence is Waterfire. Basically a street party along the river. Fires burning in the river, vendors, performance artists, music, and apparently they suspend the public alcohol consumption laws. There is a lighting scheduled for Oct 2 if it fits in your schedule.
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Oh fuck man. I used to have lunch at Trinity like once a week between classes. Totally forgot about that place.
 
The food trucks on the waterfront in New Haven are also worth checking out.
 
Pepe's is on the list if we go there, I don't really like big shitties so would rather stay up north and in Vermont/New Hampshire. :flipoff2:

Keep em coming! :usa:
 
Newport RI is where I grew up.

The mansions and cliff walk are worth the trip. My favorite is Marble House, the wife's is The Breakers. Also the Newport Artillery co (if it is open) is a neat museum and an actual functioning 1700s artillery battalion. It is the oldest functioning military unit.

Brick alley pub downtown is fun but $$$. For a good lunch Coddington Brewery is awesome. Also Flo's Clam Shack at Eastons beach. Order the stuffed quahogs.

Del's lemonade, Newport Creamery.
 
KarlVP said:
Newport Creamery.
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Newport Creamery was sold about 10yrs ago to an investment company who proceeded to run it into the ground with all their great ideas. There are a few stores left but it's just not the same anymore....

Fun fact: My father worked for that company for most of my life but retired when it was bought out. A picture of me sitting in a highchair eating a cone of black raspberry ice cream was on the cover of their menu for years. I think I was 15 or 16 before they changed it. :laughing:
 
Should be a fun trip! I’ve hit a few of the spots, but I’ll be following this thread to see what others to hit.

We run our family’s house on Cape Cod and it’s on airbnb. If you need a spot to stay, pm me and I’ll see if it’s open when you want to go.
 
From Boston to the cape, take exit 27 on route 3 south and stop at Poopsies pizza. Call ahead to order and you can select the time you pick up. You may have to call multiple times, they get so busy they don’t even answer. It’s south shore bar pizza and it’s amazing. For beer stop at Treehouse Brewing in Sandwich. Trillium has their beer garden in Boston, but just moved their Canton location to a bigger beer garden down the street from the original.
 
Im just south of Montpilier in Northfield. Its (mont p) full of hippies but has good food. Three penny taproom, sarduccis, buddys burgers, and Barr Hill is right there too.

Black back in waterbury (1/2 way between mont p and b town) is AWESOME and has tons of beers on tap. There is also a "craft beer store" right off the street. (mr Js in barre is another awesome craft beer stop)

I dont really drink, but my plants are done if you want to stop and :smokin:
 
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Avoid the cape and all the "traditional touristy shit" in southern new england. It's all shit. The people who run it are all shit. You're basically giving money to people who want you to not exist.

Battleship cove is decent.

If you get up to Bangor be sure and check out the Cole land transportation museum.

I don't give two fucks what your wife says, if you drive less than 70 on any limited access highway you are an asshole.

More granite lathe

I was searching for info on a Betts lathe that my wife and I saw in the woods of NH yesterday and I found a thread here from a few days ago about the same lathe. This is from the Redstone Quarry, Redstone, NH, just south of North Conway. The quarry, not surprisingly, produced red stone, and is...
www.practicalmachinist.com
 
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2 words: Fryeburg Fair. Logger day is an absolute shitshow of truck pulls and skidders. If you want a true sense of Maine.

Nothing in NH is really worth going out of the way for if you weren't planning on passing through.
 
posford said:
Nothing in NH is really worth going out of the way for if you weren't planning on passing through.
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Right? Anytime someone asks I can't really think of anything outside of hiking or sitting by a mountain river.
 
woods said:
Right? Anytime someone asks I can't really think of anything outside of hiking or sitting by a mountain river.
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I mean if you're here I can direct you toward a lot of things, but I can't justify making the trek up 93 for a day trip
 
I second spending 20 dollars to drive up Mt equinox if it's a clear day. Plan on it being at least 10 degrees cooler at the top though. Manchester itself, basically just shopping. Although the northshire bookstore is kind of cool.
 
posford said:
I mean if you're here I can direct you toward a lot of things, but I can't justify making the trek up 93 for a day trip
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For the love of God please keep people off 93.

And good call on Logger Day. Never been, and from everything I've heard it's bucket list for sure.
 
Last time I was in Portland, ME the fish & chips at Gritty's was so good we went back the next day for lunch before heading back to CT. Huge portion, super crispy and seasoned well (plus good fries too). If it's anything like it was when I had it, you won't regret it. Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub | Portland, Freeport & Auburn, ME. Portland's a cool place to wander for the day, need to get back up this fall.

Ditto on spending time in Stowe, it's a great little town. There's a good swimming hole near the mountain I found last fall, was cold but worth a dip Bingham Falls Parking & Trailhead · 6524-6892 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT 05672

for the New Haven side, Stony Creek's a nice spot to have a beer. Though I'd agree Counterweight is a better beer for craft side of things, though I haven't been to their brewery yet. Lawson's is somewhere around there too I think and pretty popular.

Treehouse can be really busy, and has 2 locations now. Think 1 is just for takeout and one is for hanging now?

IMO New Haven is going to really extend your driving time and I'm not sure it's worth it. You can find plenty of other food/breweries without tacking on another 2-4hrs that direction. Dont think you had Burlington VT, but that's in the same general area as Stowe and may be a viable alternate


CT doesn't have toll roads. Mass uses pay by plate now so be prepared for some extra BS convenience fees from the rental car company. Don't think ME or VT have tolls anywhere.
 
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RusM said:
Pepe's is on the list if we go there, I don't really like big shitties so would rather stay up north and in Vermont/New Hampshire. :flipoff2:

Keep em coming! :usa:
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I’ll second mt equinox and the restaurant’s in Manchester. Stowe is uppity but a clean spot. Essex county and Coos county if you want a true feel for the NE.
 
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