Planning: RT05 (Fall 2009) - Washington, DC and the New England states

[Kinless]

It's getting to be that time again. The folks and myself are gearing up for our 4th (and my 5th) annual roadtrip. We've spent a great deal of time in the western half of the US, but it's time to change it up and hit the East Coast this time.

Thanks to an excellent package deal purchased earlier this year, we're all flying into D.C. and renting a minivan, using that to drive our de facto counter-clockwise trek around the New England states during peak foliage season, visiting a plethora of state capitals (and their capitol buildings), the usual major cities, as well as a few National Parks and Monuments.

Of our 14-day excursion, the majority of our "on the road" time will be done in the 2nd week. I'll be renting a toll transponder with the van so I don't have to deal with toll booths, since I'm not going to bother trying to avoid tolls this time. I learned my lesson from the 48-state trip.

We leave mid-October. Still finalizing a few things but here is our tentative itinerary:

Day 0 - Travel Day (fly from LAX to DCA) and stay 3 nights in Arlington, VA
Day 1 - Tour Washington, DC (Memorials, Capitol Building)
Day 2 - Tour Washington, DC (Washington Monument, Smithsonian, etc.)
Day 3 - Visit Annapolis, MD; Dover, DE; Philadelphia, PA (Independence Hall and Liberty Bell); Trenton, NJ; arrive in Red Bank, NJ and stay 3 nights
Day 4 - Liberty and Ellis Island National Monuments
Day 5 - Lower Manhattan, New York, NY
Day 6 - Upper Manhattan, New York, NY; arrive in West Haven, CT
Day 7 - Hartford, CT; Kingston, RI; Providence, RI; arrive in Quincy, MA
Day 8 - Boston, MA; arrive in Bangor, ME
Day 9 - Acadia National Park, ME; Augusta, ME; Concord, NH; Bennington, VT; arrive in Albany, NY
Day 10 - Niagara Falls, NY (and Canada); arrive in Pittsburgh, PA
Day 11 - Seneca Rocks Recreation Area, WV; arrive in Cabins, WV
Day 12 - Shenandoah National Park, VA; arrive in Arlington, VA
Day 13 - Travel Day (fly from DCA to LAX)

I've made up a Google Maps route for those who are visually oriented.

I've dedicated 2 days each for DC and New York, even though I know it's still not enough, haha. The pace will be quickened after Boston, since our destinations are farther apart. Also trying to find a decent log cabin in West Virginia but most of them require a 2-night stay, which isn't feasible for us. Still working on this part.

I welcome a suggestion of things to do for both days in New York, as well as any other fit-in side trips you think we may be able to squeeze in.