Buffalo to Boston? Are we trying to do too much?

[KDSac]

Hubs and I are hoping to fly from CA to Buffalo in mid-June, head up to Niagara Falls and spend another day in Buffalo before tootling on down to Boston, but taking a (very) scenic route. Are we trying to do too much? Anything we should cut out or add in?

Days 1-3 - Fly in to Buffalo, go to the Falls, and explore buffalo
Day 4 - Drive to Blue Mountain Lake (Adirondacks)
Day 5 - Drive to Montpelier
day 6 - Drive to Acadia Nat'l Park
Day 7 - Explore Acadia/Drive to Portland
Day 8 - Drive to Boston
Day 9 - Explore Boston
Day 10 - Fly home.

We like history, nature, and beer. :)

Appreciate any and all advice! Hubs was in Boston years ago, but otherwise we have never been to these areas.

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

Let's start with the basics. The good news is that you'd only need two days of driving time to cover the 1,000 or so miles connecting all your destinations. You have six days worth of time at your disposal for sight-seeing, which ignores days 1 and 10 which are going to be taken up by flying, especially east-bound. The bad news is that there is an awful lot of history and scenery (not to mention beer) in that area. I used to live in New Hampshire and Maine, my sister lived outside Boston, and my brother owns a cabin in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Personally, given your interests, here are a few sights and sites I'd suggest you look at as possible additions to your itinerary.

US-20: Parallels I-90 across New York but at a slower pace that lets you get some local flavor and stop anywhere that piques your interest.

Finger Lakes: If you take US-20 you'll be traveling along the 'tops' of the lakes. Besides the scenery, this is definitely wine country. While not beer, you might want to sample some local vintages.

Stowe, VT: Trapp Family Lodge. This is where the Baron and Maria settled after fleeing Nazi Germany and the family still operates the lodge. The Baron and Maria are buried in a small private cemetery on the grounds.

Crawford/Dixville/Franconia Notch State Parks, NH: 'Notch' is the local term for a steep-sided valley and there are several in northern NH. Try to include one or two for the scenery and a nice hike.

Mount Washington, NH: You can actually drive to the top of the highest mountain in New England. This is also where the highest wind speed ever was recorded, something like 230 mph if memory serves.

US-2: Another 'byway', this one across northern New England, beats heading for Augusta, ME and then using I-95 on your way to Acadia.

US-1: A great way to see the Maine Coast and again avoid I-95 to Portland.

Kennebunk/Kennebunkport, ME: Former (and current?) home to some wealth (e.g. the Bushes before moving to Texas) and the mansions are still there if nothing else.

Portsmouth, NH to Boston: I-95. Although it's toll in NH, the time has come to start avoiding traffic.

Boston: Paul Revere's house; Lexington and Concord, Old North Church, etc., etc., etc. The town reeks of history. You can also combine two of your interests by stopping into a local pub and tossing back a few pints of Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

AZBuck

[KDSac]

Thank you so much for this great info! appreciate it!

[KDSac]

Do you think it's worth skipping Montpelier to stay in Stowe? TBH, we love the Sound of Music and this bit of history makes me want to stay at that lodge.

[DonnaR57]

If it were ME, I'd go to Stowe. I, too, love The Sound of Music. That said....

Reading the book by Maria Augusta von Trapp, "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers," tells you more the truth of what really happened to the Trapps than the movie did. You may already know this, but the Trapps didn't climb a mountain to get out of Austria. They took a train and a boat, and eventually a ship to get to the US. They traveled around the US giving concerts for a long while before finding Stowe and deciding that it looked more like the Austria they left and wanted to settle there. They had a music camp, a farm, and eventually the Lodge. Also along the way, Maria gave the Captain 3 more kids than were in the movie. The youngest (Johannes) ran the Lodge for a great many years. I believe he has retired and let the younger generation take over. Also, there was another generation of Trapp Family Singers, called just "The Von Trapps", who did several recordings. I don't believe they are recording or touring any more, as young people grow up.

Here's an article from Wikipedia that is fairly factual, much of it taken from the book I just mentioned.

Donna

[Keukajudy]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

Finger Lakes: If you take US-20 you'll be traveling along the 'tops' of the lakes. Besides the scenery, this is definitely wine country. While not beer, you might want to sample some local vintages.

AZBuck

I live in the Finger Lakes. We have a beer trail with over 75 breweries, many on or near Routes 5 & 20 (same road in the FLJ. Check this out https://www.newyorkupstate.com/finge...itinerary.html

Judy Marsh

[landmariner]

Overall, I preferred the beer more in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine than in Massachusetts. von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall, the beer is very good, so Stowe, VT, might be worth some time to while away over some very good pints.

In Boston, Harpoon was a bit of a disappointment as were a few others. On the other hand, Boston is rich in history--the pay for hop-on, hop-off trolley is easier than driving around Boston. I stayed out in the burbs and took a train into central town hooking up with the hop-on.

Maine Beer Company in Freeport, Maine, was very good. L.L. Bean is just to the north. Spent the night across the road from Maine Beer which worked out very well!

Atlantic Brewing in Bar Harbor, near Acadia, was very pleasing.

There are several other good breweries in or around your routings. Suggest the links:
https://www.brewerydb.com/browse/map
https://beermapping.com/beerroutes/
and to narrow into some good brewpubs for styles you like
https://www.beeradvocate.com/

[KDSac]

Overall, I preferred the beer more in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine than in Massachusetts. von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall, the beer is very good, so Stowe, VT, might be worth some time to while away over some very good pints. [/url]

Thanks for the info - did you stay in Stowe? If so, do you have a good recommendation (or a 'you should avoid' tip)?

[KDSac]

What is a good mid-point place to stop between Buffalo and Stowe? Originally planned on Blue Mountain Lake or nearby but lodging and amenities seem to be pretty scarce at end of June. We are just looking to break up a long day of driving into two days, so someplace we can stop and find some interesting sites, food, and a beer preferrable.

If you have a specific hotel or motel to recommend even better.

Moderator Note: Please keep all questions about this trip in this same thread.

[Midwest Michael]

Have you looked at the Saratoga Springs/Lake George areas? That's a certainly a popular getaway area for people in the NYC area, and should have a fair bit to keep you interested. It's not exactly halfway, and not quite on the most direct route, but might work well for what you're looking for.