Whether or not you’re going for the seashores and the lobster rolls, or making an attempt to hit peak fall foliage and every thing pumpkin and apples, Could by October is the right time to plan a New York to Maine highway journey. Whereas it’s tempting to hurry by Southern New England in your manner from New York to Maine, take a while to cease and see the sights alongside the way in which. This New York to Maine highway journey itinerary was designed for a one-week journey, however can simply be prolonged to incorporate extra time at every vacation spot or you’ll be able to proceed up the Maine Coast to see extra of Vacationland.
This highway journey is designed to go from New York Metropolis to Portland, Maine. Nonetheless, if you wish to embody extra stops between New York and Boston, additionally, you will wish to take a look at my New York to Boston itinerary for extra concepts. Or, if you wish to see extra of Maine, you’ll be able to proceed north on a Coastal Maine highway journey or a highway journey by the Maine Highlands. This itinerary will take you from New York Metropolis to Maine, with stops in Mystic, Connecticut; Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; and ending in Portland, Maine.
New York to Maine Street Journey
In case you are taking a New York to Maine highway journey, the quickest route will probably be beneath six hours by Hartford, Connecticut. This makes the most effective return journey from Maine, however in your manner, I’d suggest taking a barely longer and a smidge extra of a scenic route in your approach to Maine.
From New York Metropolis, take Interstate 95 roughly 3.5 hours (site visitors can differ) to the historic seaport city of Mystic, Connecticut. In the event you want a pitstop alongside the way in which, downtown Stamford and New Haven each supply nice eating choices, or seize some lobster rolls at Ford’s Lobster in Noank, Connecticut.
Cease #1: Mystic, Connecticut
Your first in a single day cease must be within the charming seaside city of Mystic. I’m unsure whether it is extra well-known for Mystic Pizza, the 1988 movie starring Julia Roberts, or the historic Mystic Seaport, a must-see household attraction. You’ll most likely wish to keep right here for 2 nights, as there may be lots to do on the town and close by.
Mystic Seaport is a recreated nineteenth Century seafaring village, full with ships, outlets, and workplaces staffed with costumed interpreters able to inform you about their craft and day-to-day life in a nineteenth Century city. The cooperage, print store, and normal retailer are all in style stops with youngsters. Guests can even step on board the Charles W. Morgan, the final picket whaling ship on the earth, or get out on the water on a Mystic River boat trip.
Downtown you’ll be able to seize an ice cream and watch the drawbridge go up and down as ships go by, browse the outlets, or get one thing to eat at one of many many seafood eating places. Along with Mystic Pizza, I’m an enormous fan of the Engine Room for lunch or dinner, or Kitchen Little for breakfast.
Youngsters may also love watching the beluga whales on the Mystic Aquarium or exploring the paths on the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Heart. In case you are visiting within the fall, it’s price ready in line at B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill for some sizzling, recent apple cider donuts. See extra concepts on issues to do in Mystic with youngsters.
When you have time to spend a few days, close by you’ll be able to get pleasure from a trip on the Essex Steam Practice, a go to to the Pequot Museum on the land of the Mashantucket Pequot Nation, a lighthouse tour from New London, a day on the seashore in Misquamicut State Seaside in Westerly, Rhode Island, or some wine tasting at Jonathan Edwards Vineyard close to Stonington, CT.
The place to remain:
Cease #2: Newport, Rhode Island
From Mystic, it’s about one hour drive to your subsequent cease in Newport, Rhode Island. You possibly can doubtlessly simply go to for the day and proceed on to Windfall or Boston, however staying in a single day offers you extra time on the Basic Coast.
Whether or not you might be visiting within the spring, summer time, fall, or winter, there may be all the time one thing to do within the historic city of Newport, Rhode Island. As soon as a summer time getaway for the rich New York industrialists, Newport nonetheless attracts the yachting crowd because the “crusing capital” and the traditional coast. You are able to do Newport in a day, as it is just an hour from Mystic, however if you wish to get pleasure from close by seashores, farms, or take a day journey to Windfall, Rhode Island, plan on staying one to 2 nights.
Two must-do issues if you find yourself in Newport are paying a go to to no less than one of many well-known Newport Mansions and getting out on the water for a crusing tour. The Newport Mansions are former houses of the enterprise titans just like the Vanderbilts, which had been as soon as used as “summer time cottages” however extra intently resemble palaces than a seashore home. The biggest and most well-known is The Breakers, however I additionally get pleasure from visiting Marble Home.
In the event you don’t wish to tour the houses, take a drive down Bellevue Avenue to see them from the entrance after which stroll alongside the three-mile Cliff Stroll to get a glimpse of a few of the backyards, together with attractive ocean views.
There are numerous crusing choices in Newport, from sundown schooner sails to seal-watching eco-tours (within the winter). Go away time to get pleasure from procuring and strolling alongside Thames Road and Broadway in downtown Newport. You can too pop into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame or certainly one of two automobile museums round city. There are many choices for an awesome meal, together with Bowen’s Wharf, the Black Pearl, Diego’s, and Midtown Oyster Bar.
Within the night, you should definitely take a drive alongside Ocean Drive and attempt to catch a sundown from both Brenton Level, the Garden at Fort Hill Inn, or Newport Island Harbor Resort on Goat Island. In your second day, both hit the seashore (my favorites in Newport are Gooseberry Seaside and Second Seaside) or take a drive over to the neighboring island of Jamestown to go to my favourite spot in Rhode Island, Beavertail State Park. In the event you favor an city outing (or in case you are visiting on a Waterfire evening), head as much as Windfall for the day or afternoon/night.
The place to remain:
Cease #3: Boston, Massachusetts
When it’s time to bid adieu to Rhode Island, drive two hours north to Boston. Now you probably have additional time, it would be best to spend three days in Boston, particularly if you wish to take some day journeys to Gloucester, Rockport, or Salem, or cease at Plymouth alongside the way in which.
Boston is wealthy in historical past and allure, and like every massive metropolis, it has its justifiable share of nice museums too. In case you are all in favour of historical past, taking a stroll alongside the Freedom Path is a must-do. In fact, chances are you’ll get extra out of it in case you join a tour with a costumed information.
To higher perceive Boston’s pivotal position within the Revolutionary Warfare and founding of the nation, pay a go to to the Boston Tea Occasion Ships & Museum. Youngsters will particularly love tossing the tea into the Boston Harbor or a snack on the tea store.
Inside a brief stroll of the Boston Tea Occasion Museum, it’s also possible to go to both the Boston Kids’s Museum or the New England Aquarium. In case you are visiting in the summertime, I’d suggest reserving a whale-watching cruise prematurely for a day on the water and a glimpse of some magnificent creatures. In the event you don’t have time for a whale watch, you’ll be able to nonetheless get pleasure from a while on the water with a harbor cruise or a ferry across the Boston Harbor Islands.
Afterward, take a stroll alongside the Rose Kennedy Greenway and both get pleasure from a few of the meals vehicles congregated there, or stroll over to the North Finish, Boston’s “Little Italy” and choose up some cannoli at Mike’s Pastry. And whereas it’s touristy, the road performers round Fanueil Corridor are all the time entertaining and there are many locations to seize a fast chunk. For a extra upscale meals corridor, drop into the Boston Public Market or head throughout city to Eataly Boston.
Sports activities followers ought to attempt to guide a tour of the “Inexperienced Monster” and Fenway Park or attempt to catch a Boston Purple Sox sport on this traditional stadium. In the event you recognize artwork, go to the Museum of Wonderful Arts, or the intriguing Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum close by (and be taught in regards to the well-known heist that occurred there.)
While you’re on the town, take a stroll by the Boston Frequent and Public Gardens, and take a trip on a Swan Boat earlier than you go to the well-known “Make Method for Ducklings” sculpture. You can too pop into Cheers on Beacon Hill and see if anybody is aware of your identify. Film and tv followers would additionally get pleasure from a tour with On Location Excursions of in style Boston filming websites from Good Will Looking, Ted, The Departed, and others.
The place to remain: Boston is notoriously dear, so for a household, chances are you’ll wish to think about one of many following choices:
Cease #4: Kennebunkport, Maine
In your approach to Portland, head two hours north of Boston to the charming coastal city of Kennebunkport, Maine. As quickly as you go into Maine, get off the freeway and hightail it to Bob’s Clam Hut for a few of the finest lobster rolls and fried clams in New England. Then meander up the coast, taking your time to cease into a number of of the most effective cities within the Maine Seashores area.
If you should stretch your legs, cease in York for a stroll alongside the 1.5 mile Cliff Stroll or replenish your kitchen pantry on the Stonewall Kitchen firm retailer. One other must-stop vacation spot in your highway journey to Maine must be in Cape Neddick on the Nubble Lighthouse. Situated on an island simply off the coast, this is without doubt one of the most photographed lighthouses in Maine. In case you are hungry, you may get some recent lobster at Fox’s Lobster Home proper subsequent door or Dunne’s Ice Cream down the road.
Just a bit additional alongside you’ll arrive in Kennebunkport (you may wish to drive previous the Bush Household compound alongside the way in which.) On the town, you’ll be able to get pleasure from procuring and eating on the many eating places comparable to Federal Jack’s, Allison’s, Mabel’s, or the well-known Clam Shack. Pedro’s a great spot for Mexican and Arundel Wharf gives an awesome view.
We additionally like to move out of city to Cape Porpoise Chowder Home, which is in style with locals and vacationers alike. Simply be warned that parking is tough to search out so chances are you’ll must stroll a bit. You possibly can keep in Kennebunkport or drive one other 40 minutes to Portland, Maine. Your closing vacation spot on this New York to Maine highway journey.
The place to remain:
- The Boathouse — this waterfront lodge proper in Dock Sq. is ideal for whenever you wish to be within the middle of the motion
Cease #5: Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine is without doubt one of the finest small cities on the East Coast. Plan to spend no less than a few days exploring Portland and the encircling space. The park and space round Portland Head Gentle in Cape Elizabeth is an ideal spot for a picnic and to clamber over the rocks and watch the boats go by. When you find yourself there, you should definitely choose up a lobster roll from the Chunk into Maine meals truck.
Again in Outdated Port, take a day to discover the boutiques alongside the harbor and wharves. There are such a lot of wonderful eating places in Portland to strive together with Luke’s Lobster, Duckfat, Eventide, and Fore Road. There are additionally many craft breweries within the Portland space and you’ll board the Brew Bus for a tour in case you don’t wish to danger driving.
In your second day, you’ll be able to take a ferry across the Harbor Islands or strive a lobster cruise the place you be taught all about lobster fishing and even get to maintain and prepare dinner what you catch. Or, spend a day procuring up in Freeport, dwelling of the flagship L.L. Bean retailer.
The place to remain:
Whereas this New York to Maine highway journey itinerary solely takes you into Southern Maine, it’s straightforward to increase this to move as much as the coast with a cease at both Boothbay Harbor or Rockland earlier than reaching Bar Harbor and Acadia Nationwide Park.
This highway journey offers you an awesome introduction to Southern New England and contains a few of the area’s highlights. In case you are on the lookout for extra highway journey concepts and wish to dig slightly deeper into New England, I’d suggest:
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