Mr. Groundhog and I are planning a trip without kids for the middle of June for 7-10 days. We are considering flying into Boston and maybe doing half mountains and half ocean.
We don’t really want to drive more than 2-3 hours. We’ve already done Acadia and Stowe. I was thinking maybe White Mountains and Maine coast, but I’m not sure.
Mr. Groundhog likes hiking a lot. I like lighthouses, sea glass, and photography.
Any places you recommend? Thanks!
Boston Legal Seafoods. Hope it’s as good as I remember.
It was a billion years ago but we flew into Boston and drove up the Maine coast. One of my favorite trips ever. I’m sure we drove a long way but it was so scenic that it was worth it.
You could fly into Boston or Manchester, NH and then go up into the White Mountains of NH for hiking. Then take the Kancamagus Highway from Lincoln, NH to North Conway, NH and continue down to Portland, ME.
I grew up between the Lakes Region and White Mountains of NH and my parents kept a sailboat in Portland, ME. So, I have spent a lot of time up in that region. Beautiful drive and lots of cute towns and scenic stops along the way.
This would work. You could fly into Manchester (which is a very manageable airport), drive up to the White Mountains. Spend time there and then drive over to Maine.
How spendy do you want to be? I would suggest the Mt. Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods. But it’s sort of spendy. Close enough that you can easily get to N. Conway, or Franconia, or lots of other places in the White Mountains area.
Then drive through Conway, and pick up the Kancamagus. It’s sort of windy and twisty but lovely. Easy to take this and end up on the Maine coast. Portland could be a nice stop for a night or two…lots to do there. Then drive to Old Orchard Beach or someplace like that. It’s an easy drive back to Manchester from there.
I’d make reservations sooner than later for the beach part anyway!
I’ll be a bit of a curmudgeon and note that the highway from Boston to Maine is not very scenic.
The one time I visited Old Orchard Beach I did not find it charming in the least.
I suggest that you consider Cape Ann (Gloucester and Rockport) for the beach portion of your trip and Vermont for mountains and hiking.
The drive out Route 2 to Western Mass is very pretty and relaxing, then head up route 91 to Vermont.
Heading out Route 2, you could stop in Concord for lunch and visit some historic sites.
I agree…that’s why I routed them to NH first…and then to Maine.
Old Orchard might not be the best beach choice…but it’s a choice. And a lot depends on what they want to do at the beach.
Wells and York also are nice towns with great walks along the beach.
My trip doesn’t have them flying in or out of Boston…at all. But if they did…the north shore of MA could be an option.
I think I’d head to the White Mountains before I would drive all the way to Vermont for mountains. But then…I lived there so that’s my bias.
This trip didn’t exactly do mountains or the beach…but you might get some ideas from this thread.
Portsmouth NH is lovely. I would recommend stopping there.
It’s not. There are much better places. If you know where you’re going to be us New Englanders can steer you in the right direction
I would skip Old Orchard Beach - it’s too crowded and carnival-like. I really like Ogunquit a lot - it’s cute and there are a lot of nice shops in Perkins Cove. Portland is fun, too - just look up places before you go instead of winging it. Some of the good spots are kind of hidden.
Ok…I agree that Ogunquit, York, Wells, Perkins Cove are better choices than Old Orchard…and all fit my itinerary flying in and out of Manchester NH.
The White Mountains are great for the hiking part. And there are a ton of places to stay in and around North Conway ranging from ski condos at the resorts to VRBOs to hotels. You can find anything from ultra-easy hikes you can do with toddlers to Mt Washington which is unpredictable even for the most experienced hikers. The Kankamangos is beautiful with spots where you can pull off for hiking or just to take in the view. There are also moose tours if that’s what you’re into.
For the beach part, I’d visit Portland for a nice coastal city. Lots of the beaches around Portland have beach glass. Portsmouth or Newburyport for a smaller town. I’d say all of these places have a coastal feel and access to water, but aren’t the best places if you want the beachy laying on the sand and boardwalk feel (like Old Orchard Beach or Wells) Rockport MA is an amazing place for photography.
We stayed at the Red Elephant Inn in North Conway last August for a wedding. The rooms are nice enough, and the owners are amazing. BUT the best part was the five course breakfast they served every morning. It was fabulous…and there were a couple of choices. I’d stay there again any time! Call and inquire about that!
If you love seaglass- Spectacle Island is a must visit! Take a ferry from Boston Harbor, then enjoy lunch and shopping in Fanuiel Hall!
I can offer a few coastal suggestions. For the Maine coast, Boothbay Harbor is definitely worth a visit. In addition to the town and harbor there’s a very large botanical gardens. https://www.mainegardens.org/
In northern MA, Plum Island has a wildlife preserve with beaches and walking trails, and excellent birding if either of you enjoy that. It is very close to Newburyport, which is a cute town to explore.
If you do go to Portsmouth, NH I recommend a sunset cruise around the harbor. Cruises - Portsmouth Harbor Cruises
Oh I second the suggestion for the botanical gardens, a happy place of mine. It was one of my mom’s favorite gardens and she had been to many all over the world. Its setting on the ocean makes it unique. There are paths through manicured gardens and woods as well as a path along the shore of a pretty cove. There’s a huge rhododendron grove with a waterfall, too.
How strenuous a hike does Mr. Groundhog want? There are some lovely smaller mountain hikes in Maine…Maybe consider that as your mountain destination. UNLESS you want to see the gorgeous panorama of the White Mountains…they really are beautiful.
I would agree with heading a bit higher north on the Maine coast. Boothbay is nice. Popham Beach is nice. Not a fan of Wells, York or Old Orchard. Though we do like Kennebunkport a lot. Most anywhere in the Whites is nice though I’d avoid North Conway. Lots of beautiful B&Bs up there, if you like that type of lodging.
June 7 or so is before school is out…which is good. I believe it’s still considered preseason.
I only suggested lodging in North Conway because it’s so easy to get to so many other places in that area…and then head to Maine.
Popham beach is nice because it’s actually a Sandy beach. You might want to check to see about beaches in Maine…some are rocky. @MaineLonghorn probably has a good idea of where the nice beaches are located.
Popham Beach is beautiful.
A trip to LL Bean in Freeport is always fun. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park is nearby and I don’t hear tourists talking about it often. There are beautiful trails through the woods and alongside the water. My favorite spot is a rocky stretch of shoreline where you can see an island, very nearby, with an osprey nest in a tall tree. Please don’t pass this tip on. 
. It’s not far from our house.
