Sunday 30 April 2017

West Virginia

I'm slightly nervous about our trip to West Virginia...

Since Lee's fourth love is Astronomy (first three being Stella, Spurs and me), we will be visiting the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the world's biggest fully steerable radio telescope and one of the largest movable objects anywhere on land. It is so sensitive to electronic interference, in the 1950's, the Federal Communications Commission created the National Radio Quiet Zone in and around the telescope. Use of the airwaves inside the zone is strictly regulated... no mobile phones, no microwaves, no internet, no FM radio and no TV. There are ever patrols looking out for device emitting noticeably high amounts of electromagnetic radiation from every day you wouldn't have expected. For example, there is one story online about errant energy waves coming from battery-operated fans sold in the facility's gift shop!

Blog posts might be a bit slow whilst we're visiting Greenbank and its going to be tough learning to talk to each other for a couple of days we're there rather than playing on our phones, ipads, computers or just watching TV. Who knows, we might enjoy it and decide to join the 143 other people who live in Greenbank.



The plan:

State:West Virginia
Towns of Interest:
(FB) = Firebreak
Helvetia (Swiss Village)
Harpers Ferry
Charleston
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
Beartown State Park
Babcock State Park
Hawk's Nest State Park
Places of Interest:
(N) = Night Stay
Cass Scenic Railroad (11 miles of track up to the summit of Bald Knob - allow 4.5 hours for round trip and to visit town) - option if Greenbank is closed

Greenbank (Nx2)
The Greenbank Telescope
Green Bank Observatory
Tours of the telescopes available daily but check in advanced as there are special tours available but they must be pre-booked. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Seneca Rocks
Bickle Knob Observation Tower (Amazing 360 views)
Helvetia (Swiss Village)
Beartown State Park (Massive boulders, overhanging cliffs and deep crevasses make up the beauty of the park)
Lewisburg (Town has been designated a National Historic District - can be explored on foot with a map from visitors center)
Babcock State Park (Reconstructed Gristmill - most photographed placed in WV)
Hawk's Nest State Park (Birds eye view of miles - park gondola to go down into the gorge)
Kanawha Falls

Charleston (N)
State Capitol Building (Huge Marble Building)
Daniel Boone Park (Riverfront oasis commemorates the renowned woodsman)
Routes of Interest: Stuart Memorial Drive
Route 60 (Midland Trail - Bison Path)
Where to Stay:The Greenbank Telescope
NB: There is an option to stay elsewhere for the second night - 2 nights at the telescope has been assumed in case sky is case there are options to view the telescopes in the evening (special event)

Boyer Motel & Restaurant (offers motel rooms and camping)
Snowshoe Mountain Resort (multiple lodging options in this resort - $93+)

Charleston
Holiday Inn Express Charleston-Civic Center ($85)
Motel 6 ($55)
Charleston Capitol Hotel ($75)
Useful Links: http://greenbankobservatory.org/visit/science-center/



Virginia

There are two awesome (getting some practice in with the local lingo!) drives that we need to do:

Skyline Drive 
A 105 mile drive that runs the entire length of the National Park Service's Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The views are supposed to be stunning, especially in fall when the leaves are changing to golden and red.

There is a really good map of the route here

The National Park service website warns drivers to watch out for the crossing deer, black bear, wild turkey and other creatures who live in the National Park. One of us is going to need to keep one eye on the road then!

More information here

Blue Ridge Parkway 
The Blue Ridge Parkway is America's longest linear park (fact from Wikipedia so if this is wrong, don't blame me!) and runs for 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina.

The Blue Ridge Parkway was built to connect Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We're not going to have time to travel its complete length so have chosen to start the Parkway at the connection with the Skyline Drive and then continue until Peaks of Otter Recreation Area.

It is known as 'America's Favourite Drive' because of the views, especially during fall, are amazing.

More information here

Here is the plan:

State:Virginia
Towns of Interest:
(FB) = Firebreak
N/A
National Parks:Shenandoah National Park
State Parks of Interest:N/A
Places of Interest:
(N) = Night Stay
Shenandoah Valley - Skyline Drive (N)
Shenandoah Valley Overlook (Sweeping views of the valley, river and moutains)
Range View Overlook (Best vista on Skyline)
Hogback Overlook (Amazing view of Shenandoah River - can see siz or more bends)
Tunnel Parking Overlook (Place to take pictures after going through Mary's tunnel - granite tunnel)
Pinnacles Overlook (View of Old Rag Mountain)
Stony Man Mountain Overlook (View of Stony Man Mountain - can see a man in the mountain)
Skyland (Little town - Lodge has good views. Stonry Man Nature Trail 1.6 mile round trip trial to Stony Man Mountain)
Crescent Rock Overlook (Panoramic view of Blue Ridge Mountains - best place to spot birds of prey in fall)
Dark Hollow Falls Trailhead (Short trial leads to the head of the falls and a series of cascades that drop 70 feet)
Big Meadows (150-acre clearing - deer, groundhogs and foxes are common)
South River Overlook (A great place to see fall colours )
Swift Run Overlook (View of Swify Run Gap - where Skyline Drive intersects the Appalachian Trail, the longest footpath in north America)
Big Run Overlook (Postcard perfect vista)
Blackrock (No trail but you can climb up the slope to the top)
Crimora Lake Overlook (To the left is an abandoned manganese mine - once the largest source of this rare mineral in America)
Sawmill Run Overlook (Final look at Shenandoah)

Blue Ridge Parkway - (N)
Humpback Rocks (National Park Service reconstructed farm museum)
View, Buena Vista (Parorama of endless wooded ridges and hills)
James River (River flowing through a wooded gorge)
Peaks of Otter Recreation Area (Beauty and Serenity. Elk Run Trial is a short loop behind the visitor center)
Routes of Interest: Skyline Drive
Blue Ridge Parkway
Old Rte. 441 / Scenic Loop 15 (Clings to the rim of Tallulah Gorge)
Where to Stay:Shenandoah Valley - Skyline Drive
Camping in the Shenandoah National Park - first come, first served available:

Big Meadows Campground ($20)
Lewis Mountain Campground - within seven miles of the popular Big Meadows area ($15)
Loft Mountain Campground - sits atop Big Flat Mountain ($15)

Blue Ridge Parkway
8 Campgrounds along the parkway - first come, first served available. Ones we are going past:

Otter Creek Campground ($16)
Peaks of Otter Campground ($16)

There are also campgrounds outside the parkway owned by private firms rather than the park service
Useful Links: http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/v.php?pg=70



Monday 24 April 2017

New Jersey

Our trip through New Jersey will be in two halves:

The Scenic Drive through the Delaware Water Gap 
Constructed in the mid-1600s, Old Mine Road connected the Hudson River and Philadelphia to the Pahaquarry Mines and provided an important conduit for New Jersey farmers taking crops to area markets, making it one of the oldest commercial roads in the USA.

Partying and gambling in Atlantic City 
We both love Las Vegas and by the sounds of it, Atlantic City is the east coast's version of this party town. Looks like Broadwalk is the place to be to see the sights and soak up the atmosphere.

The plan:


State:New Jersey
Towns of Interest:
(FB) = Firebreak
Atlantic City
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:High Point State Park
Delaware Water Gap (Old Mine Road)
Places of Interest:
(N) = Night Stay
High Point State Park (Amazing views of NYC)
Old Mine Road (Driving Route 521 and 615)
Dingmans Bridge (Cross from NJ to PA - old fashioned wooden bridge)
Walpack Center (Ghost Town)
Buttermilk Falls (Very short trail to the top of the falls - highest in NJ)
Millbrook Village historic site (Restored Hamlet)

Atlantic City (Nx2)
Stroll the Boardwalk (4 miles long and varies between honky-tonk, carnival, pub-crawl and natural beauty)
Beach
Steel Pier
3-D Light and Sound Show on the Boardwalk (every night, every half hour beginning at 8:30PM)
Casinos
Routes of Interest: Route 521
Route 615
Old Mind Road (Old Wagon Route)
Where to Stay:Atlantic City (stay near Broadwalk)
Days Inn Atlantic City Oceanfront-Boardwalk ($69)
Rodeway Inn Oceanview ($40)
Days Inn Atlantic City Beachblock ($46)
Tropicana Atlantic City ($76)
The Claridge A Radisson Hotel ($89)
Useful Links: https://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/scenic-drive.htm




Sunday 23 April 2017

Connecticut

We're not planning on doing a lot in Connecticut other than passing through the state on our way back to Florida. There are only two sites we're planning (I expect we'll see more unplanned) to see:

New Haven - Home to Yale so I am expecting this to be a university town with lots of quaint coffee shops and kicking bars. There seem to be a lot of public parks to visit where I assume students are out studying in the sun. We'll have to make sure we take a picnic and a book to enjoy in the parks whilst we have a break from driving.

Sleeping Giant State Park - Named after the rock formation which looks like a giant person asleep, this is the most popular State Park in Connecticut. The best views of the giant are from the 'castle'. Sounds like we're going to be entering a Disney film!

The Castle:

The Giant:



State:Connecticut
Towns of Interest:
(FB) = Firebreak
New Haven
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:Sleeping Giant State Park
Places of Interest:
(N) = Night Stay
New Haven (N)
Yale University
The Green (The Green is a park in the city center which covers 16 acres)
East Rock Park (East Rock Park covers 425 acres and encompasses a 365 foot high, 1.5 mile long rock. From the top there are sweeping views of Long Island Sound and New Haven. Also within the park are the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Indian Head Peak, and Pardee Rose Gardens)
Lighthouse Point Park (The 1840 lighthouse is not open to the public but the surrounding park area is accessible)

Sleeping Giant State Park
Two miles of mountaintop resembling a large man lying in repose, the "sleeping giant", is a popular feature of the south central Connecticut skyline
A 1 1/2 mile scenic trail leads to the stone observation tower on the peak of Mt. Carmel which provides an excellent view of Long Island Sound and the New Haven area
Routes of Interest: N/A
Where to Stay:New Haven
Hotel Duncan ($119)
La Quinta Inn & Suites New Haven ($73)
Courtyard by Marriott New Haven at Yale ($123)
Useful Links:




Maryland & Washington DC

Maryland has been more complicated to research than it should have been...

I was expecting to research a small state where other than visiting Washington DC, there would be little else to do. 

I was all done with my research when Lee pointed out that Washington is not in a state, its a district on its own and therefore visiting it will not tick off Maryland. I'm still annoyed, not due to the extra research,  it has ruined the name of our blog. It now needs to be RoadTrip48+DC!

So after this revelation, I started to look at Baltimore which is just an hour away from Washington and I was surprised at how much there is to do in this city.

The Inner Harbor seems to be the place to be with the restaurants, bars and attractions but there are also a few historic landmarks to check out around the city, including the site where the National Anthem was inspired:


I have read a number of blogs and travel sites about what to see in Maryland and nearly every single one of them suggests trying the Maryland Blue Crab. Their meat is supposed to be very sweet and tender even if they are a bit fiddly to eat!



The plan:


State:Maryland
Towns of Interest:
(FB) = Firebreak
Washington DC
Baltimore
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:Rocks State Park
Places of Interest:
(N) = Night Stay
Washington DC (Nx3)
Trolley Tour
Capitol Hill
The Mall
Lincoln Memorial
Reflecting Pool
Maya Lins Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Constitution Gardens
Washington Monument
White House
Arlington National Cemetery
Tour of the US Capitol and learn about the history of the building (Tickets are free but available only on a first-come, first-served basis at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk on the sidewalk on the Capitol’s southwest side (near the intersection of First Street and Independence Avenue, Southwest). Ticket distribution starts at 9.)
Georgetown (Shopping / Bars)
U Street (Bars / Restaurants / Clubs)

Baltimore (N)
MTA pass (pass for all day subway, light rail, and bus usage)
Baltimore Inner Harbor (parks, hotels, restaurants, shops and museums)
Baltimore Water Taxi (Fun, inexpensive method of transportation for the Inner Harbor and its attractions)
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum (Known as the birthplace of railroading in America. This historic landmark has the largest collection of railroad artifacts in the world)
Horseshoe (Casino located in the heart of downtown)
Fort McHenry (Where the Americans held off the British for more than 25 hours during the War of 1812, inspired national anthem)
Lexington Market (Two-block market more than 200 years old. Mary Mervis Deli for the best shrimp salad sandwich)
Fells Point (Shipbuilding center that dates back to 1730 and more than 350 original residential structures, this historic waterfront neighborhood is overflowing with shops, restaurants, pubs and even a vibrant nightlife)
Chesapeake Bay (Try the Maryland Blue Crabs)

NB: Car parks in Baltimore are expensive, try to use public transport

Rock State Park (Primarily known for huge boulders, but also consists of forests, streams, and waterfalls. One of the main features is the King and Queen Seat, a huge rock outcrop which was a traditional ceremonial gathering place of the Susquehannock Natives)
Routes of Interest: Route 13
Where to Stay:Washington DC
The Westin Georgetown, Washington D.C. ($162)
Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol ($180)
JW Marriott Washington, DC ($246)
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Washington, DC/Downtown ($182)

Cheaper alternatives away from Capitol Hill:
Days Inn
Quality Inn & Suites New York Avenue
Budget Inn ($77)
Motel 6 ($69)

Baltimore

Holiday Inn Express Baltimore At The Stadiums ($99)
Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore, Curio Collection by Hilton ($199)
Holiday Inn Baltimore-Inner Harbor ($124)
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Baltimore Downtown/Inner Harbor ($124)
Quality Inn Downtown ($83)
Useful Links: https://www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc/1-day-itinerary
http://www.forbestravelguide.com/baltimore-maryland/what-is-the-best-way-to-see-baltimore-in-one-day



Tuesday 18 April 2017

The Smallest State - Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the USA at only 1,545 sq mi.

Although it is small, there is so much to do and we to restrict the trip to just going along the coast line. Its a real shame as there is so much other stuff we would like to see but 6 months is just not long enough!

Our main focus point whilst in Rhode Island is Newport. Unlike its cousin in Wales (which we visited for the snooker championships a few years ago and a vowed never to ever go back there again!), it looks like there are lots of little bars and restaurants to try out on the water's edge. I've been told the drink to have is the Rhode Island Red Cocktail, a tequila based drink named after a chicken breed.

To prepare for the trip, I'm going to have to make one or two (just to get used to the taste of course!). Here is a recipe I found online:

Ingredients
Makes 1 cocktail

2 oz Partida blanco tequila or 4 Copas Blanco
½ oz Chambord
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz Agave syrup
1 dash orange bitters
Top with ginger beer
4-6 raspberries
Mint


The plan:


State:Rhode Island
Towns of Interest: Newport
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:Beavertail State Park
Places of Interest: Newport (N)
Cliff Walk (3.5-mile path that traces the edge of the sea)
Fort Adams (largest coastal fortification in the U.S)
Mansions (more than a dozen legendary mansions and get an insider’s look at how America’s wealthiest Gilded Age families spent their summers)
East Bay Bike Path (Whether you walk, run, bike or snowshoe all or part of the scenic 14.5 mile Easy Bay Bike Path)

Beavertail State Park (Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association)
Narragansett Bay Beaches
Misquamicut Beach (Gingerbread-style homes and rocky shoreline)
Narragansett Pier
Clainorne Pell Newport Bridge
Routes of Interest: Route 1 (Coast Road)
Route 1A (Coast Road)
Where to Stay:Newport
Sea Whale Motel ($80)
Atlantic Beach Hotel & Suites ($69)
Newport Marriott ($225)
Gurney's Newport Resort & Marina ($243)
Useful Links:



Monday 17 April 2017

Maine

Did you know...
  • Maine is the only state in the United States whose name has one syllable
  • Maine is the only state that shares its border with only one other state
  • Approximately 40 millions pounds (nearly 90%) of the lobster supply in the USA is caught off the coast of Maine
  • Maine produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country
And finally my favourite:
  • 90% of the country's toothpick supply is produced in Maine
Where would the USA be without Maine! Probably irritated with all that food stuck between their teeth and no way of extracting it!

We love the National Parks and within Maine is the second most popular National Park: Acadia. Billed as "Rocky coast at the wild sea", it looks very different from the other National Parks we are seeing on our trip. Pictures definitely explain why and are far better than any words I could pull together:




NB: Images stolen from the National Park Website

The plan:


State:Maine
Towns of Interest:
(FB) = Firebreak
Portlands
Brunswick
National Parks:Acadia National Park
State Parks of Interest:Grafton Notch State Park
Camden Hills State Park
Places of Interest:
(N) = Night Stay
Grafton Notch State Park (N) (Route 26)
Screw Auger Falls (a walking path from Route 26 leads to this 23-foot waterfall lying in a narrow gorge along the Bear River. Many visitors enjoy wading in the shallow pools)
Mother Walker Falls (V-shaped gorge, named for a long-time local resident, is more than 40 feet and 980 feet long. It's a short walk from Route 26)
Moose Cave (in this 200-foot-long gorge, lying within a 45-foot-deep canyon in the bedrock, water skirts boulders and disappears temporarily into a cave beneath a huge granite slab. The loop trail to Moose Cave, off Route 26, is a quarter-mile long with some narrow spots and steep slopes)
Spruce Meadow Picnic Area (lying in the park's northern portion, this picturesque setting offers tables (with grills) overlooking a wildlife-rich marsh and Old Speck Mountain)

The Height of Land (One of the most picturesque places in Maine - go for the view)

Acadia National Park (Nx2)
Hulls Cove Visitor Center
Cadillac Mountain
Park Loop Road
Seal Harbor
Northeast Harbor
Somes Sound
Southwest Harbor
Bass Harbor Head
Pretty Marsh

Penobscot Narrows Observatory (worlds tallest public bridge observatory)
Camden Hills State Park
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
Brunswick

Portland
Commercial Street
The Portland Observatory
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum
Allagash Brewing Company Tours
Portland Discovery Land and Sea Tours
Odyssey Whale Watch
Eartha - the world’s largest globe
Fort Williams Park
Portland Head Lighthouse
Routes of Interest: Route 1 (Coast Road)
Route 26 (Through middle of Grafton Notch State Park)
Where to Stay:Grafton Notch
Camping in Grafton Notch State Park ($25)

Acadia
Camping in the National Park - must book in advance ($30)

Portland
Holiday Inn Portland-By The Bay ($80)
Inn at St John ($57)
Super 8 Portland/Westbrook Area - out of city ($48)
Useful Links: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parksearch/PropertyGuides/PDF_GUIDE/graftonmahoosucguide.pdf




Sunday 16 April 2017

Amish Country - Pennsylvania

I had to cut a lot out of Pennsylvania including the Flight 93 memorial and the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania but there just isn't enough time!

I decided to use Hershey as our base as it was the most central town for the areas we want to see but also because there will be an endless supply of chocolate and I am a chocoholic!

I have booked in a day to learn about the Amish by visiting Intercourse (!), the heart of Amish country. There are a couple of tours we could do (the Amish Experience, the Amish Village and the Buggy Tour) and I think we will just wait until we are there to see which one we prefer. My preference would be the Amish Buggy Rides. Asides from it sounding far more fun riding in a buggy than walking or driving around different sights, they are run by the Amish people themselves so you'll be getting first hand insight into the history and way of life from those living it.

Another great way to see Amish country is the Strasburg Rail Road. I really hope we have time to take a trip on the open air carriage through the Amish farmland. It's only 45 minutes long (4.5 miles each way) so squeezable into the schedule.



One of things I love with the USA is the random stuff you can find at the roadside and in Pennsylvania I have found a good'un which is only an hour's drive from Hershey - Roadside America.

"Roadside America is the world's greatest indoor miniature village. Spanning more than 7,450 square feet in scale and over 200 years of American history, this massive work of craftsmanship is unlike any other" 




Beats the world's largest ball of twine!

Another cool plan I have planned for Pennsylvania is Centralia. Centralia is a ghost town but unlike many of the other ghost towns we are seeing on our trip which were abandoned when they were no longer needed, this one caught on fire in 1962 and has been burning ever since! The town used to be a coal mining town and it 1962, a fire broke out in one of the underground mines. Attempts have been made in the past to extinguish the fire but it is still burning and the authorities have now given up. The fire is thought to have spread over 400 acres to date and has enough fuel to continue burning for another 250 years! I hadn't really considered whether it was going to be dangerous visiting this town until I started typing this entry so I did a quick google check and there are a couple of major roads which still go through the town. There are also areas closed due to the toxic gases, roads which have collapsed into mine shaft and areas where smoke is coming through the ground. That being said, there are still 10 residents living in the town refusing to leave. I think we will leave it until we're in Hershey to decide whether we visit this place or not and if so, where is safe to visit.

There are some great pictures here of the town, including the more dangerous areas!

The plan:

State:Pennsylvania
Towns of Interest:
(FB) = Firebreak
Hershey
Intercourse
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:N/A
Places of Interest:
(N) = Night Stay
Hershey (Nx3)
Hersheypark (Established as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Factory, today the park is a one of the top Hershey attractions)
Hershey's Chocolate World (guided chocolate tour of the Hershey’s factory, create your own personalized Hershey’s chocolate bar, watch a 4-D movie about the ‘Mystery of Chocolate’ and sample as much Hershey chocolate as you can eat)
The Hershey Story (interactive museum that follows the story of Milton S. Hershey)
Hershey Trolley Works (tour company located on Park Boulevard inside Hershey’s Chocolate World. All of the trolley tours start and end at the trolley depot which is next to the front door of Chocolate World)
Founders Hall at the Milton Hershey School (stately monument dedicated to Milton and Catherine Hershey for their contribution to society)
Giant Center ( Home to Hershey Bears ice hockey team)
Troegs Brewing Company (Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour of the brewery, which begin in the Tasting Room with a beer and follow the path of the beer-making process, from fermentation and filtration to kegging, bottling, and barrel-aging. Informative signage along the way explains the brewing process and equipment)
Adventure Sports in Hershey (Adventure Sports Family Entertainment is an activities park that offers video arcades, batting cages, bumper boats, go-karts, outdoor laser tag, miniature golf)

Intercourse (Heart of the Amish Country - center where many Amish come to shop, bank, and conduct their business)
Amish Buggy Ride (Amish people take you on a buggy ride around the Amish farms explaining the history and way of live)
Amish Experience (Amish farm, school and house)
The Amish Village (Similar to Amish Experience, suggest just choose one)
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and the Strasburg Railway (Ticket for train obtained at the Ticket Office at the Rail Road, not at the Museum)

Roadside America (Worlds biggest indoor village)
Centralia (Ghost town on fire - check route before visiting to see what is safe)
Routes of Interest: N/A
Where to Stay:Hershey
Rodeway Inn & Suites ($69)
Simmons Motel ($48)
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Hershey Chocolate Avenue ($127)
Econo Lodge ($49)
Useful Links: http://amishbuggyrides.com/
http://amishexperience.com/
https://www.strasburgrailroad.com/
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/



Massachusetts

There were 4 areas we need to see in Massachusetts :

Salem 
I studied the Salem Witch trials in school in English Literature when we read The Crucible by Arthur Miller. I expect Salem to be very touristy but I hope that under the covers the story of what happened during that period will come to life and the pain and suffering people went through is a reminder of humanity at its worse. 

It looks like the best way to see Salem is through the Trolley Bus Tours 



I read somewhere that if you want to be like a local in Salem, you need to eat a Chop Suey Sandwich. Not sure how you're supposed to eat one without it going everywhere!?



Boston 
We've chosen Boston as one of our Firebreaks. There are several reasons for the Firebreaks:
  1. To make sure we get around in time - we have to be at firebreak locations one the days we have planned. All other locations are flexible just in case we decide to stay somewhere a little longer. 
  2. To allow us time in the plan to do boring stuff like hair cuts, banking, shopping, etc 
Having been to Boston 12 years ago, I am really excited to be going back and showing Lee the sights. 

Cape Cod 
I wasn't overly excited about Cape Cod until I spoke to Lee's brother who went on a holiday there and told us how amazing it is. I've chosen a route around this area to hopefully capture all the sights in as little time as possible. The plan only has one day in Provincetown and I am worried this isn't enough time so I expect this will be one of the changes we make whilst we're doing the trip. 

Martha’s Vineyard
Originally, we didn't have Martha's Vineyard on our tour but Lee asked me to look into it and after seeing pictures of the Alpcas, Gingerbread houses and sunsets, I'm going! Martha's Vineyard is an island off Cape Code and the only way to get to it is via a car ferry. We've chosen to take the one from Falmouth as it fits in best with our route. We may have a challenge with where to stay whilst on the island.  I can only find one campsite and a handful of expensive hotels / motels. Hopefully a bit more research closer to the trip will find a few more options on where to stay. Worse case, we might have to camp in the car! 

The plan: 

State:Massachusetts
Towns of Interest:
(FB) = Firebreak
Boston (FB)
Provincetown
Salem
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:N/A
Places of Interest:
(N) = Night Stay
Salem 
Trolley Tour (1 hour tour taking you around 14 attractions in the town)
The Visitor’s Center (catch Trolley from here)
Witch Trials Memorial
Old Burying Point Cemetery
Pickering Wharf for Food (Capt's Waterfront, Victoria Station, Finz)
House of Seven Gables (the setting that inspired Nathanial Hawthorne’s book of the same name)
Salem Willows
Salem Witch Village & Museum
Peabody Essex Museum (one of the oldest museums in the U.S.)
Witch Dungeon Museum
Salem Witch House & Salem Inn
Essex Street (Pedestrian cobblestones street)
Bewitched Statue of Elizabeth Montgomery
Crow Haven Corner

Boston (Nx3) 
Boston Common and Public Garden
Long Wharf
Charlestown
Bunker Hill Monument
USS Constitution
Charlestown Navy Yard (Guided Tour)
Ice Hockey (Sept - April)
Boston Duck Tours
Old Town Trolley Tours
The Freedom Walking Trail - 2.5 mile walking route from Boston Common to Bunker Hill Charlestown (Marked in red on sidewalks)

Cape Cod (N)
Sagamore Bridge (Gateway to Cape Cod)
Sandwich (Oldest settlement in America - 17th Century English villiage - visit on foot)
Sandy Neck Beach
Yarmouth Port (Quaint village with old sea captains homes)
Dennis (Observation tower on Scargo Hill)
Chatham (Main street - boutiques, candy shops and restaurants)
Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond Visitor Center
Nauset Light Beach (Linked to the visitor center by trail and road - beach with a light house)
Provincetown
Race Point Beach (sunset)
The Friends of Nobska Light House

Martha’s Vineyard (Nx2) 
South Beach (One of the most pristine locations on Martha’s Vineyard)
Gay Head Cliffs / The Aquinnah Cliffs (The brightly-colored cliffs are now protected as a historical site, breathtaking views)
Edgartown Lighthouse (Just a short walk from Edgartown Harbor sits the lighthouse bearing the town’s name. Open to the public from late May until early October, the historic lighthouse offers a glimpse into the rich history of coastal life on the island)
Menemsha (The summer sunsets at Menemsha Beach are arguably among the most notable in all of New England)
Offshore Ale
Island Alpaca
Gingerbread Cottages
Alley’s General Store (In operation since 1858, Alley’s General Store is the oldest operating retailer on Martha’s Vineyard) 
Routes of Interest:Route 6A (around Cape Cod)
Ferry to Martha's Vineyard - book in advance!
Where to Stay:Boston (try to stay in Back Bay)
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Boston Garden ($195)
Best Western Suite
Battery Wharf Hotel Boston Waterfront ($205)
Courtyard by Marriott Boston Downtown ($153)
Courtyard Boston Copley Square ($191)

Cape Cod
Christopher's by the Bay B&B
Lotus Guest House ($82)
The Gaslamp Bed & Breakfast ($60)
Moffett House Inn ($49)

Martha's Vineyard (book in advance!)
Arend's Beachfront Inn on Martha's Vineyard
The Oak Bluffs Inn ($134)
Madison Inn ($124)
Martha's Vineyard Family Campground ($60) 
Useful Links:http://salem.org/guide/
http://salemtrolley.com/
https://www.steamshipauthority.com/


Saturday 15 April 2017

Vermont and New Hampshire

We have tried to plan our trip so we can see the eastern states in fall. The challenge is that fall falls at different times every year so I have tried to find a couple of places in each of the eastern states that are awesome for viewing the fall colours. Hopefully we will manage to capture a glance in at least one of the states we are passing through!

Here is what I am most looking forward to seeing in these states:

Cheese and Maple tasting in Vermont - I love cheese and I love maple syrup, I actually love eating them together (bit weird, I know!). On our route, we are going past the Sugarbush Farm which is well known in Vermont for its waxed cheeses and maple syrup. It is open all seasons where you can sample 15 varieties of cheese, maple syrup and other Vermont made foods. Once I have stuffed myself stupid on the freebies, you can also learn how they make maple syrup in their Sugar House Tour. I just hope the car is big enough to carry me and all my shopping afterwards! More info here

Kancamagus Highway - The Kancamagus Highway is a 34.5 mile scenic drive along NH's Rt. 112 in Northern New Hampshire that is well known as one of the best Fall Foliage viewing areas in the country. Even if we miss fall, the scenery on this route is amazing all year around. It takes you through a path cut through the White Mountains National Forest with breathtaking views of the White Mountains, the Swift River, Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls and Rocky Gorge.



Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves - We will be spending a lot of time in a car during this trip so to break up the journey, I have sound some 'mini adventures' The Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves is just one of these adventures! The Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves, located in New Hampshire’s Kinsman Notch in the White Mountains and involves a ¾ mile boardwalk through caves, under waterfalls and over rock and boulder formations. Maybe it is aimed at kids but it looks too much fun not to visit and have a go!




Portsmouth - Being from Hampshire in the UK, we couldn't resist going to Portsmouth New Hampshire in the states! I somehow don't think its going to be very similar to its cousin to in the UK.

Here is the extract from the planning sheet:

Vermont 


State:Vermont
Towns of Interest:
(FB) = Firebreak
N/A
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park
Places of Interest:
(N) = Night Stay
Woodstock (N)
Sugarbush Cheese and Maple Farm (Cheese Making Factory (premium artisan cheese state) and maple farm)
Long Trail Brewing Company (Stock up on beers!)
Billings Farm and Museum (Diary Farm open to visitors)
Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park (Walk through one of Vermont's most beautiful landscapes, under the shade of sugar maples and 400-year-old hemlocks, across covered bridges and alongside rambling stone walls)
Routes of Interest: Route 10 (Start of Kancamagus Highway between VT and NH)
Where to Stay:Woodstock
The Shire Woodstock ($113)
Sleep Woodstock Motel ($77)
Quality Inn At Quechee Gorge - next village on ($63)
Useful Links: http://www.sugarbushfarm.com/visit-the-farm/

New Hampshire  


State:New Hampshire
Towns of Interest:
(FB) = Firebreak
Portsmouth
Orford (pretty typical New Hampshire Town)
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:Hampton Beach State Park
Crawford Notch State Park
Places of Interest:
(N) = Night Stay
Views in Orford (cover 600ft Palisades cliffs on the VT and NH boarder)
Kancamagus Pass (Highest point on Route 112 - very scenic and crosses from VT to NH)
Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves (3/4 mile boardwalk of waterfalls and caves)
Lincoln (N)
Sabbaday Falls Observation Site (on the Kancamagus Pass)
Crawford Notch State Park (Stunning in fall)
Mt. Washington Cog Railway (departs from Bretton Woods and goes up Mt Washington) - check schedule!

Coast
Route 1 Coast Road (1A is right on the coast but 1 is the scenic route)
Strawbery Banke
Portsmouth (N)
Portsmouth Harbor Trail and Historic Houses
Hampton Beach State Park
Routes of Interest: Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) - best route to see fall
Route 1 (Coast Route)
Route 10 (Start of Kancamagus Highway between VT and NH)
Where to Stay:Lincoln
Holiday Inn Express Lincoln East - White Mountains ($88)
Riverbank Motel & Cabins
Autumn Breeze Inn
Profile Motel & Cottages ($51) - bit out of town
Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery ($111)

Portsmouth
Ale House Inn ($113)
The Hotel Portsmouth ($112)
Holiday Inn Portsmouth ($88)
Fairfield Inn by Marriott Portsmouth Seacoast ($77)
Useful Links: http://www.lostrivergorge.com/lost-river-gorge-plan-your-journey.php#/gallery/recent
https://www.thecog.com

Our plan to cross from VT to NH:


The coast road: