Whether or not you’re going for the seashores and the lobster rolls, or making an attempt to hit peak fall foliage and all the things pumpkin and apples, Could by means of October is the proper time to plan a New York to Maine street journey. Whereas it’s tempting to hurry by means of Southern New England in your approach from New York to Maine, take a while to cease and see the sights alongside the way in which. This New York to Maine street journey itinerary was designed for a one-week journey, however can simply be prolonged to incorporate extra time at every vacation spot or you possibly can proceed up the Maine Coast to see extra of Vacationland.
This street journey is designed to go from New York Metropolis to Portland, Maine. Nonetheless, if you wish to embrace extra stops between New York and Boston, additionally, you will need to have a look at my New York to Boston itinerary for added concepts. Or, if you wish to see extra of Maine, you possibly can proceed north on a Coastal Maine street journey or a street journey by means of 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 Highway Journey
In case you are taking a New York to Maine street journey, the quickest route shall be below six hours by means of Hartford, Connecticut. This makes the most effective return journey from Maine, however in your approach, I’d advocate taking a barely longer and a smidge extra of a scenic route in your solution to Maine.
From New York Metropolis, take Interstate 95 roughly 3.5 hours (site visitors can fluctuate) to the historic seaport city of Mystic, Connecticut. For those who 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 need to keep right here for 2 nights, as there’s 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 let you know about their craft and day-to-day life in a nineteenth Century city. The cooperage, print store, and common retailer are all common stops with children. Guests may step on board the Charles W. Morgan, the final picket whaling ship on the planet, or get out on the water on a Mystic River boat trip.
Downtown you possibly can seize an ice cream and watch the drawbridge go up and down as ships move 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 Middle. 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 children.
You probably have time to spend a few days, close by you possibly can 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 may probably 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 Traditional Coast.
Whether or not you’re visiting within the spring, summer time, fall, or winter, there’s at all times 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 when you find yourself in Newport are paying a go to to a minimum of 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 have been as soon as used as “summer time cottages” however extra intently resemble palaces than a seashore home. The most important and most well-known is The Breakers, however I additionally get pleasure from visiting Marble Home.
For those who don’t need 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 a lot of crusing choices in Newport, from sundown schooner sails to seal-watching eco-tours (within the winter). Depart time to get pleasure from procuring and strolling alongside Thames Avenue and Broadway in downtown Newport. You may as well pop into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame or one among two automotive 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, remember to take a drive alongside Ocean Drive and attempt to catch a sundown from both Brenton Level, the Garden at Citadel 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. For those who want an city outing (or in case you are visiting on a Waterfire night time), 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 when you’ve got 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 inquisitive about historical past, taking a stroll alongside the Freedom Path is a must-do. In fact, you could get extra out of it should you join a tour with a costumed information.
To higher perceive Boston’s pivotal position within the Revolutionary Struggle and founding of the nation, pay a go to to the Boston Tea Celebration 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 Celebration Museum, you may as well go to both the Boston Kids’s Museum or the New England Aquarium. In case you are visiting in the summertime, I’d advocate reserving a whale-watching cruise prematurely for a day on the water and a glimpse of some magnificent creatures. For those who don’t have time for a whale watch, you possibly can 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 vans 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 at all times entertaining and there are many locations to seize a fast chew. 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 ebook a tour of the “Inexperienced Monster” and Fenway Park or attempt to catch a Boston Purple Sox sport on this traditional stadium. For those who admire artwork, go to the Museum of Tremendous Arts, or the intriguing Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum close by (and study concerning the well-known heist that befell there.)
If you are on the town, take a stroll by means of the Boston Widespread and Public Gardens, and take a trip on a Swan Boat earlier than you go to the well-known “Make Approach for Ducklings” sculpture. You may as well pop into Cheers on Beacon Hill and see if anybody is aware of your title. Film and tv followers would additionally get pleasure from a tour with On Location Excursions of common Boston filming websites from Good Will Looking, Ted, The Departed, and others.
The place to remain: Boston is notoriously dear, so for a household, you could need to contemplate one of many following choices:
Cease #4: Kennebunkport, Maine
In your solution to Portland, head two hours north of Boston to the charming coastal city of Kennebunkport, Maine. As quickly as you move 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 couple 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 street journey to Maine must be in Cape Neddick on the Nubble Lighthouse. Positioned on an island simply off the coast, this is among 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 need to drive previous the Bush Household compound alongside the way in which.) On the town, you possibly can 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 presents an awesome view.
We additionally like to go out of city to Cape Porpoise Chowder Home, which is common with locals and vacationers alike. Simply be warned that parking is tough to search out so you could must stroll a bit. You may keep in Kennebunkport or drive one other 40 minutes to Portland, Maine. Your closing vacation spot on this New York to Maine street journey.
The place to remain:
- The Boathouse — this waterfront lodge proper in Dock Sq. is ideal for while you need to be within the middle of the motion
Cease #5: Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine is among the finest small cities on the East Coast. Plan to spend a minimum of a few days exploring Portland and the encompassing space. The park and space round Portland Head Mild in Cape Elizabeth is an ideal spot for a picnic and to clamber over the rocks and watch the boats go by. If you find yourself there, remember to choose up a lobster roll from the Chew into Maine meals truck.
Again in Previous 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 attempt together with Luke’s Lobster, Duckfat, Eventide, and Fore Avenue. There are additionally many craft breweries within the Portland space and you’ll board the Brew Bus for a tour should you don’t need to danger driving.
In your second day, you possibly can take a ferry across the Harbor Islands or attempt a lobster cruise the place you study all about lobster fishing and even get to maintain and prepare dinner what you catch. Or, spend a day procuring up in Freeport, residence of the flagship L.L. Bean retailer.
The place to remain:
Whereas this New York to Maine street journey itinerary solely takes you into Southern Maine, it’s straightforward to increase this to go as much as the coast with a cease at both Boothbay Harbor or Rockland earlier than reaching Bar Harbor and Acadia Nationwide Park.
This street journey provides you an awesome introduction to Southern New England and contains a few of the area’s highlights. In case you are in search of extra street journey concepts and need to dig a bit deeper into New England, I’d advocate:
Save this to Pinterest
