Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hubs and I are looking for a two-night getaway in early September, somewhere in the Northeast, within a 2 hour flight radius of Montreal (so major cities are NYC, Boston, Buffalo, and everything else in between). I've never been to the USA in the northeast.
We like:
- Lots of outdoor walking
- Lots of history/museums
- Nice but affordable restaurants, pubs
- Early mornings
We don't like:
- Nightlife beyond 8pm (lol sorry, we're lame I know)
- Massive crowds (well, he doesn't)
Would Boston be the most suitable? Also, since we're flying in, we'd prefer somewhere with easy access to the city from the airport.
What cities/states have you and your husband already visited in the USA?
Just take your time and drive to Boston, you can check out Vermont and New Hampshire on your way there.
Seems to be a 4.5 hour drive from our house (Boston), I guess that would actually be worth it considering airport times. Is Boston "car-friendly" in terms of parking prices etc? Or just leave it at the hotel and go on foot?
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
10,750 posts, read 23,828,256 times
Reputation: 14665
Quote:
Originally Posted by aliss2
Seems to be a 4.5 hour drive from our house (Boston), I guess that would actually be worth it considering airport times. Is Boston "car-friendly" in terms of parking prices etc? Or just leave it at the hotel and go on foot?
Boston is definitely not very car friendly at all, excellent for walking around though. If you'd like something more low key but still charming and historic consider perhaps Portland, Maine or Portsmouth, NH. Both are charming seaport cities with nice historic downtowns, have downtown hotels within walking distance with plenty of good dining choices (Portsmouth has lots of pubs) and scenic coastline nearby.
Are you looking for a small town/city? I was thinking that Saratoga Springs NY would be a good fit, except for nightlife after 8. Even that may not be too bad.
Another place that MAY work is Sackets Harbor NY, which is a small village on Lake Ontario. Home
Lewiston NY north of Niagara Falls is another place that comes to mind: Historic Lewiston, NY
I'd definitely go for Boston. It's a great town to visit. For such a short visit, you wouldn't need to bother with a car, there's a lot to see right in town.
Though I must admit some of my favorite things are outside the city. I loved visiting Salem and Concord (being a big American lit devotee).
Boston sounds perfect for you. It is "America's walking city" and is extremely easy to get around on foot or via subway.
That said, if you can keep the car at the hotel, then driving there from Montreal is a great idea. The scenery en route is beautiful and offers a variety of places to stop (Burlington, VT; Franconia Notch State Park, NH; etc.)
There are two major routes between MTL and BOS (about the same amount of time), each one scenic in its own right:
1) Route 133 south from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu to Route 89 South across Vermont. I-89 ends at I-93 South in New Hampshire and then it's a straight shot into Boston.
2) Route 10 East to Route 55 South, then cross the border at Stanstead. 55 becomes I-91 South in Vermont; get on I-93 South and then enter New Hampshire. Continue all the way to Boston.
FYI: Salem and Concord are very easy to visit from downtown Boston via commuter rail! You don't even need a car to get there.
FYI: Salem and Concord are very easy to visit from downtown Boston via commuter rail! You don't even need a car to get there.
I hadn't thought about that. It'd work good for Salem, but things to see (the things I liked) are kind of spread out. Is there a way, once you get to Concord to easily get out to places like Walden Pond, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, etc.?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
