Maine / Vermont - where to go

[Praminthehall]

Me and dd, 14, for about a week. We'll be setting off from NYC and I would pick up a hire car somewhere although don't fancy driving out of NYC ...! Keen for some contrast to the rest of our time in the US which will largely be city, and have wanted to go to Maine for years. Any recommendations of things to do / places to visit? We would probably air b&b it. So far I have heard that Bar Harbor worth a visit but that's it!

Take in Cape Cod on your way and Mount Washington.

Its nearly 400 miles driving distance between NYC and the state of Maine; its about as far as London to Edinburgh.

If you want to go to Maine, you would be better off flying to Boston and hiring a car from there. This is also because you only have about a week for your holiday.

Airbnb is illegal in NYC so avoid using such sites and stay in a hotel instead. Also they do not ever guarantee the veracity of the properties put on there.

Kennebunkport is fab but it's a helluva drive from NYC.

The Sebago Lake area is very beautiful.

I agree with Attila about driving from Boston. If you are going to be starting from NYC, why not take the train to Boston and pick up a hire car there?

Bar Harbor is indeed worth a visit and I agree with the previous poster about Kennebunkport too. Acadia National Park would also be on my list.

I would also take the train to Boston and pick up a car there.

Thanks all. Was looking at maps and my new Lonely Planet guide to New England and came to same conclusion re getting to Boston and hiring a car there. I've been to Cape Cod (& Nantucket) before and lovely as it was am not planning on going back. I've spent a fair bit of time in the US and really keen to go to places I've not been before. Would it be unrealistic to try and take in some of Vermont too?

I spent 6 weeks driving around New England with DH and mostly air bnb-ing. Maine was amazing for the coastal scene and lobster, bar harbor was pretty and worth a vist but very touristy (major cruise ship destination) and lake sebago was beautiful and seemed more rural.

One of our key highlights was the White Mountains. So so so stunning, we based ourselves in Lincoln for 4 nights in an air bnb and then explored in different directions each day. Went up Mount Washington as well which was pretty cool.

Highlight in Vermont was the Mount Killington area but didn't spend that much time there. New Hampshire was our favourite state. And not just because there is no sales tax!

Fab tips many thanks Jaxxon!

When are you going to New England? I lived in Vermont several years ago and also did a road trip around New England about 5 years ago.
Places I'd recommend:

• Massachusetts: Martha's Vineyard, Plymouth (where the pilgrims first arrived on the Mayflower), Boston, Salem (infamous for witch trials).
• Maine: Portland, Freeport (outlet shopping)
• New Hampshire: White Mountains
• Vermont: Stowe, Waterbury (Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory), Burlington.

The Shelburne museum just south of Burlington VT is awesome, but you need a couple of days!

I worked at basin harbor club years ago. A great hotel on a lake about an hour from Burlington and lots to do nearby and at the hotel.

I liked Bar Harbor for:
Lobster rolls
Sand Beach - a bit of a hike to get to it - but very scenic, especially in fog
Whale watching or even the lobster catching boat trips were lovely
Maine beaches are rocky and scenic - definitely a change of pace
Lobster rolls

On the other hand - you can get lobster rolls all through New England - and Maine beach roads are notoriously slow going. If you don't want to spend too much time driving, opt for beach towns in southern part of Maine.

Portland was unexpectedly lovely.

We drove through the White Mountains from Portland to Barre near Stowe & it took all day.

There's a Shaker village in one of those states, possibly near New London (all a blur now) that was fascinating & worth a visit.

We preferred southern Vermont to the north of the state. I will see if I can find our itinerary, as we stayed at some lovely b&bs including a working dairy/maple syrup farm.

You can't beat Maine lobster! Tastes best there!
Bar Harbor and Acadia are great. (Admittedly BH is touristy). You can drive the Acadia loop and stop at the main sites (like Cadillac mountain and Sand Beach). Do Diver Ed boat trip if you have young kids. We have also stopped at Cape Elizabeth (amazing Fort Williams national Park and famous lighthouse). Do stop at Kennebunkport and worth a drive to see the Bush Compound from the road.

Killington is truly beautiful, amazing scenery and great hotels.

Will your 14 year old be into all that? Will that be enough? I think I would have been bored by it all at that age!