The White Mountains is a beautiful and scenic area. When will you be there? if you do any hiking you must be prepared with the right gear because the weather conditions can be very different and quickly changeable.

Here's the website to the White Mountains http://www.fs.usda.gov/whitemountain

I'd think Acadia National Park would be a great place to visit given your interests, as would be New Hampshire's White Mountains (Franconia Notch, for one, would offer about a day's worth of things to do) and Vermont's Green Mountains. Also consider western Massachusetts areas such as The Berkshires and Pioneer Valley.

North Conway has a ton of shops and tourists. It's very pretty but I wouldn't stay there. Pick a quieter, smaller town. Someone else can give recs on hikes. Arethusa Falls is nice but I was out of shape and trying to keep up with 3 teenage boys at the time. The Flume is beautiful but since it's on every tourist map, you might not like the number of people on the trail.

Sounds like you should try a kayaking trip. Maybe an afternoon. I have only gone with a friend and it was wonderful. So quiet. There are outfits who will take you to a put in place and pick you up.

Two years ago we drove across the Kancamagus then headed south on Rt 16 and then back west via Tamworth and Center Harbor. This is my favorite drive - anywhere around the Center Harbor/Squam Lakes area. You could visit the Squam Lakes Science Center in Holderness and take a pontoon boat cruise.

Acadia has the advantage of ocean vistas and nearby lobster. Great biking trails, too.

If you go over to VT, head for Bristol and I think it's the Lincoln Gap route that goes over to Rt 100. Just outside of Bristol is a popular river swimming hole with granite ledges to jump from and a small watefall. You can look for other swimming holes in VT with a google search.

Perhaps take a leisurely drive north from just above Burlington VT via the Champlain Islands. You'll come out just below the Canadian border.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

FYI, I leave for Quebec city this Sunday. My plan now is to head right to North Conway area after Quebec and skip Acadia as I only have 7 nights (not including travel days). Any suggestions on where to stay for a night on the way from Quebec to North Conway or can I drive straight there (5 hours?).

Is Jackson a good small town to stay in instead of North Conway, if not, which are better? Also, any suggestions on where to stay on my way from Jackson to Burlington?

What are the must see's in the White Mountain region and Vermont?

Also, if you had to choose between Acadia and White Mountain / Vermont, which would you choose?

Any help would be much appreciated!

"Also, if you had to choose between Acadia and White Mountain / Vermont, which would you choose?"

Like both, but I'd choose Acadia.

I would choose Acadia also. It is absolutely gorgeous and wonderful hiking. And I hear that lobster is a bargain this year to top it off!

Your choices really depend on whether you prefer mountains/lakes or a coastal area. I took a road trip last year that included all your destinations, and they are all wonderful, but even in the week after Labor Day Acadia was pretty crowded, so that might be a consideration. I don't think you will be disappointed in any of them but it's just a matter of which you prefer

If you opt for the White Mountains I'd recommend Jackson to stay. It's a little village - more than a town - and is quiet and relaxing and close enough to North Conway - about a 15 minute ride - if you want to visit. There is a scenic railway in Jackson.
You can either drive or take a cog railway up Mt. Washington, and there are plenty of hiking trails and scenic drives in the area.

The Inn at Ellis River is a lovely B&B in Jackson, which I highly recommend.

I like dfrost's recommendation of a scenic drive up the Lake Champlain islands, and I'm actually doing that in September. Vermont has many scenic drives and charming towns.

Thank you again everyone!

If I did choose Acadia, are there nice hotels and small villages to stay in? I love balconies and small towns, and it seems Acadia is just one big park?

Does anyone have any recommendations on where to stay near the Flume Gorge (before I head to Jackson.

What are the 'can't miss' towns in Vermont?

Also, if anyone can recommend hotel balconies with great views in New England!

Some towns near Acadia are Bar Harbor, which will be the most crowded, and Bass Harbor and Southwest Harbor, which are quieter but very close. All are on Mt. Desert Island.

Less than an hour NE of Bar Harbor is the Schoodic Peninsula, which is much quieter and has part of Acadia located on it. The town of Corea is a quiet fishing village - very scenic and quaint. Click on my SN and read my trip report from last summer.

VT is loaded with charming small towns. I think the quintessential VT town/village is Craftsbury, which has beautiful old white houses surrounding the village green - the Craftsbury Commons. It's small and quiet and just like a picture postcard, altho' there's not much to do there and to my knowledge, has only a small Inn.

Stowe, which is about 1/2 hour away, will have more options. Woodstock, further south, is another typical VT town. I haven't yet been to Burlington, but everyone I know who has been there says it's beautiful.
Do a Google search on towns, scenic drives, etc.