lisabella

I will be in Boston in early November and am planning an overnight visit to a neighboring New England town (or area.) I intend to drive (or take a train) to a destination within about two or three hours of Boston. What are my best bets?

I like scenic areas, small towns, and have never spent time in the area. I'm looking for a quintessential New England experience. I will be travelling with two other adults.

LuvMaine

Often we'll have Indian Summer days in the first part of November, so you might head north to the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire, Portsmouth, NH, or Newport, RI. All are 2 hours or less from Boston and easy drives. Then again, it could snow.

mm

I like the Newport idea. On the way down from Boston you could hit the Sakonnet Vineyards for a tasting then on to Newport for a jaunt along Cliff Walk or a picnic at Brenton Point St. Park.

mm

Lacal

Why leave Massachusetts? You can travel up Routes 128,1A and 127 north of Boston and visit several real quaint New England towns and villages. Salem, Gloucester, Ipswich, Rockport,Newburyport, etc.
Great seaports and great food. The train is an option in several of these locations: http://www.mbta.com/traveling_t/sche...mmuterrail.asp

dfrostnh

I would check a schedule of events on Yankee Magazine's website to see what looks interesting. A drive north for dinner and overnight in Portsmouth is a visit to a very popular and historic New England seaport but for a quintessential New England experience I might consider the November Inn tour in the Bradford/Henniker/Sutton area of NH (about 1 1/2 hours from Boston off Rt 89 NW of Concord NH). In Sutton there might be something going on at Musterfield Farm which only recently became a museum thanks to its former owner. Even if there isn't a scheduled event, the farm is a treasure and fields still used for truck farming. Nearby New London is a small college town with beautiful homes and views. A drive back on Rt 103 will take you thru the lovely towns of Warner and Contoocook and Hopkinton. You can find a couple of covered bridges. Last June we stopped for an art show in Hillsborough Center. The old one room school house was open. Books and teaching materials are still there. I'm not sure what apple varieties might be available when you visit but Gould Hill Orchard in Hopkinton grows many antique varieties. Continue on Rt 103 and you'll end up in downtown Concord. Nice Main Street with some unique shops and the Museum of NH History. If you wander around the area I've described don't be surprised to see working oxen. It's not an everyday sight but Merrimack County has the largest working steer 4-H club.

lisabella

THANKS TO ALL WHO POSTED INFORMATION! (And to anyone else who posts!)

Underhill

Head for Concord--much to see, such as the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where literary notables are buried. Then there's the Concord Bridge visitor center, Louisa May Alcott's house, and other places of interest. Nearby is Sudbury and Longfellow's Wayside Inn, probably the oldest in the country, with a nice historic display and an excellent restaurant; just across the road is the schoolhouse from "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and down the road is an operating grist mill. Just driving around and looking at some of the local houses is always a treat for us.

Monadnock

What did you decide to do?

stellaluna

"if you're fond of sand dunes and salty air"........Cape Cod is a great fall destination.....