Vermont, Maine, NH, NY Car Camp Tour - IPA, day hikes and must see suggestions?

[uglymoney]

I've been to 47 states but have never been to Maine, Vermont, or Alaska and for that matter I've never been far enough north to see the mountains in New York or New Hampshire except for maybe when I was a tiny baby with my parents and I don't remember that at all. We are heading out East to knock off two of the states and check things out.

Probable itinerary with wife and two kids and our aussie dog (which means one of us might have to stay behind with him for some things which is fine) - we have reservations for all of this but they are 100% cancel-able.

Day 1-2-3 Leave our awesome Iowa homeland and travel across the flat miserable abyss of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and then car camp at Smugglers Notch State Park campground in Vermont. Check out Stowe surrounding area.

Day 4-5-6 Travel across New Hampshire and drive up Mt. Washington then on to camp at Acadia National Park (Seawall campground) in Maine for 3 nights

Day 7 Head back west for one night in Lake Placid at Crowne Plaza. Check out ski areas and surrounding area.

Day 8-9 Camp on Lake Ontario and hit up Niagara Falls (wife has never seen this and insists - I assume this will be miserable but we can knock it off on the way home). I'm worried about the dog thing here. Might restrict us to one at a time. Canada/US side better?

I like good local breweries and kick ass day hikes. Any water activities as well so any suggestions for boat tours or water activities in Acadia, Lake Placid, or Stowe welcome.

[buttahflake]

pancake's here, do not miss out.
http://pollyspancakeparlor.com/
Sugar Hill, might be my favorite town in the sweet ass state of NH.
plenty of quality day hike's, lot of 'fours' in that area.

[iceman]

Day 4 is Stowe to Mt. Washington to Acadia? If so that's a lot of country to cover. Maybe consider staying night 4 at Rangeley Lake State Park in Maine. it's beautiful and genrally uncrowded (but check your dates) and sorta-kinda-sideways on your route, with some bushwhacking through the woods a bit.

Also, if you can work Portland into your trip, it's a great little city with tons of brewing going on, maybe more for any city its size in the country (or maybe not, but there's a lot), and tons of great seafood and things to see.

[refried]

Camden, ME. would be a nice stop. Camp at Camden Hills state park, hike up Mount Battie, Check out the Camden Snowbowl (ski area). Make a stop in Waldboro to eat at Moody's Diner. Lots to do in that area.

[uglymoney]

Day 4 is Stowe to Mt. Washington to Acadia? If so that's a lot of country to cover. Maybe consider staying night 4 at Rangeley Lake State Park in Maine. it's beautiful and genrally uncrowded (but check your dates) and sorta-kinda-sideways on your route, with some bushwhacking through the woods a bit.

Yeah, that will be a huge day and miles out east are probably way longer than miles here or out west. I will look at your suggestion. Overall we are trying to cover way too much ground on this trip for the time frame but it is what it is. Sometimes pushing on is easier than setting up the tent for just one night.

Also, if you can work Portland into your trip, it's a great little city with tons of brewing going on, maybe more for any city its size in the country (or maybe not, but there's a lot), and tons of great seafood and things to see.

Seafood and beer? Sounds good to me.

[schuss]

NH - Be sure to hit up Moat Mountain for delicious BBQ and beer.
If you rock climb at all, I highly recommend finding someone to guide you up Whitehorse on Standard or Beginners route. 1000+ feet of 5.5 slab with some astounding views.
Make sure to check out Franconia Notch (Cannon) and either ride the Cannon tram or do Liberty/Lafayette (2 4k footers with a ridge traverse) to get the full views of the notch area. Favorite day hike is probably Chocorua to the south. Also make sure that when you transition from Franconia area to North Conway, you use the Kangamagus.

Honestly, given that you aren't going to be biking, you should de-emphasize your time in VT and instead do all the fun Northern NH activities like the Flume.

[uglymoney]

pancake's here, do not miss out.
http://pollyspancakeparlor.com/
Sugar Hill, might be my favorite town in the sweet ass state of NH.
plenty of quality day hike's, lot of 'fours' in that area.

That looks awesome. My wife is pancake lover and she is actually making some right now while I sit here watching the last day of the tour.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

In Vermont...

Lake Willoughby:


and the Hill Farmstead Brewery:


I agree that Portland Maine is worth a visit. Great food and beer.

[uglymoney]

NH - Be sure to hit up Moat Mountain for delicious BBQ and beer.
If you rock climb at all, I highly recommend finding someone to guide you up Whitehorse on Standard or Beginners route. 1000+ feet of 5.5 slab with some astounding views.
Make sure to check out Franconia Notch (Cannon) and either ride the Cannon tram or do Liberty/Lafayette (2 4k footers with a ridge traverse) to get the full views of the notch area. Favorite day hike is probably Chocorua to the south. Also make sure that when you transition from Franconia area to North Conway, you use the Kangamagus.

Honestly, given that you aren't going to be biking, you should de-emphasize your time in VT and instead do all the fun Northern NH activities like the Flume.

Yeah, no bikes - it is just too much crap and doesn't work that good with the kids. This VT vs NH is the kind of info I need. Going out blind.

I can't climb worth a damn but I have a harness and my wife is all into it.

I'm going to try to digest this post with my map. Seems like some good suggestions.

[Danno]

Definitely slow driving in VT, in part because of the roads and in party because of the drivers. Burlington is a worthwhile stop. Lake champlain and a cool little college town.

[uglymoney]

In Vermont...

Lake Willoughby:

and the Hill Farmstead Brewery:

I agree that Portland Maine is worth a visit. Great food and beer.

Thanks. Both of those suggestions right up my alley.

Hmmm. My wife has a good friend in Portland as well.

[Danno]

Yeah, no bikes - it is just too much crap and doesn't work that good with the kids. This VT vs NH is the kind of info I need. Going out blind.

FWIW, I find NH less appealing than VT. VT makes an effort to be more visually appealing as you drive around; no billboards, no big signs, less visually commercialized, more visually quaint.

[buttahflake]

FWIW, I find NH less appealing than VT. VT makes an effort to be more visually appealing as you drive around; no billboards, no big signs, less visually commercialized, more visually quaint.

more visually quaint?
Vermont is not Stowe, guy.
it's shithole podunks like Rutland, Barre, Newport, Springfield the list is deep.
NH is more real, sure. it's also way more appealing with a shit-ton of mountains over 4g, lakes, ocean etc...

i'll second what shuss said about Mt Chocorua, great hike.
i like Champney Falls trail.

[iceman]

Portland breweries - (cut-and-paste from beeradvocate.com)

Allagash Brewing Company - 50 Industrial Way, Portland
Maine Beer Company - 525 US Route 1, Freeport
Rising Tide Brewing Company - 103 Fox St, Portland
D.L. Geary Brewing Company - 38 Evergreen Dr, Portland
Sebago Brewing Company - 201 Southborough Dr, Scarborough
Sebago Brewing Company - 211 Fore St, Portland
Sebago Brewing Company - 29 Elm St, Gorham
Sebago Brewing Company - 48 Sanford Dr, Gorham
Peak Organic Brewing Company - 110 Marginal Way Ste 802, Portland
Casco Bay Brewing Co. - 57 Industrial Way, Portland
Shipyard Brewing Co. - 86 Newbury St, Portland
Bunker Brewing Co. - 122 Anderson St, Portland
Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company - 396 Fore St, Portland
In'Finiti Fermentation & Distillation - 250 Commercial St, Portland

-snip-

That's a lot of breweries considering there's only 66,000 people in the city!

love the "what's prettier, NH or VT" argument. They're different. Vermont is softer, more rounded. NH is craggier, more rugged. Both nice. The topography's different is all. But to call out the shithole podunks in VT from NH is funny, like Manchester, Lebanon and Nashua are on anyone's must-see list.

[buttahflake]

i'm a fan of Gritty's, it's been there forever.