Background :We have 4 kids ages 5-10, our 9 year old is special needs with minor mobility issues. I love trip planning and my Wife banned camping for this years summer vacation. None of us had been north of NYC so it was all new to us.
Highlights:
- Maine: Acadia is more subtle than the parks out west, but being on the ocean adds a strong dynamic that provides a lot of interest. Also our short stop in Portland left me wanting more. The lighthouse and nearby trails were truly majestic even in not so great weather. Portland has a significantly sized urban downtown, working port, beautiful coast and claim to the best meal of the trip with a Clam Chowder Bread Bowl with the "Super Seafood" option (Packed with Crab, Shrimp and Lobster). I was looking at houses shortly afterwards, maybe a summer home one day.
- Amtrak's Northeast Regional: This was a welcome retreat after 2 days in NYC. This is likely Amtrak's most successful line running from Virginia to Boston with stops all along the way. There is a train scheduled every couple of hours and ours was sold out. We booked early and tickets were only $30 and kids 1/2 price. The seating is very spacious and ultra comfortable. It runs along the coast a lot of the way with beautiful views of bays filled with sailboats and even some beaches. I wish rail travel was more prevalent, it definitely has advantages over cars and planes.
- Shelburne Museum: This place is hard to describe but remarkable nonetheless. Basically a Vanderbilt heir's 40 acre Vermont estate turned into a museum with a great variety of exhibits including Monet's, Steam Engines, Steamboats, Carousel's and everything in between. Really fun to wander around the grounds and if you get bored just move on to the next exhibit for something completely different.
- Island Line Bike Trail - Burlington Vermont: The #1 rated thing to do in Vermont is this bike trail converted from an old rail line. It runs right out into the middle of the vast Lake Champlain with water all around you and the Arbuckle mountains in the distance. The cool gimmick is that there is a community run "Bike Ferry" to bridge the gap in the trail that allows boats from one side of the lake to the other. Definitely a worthwhile activity.
- NYC Museum of Natural History: This place blew me away. I love museums. I wasn't really in a museum kind of mood this day but the vastness of this place is just incredible. We spent no more than 20 minutes in each area and it took us 4 hours to get through the whole thing. Highlights for me were the reptile and North American mammal dioramas.
- Old Quebec City: This place is truly a gem, so much history, clean as a whistle, beautiful. Only downside is that parking is basically non-existent and public transit didn't help much. I equate it to the French Quarter without the debauchery and better scenery. The exchange rate was in our favor which was nice after being fleeced in New England trying to feed my family of 6. I believe I first learned of Quebec City on Texags, so thanks for whomever posted about it.
- Clarke's Bears: Kids loved this little amusement park. It's small, but the steam engine ride alone is worth the price of admission. No lines hardly. The bear act is fun though I thought the circus act was more entertaining. I would not plan your vacation around it but it's fun if you're in the area.
- Flume Gorge: Incredible hike through a slot canyon type area. One of my kids lost their mind1/2 way through which was a bummer.
Lowlights:
- City of Burlington/Vermont: I was very excited to explore the old cities in New England and heard a lot of great things about Burlington. While it wasn't terrible, it just wasn't quite as nice and quaint as many of the towns we had been through on the coast of NH & ME. Their main drag looked like it was still struggling from COVID closures.
- Hotel & Housing Costs: Wow. Insane AirBnB & Hotel costs. Particularly in Burlington ($300+), Acadia ($250+ 45 minutes from the park) & Boston ($300+). NH & NYC were a little more reasonable. We actually booked barebones cabin in Vermont on a RV resort to help recoup some of our costs. I'm not sure if it is just that we are competing with all the money from the ultra dense northeast, or it's delayed travel from COVID or a combo but I am still shell shocked at the cost of accommodations.
- 95F in Boston & NYC: I loathe the Texas heat. To the point that my summer vacations are evolving from 2 weeks to likely 4-6 week stints next summer with some remote work thrown in. Walking around Boston & NYC all day at the beginning of our trips in 95F was the ultimate disappointment. Also, it seemed every air conditioner we encountered during those days was either not working, struggling, or non-existent.
- Marginal Way Hiking Trail/Maine Beach Towns: This hike on the coast of Maine is very highly rated, but compared to all the other hiking we typically due it was pretty underwhelming. Not worthy of a 2 hours pitstop for sure. Also Ogunquit and Kennebunk were just absolutely swamped with people near the beaches. It's probably more manageable if you are staying near there, but my idea of a quick stop by the beach was nearly impossible.
- Kancamgus Highway: A lot of hype about this scenic road. It's just a mountain road. RMNP's Trail Ridge Road and the Beartooth Highway in MT have ruined me I guess.
- Plane Accidents: Pee Accident, Poop Accident, Projectile Vomiting. Good times.
Other Observations:
- New Hampshire vs. Vermont: Wow what a contrast. I noticed we saw very few out of state license plates when we were in Vermont. I think there is an element of self segregation happening here. Vermont is proudly socialist and communal. Every kind of progressive sticker/flag you can imagine. Drive 1 hour east to New Hampshire and it's like you hit a wormhole somewhere along the way to Tennessee. Live free or die, big trucks rolling coal, capitalism abounds, 2nd amendment shirts and stickers everywhere. I found this contrast fascinating.
- Car Seat Suitcase Straps: Pro-tip for those hauling car seats with their luggage, these straps worked great. We had 3 car seats and pulled them behind us through 2 airports, 2 train stations, multiple subway rides and across Boston & NYC. Really made our lives easier.
- LaGuardia: Probably the nicest airport I've ever been to. It is also dead empty the times we have flown. I think a lot of it is brand new.
- Junior Ranger Program: Somehow I went to our first few national parks without trying this but it is great. We make it a point at the beginning of our trips to pickup the workbooks and fill them out throughout the trip and then wrap up the trip talking to a ranger and getting sworn in. Must do for those with young kids. The Boston historical sites are run by the national park so it was fun to do this as part of that.
- Splitting Up: My young family sticks together for our entire vacations but this trip we had some strategically planned times where we split up so we could enjoy activities that wouldn't be possible with everyone. This was definitely worthwhile and didn't detract from the trip at all. My Wife likes rock climbing so I had her take 2 of our more able bodied kids on the famous Beehive hike in Acadia and she loved it. Meanwhile I had the 2 other kids and just roamed around Bar Harbor. Big Win. She reciprocated by letting me and my oldest do the bike ride in Vermont. Another big win.
Full Trip Log:
- Day 0: Flight: Houston to NYC
- Day 1: Remote Work from Hotel in NYC
- Day 2: Amtrak: NYC to Boston
- Day 3: Boston Freedom Trail
- Day 4: Harvard Tour
- Day 5: Salem Witch Stuff, Portsmouth (Strawberry Bankes Museum), Hike Marginal Way, Dinner in Portland & Lighthouse
- Day 7: Acadia NP Hiking, Tidepooling + Bar Harbor
- Day 8: Acadian NP Hiking + Beach
- Day 9: Acadian NP Mountain Sunrise
- Day 10: Old Quebec City
- Day 11: Quebec City Surrounding Area (Waterfall, French-Canadian Countryside)
- Day 12: Drive through Quebec
- Day 13: Burlington VT - Island Line Bike Trail; Shelburne Museum
- Day 14: White Mountains - Flume Gorge
- Day 15: Clarkes Bears + Mount Washington
- Day 16: Drive + Amtrak to NYC
- Day 17: History Museum + Flight Home
Amtrak
Boston Harbor
Acadia
Acadia
Hydrangeas as big as your head - All of New England
Old Quebec City
Old Quebec City
Waterfall Outside Quebec City
French-Canadian Country Side
Island Line Bike Trail - Vermont
Shelburne Museum - Vermont
Flume Gorge - New Hampshire
Clark's Bears - New Hampshire
Mount Washington (Nice Weather)
Flight Home
