Trip to the Northeast for my parents

[joy@disney]

My parents will be celebrating their 50th anniversary next year, and my brothers and I want to send them on a trip. I know they would love to go to the Northeast during the fall to see the changing color of the leaves. Can anyone give me some ideas of places for them to go, or any guided tour trips that they could take. Thank you.

 

[beansmom]

Newport, RI is a lovely place...beaches, boats, Lifestyles of the REAL rich and famous.

Besides being naturally beautiful with the ocean and such, there are several mansions to tour of the 'robber barons' of the Gilded Age. There are tours, ghost tours, lovely B&B's.

The foliage will likely be better a bit farther north...Boston and Salem is about an hour north of Newport and Salem and Gloucester are about another hour past that. Gloucester has schooner cruises, whale watches, good seafood, an AMAZING medieval castle and, of course, 'the Gorton's Fisherman' memorial.

Salem...well, I guess you know what's there. It also has the Peabody Essex museum and, of course, plays up the witch trial thing. It's pretty interesting.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

My parents visited the Northeast just before their 50th anniversary. They went to Niagara Falls and took the boat ride and drove around the area. They got a good deal on Travelzoo, and then before they arrived, my sister called and had their hotel bill paid in advance and she, our brother, and I, and our families paid for their stay there as a surprise.

 

[kimberlym322]

My parents will be celebrating their 50th anniversary next year, and my brothers and I want to send them on a trip. I know they would love to go to the Northeast during the fall to see the changing color of the leaves. Can anyone give me some ideas of places for them to go, or any guided tour trips that they could take. Thank you.

First let me say that it is nice of you all to want to do this for them. Even though Colorado Springs is a lovely place I guess they want to see more of the world.

A few things You need to think about as far as what your parents would want to do.

1. Ask them something like "we are thinking about taking a trip in a few years to the NE, if it was you and dad going what do you think would be fun to see or do?" that way they are kinda having an input on things that they will do.

2. How long will they go for? If it is a week they may want to stay in one area/state. If it is say a month then they could go to many diffrent places.

3. If they will rent a car and go to many states on the trip, see if there is a plan with the rental company that they could pay extra and do unlimited miles. I know that if you rent a car in MD you can only go in MD, De, VA, NJ and the top part of NC. Now after talking to someone at a rental car place they said you could pay and do unlimite miles from MD all the way to FL. Just a thought to check into.

4. Call each state and get both their travel guide and the HWY map from all the states in the NE. That way you can see what is going on in the fall in each state AND you will have a map for them to take with them....along with mapquest directions from one place to the next.

5. They may want to see things like DC, Philly, NYC if they have never been out this way before.

6. Also if they are going to move around pick one hotel chain to stay at and sign them up for that chains reward program. AND make sure that every reservation they have the number is on. That way they can get points to maybe go on another vacation.

7. With sending them on a trip like that maybe think about finding some places they may want to eat at and get them gift cards for them to eat at that place.

8. Maybe look into a curise that go's to the northeast coast, they may enjoy that.

Good Luck and I hope they have a wonderful time on their trip.

 

[*love*2*shop]

White Mountains in NH!

http://visitwhitemountains.com/

 

[MichelleinMaine]

White Mountains in NH!

http://visitwhitemountains.com/

Not sure what else they want to do besides "see pretty leaves". Shopping, hiking, theatre, boating, walking on the beach?

They could fly into Boston (and you can take a MA rented car into all of NE). White Mountains (depending where) are roughly 2 hours away in NH. Of course, tons of history/etc right in Boston. Can head up the coast to Maine or down to Newport, RI. Mountains/trees, ocean, city, all in one area.

 

[plutospup]

Another nice area is the Finger Lakes region of New York. Beautiful fall foilage, and many wineries which of course includes wine tasting. To the northeast from the Finger Lakes they could also visit Niagara Falls, and to the south they will find Corning, and the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania including the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon nears Wellsboro.

 

[HeatherC]

I live in Massachusetts and love the fall here. BUT...for someone who has never been, I would highly suggest Vermont for the foliage. Driving Route 100 through the center of the state is truly a site to see at any time of the year. A couple spots I would suggest would be WoodStock, Grafton and Stowe. Gorgeous in the fall.

 

[macfinn]

Well...all good ideas...i am partial to NEWPORT,RI, easy airport to fly into and out of...the airport is near providence, from that airport (TF GREEN) you can: 1. rent a car and drive to newport..once the summer "home" to the countries wealthiest...see there "summer homes"..(newportconventionand vistors center)...see many beaches and enjoy shopping and great food...

2.Go to Boston, can take the train from said AIRPORT...
3.enjoy all Boston has to offer...
4.head to Portsmouth,NH and Kittery,ME,both a short driver from Boston.....


there is another alternative..FLY to NYC and get on a New England/Canada cruise ..this method they can get a taste of the NorthEast and canada with a hotel and meals already taken care of...Princess Cruise Line heads this way all fall with stops in NYC,Newport,Boston,ME and the Canadian Maritimes...

Disney is also offering a cruise this way but with limited stops....

 

[semo233]

To see the best foliage, timing is key! Foliage starts in the northern areas first and works its way south. By Oct 20, for example, there will be little if no color left in Vermont. But will be at its peak in CT.
Check out the maps and top foliage recommendations:

http://www.yankeefoliage.com/live-fall-foliage-map/

There are also recommendations for foliage drives, etc.

Check out this website too:

http://www.visitnewengland.com/current_category.2922/companies_list.html

 

[scrapquitler]

My parents will be celebrating their 50th anniversary next year, and my brothers and I want to send them on a trip. I know they would love to go to the Northeast during the fall to see the changing color of the leaves. Can anyone give me some ideas of places for them to go, or any guided tour trips that they could take. Thank you.

If one of their main goals is to see the foliage, timing is of utmost importance. The trip will have to be planned based on when the foliage is most likely to be at peak in different locations (and even in the small area of New England, the timing of peak foliage can be very different). To get an idea of WHEN they should go, look at one of the foliage tracking websites (I suggest this one: http://www.yankeefoliage.com/peak-foliage-forecast-map/ ) On that website there are also suggestions of drives to take in various areas for optimal viewing. There would be nothing more disappointing for your parents than to go and be a week or two too late.

In Southern Vermont, it looks like peak will be between next weekend and Columbus day.

 

[racingwench]

Some of the most beautiful areas around here have been devastated because of Irene/Lee.

Vermont is a wonderful place but southern Vermont (Bennington, Manchester, etc) have lots of roads and bridges that were washed out by flooding. Many trees were also destroyed so I know they would love for you to come it may be harder than usual to get around. If they would still like to go there Manchester is very nice, lots of quaint shops and also outlets. I would recommend a B&B there called The Reluctant Panther. We just spent our 26th Anniversary there and it was wonderful. (http://reluctantpanther.com/)

The Adirondacks (Lake George region) fared better in the storms. There are lots of things to do there as well. Here is a link to their chamber of commerce (http://www.lakegeorge.com/)

I honeymooned in Niagara Falls and they are also beautiful. Also you can go over to the Canadian side as well which is also very nice.(http://www.niagara-usa.com/)

It all depends on what they want to see and do. Hope this helps.
Good Luck!!!