A Drive through New England

We had to be in Springfield, MA for a family funeral, so we decided that after the funeral that we would take a driving trip through New England to visit various places that we have some history with, or places that we had visited previously and we wanted to explore further.

As can be seen by the route map below, our idea was to visit places that we had either never to, or wanted to visit again in order to spend more time there. The end goal was to return to the Plymouth, MA area so that we could visit family there, and also to allow us to visit my sister\'s family on Cape Cod.

Fun and/or Interesting facts about New England

• It's only slightly bigger than the State of Washington: though New England is home to a half-dozen states and about 14.8 million people, its total area of 71,991.8 square miles means it is only slightly larger than the state of Washington.
• Boston's Subway was the First in the Western Hemisphere.
• Maine has more Coastline than California: though it may seem hard to believe, the New England state of Maine actually has more coastline than California. Maine boasts 3,478 miles of coastline. When you include all of Maine's islands it has more than 5,000 miles of coast. The Golden State on the other hand has 3,427 miles of coastline.
• Maine is nearly as big as the other five New England States Combined: Maine's size can be deceptive. In addition to all of that coastline, the New England state has a total area of 33,215 square miles. That means it's almost as big as all of the other five New England states put together, which cover 36,293 square miles.
• Connecticut is home to the Oldest Continuously Published Newspaper.
• Boston Common is the Country's Oldest Public Park.
• Harvard served as a Military Barracks during the Revolutionary War.
• Connecticut is home to the Country's Oldest Public Library: The Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury, Connecticut.
• Rhode Island's first name was Providence Plantation.
• In 1939, Maine passed legislation to make it illegal to put tomatoes in clam chowder.
• Vermont has the most breweries (per capita) in the United States: With 19 breweries and a 2008 population of 621,270, that makes one brewery for every 32,698 people, the most per capita in the country. Maine is fourth on the list.
• The New England Colonies got their names for a variety of reasons. Massachusetts was named after a tribe, with the name meaning 'large hill place'. Connecticut was named for an Algonquin word meaning 'beside the long tidal river.' Rhode Island was named for a Dutch word meaning 'red island.' New Hampshire was named for a county in England.

1. We flew into Hartford, CT and picked up our rental car and then drove to Springfield, MA for the funeral services.
2. Hanover, NH
3. Cannon Mountain, NH
4. Conway, NH
5. Arethusa Falls, NH
6. Bar Harbor, ME
7. Wells, ME
8. Plymouth, MA

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On the way to Cannon Mountain we stopped in Hanover for our second breakfast. Having woken up at 5 AM to drop the kids at the airport it was only about 9 and we were starved. We found several restaurants, a bakery and Starbucks. We decided to eat at Lou’s bakery where everything was homemade. Check out our scone...yummy.

Image is the property of the Hanover, NH Website

Cannon Mountain is a 4,080 foot peak located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. In the winter it is a popular ski resort and in the summer you can ride the Aerial Tram to the summit and walk to the observation tower to take in the views. On a clear day you can see for a considerable distance, including Mt. Washington, the Green Mountains of Vermont and Kinsmans to the south.

As you can see from the images below, the views from the Aerial Tram and from the short walk to the observation tower are beautiful, on a clear day you can see for a considerable distance - Mt. Washington included.

This image can be clicked to view one of our YouTube Videos we created for our ride up to the top where the hiking trail and observation tower are located.

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North Conway was on our list of places to visit because we honeymooned there in 1989. We were so broke then that we couldn’t afford to go on a traditionally expensive vacation. We rented a condo for a weekend and skied Black Mountain after being married by a justice of the peace in Groton, Massachusetts. We had a great honeymoon there and hadn’t been back since. North Conway has not changed much since then.

North Conway is truly a family destination with lots to do. Within driving distance you can visit the white mountains including Mount Washington and the Mount Washington cog train, numerous hiking trails in the White Mountains National Forest, Storyland, the North Conway Scenic railroad, and several mini-golf places.

We weren’t sure what we would do when we got to North Conway so we picked up a local tourist magazine and noticed several hikes in the White Mountain National Forest. The hike to Arethusa Falls caught our attention. We tend to like hikes with a payoff at the end. We weren’t sure that Terry would be able to complete the hike since he just had his hip replaced in April but we decided to give it a try.

We saw a sign that displayed several ways to get to the falls, we used the Arethusa Trail. The trail to the Arethusa Falls (the tallest waterfall in New Hampshire). is continuously steep and rugged and is rated as "difficult" by the All Trails website and you will find other sites claiming that it is "moderate". Bring your own water and good shoes, as the trail is covered with ruts, roots, rocks and requires you to be cautious.

Bar Harbor has been one of our favorite places to visit in Maine for quite a while. The beautiful harbor, beautiful beaches & forests, and great seafood around every corner - what is not to like?

Bar Harbor Cruise Ship Controversy: Bar Harbor is actively working to reduce cruise ship visitation due to concerns about the town’s quality of life, environmental impact, and infrastructure strain. The push to limit cruise traffic grew during the pandemic and culminated in a voter-approved ordinance in 2022. This ordinance caps daily disembarkations from cruise ships at 1,000 passengers, a sharp decrease from the previous 3,500–3,700. The town has cited issues such as overcrowding, stress on local resources, and the negative effect of mass tourism on Bar Harbor's small-town character as driving forces behind these measures.

Come on over and take a look at our Bar Harbor page and you will be able to view for yourself what this pretty little town is all about.

The park is spread out over 47,000 acres along Maine's rugged coastline, offering stunning landscapes, including granite peaks, dense forests, and pristine lakes. Visitors can hike trails that range from easy walks to challenging climbs, with some leading to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the U.S. East Coast, offering breathtaking sunrise views. The Thunder Hole is a not to be missed spectacle, especially when the waves are high.

Acadia National Park also offers diverse wildlife, from peregrine falcons to white-tailed deer, making it a haven for birdwatchers and animal lovers. Scenic drives like the Park Loop Road provide incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and the rocky shoreline. Visitors can also enjoy biking on the historic Carriage Roads, kayaking in peaceful waters, or relaxing on Sand Beach.

We invite you to take a look at our Acadia National Park page where you can explore the rugged coastal landscapes, granite peaks, and serene forests.