7 Summer Road Trips To Plan This Summer
May 31, 2019 04:55PM ● By KevinWe compiled 7 such road trip getaways beyond the Upper Valley that are either well known or off the beaten path. Our list is compiled of towns 3 hours away or less.
Stowe, Vermont
Distance (Time): 1 hour, 18 minutes
Activities: ziplining, sightseeing, rock climbing, hiking, performing arts, shopping, day spa
Places to Go: Smuggler Notch State Park, Stowe Mountain Resort & Mount Mansfield, Wiessner Woods, Stowe Mountain Auto Toll Road, Sterling Falls Gorge, West branch Gallery and Sculpture Garden, Stowe Theatre Guild, Stowe Golf Park
Description: “Let alpine activities and mountain culture at Stowe allow you to slow down, relax, and explore your sense of adventure. From the personal challenge of our TreeTop Adventure course and the adrenaline rush of our mountain ZipTour, to an escape on our network of hiking trails, visit Stowe to discover all the ways you can share experiences and build memories together.” –Stowe.com
Burlington, Vermont
Distance (Miles): 96 miles
Distance (Time): 1 hour, 30 minutes
Activities: cycling, shopping, sightseeing, sailing, beach, brewery tours, performing arts, museums
Places to Go: Church Street Marketplace, Waterfront Park and Burlington Bike Path, Shelburne Museum, Lake Champlain Cruises, ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Robert Hull Fleming Museum of Art, Burlington Edible History Tour, Burlington Brew Tours
Description: “Compact and beautiful, Burlington is home to a thriving arts scene, creative entrepreneurship, great shopping, three colleges and a university, and a full range of four-season outdoor pursuits. It’s no wonder this small, friendly city consistently earns national awards.” –VermontVacation.com
Portland, Maine
Distance (Miles): 168 miles
Distance (Time): 2 hours, 37 minutes
Activities: shopping, sightseeing, beaches, hiking, brewery tours, arts, museums
Places to Go: Commercial Street, The Portland Observatory, Maine Foody Tours, Victoria Mansion, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum, Allagash Brewing Company, Odyssey Whale Watch
Description: “With its heady mixture of artistic and outdoor adventures, our region is stylish and sophisticated, yet remains genuine and unpretentious, a place where grey flannel and plaid flannel coexist companionably. And underlying the latest tech, fashion, and culinary scene is a deep sense of continuity. We invite you to experience the character of a region that blends the present with a very special past.” –VisitPortland.com
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Distance (Miles): 117 miles
Distance (Time): 1 hour, 54 minutes
Activities: shopping, booze cruise, history tours, performing arts, water sports and leisure, museums, arts, ghost tours
Places to Go: Strawbery Banke Museum, Market Square, USS Albacore Museum, Prescott Park, Portsmouth Harbor Trail, Pierce Island, The Music Hall, Redhook Brewery
Description: “It’s easy to imagine a typical day of leisure around Portsmouth and the Seacoast. Here are some ideas – discover nationally acclaimed theatre, music and entertainment, biking, hiking, fishing, sailing, whale watching, bird watching, sunset cruises, tax-free shopping, walking tours, historic sites, antiquing, hayrides, sleigh rides, big name entertainment, museums, New England’s largest water park, strolls along the shore, first-class dining and friendly people. It’s no wonder that more and more people are discovering the Seacoast of New Hampshire and Southern Maine as a vacation destination and a great place to live.” –GoPortsmouthNH.com
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Distance (Miles): 145 miles
Distance (Time): 2 hours, 18 minutes
Activities: hiking, mountain biking, arts, museums, history, sightseeing, afternoon tea, performing arts, festivals, wineries
Places to Go: Mont Bellevue Park, Sherbrooke Museum of Fine Arts, Sherbrooke Nature and Science Museum, Sherbrooke Armoury, Uplands Cultural and Heritage Centre, Granada Theatre, Winter Prison, Bois Beckett Forest, La Halte des Pelerins, Windsor Powder Mill
Description: “Breathtaking towns and villages, quaint shops and upscale gourmet restaurants, farmer’s markets, rock concerts, spa stays and wine routes… There really is something for everyone in the Eastern Townships [of Quebec].” –EasternTownships.org
The Northeast Kingdom, Vermont
Distance (Miles): 60 miles
Distance (Time): 56 minutes
Activities: mountain biking, hiking, campaign, sightseeing, water sports and leisure, golfing, shopping
Places to Go: Cabot Creamery Visitor’s Center, Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, Old Stone House Museum, Jay Peak Pump House Indoor Waterpark, Great Vermont Corn Maze & Barnyard, St. Johnsbury Athenaeum & Art Gallery, Dog Mountain, Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center
Description: “As the temperatures start to rise ever higher, there is an additional flurry of activities, as mountain biking, hiking and camping are in full swing. The Northeast Kingdom is home to five state parks and our terrain includes some of the most beautiful views in all of Vermont. Whether one kayaks, canoes or enjoys speeding along in a motor boat, there are so many lakes to choose from to enjoy your respective interest.”
–NEKChamber.com
Walpole, New Hampshire
Distance (Miles): 51 miles
Distance (Time): 51 minutes
Activities: orchards, wineries, nature trails, farms, coops, shopping, golfing
Places to Go: Distant Hill Gardens, Walpole Valley Farms, Walpole Mountain View Winery, Alyson’s Orchard, Walpole Creamery, L.A. Burdick
Description: “Nestled in the Connecticut Valley of south western New Hampshire, Walpole is one of New England's prettiest villages. Many of its beautiful and historic buildings have been restored by its residents, so today's town looks much as it did years ago … Come walk our village streets. Visit our shops, winery, farms, galleries and history museum. Linger a few days and you will experience the beauty that surrounds us in these hills and come to embrace our peace and quiet charm.” –WalpoleNH.US