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GreaterUpperValley.com

7 Summer Road Trips To Plan This Summer

May 31, 2019 04:55PM ● By Kevin
As summer approaches, we’re bound to have a bit more time and desire to travel. If you can’t leave the ground, there are plenty of getaways within driving distance of Hanover to explore in the warm weather.

We 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 (Miles): 79 miles

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

 

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