September Holiday

We have decided upon an East coast 7 day holiday in the 3rd or 4th week of September.

We would probably like to spend one whole day in Boston %26amp; then get a hire car %26amp; go see some some of the surrounding area. Is it best to spend the first 2 nights in Boston %26amp; then go back to the airport %26amp; hire a car?

My boyfriend is a very keen photographer so we would like to stay in picturesque towns %26amp; maybe some mountains or the sea. I would quite like to go to Salem %26amp; would also like to go past one of the outlet malls (maybe the one at Wrentham). We are in our 30%26#39;s and spend roughly $300 a night on a room.

Any suggestions would be very helpful.

September Holiday

My opinion is that one day in Boston is not enough. Save the rental car costs and stay in the city instead. If you really wish to make a side trip, you can take the commuter rail to Salem or Rockport, but I think with your limited time, Boston%26#39;s the place. It%26#39;s really a photographer%26#39;s heaven.

AlanM

September Holiday

I recommend spending your first couple of days visiting towns outside of Boston, then drop the rental car off in the city (most companies have drop-off locations in the city. you don%26#39;t need to go all the way back into the airport). From there, I%26#39;d spend the reainder of the trip exploring Boston.

Newport, Rhode Island is a great town to visit. It%26#39;s just over an hour and a half from Boston. An added bonus is that you can hit the Wrentham outlets on the way down. Newport has beautiful beaches, rocky shoreline, historic mansions,lots of good bars and restaurants, and high-end shopping.

4th week in September would be the start of the prime ';leaf-peeping'; time for the Fall foliage, especially further to the North. This is a very popular time to visit New England (you have chosen a really good time). I suggest you orient yourself to the North (rather than Wrentham) for mountains, sea, and shopping. There is lots of outlet shopping in places like Freeport, Maine (headquarters for L.L. Beans open 24/7) and Tilton, NH.

';Destinations'; you might consider include Bar Harbor, Maine, Bretton Woods, NH, and Burlington, VT.

It probably does make sense to spend your time in the beginning of your trip seeing Boston, in order to backload your time in the countryside (because of the foliage), and also to give you a chance to get your land legs when you get here.

Also, meant to add, for serious outlet shopping, be aware that there is no sales tax in New Hampshire.

I dont really like driving in big cities. Is Boston an easy city to drive into and drop of the hire car? I suppose this will be alot better than dropping it back at the airport. Where is the best area to stay in Boston?

Boston has always been thought of as a city that is difficult to drive in. We%26#39;re the wrong folks to ask--for us it%26#39;s easy because we know where we%26#39;re going(and we know how to politely cut someone off!). Still, there are a handful of major car rental companies with offices throughout downtown Boston. Navigating the streets will require a good map, as there are many one-ways and many inexplicable signs. Just to be sure, I%26#39;d bump up the insurance on the rental(kidding, of course).

A good area to stay in is the Back Bay neighborhood. Lots of good restaurants, bars, and shopping.